The Second Great Chelsea Fire: October 14, 1973
In 1971, Mayor Spelman had fought for and acquired the approval of an Urban Renewal Plan for the ward two area of Chelsea. The first phase of the plan was to transform a large area of the "rag shop district" into a modern industrial park. The "rag shop area" consisted of dilapidated, wood frame and tin clad structures, most, two and three stories in height. By the Fall of 1973, thirty-nine buildings had been vacated, but demolition had not begun. Most of the former occupants vacated the buildings, abandoning unmarketable storage both inside and outside. The "salvage" or "junk shop area", of Chelsea was often referred to as "Millionaire's Row," yet the city collected very little in taxes. World War II brought a boom to the salvage industry with the demand for salvageable paper, rags, rubber tires, scrap rubber and various scrap metals. When World War II ended the need for scrap material declined leaving the dealers with a huge accumulation. The large accumulation was stored outside, resulting in many serious fires through the years. Sunday, October 14, 1973 was a clear, warm day with the temperature rising close to seventy degrees. It was an extremely windy day with a wind from the west (gusting from 30 to 45 mph). The weather had been abnormally dry, with only one-third of an inch of rain fallen in the previous three weeks. The average, rainfall for this period, normally would be two and one-half inches. To the firefighters and all who lived through that day in Chelsea, October 14, 1973, the experience will forever be etched in their memories. At 3:56 pm an alarm of fire was received from street box 215 at the corner of Third and Arlington Street, four blocks away from the fire. The fire began in a tin clad wood frame building at 122 Summer Street. The first response apparatus was greeted by a moving wall of fire consuming all exposures and rolling across Summer Street. Soon, all of Summer Street was in flames and was spreading to Maple and Third Street. The firefighters were able to hold the fire at Second Street with help of the wind. The announcement that Chelsea had a conflagration and needed all help available, was sent out by Newton Fire Control District 13. Sixty-seven departments throughout Massachusetts and one from Hampton, New Hampshire responded to the fire. Chelsea was now in the midst of a fire storm with the fire sweeping uncontrolled. The fire continued along Spruce Street to Arlington Street, consuming everything on Elm Street and destroying the Elm Street Synagogue at Everett Avenue. Buildings were literally exploding into flames by radiation and convection. Efforts to save the buildings ablaze were fruitless, everything now was concentrated on containing the fire. A stand was set up at Everett Avenue, a sixty-foot wide street. In spite of the stand, radiated heat and huge flying brands whipped by the winds, spread to the Emerald Auto Parts and the Engine Five station at Everett Avenue and Fourth Street. The fire station received damage but was saved. The three story wood homes along Fourth Street were exploding into flames. A Medford fire engine was trapped on Vale Street and destroyed. Also on Vale Street, twenty three homes and the city yards with a mass of vehicles and equipment were destroyed. Meanwhile the flames continued up Arlington Street consuming the row of three and four story brick homes opposite the Williams School. A concentrated effort was being made to protect the school. A water curtain was set up with water being relayed from eight, ten and twelve blocks away. Firefighters were placed on the roof of the school dousing flying brands. On the street, firefighters with their backs to the school, (withstanding excessively high temperatures and in constant risk from collapsing buildings and flying bricks) made a heroic stand. The walls of the school were steaming but the superhuman efforts of the firefighters paid off, the school was saved. The fire's advance was checked at this point. Shortly before 11:00 P.M. flaming brands blown on to the City Hall had ignited the roof and fire was working into the attic of the building. Deputy Ed Roche, already exhausted from directing and fighting the main fire was dispatched to direct fighting the fire at the City Hall. About one dozen out of town fire companies were forwarded to the location. The fire was extinguished before it could extend and cause extensive damage. At this point Deputy Roche collapsed from exhaustion and smoke inhalation. The Deputy was carried down over the aerial ladder to a waiting ambulance and rushed to the hospital. The fire had destroyed eighteen city blocks, forty-five acres, an area one mile long and one half-mile wide. There were no reported fatalities, but the injuries were numerous. The point of origin of the 1908 fire and the 1973 fire were less than 200 feet apart. Replacing the once former "rag shop" district are: office condos, banks, medical buildings, a shopping center and a seven story hotel as well as other community-responsible businesses of all types.
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Chelsea Historical Society	1973 Fire Pictures
1908 Fire Story	1908 Fire Pictures page 1	1908 Fire Pictures page 2