1. The Cocoanut Grove Fire – Incident and Learning
CE 808 – Structural Fire Engineering
by –
Nikhil Raut
Kyung Hoon Sun
COCOANUT GROVE

2. Outline The Incident Detailed minute by minute occurrence
Lessons Learnt
Conclusions

3. Cocoanut Grove
Building: One and a half story building built for a garage and changed into a club over the time
Location: Arlington Street Station, Boston, Massachusetts
Owner: Barnett Welansky
Opened: Welansky purchased the club in 1933 after former owner was murdered
Fire occurred: Nov. 28, 1942

4. Cocoanut Grove Fire – Overview
Nov. 28, 1942 around 10:15 pm fire started
Nearly 1000 people present on that night
Fire lasted for 15 minutes
492 people died
Dance Floor
Melody Lounge

5. Cocoanut Grove – Details
Built with bricks and stucco
Inside was divided by plywood wall
9 Exit doors including one main revolving door and hidden doors
Capable of containing 600 people
Interior decoration was designed to resemble tropical paradise
Decorations made out of paper, cloth, satin, bamboo, and imitation leather → Highly combustible materials
Basement was equipped with Melody Lounge, kitchen, and storage and main floor had dance floor, New Broadway Lounge, and caricature bar

6. Cocoanut Grove – Cause of fire
A young couple, wanting privacy, reached to a palm frond and unscrewed a 7.5- watt bulb.
A 16-year-old busboy climbed upon a seat who was told by a bartender to restore the light.
It was too dark, so the boy lit a match to locate the socket.
A moment later, someone noticed flame along the satin ceiling
Fire spread rapidly through the highly combustible decorative materials releasing fatal gases

7. Cocoanut Grove – Reaction of People
Some watched the fire and amused for a while.
Some people were frightened and tried to get out, but workers blocked them from going out side without paying.
Workers tried to put out the fire with water, bar rag and even with fire extinguisher, but none of them worked.
Few minutes later, the bar became a massive chaos.
Attempted to evacuate through the door but all were locked or opened inwardly except the main revolving door.

8. Cocoanut Grove – Spread of Fire
Time : 10:17 pm
People unaware of the fire below
People watching workers trying to put out the fire
: EXITS

9. Cocoanut Grove – Spread of Fire
Time : 10:19 pm
People unaware of the fire below
Fire spread through ceiling.
People trying to run upstairs.
Some used hidden door to refrigeration room
: EXITS

10. Cocoanut Grove – Spread of Fire
Time : 10:21 pm
People panicked and trying to escape
Trying to get out
Some people died by inhaling smoke
People safe in refrigeration room
Lights went off
: EXITS

11. Cocoanut Grove – Spread of Fire
Time : 10:21 pm
Doors locked or opened inwards
Many died by inhaling gas
Door Jammed
People stuck at the revolving door
Rooms full of gas
Complete Darkness
: EXITS

12. Cocoanut Grove – Spread of Fire
Time : 10:22 pm
Few escaped but few died outside by inhaling 27°F air
Many died
Pile of Bodies
Many died by inhaling gas
Fire department breaks in
Fire put out in 15 minutes
492 died
: EXITS

13. Cocoanut Grove – Fire service response
Fire was seen by fire department during investigating a fire on a car seat cushion near from the bar
The first alarm struck at 10:21pm by the fire box 150 ft from the club and brought 4 engines, 2ladder companies, 1 rescue squad, 1 water tower, 1 salvage company, 1 deputy chief, and district 5 chief
The third, fourth and fifth alarm was sent at 10:24, 10:25, and 11:03 pm respectively bringing 15 more engines, one more ladders, two more district chiefs, and two more rescue squads
Most of the fire was extinguished at 10:35 pm

14. Cocoanut Grove – Incident time line
Young couple removed the light bulb from the socket.
Busboy replaced the light bulb.
The match caught the fire on the palm tree frond decoration.
People tried to put the fire out. Fire kept spreading through the combustible decorations. People were in panic.
First alarm was sent. Brought 4 engines, 2ladder companies, 1 rescue squad, 1 water tower, 1 salvage company, 1 deputy chief, and district 5 chief
Third alarm was sent.
Fourth alarm was sent. Ten engines, one ladder and 2 district chiefs arrived.
Most of the fire was extinguished.
Fifth alarm was sent for more rescue squads
10:05 pm:
10:15 pm:
10:17 pm:
10:19 pm:
10:21 pm:
10:24 pm:
10:25 pm:
10:35 pm:
11:03 pm:

15. Cocoanut Grove – What went wrong
Full of highly combustible materials abound the club.
All doors were useless since they opened inwards. If the doors were opened outwardly, it would have saved more than hundreds.
The revolving door was jammed shut due to the people rushing into the door
The club was over crowed for its capacity people were occupied in the club which supposed to have max. 600 people
The malfunctioned fire extinguisher

16. Cocoanut Grove – Changes in codes
No place of public assembly should be filled beyond the maximum seating capacity of the structure
Combustible materials are prohibited in places of public assembly.
Every building or room(s) used for the specific purpose of public assembly must have two means of exit access. The locations of the exit access must be remote from one another as this is deemed to be more practical.
If the occupancy rating is more than 600 people than there must be three exits, if more than 1,000 people then provisions for four exits must be made.
That exits must be maintained, free of obstructions at all times when occupied.

17. THANK YOU