Notable Boston Fires
Cocoanut Grove Night Club
Over 79 years ago, the morning newspapers brought news that stunned Bostonians and the world. News that over 400 people perished in an overnight fire in Boston.
Great Boston Fire 1872
83-85 Summer St. @ Kingston St., Downtown
Great Boston Fire originated in a 6-story granite building with mansard roof, destroyed 776 buildings over 65 acres, $ millions lost. 30 deaths, including 12 firemen.
The Hotel Vendome Fire and Collapse
Hotel Vendome Fire & Collapse, which occurred during the mid to late-afternoon hours of Saturday, June 17, 1972. As the fire in the upper floors of the former 7-story hotel (including penthouse) was being extinguished, a collapse of the southeast corner of the building occurred. Many firefighters operating in the upper floors were trapped in the pile of rubble that ensued. After extensive rescue operations had concluded, at 0245 hours the next day, nine firefighters had lost their lives.
The Maverick Square Fire
Occurred in the early morning hours of November 15, 1942. The fire in Luongo’s Tap, a restaurant within the former East Boston Lyceum, quickly escalated to 3 alarms. Later, without warning, the brick wall from the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors on the Henry Street side of the building collapsed burying many firefighters in the rubble. 4th and 5th alarms were transmitted. Also buried in the rubble was Ladder 8’s 125ft aerial ladder truck, the only white-colored apparatus in the history of the Boston Fire Department. This rig became known as the ‘White Elephant’ due to its checkered history of service.
Bellflower Street Fire 1964
On May 22, 1964, the Bellflower Street Conflagration ultimately destroyed or damaged 35 multifamily dwellings in Dorchester. ... No rain had fallen in the city since April 26, and the temperature was 76 degrees when the fire started on a rear porch at 26 Bellflower St.
34 Trumbull Street, fire and collapse
Shortly after midnight on the morning of October 1, 1964, firemen from the fire station on Harrison Ave behind the Cathedral responded to an abandoned brick building ablaze at 34 Trumbull Street in the South End. Laying down hoses, a front wall collapsed in two sections, killing four and a ‘spark’ by the name of Andrew Sheehan. A fifth firefighter (Jim Sheedy) died later that morning at City Hospital.
Molasses Tank Explodes!
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Modern Notable Fires
The Boston Edison Plant Fire
On an October afternoon in 2002, Firefighters in South Boston battled a blaze at the Boston Edison Plant on Summer St. The fire went to 9 Alarms, and while there were no serious injuries at the scene, the toxins in the smoke caused health issues and cancer for many of the firefighters that responded.
The Beacon Street Fire
On a fateful day in March of 2014, two veteran firefighters were killed in a tragic blaze in a Back Bay brownstone. Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh of Engine 33 and Firefighter Michael Kennedy of Ladder 15 were trapped in the basement when a backdraft occurred, and despite heroic efforts by their fellow firefighters, unable to be saved.
The Casket Company Fire
On the afternoon of March 15th 2019, Fire Alarm sounded box 6243 for a building fire at the New England Casket Company, on Bennington St in East Boston. Ladder 21 arrived to fire showing from the roof. While the fire initially appeared to be in an HVAC unit, it quickly spread to the truss-roofed building. The fire extended throughout the large 200x50 factory, fueled by hazardous chemicals used for making caskets. 9 Alarms were ordered to control the blaze, fortunately there was no serious injuries.