October 1, 1964 Boston 5th Alarm Box 1671 Trumbull Street Fire 5 LODDs

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October 1, 1964 Boston 5th Alarm Box 1671 Trumbull Street Fire 5 LODDs

Never Forget the tragedy of October 1st 1964. The Trumbull St. fire killed 5 Boston firefighters when the wall of a vacant toy factory collapsed . Lt. John J. McCorkle, FF. Francis L. Murphy, Lt. John J. Geswell, FF. James B. Sheedy, FF. Robert J. Clougherty. Rest In Peace





















Oct 1, 1964

Fire Lieutenant John J. McCorkle, 53 Engine 24
Fire Lieutenant John J. Geswell, 40 Ladder 26
(detailed to Ladder 4)
Firefighter Robert J. Clougherty, 31 Engine 3
Firefighter Francis L. Murphy, 42 Engine 24
Firefighter James B. Sheedy, 37 Ladder 4



All were killed when the front wall of a vacant 4-story toy factory, located at 34 Trumbull Street, collapsed and a second smaller collapse injured several other members. A civilian, Andrew Sheehan, 25 a “spark” was also injured and died later that morning in the hospital. 12 members were injured but some remained on duty until all the trapped members had been removed. This was the Trumbull Street fire, 5 alarms Box 1671, (Shawmut Avenue & Brookline Street.) Lieutenant McCorkle had 27 years, Lieutenant. Geswell had 9 years, Firefighter Murphy had 7, Firefighter Sheedy had 6 and Firefighter Clougherty had 4 years of service. Firefighter Robert Clougherty was the son of Assistant Chief of Department John E. Clougherty. The alarms were sounded at 0032 hours, the Working Fire at 0036 hours, the 2nd alarm at 0037 hours, the 3rd alarm at 0042 hours, the 4th alarm at 0045 hours and the 5th alarm at 0052 hours.




Boston’s Trumbull Street Fire: 46 Years Later

5 firefighters were killed & 12 were injured when part of a vacant factory collapsed

On Oct. 1, 1964, an abandoned four-story factory caught fire in the South End of Boston. The building collapsed, resulting in the death of five Boston Fire Department firefighters: Lt. John J. McCorkle (Engine 24), Lt. John J. Geswell (Ladder 26), Firefighter Robert J. Clougherty (Engine 3), Firefighter Francis L. Murphy (Engine 24) and Firefighter James B. Sheedy (Ladder 4). A civilian photographer also died in the collapse. Twelve firefighters were injured.

To mark the 35-year anniversary of the Trumbull Street Fire, Firefighter Bill Noonan wrote a detailed account of the fire for the City of Boston’s Fire Department Journal. The following summary is taken from his account of the fire.

















The Event
On the night of Oct. 1, 1964, a passerby spotted a fire on Trumbull Street and pulled Box 1671, transmitting the alarm at 0032 HRS. Apparently, the fire had been burning for a while, as investigators later learned that the passerby had smelled smoke in the area for several hours.

Engine 3 and Ladder 3 responded and, upon arrival, their commanding officers saw heavy fire showing from the building’s upper floors. Engine 3 ran a line into the building and attempted to make it to the second floor, but they were forced back to the landing on the first floor due to the heavy fire conditions.

Ladder 3 started to raise ground ladders, and its aerial was thrown to the roof of a four-story building just to the left of the fire building. Ladder 13 raised some of their ladders on the other side of the fire building. They were also making forcible entry into the four-story building next door where there was a large loading dock-type door.

After a quick size-up, District 4 Fire Chief John McCarthy ordered a second alarm transmitted at 0038 HRS. Due to the congested area and heavy fire conditions, Deputy Chief Fred Clauss ordered a third alarm at 0042 HRS.

Clauss then decided to get all the firefighters out and gave that order to McCarthy. Clauss followed a line into the building and gave the order to “get out!” to Lt. Fraser of Engine 3, and then went about his duties to make sure all other companies were getting out. As the fire grew, Clauss ordered a fourth alarm at 0045 HRS.

Engine 22 was ordered to take a line over Ladder 3’s aerial to the roof of the building on the left. Engine 7 was ordered to take a line over a small ladder that was thrown to the roof of the building to the right and operate in the rear. Engine 43 and Engine 21 would follow. They used a 20' ladder to bridge the small alley and enter the building on West Brookline Street. There was heavy fire in the rear showing from the windows on the top floors.

The first collapse occurred as Engine 24 and Engine 37 prepared to advance lines over the 35' ladders thrown in front of the building. Fire personnel were knocked from ladders and balcony fire escapes; other men on the ground were buried and burned.

The firefighters from Ladder 3 in the rear of the building heard the loud crash and ran to help. As they tried to help, another collapse occurred. Clauss was one of the men injured in the second collapse. A fifth alarm was transmitted at 0054 HRS.

Fire personnel continued to work the fire while trying to rescue their fellow firefighters.

Cause of the Fire
An investigation into the cause of the fire, conducted by the Arson Squad and Boston Police, found that two boys had been spotted around the building on the afternoon of the fire. When questioned, the boys, ages 11 and 14, admitted to being in the building, but denied starting a fire there. Neither was charged with starting the fire.

Cause of the Collapse
The official report cites the cause of the collapse as the result of “rapid deterioration of the roof rafters due to the heavy burn and being termite-ridden for years.” This condition left little support for the main steel I-beam, which ultimately lead to the collapse of the front walls. The report also states that the fire department’s operations did not contribute to the collapse.

Memorial
A large funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End on Oct. 5. Many members of the Boston Fire Department attended

Boston’s Trumbull Street Fire: 46 Years Later

5 firefighters were killed & 12 were injured when part of a vacant factory collapsed On Oct. 1, 1964, an abandoned four-story factory caught fire in t…

my.firefighternation.com

RIP. Never forget.

 

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Remembering the Trumbull Street Fire Tragedy
by Julie Walker
Thursday Oct 2, 2014



by Patrick E. O'Connor

Boston has certainly had its share of losing firefighters in the line of duty and only last March, the city mourned the loss of two firemen battling a blaze in an abandoned apartment building in the Back Bay. The Vendome disaster in June, 1972 claimed the lives of 9 firemen. Fifty years ago this week, the city was saddened at the loss of five firemen battling a midnight blaze in the South End.

Shortly after midnight on the morning of October 1, 1964, firemen from the fire station on Harrison Ave behind the Cathedral responded to an abandoned brick building ablaze at 34 Trumbull Street in the South End. Trumbull Street was a cobbled cowpath like alleyway that ran parallel between West Brookline and Canton Street. Laying down hoses, a front wall collapsed in two sections, killing four and a 'spark' by the name of Andrew Sheehan. A fifth firefighter (Jim Sheedy) died later that morning at City Hospital.

Returning from Rome for a Vatican II session that weekend, Cardinal Cushing got word of the tragedy and made arrangements for the five to be laid to rest from Holy Cross Cathedral.


The five firefighters were:

Robert J. Clougherty, 31, came from a family of 14 in Charlestown. He was married and a father of two children. On the night of the fire, his Dad, John E. Clougherty was assistant fire chief and in charge of operations. Receiving word of his son's death at the scene, he refused to leave until the fire was contained and the area secured. He was waked at the Wiley Funeral Home in Thompson Square and laid to rest at St. Mary Cemetery in Dorchester. His family had a long and proud heritage of service in the BFD.

Lt. John J. Geswell, 40, came from a large family in Charlestown. He was appointed to the BFD on April 27, 1955. Upon marrying, he settled in Dorchester and was the father of three year old Denise and one year old John who went on to become a lieutenant in the BFD. He was waked at the O'Brien Funeral Home in South Boston and laid to rest at Blue Hill Cemetery.

James B. Sheedy, 37, was appointed on July 16, 1958. A veteran of World War II, he married Mary (Truscello) and settled in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester. Over the summer, he recovered from the effects of smoke inhalation while battling the Bellflower Street fire in Dorchester on May 22. In addition to his wife, he left behind two sons, Michael, 11 and James, Jr., 9 and a daughter, Marie, 4. He was waked at the Dolan Funeral Home in Dorchester and laid to rest at Blue Hill Cemetery.

Francis L. Murphy, 42, came from South Boston. After graduating from Gate of Heaven High School, he served with the Marines in World War II and attended Boston College. He left behind his mother and two sisters. He was waked at the O'Brien Funeral Home with John Geswell and laid to rest at New Calvary Cemetery. On May 23, 1965, an MDC ice skating rink in the city point section of South Boston was named in his honor. He loved hockey and skating and coaching area youths.

Lt. John McCorkle, 53, lived in Dorchester with his wife and four children. The date of his death was the 25th anniversary of his wedding. He was laid to rest in New Calvary Cemetery. In South Boston at Castle Island, a fishing pier has been named after him.

Andrew Sheehan, 25 lived in Milton. He knew the South End well, having been a 1958 graduate of Cathedral High School. He was well known among firefighters at the Harrison Ave station. A 'spark' and photographer, he died later in the morning at City Hospital, leaving behind his parents and four siblings. He was laid to rest from St. Agatha Church in Milton and interred at Milton Cemetery.

On Sunday, October 5, 2014, Fr. Dan Mahoney, long time pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church and BFD chaplain will preside at Mass in memory of the deceased firemen and Andrew Sheehan at 11 a.m. A committee formed for the occasion contacted family members of the deceased and have arranged for a luncheon to follow in the parish hall. All are welcome to attend. The date coincides with the actual date of the funeral for the five at Holy Cross Cathedral. A grieving Cardinal Cushing delivered a touching tribute with these words:

"There is one lesson we should all learn from the deaths of these heroic men. We are accustomed to take fire fighters and other public servants for granted. Remember, please, whenever we pass a fire house in the future, that the next alarm the men therein will answer, may be their last."

Remembering the Trumbull Street Fire Tragedy

Boston has certainly had its share of losing firefighters in the line of duty and only last March, the city mourned the loss of two firemen battling a blaze in an abandoned apartment building in the Back Bay.

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