Texas Fire World
March-April 2005 On the night of November 28, 1942, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, Mass. exceeded maximum capacity with about 1,000 occupants. Many were preparing to go overseas on military duty during WWII.

It is thought that a lighted match used by an employee while changing a lightbulb is what started the fire. Once ignited, flammable decorations aided in the spread of the fire that took 492 lives.

Revolving doors at the main entrance to the club served as the only exit. Authorities later estimated that 300 lives could have been saved if the nightclub had doors that swung outward.

After the disaster at Cocoanut Grove, fire prevention and control standards for nightclubs and other related places of assembly were set up. The installation of emergency lighting, and occupant capacity placards at places of assembly, as well as exit lights became requirements as a result of this fire.