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Boston’s Trumbull Street Fire: 46 Years Later
5 firefighters were killed & 12 were injured when part of a vacant factory collapsed
On Oct. 1, 1964, an abandoned four-story factory caught fire in the South End of Boston. The building collapsed, resulting in the death of five Boston Fire Department firefighters: Lt. John J. McCorkle (Engine 24), Lt. John J. Geswell (Ladder 26), Firefighter Robert J. Clougherty (Engine 3), Firefighter Francis L. Murphy (Engine 24) and Firefighter James B. Sheedy (Ladder 4). A civilian photographer also died in the collapse. Twelve firefighters were injured.
To mark the 35-year anniversary of the Trumbull Street Fire, Firefighter Bill Noonan wrote a detailed account of the fire for the City of Boston’s Fire Department Journal. The following summary is taken from his account of the fire.
The Event
On the night of Oct. 1, 1964, a passerby spotted a fire on Trumbull Street and pulled Box 1671, transmitting the alarm at 0032 HRS. Apparently, the fire had been burning for a while, as investigators later learned that the passerby had smelled smoke in the area for several hours.
Engine 3 and Ladder 3 responded and, upon arrival, their commanding officers saw heavy fire showing from the building’s upper floors. Engine 3 ran a line into the building and attempted to make it to the second floor, but they were forced back to the landing on the first floor due to the heavy fire conditions.
Ladder 3 started to raise ground ladders, and its aerial was thrown to the roof of a four-story building just to the left of the fire building. Ladder 13 raised some of their ladders on the other side of the fire building. They were also making forcible entry into the four-story building next door where there was a large loading dock-type door.
After a quick size-up, District 4 Fire Chief John McCarthy ordered a second alarm transmitted at 0038 HRS. Due to the congested area and heavy fire conditions, Deputy Chief Fred Clauss ordered a third alarm at 0042 HRS.
Clauss then decided to get all the firefighters out and gave that order to McCarthy. Clauss followed a line into the building and gave the order to “get out!” to Lt. Fraser of Engine 3, and then went about his duties to make sure all other companies were getting out. As the fire grew, Clauss ordered a fourth alarm at 0045 HRS.
Engine 22 was ordered to take a line over Ladder 3’s aerial to the roof of the building on the left. Engine 7 was ordered to take a line over a small ladder that was thrown to the roof of the building to the right and operate in the rear. Engine 43 and Engine 21 would follow. They used a 20' ladder to bridge the small alley and enter the building on West Brookline Street. There was heavy fire in the rear showing from the windows on the top floors.
The first collapse occurred as Engine 24 and Engine 37 prepared to advance lines over the 35' ladders thrown in front of the building. Fire personnel were knocked from ladders and balcony fire escapes; other men on the ground were buried and burned.
The firefighters from Ladder 3 in the rear of the building heard the loud crash and ran to help. As they tried to help, another collapse occurred. Clauss was one of the men injured in the second collapse. A fifth alarm was transmitted at 0054 HRS.
Fire personnel continued to work the fire while trying to rescue their fellow firefighters.
Cause of the Fire
An investigation into the cause of the fire, conducted by the Arson Squad and Boston Police, found that two boys had been spotted around the building on the afternoon of the fire. When questioned, the boys, ages 11 and 14, admitted to being in the building, but denied starting a fire there. Neither was charged with starting the fire.
Cause of the Collapse
The official report cites the cause of the collapse as the result of “rapid deterioration of the roof rafters due to the heavy burn and being termite-ridden for years.” This condition left little support for the main steel I-beam, which ultimately lead to the collapse of the front walls. The report also states that the fire department’s operations did not contribute to the collapse.
Memorial
A large funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End on Oct. 5. Many members of the Boston Fire Department attended.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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On Oct. 1, 1964, an abandoned four-story factory caught fire in the South End of Boston. The building collapsed, resulting in the death of five Boston Fire Department firefighters: Lt. John J. McCorkle (Engine 24), Lt. John J. Geswell (Ladder 26), Firefighter Robert J. Clougherty (Engine 3), Firefighter Francis L. Murphy (Engine 24) and Firefighter James B. Sheedy (Ladder 4). A civilian photographer also died in the collapse. Twelve firefighters were injured.
To mark the 35-year anniversary of the Trumbull Street Fire, Firefighter Bill Noonan wrote a detailed account of the fire for the City of Boston’s Fire Department Journal. The following summary is taken from his account of the fire.
On the night of Oct. 1, 1964, a passerby spotted a fire on Trumbull Street and pulled Box 1671, transmitting the alarm at 0032 HRS. Apparently, the fire had been burning for a while, as investigators later learned that the passerby had smelled smoke in the area for several hours.
Engine 3 and Ladder 3 responded and, upon arrival, their commanding officers saw heavy fire showing from the building’s upper floors. Engine 3 ran a line into the building and attempted to make it to the second floor, but they were forced back to the landing on the first floor due to the heavy fire conditions.
Ladder 3 started to raise ground ladders, and its aerial was thrown to the roof of a four-story building just to the left of the fire building. Ladder 13 raised some of their ladders on the other side of the fire building. They were also making forcible entry into the four-story building next door where there was a large loading dock-type door.
After a quick size-up, District 4 Fire Chief John McCarthy ordered a second alarm transmitted at 0038 HRS. Due to the congested area and heavy fire conditions, Deputy Chief Fred Clauss ordered a third alarm at 0042 HRS.
Clauss then decided to get all the firefighters out and gave that order to McCarthy. Clauss followed a line into the building and gave the order to “get out!” to Lt. Fraser of Engine 3, and then went about his duties to make sure all other companies were getting out. As the fire grew, Clauss ordered a fourth alarm at 0045 HRS.
Engine 22 was ordered to take a line over Ladder 3’s aerial to the roof of the building on the left. Engine 7 was ordered to take a line over a small ladder that was thrown to the roof of the building to the right and operate in the rear. Engine 43 and Engine 21 would follow. They used a 20' ladder to bridge the small alley and enter the building on West Brookline Street. There was heavy fire in the rear showing from the windows on the top floors.
The first collapse occurred as Engine 24 and Engine 37 prepared to advance lines over the 35' ladders thrown in front of the building. Fire personnel were knocked from ladders and balcony fire escapes; other men on the ground were buried and burned.
The firefighters from Ladder 3 in the rear of the building heard the loud crash and ran to help. As they tried to help, another collapse occurred. Clauss was one of the men injured in the second collapse. A fifth alarm was transmitted at 0054 HRS.
Fire personnel continued to work the fire while trying to rescue their fellow firefighters.
Cause of the Fire
An investigation into the cause of the fire, conducted by the Arson Squad and Boston Police, found that two boys had been spotted around the building on the afternoon of the fire. When questioned, the boys, ages 11 and 14, admitted to being in the building, but denied starting a fire there. Neither was charged with starting the fire.
Cause of the Collapse
The official report cites the cause of the collapse as the result of “rapid deterioration of the roof rafters due to the heavy burn and being termite-ridden for years.” This condition left little support for the main steel I-beam, which ultimately lead to the collapse of the front walls. The report also states that the fire department’s operations did not contribute to the collapse.
Memorial
A large funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End on Oct. 5. Many members of the Boston Fire Department attended.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
SUBSCRIBE to FIRERESCUE
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