On October 1, 2002, a three-alarm fire broke out at the historic Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe, Arizona — one of the Valley’s oldest landmarks. This rare archive footage from 3TV captures the dramatic scene as nearly 100 firefighters battled flames that tore through the abandoned structure near Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway.
The blaze damaged the middle section of the mill, but the iconic silos survived. Authorities suspected arson, and witnesses reported seeing teens fleeing the site moments before the fire started. Despite the destruction, plans to redevelop the site continued.