At 2215 hrs, on November 28, 1942, Fire Alarm Headquarters from Box 1514, situated at Stuart and Carver streets, received an alarm. When the responding apparatus arrived they found a small car fire at the corner of Stuart Street and Broadway. After the fire was extinguished the firefighters were about to return to quarters when their attention was called to smoke emanating from the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub a few doors away. Upon their arrival at the entrance of the Broadway lounge on Broadway they encountered numerous people leaving the premises admidst the cries of “fire”. The chief in charge immediately ordered that a third alarm be sounded from Alarm Box 1521 which the alarm was received by fire alarm headquarters at 2223 hrs. A civilian sent an alarm that was received at 2220 by fire alarm headquarters. As soon as the chief in charge realized that the immediate problem was one of rescue he ordered that a fourth alarm (received at 2224) and a fifth alarm (received at 1102) be sent. The apparatus responding was comprised of 25 engine companies, 5 ladder companies, 1 water tower company, 1 rescue company and various other apparatus. 18 hose steams for cooling purposes and three ladders were utilized (located at Piedmont, Broadway, and Shawmut for venting operations).
The fire lasted only 12-14 minutes and killed 492 and injured 164, the reason for this is the building construction, occupancy, and interior design of the club. For better understanding the structure will be described in great detail.
Caricature Bar Section
A wooden bar 48 feet long faced with artificial leather occupied this area of the first-class one-story structure. Bar stools were metal covered with the same material. On the piedmont street side of the room was another bar described as a service bar.
The ceiling was made of plasterboard and the walls were of Masonite coved with artificial leather.
The floor was linoleum on wood.
A large exhaust fan expelled air into a vacant area adjoining the building.
Means of egress from this part of the structure were by means of the main foyer at one end, and on the main dining room side, and at the other end of the bar through the passageway leading to the Broadway Lounge. A closed balustrade about 40” high, separated the Caricature Bar area from the main dining room.
Four casement windows behind the service bar, against the Piedmont Stree...
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...lling device, which was opened up usually in the summertime, the ceiling however was covered in fabric from wall to wall.
The orchestra platform was lined also with fabric from wall to wall and across the ceiling, and a heavy fabric draw curtain was made to close off the front of the stage.
The Shawmut Street side walls were covered with veneer concealing three plate glass windows.
The dance floor was wood on concrete.
Lighting fixtures consisted of bulbs in cocoanut shells located on six paper palm trees in this room.
Ventilation fans were located over the exit door in the center of the Shawmut Street wall, and at the head of the stairs to the kitchen, near the terrace at the west end of the room.
There were four exits from the main dining room: one by means of a door in the center of the Shawmut street wall: another by the stairs (used by the waiters) to the kitchen: another by a door near the orchestra platform into the control room to another door to Shawmut Street, or optionally downstairs to the part of the basement occupied by the heating plant: by the main entrance to the foyer, and another through the passageway near the orchestra platform to the Broadway Lounge.
Mary Domsky-Abrams; one of the few to get out of the building, in the beginning of the fire, she recalls talking to one of the managers named: Bonstein. “ As he came near us on that fateful day, one girl asked him, “Mr. Bonstein, why theres is not water buckets?. In case of fire, there would be nothing with which to fight it.” He became enraged at our group of price committee members, and with inhuman anger replied” If you’ll burn, there’ll be something to put out the fire.”
Bright, R G. Reconstruction of a Tragedy: The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire, Southgate, Kentucky, May 28, 1977. an Analysis of the Development and Spread of Fire from the Room of Fire Origin (zebra Room) to the Cabaret Room. Appendix C. Richard Bright's Analysis. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified, 1977. Internet resource.
The Station was a single story wood frame building of approximately 4500 square feet.. It was originally built in 1946 as a club for local military personnel who were on leave. Over the years it served as a variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. In 1972, a fire damaged the building and reopened in 1974. In 1991 it was converted into its final incarnation as a bar and showroom. The building was arranged with the bar, kitchen, dart room along with offices and storage on the east end of the building. The showroom and sunroom area comprised the west. There were four exits. The front door was only accessible through a corridor partially occluded by a small ticket booth and another 36 inch wide doorway in the middle of the corridor. This becomes a critical chokepoint when the fire breaks out.
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