One of America’s Worst Tragedies: The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire
By FireRescue magazine editor-in-chief Tim Sendelbach

On the night of May 28, 1977, the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky., was the scene of one of the worst nightclub fires in U.S. history. Today marks the 33rd anniversary of that tragedy. Here, we look back at the incident and pay tribute to the firefighters who bravely battled the flames and pulled victims from the burning building. We also remember the 165 people who perished and the 200 who were injured as a result of the blaze.

The evening of May 28 began as a happy one at the upscale club. Guests were attending a wedding reception in the Zebra Room, while 70s star John Davidson was preparing to entertain a crowd in the nearby Cabaret Room. By 8:30, the wedding reception had ended, and people were starting to complain about the temperature in the room. No one noticed the fire that had started in the room, which continued to go unnoticed for about 25 minutes.

Just before 9 p.m., two waitresses noticed smoke near the ceiling. The fire department was called and arrived within minutes; however, because the fire went unnoticed for about a half hour, it had taken hold of the room and couldn’t be contained.

At 9:08 p.m., busboy Walter Bailey told those in the Cabaret Room that they needed to evacuate. Some people followed his instruction and began heading for the exits. (Bailey is considered one of the heroes of the tragedy.)

Just 2 minutes later, the fire spread to the Cabaret Room. People panicked, pushing and shoving toward exit doors. Flames spread throughout the room and to other parts of the building so quickly, many never stood a chance at evacuating. Many bodies were found piled up near the main entrance.

Firefighters attacked the Cabaret Room, but the roof collapsed at midnight, dashing any hope that victims might still be found alive.

Critical Issues
The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire is considered one of the most significant fires in fire service history. While this incident has provided countless lessons in the areas of pre-fire planning, code enforcement, mandated company-level inspections, hardwired fire protection systems and advocacy for fire sprinklers, very few have considered the tactical lessons of this historic fire.

Some of the more critical issues to consider include:
• High-occupancy/high-hazard facilities: At the time of this incident, more than 1,000 patrons were inside this maze-like facility (multiple remodels, add-ons, etc.). What actions would you take to ensure an orderly evacuation? How would you account for more than 1,000 patrons? What type of search and rescue operations would you employ and how many firefighters would be needed to accomplish the task?
• Maze-like atmospheres have traditionally created an increased risk for firefighters. What precautions would you employ to prevent your firefighters from becoming disoriented? What role would air management play in your deployment efforts?
• Confirmed life hazards/large-scale fire (risk a lot to save a lot): With a known life hazard (several hundred confirmed to be trapped in the Cabaret Room), how would you attack this fire? What size line(s) would you deploy and where would you position them to prevent additional loss of life?
• The club was positioned remotely on a hill protected by one on-site fire hydrant and a small pond with limited access. What strategies do you have in place to establish high-volume water supplies to remote locations within your district (cul de sacs, remote rural roads, large-scale setbacks, etc.)?
• How would apparatus positioning be affected by your efforts to establish an effective water supply (limited access, one way in/out)?
• Mass-casualty incidents: This incident claimed the lives of 165 individuals and injured several hundred more. What plans do you have in place for a temporary morgue? Do you have up-to-date MCI plans with your hospitals and have you conducted full-scale drills to validate their effectiveness?