WPBFD History

man and a monthly per capita tax of twenty cents was collected. Elections held in 1942 voted in G. J. Tessier as the first President of Local 727. G. S. Rowley was elected Secretary and W. H. Lingenfelter Treasurer. There were 285 alarms for the fiscal year of 1941- 42. Fires accounted for 243, Lungmotor 6, special calls 10, outside calls 11, false alarms 5, and unnecessary calls 10. Fire loss was $13,325.51. A fire in Boston on the evening of November 28, 1942, caused shock waves across the country and was a catalyst for major changes in fire laws and building codes nationwide. The Cocoanut Grove nightclub was packed with a crowd estimated at 1,000 people, well over the of- ficial capacity of 600. Shortly after 10:00 p.m. an em- ployee using a match to see replaced a light bulb in a decorative palm tree made of cloth, paper, rattan, and bamboo. Moments later a flickering fire began to con- sume the tree. An attempt was made to put out the fire, but the satin ceiling erupted in flame raining sparks on the revelers. Screams of "Fire!" rang out as occupants raced for the exits. The sprawling nightclub was soon thrown into dark- ness by thick, black smoke from the smoldering "leather" covered walls. A mass of choking people attempting to flee found some exits locked. Another exit, with doors that opened inward, was useless when the crowd surged against it in a panic. A revolving door at the main en- trance created a similar problem. In the aftermath, 491 people died in the Cocoanut Grove fire that night and 150 suffered injuries. The cause was officially listed as undetermined, but there were many theories ranging from a carelessly discarded ciga- rette to defective electrical wiring. Ten indictments were handed down by the grand jury for responsibility in the tragedy, but only two people were ultimately convicted. The club owner was sentenced to twelve to fifteen years, and the contractor who built the lounge was sentenced to two years for violation of building laws. 1943 Materials normally in supply were now hard to obtain as the war effort was in high gear. On March 2, 1943, the department received some badly needed fire hose. The 300 feet of black 3/4 inch booster hose was carried as "war time hose" in the journal. On Friday afternoon June 10, 1943, West Palm Beach responded to help Riviera Beach with a brush fire that threatened the L. D. Mullins Lumber Company and numerous houses. The Coast Guard, Lake Park firemen, and many townspeople assisted. The blaze started about 1:15 p.m. by sparks from a locomotive at the Port of Palm Beach. The fire swept over thirty-five acres, but efforts by those on the scene prevented any serious damage. The

Wood training tower built in 1942.

by the United States Department of Commerce and pub- lished in the Survey of Public Employee's Retirement or Pension System report of February 13, 1942. The new fund showed payments for the fiscal year of 1941 in the amount of $585. Total assets after distribution of the benefits were $7,605.77 in cash and investments. In 1992 the total assets of the West Palm Beach Firefighter's Pen- sion Fund were in excess of $20,000,000. Over the years many retirees and their widows have enjoyed at least some guarantee of income in their latter years. The failure of commissioners to include an assessed millage to help fund the plan proved to be a mistake as the pension later had to be supplemented by city contribu- tions in order for it to remain actuarially sound. Chief Sadler and his administrative officer, Bill Lingenfelter, were farsighted enough to see that the pension needed additional funding and expressed fears that in the long run the city would have to make up the deficits. On July 24, 1942, G. J. Tessier, Temporary Presi- dent, mailed a money order in the amount of $12 to the International Association of Fire Fighters and 33 West Palm Beach firemen became members of that organiza- tion. The only men not to join were Chief Sadler and As- sistant Chief Larrabee. The new West Palm Beach Local was given number 727. A twenty-five cent initiation fee was paid for each

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