In the early morning hours of November 15, 1942, a fire broke out in Luongo's Tap, a restaurant within the former East Boston Lyceum, which quickly escalated to three alarms. The temperature that evening was 12 degrees Fahrenheit with stiff winds. During the incident, the brick wall from the third through fifth floors on the Henry Street side of building collapsed without warning, trapping many firefighters under the rubble. The Boston Fire Departments only white-colored apparatus, Ladder 8, a 125 foot aerial truck was also buried under the rubble.

The Building & Incident

The fire took place in a  five and a half story brick building which housed a liquor store on the first floor and a tavern and restaurant on the first floor and above with the second floor housing a dine and dance café. The fire originated in the ceiling above the first floor kitchen and from there extended throughout the entire building along with an adjourning 3-story building (20ft x 40ft brick building) located on Henry Street. 

The Boston fire Department transmitted a still alarm at 0226 hours for Engine Co. 40 and Ladder Co. 2 to respond to the location. Box 6153 was then transmitted at 0227 hours for Engine Co. 9, Engine Co. 5, Engine Co. 11, Ladder Co. 31 and Acting District chief Jacob Berninger of District 1 to respond on a full first alarm assignment.

At 0305 hours a second alarm was transmitted followed by a third alarm at 0324 hours by District Chief Crowley and Deputy Chief Stickel, respectively. At approximately 0400 hours and without warning the brick wall collapsed on the Henry Street side of the building. Prior to the collapse, it was said to have shown no signs of buckling. Rescue operations began immediately and a fourth alarm was struck at 0420 hours followed by a fifth alarm at 0434 hours by the Chief of the Department Samuel Pope.

In the end, nearly fifty Boston firefighters were injured or trapped in the collapse with six firefighters passing away due to their injuries. The six firefighters who perished in the line of duty that day equaled the record number of Boston Firefighters who died in the line of duty during the Merrimac Street Fire and Collapse of 1898.

We Remember…

Hoseman John F. Foley - Engine Co. 3 Hoseman Edward F. Macomber - Engine Co. 12 Ladderman Daniel E. McGuire - Ladder Co. 2 Hoseman Peter F. McMorrow - Engine Co. 50 Hoseman Malachi F. Reddington - Engine Co. 33 Hoseman Francis J. Degan - Engine Co. 3