by Kelly Isenor, MA Region Director of Communications
On November 28, 1942, a fire broke out at one of Boston’s most popular nightclubs, called Cocoanut Grove. This was the Saturday after the first Thanksgiving since the U.S. had entered World War II and the club was packed. Red Cross reports at the time suggested more than 1,000 people were inside – more than double the club’s official capacity. Flammable materials had been used in the club’s interior decorations, flammable methyl chloride gas had replaced Freon in the club’s air conditioners (due to a war shortage) and multiple exits had been locked or barricaded to prevent guests from sneaking in or out without paying. The official Boston Fire Department report estimates it took only 2-4 minutes for the flames to travel across 40 feet of the club’s Melody Lounge to the only public stairway, and minutes more until the entire building was in flames. Though some staff were able to break windows or find other egress, the revolving door at the front of the club was the only exit known to most patrons. 492 people died either in the fire or later from injuries sustained. 80 years later, the Cocoanut Grove tragedy remains the deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history.
Red Cross response – Disaster
The first fire alarm sounded at 10:42 p.m. Within minutes, the Boston Red Cross chapter was notified. The chair of what was then called the Disaster Relief and Preparedness Committee called the fire department to see what was needed. In addition to sending all the chapters ambulances and emergency response vehicles, the Boston chapter of the Red Cross had marshalled more than 1,000 volunteers within 25 minutes, including many from neighboring chapters as far away as Haverhill and New Bedford.
39 ambulances driven by volunteers from the Red Cross Boston Motor Corps formed a line to take the injured to hospitals and the dead to morgues. Taxi drivers – most of whom had been previously trained in First Aid by the Red Cross – rushed patients to nearby hospitals.
A Red Cross canteen that had already been set up at the nearby Boston Opera House moved to the fire scene to provide hot coffee, water and food to first responders on scene in the sub-zero conditions. Additional canteens were set up at hospitals and morgues to support family members seeking word of loved ones.
In the days and weeks to follow, the Motor Corps would also transport Red Cross disaster responders, equipment and supplies to scenes and canteens, and drove relief workers to the homes of survivors, victims and their families for casework.
The Boston Metropolitan Chapter House was staffed 24/7 for weeks after the fire to handle the response, in addition to regular activities. Within 24 hours of the fire, all affected families were contacted by Red Cross volunteer disaster responders offering condolence care and other assistance. In many cases, the Red Cross covered rent, food and incidental costs for family members who could not afford to support the care of their loved ones, as well as supplemental funeral assistance.
Red Cross response – Hospitals
Although a total of 14 Boston hospitals received fire victims, the majority of the patients went to Mass General and to Boston City Hospital (the present-day Boston Medical Center). Contemporary reports estimate one patient arrived at Boston City Hospital every 11 seconds.
Using teletype messages, the Red Cross assigned volunteer nurse’s aides to impacted hospitals, while the Red Cross Nursing Service began recruiting additional nurses to relieve those on duty. During the first week of the response alone, 223 nurses volunteered for duty. Some of the most seriously injured patients required the care of six nurses per day. When it became apparent that long-term nursing care was needed, the Red Cross provided a total of 558 paid nurses at a cost of $15,000 (the equivalent of about $418,000 today)
Additional blood plasma came by plane to supplement the plasma stored locally by the American Red Cross. Volunteers from the Motor Corps delivered those products to hospitals in the days and weeks that followed. More blood plasma was used to treat the Cocoanut Grove fire victims than had been used to treat victims of the Pearl Harbor attacks one year earlier, according to the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Red Cross response – personal anecdotes
Joseph (no last name provided, only the initial L) was a woodwind musician employed by Cocoanut Grove. He was severely injured in the fire and also lost his overcoat, tuxedo, and musical instruments, which he relied on for income to support his two young sons. Once his doctors cleared him to resume playing, the Red Cross was able to provide a clarinet, saxophone, new tuxedo and warm winter coat so he could resume earning a living.
Bill had to put his college education on hold while he recovered from injuries suffered in the Cocoanut Grove fire. While he was in the hospital, his father lost his job and the family fell into difficult financial circumstances. The Red Cross connected Bill’s family with a wealthy benefactress who was looking to start a scholarship in memory of her nephew who had perished in the fire. Bill was the first recipient and went on to study medicine.
Martin Sheridan was a newspaper man who was also working public relations for the cowboy actor Buck Jones. Jones was on a national tour selling war bonds and Sheridan was hired to prepare his Boston itinerary. Sheridan and his wife Connie were inside when the flames started. They were overcome by smoke and toxic fumes. Connie Sheridan perished in the fire. Martin was rescued but spent two months in treatment at Mass General. After his release, he dedicated his life to giving blood enough times to match the blood products he received during his treatment. He also became a war correspondent for the Boston Globe and was reporting from a transport ship years later when he met the sailor who pulled him from the burning building.
Legacy – Preparedness
Accounts written in the initial aftermath of the fire credit Boston’s hospitals with being unusually well-prepared for the influx of patients because of strong emergency preparedness plans in place against wartime attacks on the East Coast. Only one week earlier, the city of Boston had carried out a drill simulating a bomb strike with 300 mock casualties. Volunteers who had been trained in first aid and CPR were able to respond to the scene immediately. Emergency preparedness remains a key pillar of the work of the modern Red Cross. In addition to teaching lifesaving skills, the Red Cross maintains a disaster-specific Emergency Resource Library on redcross.org
Legacy – Fire Safety
In the year following the Cocoanut Grove fire, building codes were revamped around the country. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), notable advances in fire safety as a result of the Cocoanut Grove fire include a requirement that revolving doors are flanked by outward opening doors with a panic bar, combustible materials may not be used as interior decorations in places of public assembly and emergency lighting and sprinklers must be installed.
Sleeves Up, Hearts Open, All In 