Nearly 500 people died, and hundreds of people were hurt in the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston.
Eighty years later, it is still the deadliest club fire in the United States.
A panel in Hingham discussed the fire, and impacts that are still felt today. The panel included retired Hingham Fire Chief Mark Duff, attorney Tom Carey, and Registered Nurse and Patient Safety Senior Manager, Karen Griswold.
The sound of Box 1521 is what the fire alarm office might have heard the night of November 28th, 1942.
The Boston Fire Department was already extinguishing a nearby car fire, when they were alerted to the Cocoanut Grove fire.
The fire changed building codes, set legal precedent, and even changed the way hospitals respond to burns and Mass Casualty Incidents.
Griswold said a burn study was taking place at Massachusetts General Hospital, which included more education about internal injuries, such as smoke inhalation. Treatment in the late 1920’s used tannic acid, and sealing wounds, which led to more complications with infection.
While treating patients from the fire, MGH incorporated results from a Chicago study, wrapping wounds with gauze soaked in Vaseline, then open-air treatment. This reduced the need for anesthesia and 24/7 care.
Retired Hingham Fire Chief Mark Duff served 42 years in town, and has done extensive research into the Cocoanut Grove Fire.
Twenty people were injured, and one person had fatal injuries in Hingham after an SUV drove into the Apple Store at Derby Street. Off-duty hospital staff and bystanders jumped into action to render aid, and mutual aid from surrounding towns quickly responded to that scene on November 21.
Carey discussed the legal impacts of the Cocoanut Grove Fire.
Owner Barney Welansky was convicted, and was sentenced to prison, due to exits that were locked to make sure customers paid their tab. A revolving door was the only exit for more than 900 people, and quickly became jammed due to the panic.
But even with modern changes to safety measures, Duff says people need to be aware of their surroundings.
Video of the panel discussion will be on the Hingham Harbor Media YouTube channel.
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