"On a warm, dry, windy spring day, May 22, 1964, the "Bellflower Street Conflagration" occurred and ultimately destroyed or damaged 35 multi-family dwellings. This conflagration would greatly tax the resources of the Boston Fire Department and the Greater Boston mutual-aid network before being brought under control. Although many firefighters and citizens were injured, no fatalities were recorded.
The fire started on the rear porch of 26 Bellflower Street, located mid-block on street lined with 'three-deckers', a type of wooden multi-family housing unit which exist in large numbers throughout Boston. The fire spread quickly to adjoining structures and before long a conflagration was in progress. Dry, southwest winds of twenty miles per hour, and a temperature of 79 degrees helped to advance the fire. At the height of the fire, a large plume of smoke was visible from as far away as 15 miles.
The first notification to the fire department by a telephone call to the Fire Alarm Office (FAO) and a Still Alarm was transmitted at 1338 hours. The FAO transmitted Box 7251 (Dorchester Avenue & Dorset Street) at 1339 hours. The FAO reported to the responding fire companies that it was "receiving calls" for the Bellflower Street location.
Fire Lieutenant James D. Kennedy of Ladder Company 20 ordered the 2nd Alarm as the company passed over the Southampton Street Bridge. District 6 Fire Chief John Greene arrived shortly thereafter and ordered the 3rd and 4th Alarms. Deputy Fire Chief Frederick Clauss arrived shortly thereafter and ordered the 5th Alarm at 1346 hours. One minute later he radioed "Give me all the help you can get." Acting Chief of Department John Clougherty arrived shortly thereafter and assumed command at Boston & Howell Streets.
A flanking attack plan was devised in order to fight the rapidly advancing fire. This was implemented at the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Howell Street, on the northeast side of the fire. Due to the strong southwest winds, a water curtain was established in order to prevent the advance of the fire in the direction of Andrew Square and South Boston.
Over 250 roof fires were reported during the fire, requiring the response of many fire companies to extinguish. The water supply system withstood the heavy demand for water. At 1530 hours, the fire began to be contained. However, much work was still needed to provide complete extinguishment.
The following buildings were destroyed:
?Bellflower Street: 26, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 18, 27, 28, 29, 30
?Dorset Street: 25, 29, 31, 33, 37, 41
The following buildings were damaged:
?Bellflower Street: 17, 14, 16
?Dorset Street: 21, 23
?Howell Street: 22, 24, 26
?Boston Street: 140, 142
The following were reported injured and held at Boston City Hospital:
?Fire Fighter Henry Kane, Engine 17, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Frederick Finn, Engine 21, smoke inhalation
?Fire Lieutenant William Coakley, Ladder 10, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Francis Murphy, Engine 24, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter James Sheedy, Ladder 4, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Paul Flynn, Ladder 2, smoke inhalation
?Mrs. Mildred Reutinger, resident
The following were reported injured and released from Boston City Hospital:
?Acting Chief of Department John E. Clougherty, Headquarters, eye injury
?Fire Lieutenant George Graney, Engine 1, throat burns
?Fire Fighter Edward Connolly, Headquarters, eye injury
?Fire Fighter Paul Lambrecht, Ladder 26, eye injury, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Joseph Russell, Engine 50, hip injury
?Fire Fighter William Cunningham, Engine 37, eye injury
?Fire Fighter William Brown, Ladder 13, neck burns
?Fire Fighter John Gaddis, Ladder 4, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Joseph Pishkin, Ladder 29, eye injury
?Fire Fighter Richard Pare, Engine 31, facial cuts
?Fire Fighter Howard Clinkscale, Ladder 13, back injury
?Fire Fighter Paul Callahan, Engine 37, eye injury, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter David McKinnon, Engine 43, burned hands
?Fire Fighter John McGinnis, Engine 37, eye injury
?Fire Fighter Thomas Gorman, Engine 21, cut hand
?Boston Police Patrolman Robert Stone, Division 6, smoke inhalation
?M.D.C. Patrolman Frank Luppi, cut hand (at Mass. General Hospital)
?John DiPetro, City Hospital volunteer, smoke inhalation
?Timothy Karpetski, cut hand
?Kevin Mooney, smoke inhalation
?William Kelley, burned hand
?Sara Nolan, resident, collapsed at scene
?Frances Szpakowski, resident, arm burns
?Margaret Barry, resident, burns and exhaustion
?Judy Peterson, resident, smoke inhalation
?Nora McCarthy, resident, exhaustion
?Dennis Coffey, collapsed at scene"
- Boston Historical Society
http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/firestory05221964.html
Boston Archives - 52 pictures and fire report:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityofbostonarchives/sets/72157644765969795
The fire started on the rear porch of 26 Bellflower Street, located mid-block on street lined with 'three-deckers', a type of wooden multi-family housing unit which exist in large numbers throughout Boston. The fire spread quickly to adjoining structures and before long a conflagration was in progress. Dry, southwest winds of twenty miles per hour, and a temperature of 79 degrees helped to advance the fire. At the height of the fire, a large plume of smoke was visible from as far away as 15 miles.
The first notification to the fire department by a telephone call to the Fire Alarm Office (FAO) and a Still Alarm was transmitted at 1338 hours. The FAO transmitted Box 7251 (Dorchester Avenue & Dorset Street) at 1339 hours. The FAO reported to the responding fire companies that it was "receiving calls" for the Bellflower Street location.
Fire Lieutenant James D. Kennedy of Ladder Company 20 ordered the 2nd Alarm as the company passed over the Southampton Street Bridge. District 6 Fire Chief John Greene arrived shortly thereafter and ordered the 3rd and 4th Alarms. Deputy Fire Chief Frederick Clauss arrived shortly thereafter and ordered the 5th Alarm at 1346 hours. One minute later he radioed "Give me all the help you can get." Acting Chief of Department John Clougherty arrived shortly thereafter and assumed command at Boston & Howell Streets.
A flanking attack plan was devised in order to fight the rapidly advancing fire. This was implemented at the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Howell Street, on the northeast side of the fire. Due to the strong southwest winds, a water curtain was established in order to prevent the advance of the fire in the direction of Andrew Square and South Boston.
Over 250 roof fires were reported during the fire, requiring the response of many fire companies to extinguish. The water supply system withstood the heavy demand for water. At 1530 hours, the fire began to be contained. However, much work was still needed to provide complete extinguishment.
The following buildings were destroyed:
?Bellflower Street: 26, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 18, 27, 28, 29, 30
?Dorset Street: 25, 29, 31, 33, 37, 41
The following buildings were damaged:
?Bellflower Street: 17, 14, 16
?Dorset Street: 21, 23
?Howell Street: 22, 24, 26
?Boston Street: 140, 142
The following were reported injured and held at Boston City Hospital:
?Fire Fighter Henry Kane, Engine 17, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Frederick Finn, Engine 21, smoke inhalation
?Fire Lieutenant William Coakley, Ladder 10, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Francis Murphy, Engine 24, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter James Sheedy, Ladder 4, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Paul Flynn, Ladder 2, smoke inhalation
?Mrs. Mildred Reutinger, resident
The following were reported injured and released from Boston City Hospital:
?Acting Chief of Department John E. Clougherty, Headquarters, eye injury
?Fire Lieutenant George Graney, Engine 1, throat burns
?Fire Fighter Edward Connolly, Headquarters, eye injury
?Fire Fighter Paul Lambrecht, Ladder 26, eye injury, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Joseph Russell, Engine 50, hip injury
?Fire Fighter William Cunningham, Engine 37, eye injury
?Fire Fighter William Brown, Ladder 13, neck burns
?Fire Fighter John Gaddis, Ladder 4, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter Joseph Pishkin, Ladder 29, eye injury
?Fire Fighter Richard Pare, Engine 31, facial cuts
?Fire Fighter Howard Clinkscale, Ladder 13, back injury
?Fire Fighter Paul Callahan, Engine 37, eye injury, smoke inhalation
?Fire Fighter David McKinnon, Engine 43, burned hands
?Fire Fighter John McGinnis, Engine 37, eye injury
?Fire Fighter Thomas Gorman, Engine 21, cut hand
?Boston Police Patrolman Robert Stone, Division 6, smoke inhalation
?M.D.C. Patrolman Frank Luppi, cut hand (at Mass. General Hospital)
?John DiPetro, City Hospital volunteer, smoke inhalation
?Timothy Karpetski, cut hand
?Kevin Mooney, smoke inhalation
?William Kelley, burned hand
?Sara Nolan, resident, collapsed at scene
?Frances Szpakowski, resident, arm burns
?Margaret Barry, resident, burns and exhaustion
?Judy Peterson, resident, smoke inhalation
?Nora McCarthy, resident, exhaustion
?Dennis Coffey, collapsed at scene"
- Boston Historical Society
http://www.bostonfirehistory.org/firestory05221964.html
Boston Archives - 52 pictures and fire report:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityofbostonarchives/sets/72157644765969795
