1941 — March 10, fire/roof collapse, firefighters die, Strand Theater, Brockton, MA — 13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 9-26-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 13 IAFF Local 133, Brockton Firefighters. “Strand Theatre” website.
— 13 Kimball. “Brockton Theatre Tragedy.” Quarterly of the NFPA, V.34, N. 4, Apr 1941, 348.
— 13 National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996.
— 13 The Enterprise. “Fire officials mark anniversary of Strand Theatre fire.” 3-11-2009.
Narrative Information
Kimball. “Brockton Theatre Tragedy.” Quarterly of the NFPA, V.34, N. 4, Apr 1941:
“The worst tragedy to strike any fire department in the history of New England occurred
early on the morning of March 10, 1941, when a portion of the roof of the Strand Theatre in Brockton, Mass., collapsed during a general alarm fire, killing thirteen members of the fire department and injuring seventeen more or less seriously. One-tenth of the membership of the Brockton Fire Department was killed in the disaster which wiped out or incapacitated the greater part of the platoon on duty at the time of the fire.
“This brick motion picture theatre building was erected in 1916, following a general alarm fire which destroyed its predecessor on the same site. The structure was on an irregular shaped plot, large at the auditorium end and narrowing down to the stage section. The theatre was located at the rear of a business block with a rather long lobby forming the main entrance. The building was hemmed in on three sides by other structures, making access difficult for fire-fighting.
“The roof over the auditorium consisted of boards on joists supported on steel trusses. The auditorium ceiling was of metal lath and plaster on wood joists and was suspended from the roof trusses. Between the roof and ceiling was a large unsprinklered air space of considerable height. The roof over the stage section was of fire-resistive construction and the stage section was covered by a partial dry pipe sprinkler system. The stage section was not involved in the fire. There were also several sprinklers in the rest rooms located on the balcony over the rear of the auditorium. The balcony also contained the manager’s office, rest rooms, and an usher’s room. The area under the auditorium floor contained a large dead air space, except for a section at the rear containing a ventilating fan and janitor’s room.
“The fire is said to have been discovered by sweepers about an hour after the theatre closed for the night. The first alarm was given at 12:45 A.M. When the fire department arrived the fire had gained considerable headway in the basement where apparently it started. Due to the headway of the fire a second alarm was sounded by the deputy chief in charge of the first alarm companies. Three cellar pipes are said to have been used to control the fire in the basement. The fire department then found that the fire had extended upward from the basement, following duct spaces in the rear walls and had entered joisted under balcony spaces. Portions of the ceiling under the balcony were pulled down and this part of the fire was controlled without serious difficulty.
“When it was found that the fire had spread upward from the basement, a general alarm was sounded, bringing the entire Brockton Fire Department. The full response consisted of five engine companies (each with a separate pumper and hose wagon), three ladder companies and the squad company. Members of the off-duty platoon were also called to the fire. About fourteen hose streams were placed in operation, supplied by the pumpers. Adjoining towns sent apparatus to cover vacated stations under a mutual aid plan.
“It was soon discovered that the fire had spread upward into the rear portion of the roof space and lines were taken into the balcony to control the flames at this point. The fire department appeared to be making good progress in controlling the blaze when suddenly, without warning, the rear portion of the theatre. roof collapsed upon the balcony, trapping and crushing several companies of firemen working at that point.
“The collapse of the roof and a portion of the side walls cut off a number of hose streams in this area and the fire is said to have increased in intensity, making rescue efforts extremely difficult. Rescue work was further impeded by the extreme danger that a further collapse might carry down the debris laden balcony, trapping even more men with the victims they were trying to save. Fortunately rescue efforts were completed without any further disaster. It is believed that with the exception of one fireman who died in a hospital, most of the victims were instantly killed. Most of the bodies were so badly burned that identification was difficult.
“The collapse of the roof which resulted in the fatalities appears to have occurred when flames reached the unprotected steel trusses in the rear-portion of the unsprinklered combustible roof space. The early and unanticipated collapse was undoubtedly hastened by the added weight of several inches of wet snow on the roof.
“Without much doubt, this roof collapse and resultant tragedy should be attributed to failure to provide in the construction of the theatre roof a sufficient factor of safety to provide against possible failure of the roof structure when weakened by a fire of even moderate intensity at a time when the roof was carrying an additional load due to snow. This disaster is a close reminder of the Knickerbocker Theatre tragedy in Washington, D. C., in 1922, when ninety-eight lives were lost when the theatre roof collapsed due to snow load, without the contributing factor of fire…..
“As far as is known, the initial cause of the blaze has not been determined. However, the actual cause appears to have had little bearing upon the subsequent disaster. In the absence of any other apparent cause the theory was advanced that the fire may have been of incendiary origin, but no indication has been given that such a theory could be substantiated either by producing a motive or a possible suspect.” (pp. 348-351.)
The Enterprise: “Brockton — Fire officials gathered at Brockton City Hall on Tuesday morning to remember the 13 firefighters who lost their lives 68 years ago in the Strand Theatre. It was the first anniversary of that fatal fire that included the laying of a wreath at the Strand Theatre Firefighters Memorial Monument, which was unveiled last May. Edward “Sonny” Burrell, 84, the last surviving firefighter who battled that blaze, helped lay a wreath at the monument Tuesday.” (The Enterprise, Brockton. “Fire officials mark anniversary of Strand Theatre fire.” 3-11-2009.)
Sources
IAFF Local 133, Brockton Firefighters. “Strand Theatre” website. Accessed 4-19-2013 at: http://brocktonfirelocal144.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Strand20Theater20Disaster
Kimball. Warren Y. “Brockton Theatre Tragedy.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 34, No. 4, April 1941, pp. 348-351.
National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996. Accessed 2010 at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1
The Enterprise, Brockton, MA. “Fire officials mark anniversary of Strand Theatre fire.” 3-11-2009. Accessed 4-19-2013: http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/x1622003186/Fire-officials-mark-anniversary-of-Strand-Theatre-fire