The fire Cocoanut Grove fire

smoke rises cocoanut grove

official reports state fire started @ 10:15 pm in dark, intimate melody lounge downstairs. goody goodelle, young pianist , singer, performing on revolving stage, surrounded artificial palm trees. lounge lit low-powered light bulbs in coconut-styled sconces beneath fronds. young man, possibly soldier, had unscrewed light bulb in order give himself privacy while kissing date. stanley tomaszewski—a 16-year-old busboy—was instructed put light on tightening bulb. stepped onto chair reach light in darkened corner. unable see bulb, lit match illuminate area, tightened bulb, , extinguished match. witnesses first saw flames in fronds, below ceiling, afterward. though lit match had been close same fronds fire seen have begun, official report determined tomaszewski s actions not found source of fire, entered records of department being of unknown origin .

despite waiters efforts douse fire water, spread along fronds of palm tree. in final desperate attempt separate burning fronds fabric-covered false ceiling decoration pulled away corner, taking triangular plywood panel @ ceiling level , opening enclosed space above false ceiling. coincidentally or not, point @ fire spread false ceiling burned rapidly, showering patrons sparks , burning shreds of fabric. flames raced stairway main level, burning hair of patrons fleeing stairs. fireball burst through front entryway , spread through remaining club areas: through adjacent caricature bar, down corridor broadway lounge, , across central restaurant , dance floor orchestra beginning evening show. flames raced faster patrons move, followed thick clouds of smoke. within 5 minutes, flames , smoke had spread entire nightclub. patrons instantly overcome smoke sat in seats. others crawled through smoky darkness trying find exits, 1 of either non-functioning or hidden in non-public areas.

many patrons attempted exit through main entrance, same way had entered. building s main entrance single revolving door, rendered useless crowd stampeded in panic. bodies piled behind both sides of revolving door, jamming until broke. oxygen-hungry fire leaped through breach, incinerating whoever left alive in pile. firemen had douse flames approach door. later, after fire laws had tightened, become illegal have 1 revolving door main entrance without being flanked outward opening doors panic bar openers attached, or have revolving doors set doors fold against in emergency situations.

other avenues of escape useless; side doors had been bolted shut prevent people leaving without paying. plate glass window, have been smashed escape, boarded , unusable emergency exit. other unlocked doors, ones in broadway lounge, opened inwards, rendering them useless against crush of people trying escape. fire officials later testify had doors swung outwards, @ least 300 lives have been spared.

from nearby bars, soldiers , sailors raced assist. on street, firefighters lugged out bodies , treated burned hands. night deepened, temperature dropped. water on cobblestone pavements froze. hoses froze ground. newspaper trucks appropriated ambulances. smoldering bodies, living , dead, hosed in icy water. victims had breathed fumes hot when inhaled cold air, 1 firefighter put it, dropped stones.

later, during cleanup of building, firefighters found several dead guests sitting in seats drinks in hands. had been overcome fire , toxic smoke had not had time move.