The 1973Chelsea Fire在马萨诸塞州发生40年前的这个月。The conflagration leveled 18 city blocks, displacing 600 workers and 1,000 residents. See188金宝搏是正规吗’s fire reportHERE(PDF, 2 MB). Herbert C. Fothergill Sr., the chief of department at the time, was at home that Sunday. He responded in his recently purchased car, parking it within 500 yards of the fire.
His son, Chuck Fothergill, discussed the fire. “I was in the military at the time, assigned to Company O Airborne Rangers. I did learn about the fire the next day and had a difficult time imagining that such a large area of the city was burning. Of course, I was very concerned about the family and in particular my father, knowing he would be front and center fighting this fire.”
Conflagration Rages Through Chelsea, Mass.
Conflagration at Chelsea, 1908
Dunn’s Dispatch: Conflagrations
One result of the fire, Fothergill said, was a more formal and extensive regionalmutual-aidnetwork. Amutual-aid systemwas in place in 1973, but, he said, “Never before was there such a demand on the mutual-aid network.” After the fire, the mutual-aid system became more formalized with written agreements among all communities. Called “Metro Fire” since 1976, it now serves 34 communities over 351 square miles and protects approximately 30 percent of the state’s population.
Fothergill said other innovations used in fighting the fire included directing the firefight from a helicopter and the use oflarge-diameter hose, hydrant assist valves, and lightweight portable deck guns. A timeline slide show with radio transmissions from the incident is available athttp://youtu.be/_pTr512Q-Qo.
The disaster was the subject of a National Fire Protection Association documentary film, “The Great Chelsea Fire of 1973” (http://youtu.be/f6zzterNQx4), and a Civil Defense Preparedness film, “Conflagration” (http://youtu.be/gd4dIHSUmjA).
