The Hotel Lorain is surrounded by vapor clouds created by water used to fight the fire that destroyed the hotel on February 18, 1936. Large icicles are visible hanging from utility pole wires. A large clock is visible on the street corner in the left of the photograph. A man wearing a hooded coat is standing between a clock and a ladder likely used to access the hotel.

Written on the bottom front of the photograph is the phrase "Fire - lasted 17 hours."

The photographer is not known.