Chelesa MA Fire - Conflagration - October 14, 1973

mack

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Chelsea, Massachusetts, is a city located just North of Boston. The major fire occurred in 1973 which destroyed 18 square blocks. It was the second conflagration for the city. The first Great Chelsea Fire had occurred in 1908.

The fire in 1973 took 4 days to bring under control and left over 1000 homeless.
 
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I buffed this job with my first wife. There was enough fire for everyone, to you FDNY guys ths was comporable to the Knickober Street Fire. They made a last and desperate stand @ the Williams School, if they had failed it would have gone to the ocean. I was taking a Fire Science course @ Bunker Hill CC, our teacher was the state fire marshall. Got to visit the scene 3 days later, still hot areas of temp. Area became a shopping mall afterwards. I have a run down of who went if interested.
 
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This fir happened on my second day in Ma.  I was up there for training for a new job I got.  I was staying in Leominister  just off Route 2.  I drove up tp the Boston area when I saw the news covrage but couldn't get close to the area by car so I parked and hoofed it as close as I could get.  Like GG said, there was enough fire to go around.
 
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For Mack and everyone else. Do a search for Chelsea Historical Society. I beleive the site should read: olgp.net/chs. Scroll down to the bottom of the main page and there it is. Maybe some intellectual type could transfer the info to the thread. NJoy, GG :D :D :D
 
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Just some humor for svd 385. Betcha you called it Leo-min-ister, not Lemonister, one word. Dorchester is like that, one word. And it is Wooster, not Wor chest er. Love it when they send the local TV crews out there!!  That is how we keep the non-beleiver Boston fans away. I beleive that was the last call for a conflagration. Saw a show didn't you, firefighters making the last desperate stand at the school. I knew some jakes from Boston on a ladder company, they were told, with respect, if not here, where.
 
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True for the first couple of weeks .... but I also figured out that all of the "R's" dropped in speach in BAHSTON worked there way into the midwest. Got the ideaR
 

mack

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List of Cities and Towns that responded to Chelsea 
during the 1973 Conflagration 
 
Abington Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Amesbury Engine & Ladder  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m. 
    Engine #3  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
Arlington Engine #1  To Chelsea 4:33 p.m. 
    Ladder #2  To Chelsea 4:54 p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Chelsea 5:25 p.m. 
    Rescue  To Chelsea 5:25 p.m. 
    Ambulance  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:04 p.m. 
Avon Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Belmont Engine  #3  To Chelsea 5:12 p.m. 
    Engine  #2  To Chelsea 6:00 p.m. 
Beverly Engine  #1, Engine #2,  To Chelsea 6:50 p.m. 
    lighting plant  To Chelsea 
Boston Engine  #50  To Chelsea 4:02 p.m.
    Engine  #11  To Chelsea 4:02 p.m. 
    Engine  #10  To Chelsea 4:03 p.m. 
    Engine #8 To Chelsea 4:03 p.m.
    Engine  #39  To Chelsea 4:55 p.m. 
    Engine  #20  To Chelsea 4:55 p.m. 
    Engine  #21  To Chelsea 4:55 p.m. 
    2 Ambulances  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    3 District Chiefs  To Chelsea 6:05 p.m. 
    2 Fuel Wagons  To Chelsea 6:05 p.m. 
    Ladder #15  To Chelsea 6:05 p.m. 
    Engine #  To Chelsea 6:22 p.m. 
    Engine # To Chelsea 6:22 p.m. 
    Engine # To Chelsea 6:22 p.m.     
    Engine #34 To Chelsea 6:30 p.m. 
    Engine  #14 To Chelsea 6:30 p.m. 
    Engine  #48  To Chelsea 6:30 p.m. 
    Ladder  To Chelsea 10:35 p.m. 
    Ladder  #8  To Chelsea 10:40 p.m.
    Ladder #11  To Chelsea 10:40 p.m. 
Boxford Engine  #2  To Chelsea 6:20 p.m. 
Braintree Engine  #1 - Engine #6  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Brookline Engine  #1 & Ladder #2  To Chelsea 4:29 p.m. 
    Engine  #3  To Chelsea 4:51 p.m. 
Burlington Engine  #1 - Engine #6  To Chelsea 5:38 p.m. 
Canton Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:11 p.m. 
Cambridge Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:49 p.m. 
    Ladder  #2  To Chelsea 6:49  p.m. 
    Lighting Plant  To Chelsea 11:10 p.m. 
Chelsea 3rd Alarm, Box 215  4:01 p.m. 
4th Alarm, Box 215  4:08  p.m. 
Conflagration  4:26  p.m. 
2nd Alarm, City Hall  10:39  p.m. 
Danvers Engine #4  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Dedham Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    Ladder  #1  To Chelsea 6:22 p.m 
    Engine  #2  To Boston E-55 6:29 p.m. 
Everett Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4.04 pm. 
    Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
    Engine #4-Ladder #3  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
Framingham Ladder #1  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
    C-1  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Georgetown Engine #5  To Chelsea 5:54 p.m. 
Gloucester Pump  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m 
    Engine #1  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Hamilton Pump  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
Hampton,  N.H. Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:30 p.m. 
Hanover Engine  #1 -#3  To Chelsea 6:56 p.m. 
    lighting  plant  To Chelsea 
Haverhill Engine  #4  To Chelsea 5:54 p.m. 
Holbrook Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:11 p.m. 
Lexington Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:07 p.m. 
Lincoln Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Logan Airport Engine  #5-#7  To Chelsea 4:21 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:12 p.m. 
Lynn Engine  #11  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Malden Ladder  #2  To Chelsea 6:16 p.m. 
    Engine  #2 & Tower  To Revere 10:26 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 8:04 a.m. 
Manchester Engine  #2  To Chelsea 7:02 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Marlboro Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:46 p.m. 
Maynard Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:56 p.m. 
Medford Engine  #4  To Chelsea 4:23 p.m. 
    Engine  #6  To Chelsea 4:30 p.m. 
Melrose Engine #1  To Chelsea 4:20 p.m. 
    Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:37 p.m. 
Middleton Engine #3 & Lighting.  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
    Plant  To Chelsea 
Milton Engine #1  To Chelsea 6:10 p.m. 
Natick Engine #4  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Needham Engine #3  To Boston 5:15 p.m. 
    Engine #44  To Chelsea 5:15 p.m. 
Newbury Engine #1  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Newburyport Engine #6  To Chelsea 7:01 p.m. 
Newton Engine #3  To Chelsea 5:11p.m. 
    2 Ambulances  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    2 Police  Wagons  To Chelsea 6:00 p.m. 
    & Chief of Dept.  To Chelsea 
North Reading Engine #5  To Chelsea 5:10 p.m. 
Norwood Engine #3  To Chelsea 5:25  p.m. 
Quincy Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:29  p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Boston 4:57  p.m. 
    Engine #20  To Chelsea 
    Engine #5  To Chelsea 4:57  p.m. 
    Ambulance  To Chelsea 5:30,p.m. 
    Foam Wagon  To Chelsea 6:07 p.m. 
Randolph Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Reading Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:50 p.m. 
    Engine #1  To Chelsea 6:50 p.m. 
Revere Engine #4 & #5, Ladder #2  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
Rockland Engine #4  To Chelsea 6:56 p.m. 
Rockport Pump  To Chelsea 7:15 p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
Saugus Engine 1  To Chelsea 4:19 p.m. 
Sharon Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Somerville Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4:05 p.m. 
    Engine  #9  To Chelsea 4:36 p.m. 
    Engine  #7  To Chelsea 4:50 p.m. 
    Ladder  #2  To Chelsea 6:14 p.m. 
Stoughton Engine #1  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Sudbury Engine #1  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Swampscott Engine #2 & Lighting Plant  To Chelsea 7:02 p.m. 
Topsfield Engine  #3  To Chelsea 6:31 p.m. 
    Engine  #2  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Wakefield Ladder  #1  To Revere 5:25 p.m. 
Waltham Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4:49 p.m. 
    Engine  #5  To Chelsea 6:00 p.m. 
Watertown Engine  #3  To Chelsea 4:30 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:36 p.m. 
    C.D. Rescue Unit  To Chelsea 6:27 p.m. 
    Ladder #2  To Belmont 12:04 a.m. 
Wayland Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Wellesley Engine  #3  To Chelsea 4:39 p.m. 
    Engine  #6  To Chelsea 5:07 p.m. 
Wenham Pump  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
West Newbury Engine  #22  To Chelsea 5:59 p.m. 
Weston Engine  #1 & #2  To Chelsea 4:50 p.m. 
Westwood Engine  #1  To Dedham 5:57 p.m. 
Weymouth Engine  #5  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Winchester Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:57 p.m. 
Winthrop Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
    Engine  #4  To Chelsea 11:22 p.m

from Chelsea Historical Society
Thanks Grump
 

mack

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Messages
13,431
Ironically, Chelsea experienced a similar conflagration in 1908 - 2,822 buildings, 492 acres of land, 19 deaths and sixteen thousand Chelsea residents left homeless.

"The fire began when workmen had spread out rags to dry on Second Street and in some way, whether a careless match or intentional act, the rags ignited. The high, gale force winds carried these ignited rags 200 feet to the McKay Wax Shop, which is part of the Boston Blacking Company. As the firemen were dousing this blaze, a second fire of suspicious origin began in Levitsky's Rag Shop in the Third, Elm and Maple Street block. This building was soon a mass of flames and the fire, fed by the 40-mile-an-hour winds, promised to be a fire of epic proportions.

The fire raged up Everett Avenue through West Third Street, Walnut and all the adjacent streets. Within minutes, the business block on Broadway was a seething mass of flames.

The fire is described in the Chelsea Gazette as "Volcanic." Not only was the fire swift in its destruction, but it was overwhelming in its size and fury. The smoke, the burning embers and the confusion scattered Chelsea residents in all directions. The April 18, 1908 edition of The Chelsea Gazette recounts this catastrophic event. "It was a sight to touch the hearts of the most hardened: words cannot begin to express the sorrow and suffering of those whose homes laid in the path of the flames. Families were separated; men, like women, frantic. Many had left their homes in the East Side to watch the progress of the conflagration in the West Side and seeing the fire was sweeping through the heart of the city, returned home only to find their own homes in flames"

The most interesting account of the fire comes from Walter Merriam Pratt in his book, "Seven Generations: A Story of Prattville and Chelsea." Walter lived this catastrophe. His version of the fire gives it a vividness that we just don't get from the statistics and bland accounts.

Walter tells us that the strength of the fire was mindboggling. You would look at a building one moment and it was fine. The next moment, it would "burst into flames and melt away."

People went crazy. One man went into Union Park, pressed a revolver to his head and committed suicide. Another man of extremely disheveled appearance stood on the Washington Avenue bridge and screamed at the passers by that Chelsea needs help. Women, as white as ghosts, were seen walking around clutching things of little value such as a frying pan or a tin-dipper. One man threw 22 pieces of cut glass in a dirty old sheet and carried it for miles. Amazingly enough, nothing was broken. A woman was seen running from the flames with a marble bust in one arm and the family dog in the other. She carried the dog so tightly that the poor creature couldn't walk for days.

The most eerie account of all is the one involving the player-piano. Two men tried to rescue this piano from the flames, when the cloth in the back of the instrument caught on fire. Weirdly, the piano began to play, "There'll Be A Hot time in the Old Town Tonight." The piano continued to play this tune as all the surrounding buildings were engulfed in flames.

The scary thing about the fire is the fact that people didn't know where to go. Everything seemed to be consumed by the flames. Running to safety often meant greeting another phalanges of the blaze. Walter Pratt tells us that some of the people huddled in the Garden Cemetery. They crouched low to the ground only to be strangled by the smoke and bitten by the hot, burning embers. Other people ran to the marshlands in hope that the water would provide them refuge from the blaze. Walter Pratt joined these people and recounts: We fled down the hill (Mount Bellingham) in the direction of Orient Heights. Hundreds were going the same way; poor and rich were on equal terms. The wind blew with such force that women were blown into fences and trees or lost their balance and fell. Great pieces of furniture went bounding end over end down the hill, blown by the wind. Horses were running away, and the scene was one of terrifying confusion. Escape was possible only by enduring the hostile breath of flames, running, tripping over abandoned furniture in the blinding, sickening smoke, toward the marshes to the northeast; there, although safe from flames, the refugees suffered from the hailstorm of stones and showers of blazing embers that fell upon them, burning holes in their clothes and starting grass fires in every direction. The many horses set loose on the marsh endangered lives. The wails of the frantic parents vainly searching for their children added to the excitement.

Before dusk the fire was over. Within its short hours, it had eaten up three-quarters of the city. Brick buildings, thought to be invincible, were gone. Elegant mansions with opulent furnishings were taken by the flames and were never to be seen again. Churches, synagogues and storefronts were reduced to heaps and heaps of smoldering rubble. The beautiful shade trees, full of spring's new leaves, were now charred, black fingers reaching up into the smoky air.

The tragedy of this fire was not only the nineteen lives it took but that it destroyed a city that took hundreds of years to build. Imposing, irreplaceable architecture was reduced to charred ruins. Of the sixteen thousand people rendered homeless by the fire, many decided to leave Chelsea altogether. Hence, the old neighborhoods were to be replaced by new ones peopled with strangers from other towns.

This fire claimed to be the third largest in the country in terms of area. 2822 buildings were destroyed. 708 shade trees were engulfed in flames. A total of 492 acres were ravaged by this horrible fire. The loss was appalling. 17 million dollars in property was destroyed. 19 people were killed while 16 thousand Chelsea residents were left homeless. 75 people were listed as missing or left unaccounted for. This fire changed the face of Chelsea forever"
From Chelsea Historical Society


http://olgp.net/chs/photos/fire1908/chelseafire.htm

List of Cities and Towns that responded to Chelsea during the 1908 Chelsea Fire: 
   
CITY OR TOWN  NUMBER OF MEN  NUMBER OF APPARATUS 
   
Boston  Unknown number of men  13 pieces 
Everett  Unknown number of men  1 piece 
Medford  15 men  1 engine 
Lynn  30 men  1 piece 
Cambridge  35 men  2 pieces 
Revere  25 men  1 piece 
Winthrop  8 men  1 piece 
Melrose  30 men  1 piece 
Somerville  16 men  2 pieces 
Wakefield  12 men  1 piece 
Quincy  16 men  none 
Newton  17 men  1 piece 
Saugus  23 men  2 hose wagons 
Brookline  9 men  1 piece 
Arlington  9 men  1 piece 
Dedham  14 men  none 
Milton  14 men  none 
Waltham  19 men  1 piece 
Woburn  21 men  none 
Watertown  14 men  none 
   
An unknown number of men were sent from the following towns: 
   
Beverly   
Newburyport   
Peabody   
Salem   
Reading   
Braintree   
Norwood   
Needham

From Chelsea Historical Society
 
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Messages
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mack said:
List of Cities and Towns that responded to Chelsea 
during the 1973 Conflagration 
 
Abington Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Amesbury Engine & Ladder  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m. 
    Engine #3  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
Arlington Engine #1  To Chelsea 4:33 p.m. 
    Ladder #2  To Chelsea 4:54 p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Chelsea 5:25 p.m. 
    Rescue  To Chelsea 5:25 p.m. 
    Ambulance  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:04 p.m. 
Avon Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Belmont Engine  #3  To Chelsea 5:12 p.m. 
    Engine  #2  To Chelsea 6:00 p.m. 
Beverly Engine  #1, Engine #2,  To Chelsea 6:50 p.m. 
    lighting plant  To Chelsea 
Boston Engine  #50  To Chelsea 4:02 p.m.
    Engine  #11  To Chelsea 4:02 p.m. 
    Engine  #10  To Chelsea 4:03 p.m. 
    Engine #8 To Chelsea 4:03 p.m.
    Engine  #39  To Chelsea 4:55 p.m. 
    Engine  #20  To Chelsea 4:55 p.m. 
    Engine  #21  To Chelsea 4:55 p.m. 
    2 Ambulances  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    3 District Chiefs  To Chelsea 6:05 p.m. 
    2 Fuel Wagons  To Chelsea 6:05 p.m. 
    Ladder #15  To Chelsea 6:05 p.m. 
    Engine #  To Chelsea 6:22 p.m. 
    Engine # To Chelsea 6:22 p.m. 
    Engine # To Chelsea 6:22 p.m.     
    Engine #34 To Chelsea 6:30 p.m. 
    Engine  #14 To Chelsea 6:30 p.m. 
    Engine  #48  To Chelsea 6:30 p.m. 
    Ladder  To Chelsea 10:35 p.m. 
    Ladder  #8  To Chelsea 10:40 p.m.
    Ladder #11  To Chelsea 10:40 p.m. 
Boxford Engine  #2  To Chelsea 6:20 p.m. 
Braintree Engine  #1 - Engine #6  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Brookline Engine  #1 & Ladder #2  To Chelsea 4:29 p.m. 
    Engine  #3  To Chelsea 4:51 p.m. 
Burlington Engine  #1 - Engine #6  To Chelsea 5:38 p.m. 
Canton Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:11 p.m. 
Cambridge Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:49 p.m. 
    Ladder  #2  To Chelsea 6:49  p.m. 
    Lighting Plant  To Chelsea 11:10 p.m. 
Chelsea 3rd Alarm, Box 215  4:01 p.m. 
4th Alarm, Box 215  4:08  p.m. 
Conflagration  4:26  p.m. 
2nd Alarm, City Hall  10:39  p.m. 
Danvers Engine #4  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Dedham Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    Ladder  #1  To Chelsea 6:22 p.m 
    Engine  #2  To Boston E-55 6:29 p.m. 
Everett Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4.04 pm. 
    Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
    Engine #4-Ladder #3  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
Framingham Ladder #1  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
    C-1  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Georgetown Engine #5  To Chelsea 5:54 p.m. 
Gloucester Pump  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m 
    Engine #1  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Hamilton Pump  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
Hampton,  N.H. Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:30 p.m. 
Hanover Engine  #1 -#3  To Chelsea 6:56 p.m. 
    lighting  plant  To Chelsea 
Haverhill Engine  #4  To Chelsea 5:54 p.m. 
Holbrook Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:11 p.m. 
Lexington Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:07 p.m. 
Lincoln Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Logan Airport Engine  #5-#7  To Chelsea 4:21 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 5:12 p.m. 
Lynn Engine  #11  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Malden Ladder  #2  To Chelsea 6:16 p.m. 
    Engine  #2 & Tower  To Revere 10:26 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 8:04 a.m. 
Manchester Engine  #2  To Chelsea 7:02 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Marlboro Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:46 p.m. 
Maynard Engine  #1  To Chelsea 6:56 p.m. 
Medford Engine  #4  To Chelsea 4:23 p.m. 
    Engine  #6  To Chelsea 4:30 p.m. 
Melrose Engine #1  To Chelsea 4:20 p.m. 
    Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:37 p.m. 
Middleton Engine #3 & Lighting.  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
    Plant  To Chelsea 
Milton Engine #1  To Chelsea 6:10 p.m. 
Natick Engine #4  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Needham Engine #3  To Boston 5:15 p.m. 
    Engine #44  To Chelsea 5:15 p.m. 
Newbury Engine #1  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Newburyport Engine #6  To Chelsea 7:01 p.m. 
Newton Engine #3  To Chelsea 5:11p.m. 
    2 Ambulances  To Chelsea 5:30 p.m. 
    2 Police  Wagons  To Chelsea 6:00 p.m. 
    & Chief of Dept.  To Chelsea 
North Reading Engine #5  To Chelsea 5:10 p.m. 
Norwood Engine #3  To Chelsea 5:25  p.m. 
Quincy Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:29  p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Boston 4:57  p.m. 
    Engine #20  To Chelsea 
    Engine #5  To Chelsea 4:57  p.m. 
    Ambulance  To Chelsea 5:30,p.m. 
    Foam Wagon  To Chelsea 6:07 p.m. 
Randolph Engine #3  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Reading Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:50 p.m. 
    Engine #1  To Chelsea 6:50 p.m. 
Revere Engine #4 & #5, Ladder #2  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
Rockland Engine #4  To Chelsea 6:56 p.m. 
Rockport Pump  To Chelsea 7:15 p.m. 
    Engine #2  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
Saugus Engine 1  To Chelsea 4:19 p.m. 
Sharon Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Somerville Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4:05 p.m. 
    Engine  #9  To Chelsea 4:36 p.m. 
    Engine  #7  To Chelsea 4:50 p.m. 
    Ladder  #2  To Chelsea 6:14 p.m. 
Stoughton Engine #1  To Chelsea 4:40 p.m. 
Sudbury Engine #1  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Swampscott Engine #2 & Lighting Plant  To Chelsea 7:02 p.m. 
Topsfield Engine  #3  To Chelsea 6:31 p.m. 
    Engine  #2  To Chelsea 7:17 p.m. 
Wakefield Ladder  #1  To Revere 5:25 p.m. 
Waltham Engine  #2  To Chelsea 4:49 p.m. 
    Engine  #5  To Chelsea 6:00 p.m. 
Watertown Engine  #3  To Chelsea 4:30 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:36 p.m. 
    C.D. Rescue Unit  To Chelsea 6:27 p.m. 
    Ladder #2  To Belmont 12:04 a.m. 
Wayland Engine #2  To Chelsea 6:44 p.m. 
Wellesley Engine  #3  To Chelsea 4:39 p.m. 
    Engine  #6  To Chelsea 5:07 p.m. 
Wenham Pump  To Chelsea 7:12 p.m. 
    Engine  #1  To Chelsea 7:22 p.m. 
West Newbury Engine  #22  To Chelsea 5:59 p.m. 
Weston Engine  #1 & #2  To Chelsea 4:50 p.m. 
Westwood Engine  #1  To Dedham 5:57 p.m. 
Weymouth Engine  #5  To Chelsea 6:15 p.m. 
Winchester Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:57 p.m. 
Winthrop Engine  #1  To Chelsea 4:04 p.m. 
    Engine  #4  To Chelsea 11:22 p.m

from Chelsea Historical Society
Thanks Grump

What a Great rundown on that piece of history within the fire service. Just one of those incidents that those who were around, will never forget.

Thank you.
 

mack

Administrator
Joined
Aug 8, 2009
Messages
13,431
Looking at the list of cities and towns supplying mutual aid, it appears that many of the smaller towns sent most of their on-duty units-to Chelsea. 

Maybe there were many, many more relocations, but I have read in a few that these cities and towns were stripped.  The fire lasted several days so it is likely that they were able to recall personnel and place reserve units into service.  But the scope of this response was immense. 

 
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
3,335
Many of these responses were kinda insane, there are not that many hydrants and water pressure I assume was kinda low. And these companies had no idea where to go to. Just saying!!!!!!
 
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