Full account: The Great Chelsea Fire of 1973: How 18 Blocks Burned in Five Hours, and What Stands There Now, with the timeline, map, streets, casualties and photographs from this archive.
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TIMELINE OF THE CHELSEA FIRE |
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3:56 PM |
A Passer-by pulls fire alarm box at Second Street for smoke at 122 |
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3:56 PM |
First three engine companies and ladder company arrive |
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3:59 PM |
Report of “Working Fire” as fire crosses Summer Street |
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4:01 PM |
Second and third alarm sounded |
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4:04 PM |
Help from five neighboring communities requested |
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4:07 PM |
Fourth alarm sounded |
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4:10 PM |
Chief notifies Newton Control that Chelsea has a conflagration |
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4:30 PM |
Fire jumps Third and Maple Streets |
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4:40 PM |
Help from thirteen additional communities requested |
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5:30 PM |
Fire spreads across Elm Street to Fourth Street |
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6:00 PM |
Firestorm develops |
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6:30 PM |
Fire reaches Arlington Street at Fifth Street |
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7:00 PM |
Wind increases again, fire advances on Third, Elm, Fourth and Vale Streets |
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9:15 PM |
Wind abates and main fire is contained |
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9:30 PM |
Governor declares Chelsea a disaster area |
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10:30 PM |
Fire breaks out at city hall due to flying embers |
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2:00 AM |
City hall fire extinguished |