The Cocoanut Grove fire was a nightclub fire which took place in Boston , Massachusetts , on November 28, , and resulted in the deaths of people. It is the deadliest nightclub fire in history and the third-deadliest single-building fire after the September 11 attacks and Iroquois Theatre fire. The Cocoanut Grove was one of Boston's most popular nightspots, attracting many celebrity visitors.
The air-conditioning used flammable gas because of the wartime shortage of Freon. During the first Thanksgiving weekend since the U. The fire was initiated by an electrical short and fueled by methyl chloride in the air conditioning unit. Flames and smoke spread rapidly through all areas of the club, and people were unable to escape efficiently because of the locked exit doors.
Blame was directed at Welansky for violation of standards; he served nearly four years in jail before being released just weeks before his death. Local hospitals were especially well prepared to treat the casualties having been rehearsing emergency drills in response to possible wartime attacks on the East Coast.
The crisis demonstrated the value of the recently installed blood banks and stimulated important advances in the treatment of burn victims. Following the fire many new laws were enacted for public establishments, including the banning of flammable decorations, a provision that emergency exits must be kept unlocked from the inside , and that revolving doors cannot be the only exit.
It became a speakeasy as Alpert and Renard's Mafia -connected financiers gained control, and the club had a reputation as a gangland hangout. Although neither Alpert nor Renard held an interest in the club by , Alpert was leading the house band on the night of the fire. Gangland boss and bootlegger Charles "King" Solomon , also known as "Boston Charlie", owned the club from until he was gunned down in the men's room of Roxbury 's Cotton Club nightclub in Welansky was known to be a tough boss who ran a tight ship, hiring teenagers as busboys for low wages and street toughs to double as waiters and bouncers.
