1973 — July 11, Fire, apartment building/rooming house, Main St., Worcester, MA — 10

— 10 Greenfield Recorder, MA. “10th Fire Victim.” 7-16-1973, p. 2.
— 10 NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1973,” Fire Journal. Vol. 68, No. 3, May 1974, p. 70.

Narrative Information

National Fire Protection Association: “Apartment building, Worcester, Massachusetts. Ten persons were killed and 23 others, including six fire fighters, were injured in this apartment house fire. The wood-joisted brick structure housed mercantile establishments on the first floor and apartments on the second through fifth floors. The fire was set on the first-level of the outdoor back porches. It spread upward over the back porches and into upper floors of the five-story building. At the time 52 people were in the building. The structure collapsed during overhaul procedures, injuring six fire fighters.” (National Fire Protection Association. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1973,” Fire Journal. Vol. 68, No. 3, May 1974, pp. 69-71 & 76.)

Newspapers

July 11, Associated Press: “Worcester (AP) — Three persons died and 22 were injured early today when fire swept a five-story brick rooming house on Main Street, officials said. Nine persons remained unaccounted for, firemen said, but a search of the structure was halted at 7 a.m. when an outside wall collapsed, injuring four firemen. Two of the dead were identified as Alexander…Shemeth, 60, who previously had lost both hands and whose body was found on the sidewalk, and Walter Perkins, 53. Officials tentatively identified the third victim as Al Kathan, age unknown. Perkins was found on the fifth floor while the fire was still in progress. Kathan’s body was found in a third floor apartment about 6:30 a.m.

“Origin of the fire was unknown, officials said, and attempts lo re-enter the building would not be made until building inspectors certified it was safe.

“Two policemen and an unknown civilian first reported the fire at 3 a.m. The policemen said the top three floors already were obscured by smoke and five minutes later flames were shooting out of all the windows on those floors. Six policemen went in the front door before firemen arrived and rescued several persons before flames and smoke drove them out. Both police and firemen yelled to persons still in the building, urging them not to jump. Twelve aerial rescues were made, fire officials said, although several persons reportedly jumped or fell. The fire was brought under control about 7:40 a.m.

“Fifty-four persons were registered as residents of the building, according to owner Leo U. Angers of Millbury. The structure consisted of both single rooms and small apartments.

“Six of the injured were firemen. Two of them were treated for smoke inhalation, while the four involved in the collapsing wall suffered minor injuries….The extent of injuries to the other 16 persons was not immediately known.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “3 die, 9 missing, 22 hurt in Worcester apartment fire.” 7-11-1973, p. 1.)

July 12, Associated Press: “Worcester, Mass. (AP) – The count stood at seven dead, 25 injured and three missing today after fire swept a five-story brick and wood tenement building. Officials planned to renew a search of the debris for more bodies…. Five persons remained hospitalized, two in critical condition….

“Police said the fire apparently started at the rear of the building and rapidly spread across rear porches before entering the main section of the structure. The first floor of the building was occupied by dry cleaning, ice cream and real estate businesses, police said. The cause of the blaze was unknown and there was no estimate of damage.” (Greenfield Recorder, MA. “Fire Toll Stands At Seven.” 7-12-1973, p. 2.)

July 13, Associated Press: “Worcester, Mass. (AP)– Officials say they are seeking the cause of a fire that claimed nine lives and left 25 injured when flames swept a five-story rooming house Wednesday. The search continued through the rubble of the brick, tenement for the body of at least one resident still unaccounted for. Five persons remained hospitalized, two of them in critical condition….

“Officials said they have not ruled out the possibility of arson…The upper floors of the building contained 56 single rooms and small apartments, 54 of which were occupied at the time of the fire…” (Greenfield Recorder, MA. “Worcester Fire Toll Now Nine.” 7-13-1973, p. 2.)

July 16, Associated Press: “Worcester, Mass. (AP) – The body of John Lund, 56, 10th victim of a fire alarm fire that swept a five-story Main Street tenement building last Wednesday, has been found in the ruins. Lund’s body was found Sunday beneath a pile of rubble in the cellar. Fire officials said they have now accounted for all 54 tenants registered in the building.” (Greenfield Recorder, MA. “10th Fire Victim.” 7-16-1973, p. 2.)

Sources

Greenfield Recorder, MA. “10th Fire Victim.” 7-16-1973, p. 2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=186091742&sterm=worcester+fire

Greenfield Recorder, MA. “Fire Toll Stands At Seven.” 7-12-1973, p. 2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=186091704&sterm=worcester+fire

Greenfield Recorder, MA. “Worcester Fire Toll Now Nine.” 7-13-1973, p. 2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=186091718&sterm=worcester+fire

Lowell Sun, MA. “3 die, 9 missing, 22 hurt in Worcester apartment fire.” 7-11-1973, 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=55580350&sterm=worcester+fire

National Fire Protection Association. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1973,” Fire Journal. Vol. 68, No. 3, May 1974, pp. 69-71 & 76.