11/15/2025
Luongo's Restaurant Fire
On November 15, 1942 (83 years ago today), a large fire broke out at Luongo's Restaurant in East Boston. After the fire was brought under control, a wall collapsed, killing six Boston Firefighters. Despite being one of the most tragic fires, in terms of lost firefighters in Boston history, it is not well known. This fire was overshadowed by the Coconut Grove Fire that happened 13 days later (November 28, 1942).
The Old Armory building stood in Maverick Square at Henry Street, across from the subway station. The building was constructed of wood, with load-bearing outer masonry walls.
The fire broke out in the rear of Luongo's Restaurant on the first floor around 2:26am. Fire crews were on the scene in only a few minutes. The fire accelerated and the 2nd and 3rd alarms were sounded.
At 4:15am, without warning, the brick and stone wall on the Henry Street side of the building collapsed, killing six Boston firefighters, and trapping others for up to 18 hours. With firefighters buried under debris, 4th and 5th alarms were sounded to aid in the rescue effort. When the wall collapsed, firefighters on the ladder of a fire truck had ducked into the ladder bed, and escaped injury when tons of the debris passed over them on the ladder rails. The firefighters that died were on the 2nd floor of the building.
The Maverick Square Fire Memorial just steps away from where the fire occurred, remembers the six fire fighters that died in the tragic fire: Francis J. Degan, John F. Foley, Edward F Macomber, Daniel E McGuire, Peter F. McMorrow and Malachi F Reddington.
Happy Birthday today to our patient!
Patricia B, of Dedham
Happy Birthday tomorrow to our patients!
Colleen T, of Norwell
Janice C, of Quincy
Shaun G, of Dorchester
Emma F, of South Boston
Gregory M, of Dorchester
