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(Saturday, November 28, 1942, 10:15 p.m. EST; during the Cocoanut Grove fire) — Fire engulfed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston tonight, killing 492 people in the deadliest nightclub blaze ever. Most victims suffocated or were trampled to death.
It was the second-deadliest single-building fire (after the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago in which 602 people died).
The Cocoanut Grove was one of Boston’s most popular nightspots, attracting many celebrity visitors. It was owned by Barnet “Barney” Welansky, who was closely connected to the Mafia and to Mayor Maurice J. Tobin.
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During the first Thanksgiving weekend since the U.S. had entered World War II, the Grove was filled to more than twice its legal capacity.
Fire regulations had been flouted: some exit doors had been locked to prevent unauthorized entry, and the elaborate palm tree décor contained flammable materials. The air-conditioning used flammable gas due to the wartime shortage of freon.
The fire was initiated by an electrical short and fueled by methyl chloride in the air conditioning unit.
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Flames and smoke spread rapidly through all areas of the club, and people were unable to escape due in part to locked exit doors. Blame was directed at Welansky for violation of standards; he served nearly four years in jail before being released just weeks before his death.
Local hospitals were especially well prepared to treat the casualties having been rehearsing emergency drills in response to possible wartime attacks on the East Coast. The crisis demonstrated the value of the new blood banks and stimulated important advances in the treatment of burn victims.
Following the tragedy, many new laws were enacted for public establishments, including the banning of flammable decorations, a provision that emergency exits must be kept unlocked (from the inside), and that revolving doors cannot be the only exit.
