One of the worst disasters in world and American history happened in here in Massachusetts. The Cocoanut Grove fire affected hundreds of people and left its mark on the city of Boston and the nation. Here’s why it ranks as one of the worst tragedies every to strike the Bay State.
The Cocoanut Grove Fire was the deadliest nightclub fire in history.
On November 28, 1942, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston was filled past capacity with patrons who came for the singing, dancing and jazz. Around 10:15 p.m., a fire started in the dimly-lit downstairs Melody Lounge.
Officials believe that the blaze began when a young man, possibly a soldier, loosened a lightbulb from a coconut-shaped wall sconce in order to create privacy while he kissed his date.
Others crawled along the floor in search of exits that were either blocked to prevent people from entering without paying or hidden from public view behind decor.
In their panic, patrons blocked the club’s revolving front door. It became so packed with bodies – alive and dead – that it finally jammed and was rendered unusable.
Other unlocked doors swung inward instead of outwards. Chillingly, officials would later say that if the front door had only swung outwards rather than inwards, at least 300 people would have survived.
Soldiers and sailors from nearby bars ran to the club to help in the firefighting effort, but by the time help arrived the devastation was almost complete.
The Cocoanut Grove Fire led to reformed safety standards for public spaces across the nation. It also caused a major international shift in how burn victims were treated and rehabilitated. For more information about other huge Massachusetts disasters, check out our list here.
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