What happened at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub?

On 28 November 1942, a small fire ignited inside the crowded Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts.

The fire spread rapidly through flammable decorations, trapping many of those inside. 492 tragically lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest nightclub fires in US history.

How did the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire start?

Officially the source is unknown, but it could have started when a match or cigarette ignited flammable decorative materials, such as the artificial palm trees and fabric near the entrance. The fire quickly spread throughout the crowded building.

Methyl chloride, which was used in some nearby equipment, is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

What can the industry learn from the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire?

The incident led to the introduction of regulations for different elements of fire engineering and safety, such as occupancy limits, the use of flame-retardant materials and emergency lighting and exit signage.