Boston Fire Department - 6 Members Killed - 70 years ago

[mack]

11/15/42  Luongo Restaurant Fire in East Boston killed 6 members- Francis J. Degan, John F. Foley, Edward F. Macomber, Daniel E. McGuire, Peter F. McMorrow, and Malachi F. Reddington.

http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/firestorymavericksquarefire11151942.html

http://www.celebrateboston.com/disasters/luongos-restaurant-fire.htm

A memorial service was held by BFD to honor the 6 firefighters.  RIP.

Tragedy in November: The Luongo Fire and Thanksgiving Day Fires

http://www.ebnhc.org/#Fire

http://www.wbur.org/2012/11/15/east-boston-fire-memorial

http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/mavericksquarededicationprogram11152012.pdf

http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/photofiremavericksquare11151942.pdf

Fire report: http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/firereportmavericksquarefire11151942.pdf

 

[fdny1075k]

May they rest in peace.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

On October 1, 1964, 5 members of the Boston Fire Department paid the ultimate price to Boston. The box was 5-1671. My uncle was assigned to Ladder 4 but Lt. Geswell traded off. He used my uncles helmet, my relatives were notified it might be him. Unfortunately during the "welfare riots" in Boston of 1968 he was shot and wounded. Ladder 4 was covering Ladder 23, responded to a report of a building fire, unfounded. As Lt Donovon ascended the aerial of Ladder 4 shots ran out, he was hit in the wrist. Bullet caused physical damage to his wrist/arm, department policy was you had to ascend the aerial, nerve damage prevented this. He was assigned to HQ's but I beleive it broke his heart, he was a "good Jake". Grumpy.

 

[mack]

Here is a copy of the original fire report written by District Chief Jacob Berninger for the 5th alarm for Box 6153:

http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/firereportmavericksquarefire11151942.pdf

Pictures after collapse:

http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/photosluongos11151942.jpg

 

[mack]

Another part of this fire's history for BFD:  Ladder 8's rig was a new 1941 ALF 125 foot 5 section, closed cab, metal aerial.  It was the first metal aerial ladder in BFD.  It was painted white for no particular reason and quickly gained a bad reputation when its ladder buckled during a drill.  It was larger than most ladder apparatus and proved to be difficult to maneuver.  It was assigned 2nd due on the 2nd alarm at this fire.  When the building collapsed, Ladder 8 was buried and required extensive repairs:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/reports_publications/white_elephant.asp

The rig was rebuilt, painted red, and reassigned to Ladder 19 in South Boston.  It overturned some years later in an accident which killed another firefighter, Joseph Sullivan (RIP), in 1947.

http://www.bostonladder19.com/Sub%20Sections/Pictures.html

 

[mack]

Another summary from CommandSafety.com:

http://commandsafety.com/2012/11/the-1942-luongos-restaurant-fire-and-collapse-in-east-boston-six-boston-firefighter-line-of-duty-deaths/