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
The response to the fire was as follows:
Running Card for Box 7251, Dorchester Qvenue & Dorset Street.
Alarm | Engines | Ladders | Other |
---|---|---|---|
Still Alarm at 1338 |
Engine 21 | Ladder 20 | . |
1st Alarm at 1339 |
Engine 43 | Ladder 7 | District 6 |
2nd Alarm at 1340 |
Engines 1, 17, 12, 7 | Ladders 4, 3 | Rescue Co. Division 1 |
3rd Alarm at 1343 |
Engines 3, 24, 25, 37 | . | . |
4th Alarm at 1344 |
Engines 10, 53, 50, 39 | . | . |
5th Alarm at 1346 |
Engines 56, 20, 34, 40 | . | . |
Spec. Call at 1350 |
Engines 16, 42, 55, 32, 5 | . | . |
All possible help at 1353 |
Engines 13, 45, 26, 9, 51, 33 | . | . |
@1344 hours: The following out-of-town Mutual Aid fire companies responded on the 4th Alarm to cover Boston firehouses:
- Brookline Engine 2 to Engine 37.
- Cambridge Engine 2 to Engine 10.
- Newton Engine 8 to Engine 51.
- Quincy Engine 2 to Engine 20.
- Somerville Engine 2 to Engine 32.
- Winthrop Engine 2 to Engine 56.
@ 1346 hours: The following out-of-town Mutual Aid fire companies responded on the 5th Alarm to cover Boston firehouses:
- Brookline Engine 7 to Engine 42.
- Chelsea Engine 1 to Engine 5.
- Dedham Engine 1 to Engine 55.
- Everett Engine 3 to Engine 50.
- Milton Engine 1 to Engine 16.
@ 1402: Box 8112 Mutual Aid to Boston.
The following Mutual Aid fire companies responded at 1402 hours to the fire on Signal 8112 (Mutual Aid to Boston) and provided the services listed:
- Arlington Engine 2, operated two 2 1/2″ handlines near #18 Bellflower St.
- Arlington Ladder 2, assisted Arlington Engine 2.
- Belmont Engine 2, supplemented pumping to Milton Engine 4.
- Cambridge Engine 1, operated two 2 1/2″ handlines, backyards of Howell St.
- Cambridge Engine 5, assisted operating handlines on Dorset Street.
- Cambridge Ladder 1, assisted Cambridge Engine 5.
- Chelsea Engine 2, operated a handline in the backyards of Howell St.
- Everett Engine 5, assisted with handlines near #18 Bellflower Street.
- Holbrook Engine 1, supplemented pumping to Arlington Engine 2.
- Holbrook Ladder 1, assisted with handlines on Dorset Street.
- Lawrence Rescue Company, assisted on handlines.
- Lynn Engine 4, relieved handlines in the backyards of Howell Street.
- Medford Engine 1, operated a 2 1/2″ line in the backyards of Howell Street.
- Needham Engine 3, patrolled Dorchester Avenue, assisted on Bellflower St.
- Quincy Engine 1, operated a 2 1/2″ handline, backyards of Howell Street.
- Quincy Engine 2, operated a 2 1/2″ handline near #18 Bellflower Street.
- Revere Engine 1, assisted with Boston Engine 26’s deckgun on Dorset St.
- Waltham Engine 2, operated a 2 1/2″ handline in backyards of Howell St.
- Watertown Ladder 1, relieved on handlines.
- Wellesley Engine 3, operated a 2 1/2″ handline near #18 Bellflower Street.
- Weymouth Engine 2, supplemented pumping to Boston Engine 53.
- Winchester Engine 3, operated a 2 1/2″ line on Bellflower St. near Boston St.
- Winthrop Engine 2, operated a 2 1/2″ handline in backyards of Howell St.
- Woburn Engine 4, operated a 2 1/2″ handline near #30 Bellflower Street.
The following Mutual Aid fire companies responded at 1402 hours to cover Boston firehouses on Signal 8112 (Mutual Aid to Boston), as listed:
- Belmont Engine 3 to Engine 34
- Cambridge Engine 3 to Engine 26
- Charlestown Navy Yard Engine to Engine 39
- Chelsea Engine 1 to Engine 9
- Hingham Engine 2 to Engine 20
- Lexington Engine 1 to Engine 25
- Melrose Engine 3 to Engine 8
- Newton Engine 1 to Engine 28
- Norwood Engine 2 to Engine 30
- Quincy Engine 5 to Engine 17
- Quincy Engine 7 to Engine 52
- Quincy Ladder 5 to Ladder 29
- Reading Engine 2 to Engine 7
- South Weymouth Naval Air Station Engine to Engine 18
- Watertown Engine 2 to Engine 41
- Watertown Engine 3 to Engine 33
- Winthrop Engine 3 to Engine 56
Further responses to 7251, Dorchester Qvenue & Dorset Street.
Alarm | Engines | Ladders | Other |
---|---|---|---|
3 more Engines at 1419 |
Engines 2, 28, 52 | . | . |
3 more Ladders at 1442 |
. | Ladders 13, 18, 29 | . |
Signal 10-21 at 1445 |
All members remain on duty | Recall Groups 6 & 7 |
. |
3 more Engines at 1449 |
Engines 18, 41, Quincy E-2 | . | . |
Signal 25 at 1759 |
Emergency Over | . | . |
All Out at 2156 |
. | . | . |
In the aftermath of the fire, evacuees were sheltered at the Russell School on Columbia Road. Initially, the Roger Clapp School on Harvest Street was opened, but had to be evacuated as the fire advanced. The National Guard Armory on Victory Road in Dorchester was opened as well. Over 300 persons were left homeless as result of the fire.
The area was rebuilt in the years after the fire, with more modern-style multi-family residences and a elderly-housing residence building. The new buildings did not recreate the size and design of the Boston-style “three-deckers”. The area continues to be a popular neighborhood for individuals and families to live.