At 2215 hrs, on November 28, 1942, Fire Alarm Headquarters from Box 1514, situated at Stuart and Carver streets, received an alarm. When the responding apparatus arrived they found a small car fire at the corner of Stuart Street and Broadway. After the fire was extinguished the firefighters were about to return to quarters when their attention was called to smoke emanating from the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub a few doors away. Upon their arrival at the entrance of the Broadway lounge on Broadway they encountered numerous people leaving the premises admidst the cries of "fire". The chief in charge immediately ordered that a third alarm be sounded from Alarm Box 1521 which the alarm was received by fire alarm headquarters at 2223 hrs. A …show more content…
On the Shawmut Street side a tile canopy extended in from the outside wall about 8 feet, and the floor under this canopy covered portion was raised about 6 inches above the main floor level.

On the opposite side of the room was a similar terrace backing up to the Caricature Bar area.

At the west end of the room there was a raised terrace about 32 feet wide, 12 feet deep and 2 feet above the main floor level. An iron railing about 36 inches high surrounded the front portion of this terrace.

On the east side of the room (nearest Broadway) was an orchestra platform 20 feet wide, 10-15 feet deep, and 4 feet high from the main floor.

The center of the room was used as a dance floor and was surrounded on the edges by tables and chairs.

Entrance to the room was from the foyer at the point where the Caricature Bar ended on the west side.

A service stair for waiters went down to the basement kitchen area, at the west end of the room near the Shawmut Street wall.

Adjoining the orchestra platform towards the Shawmut Street wall was a door leading to a control room for electrical switches, to a stairway to the basement, and to another door, which led out to Shawmut Street (this door was locked the night of the fire), and to a dressing room.

Behind the orchestra platform and the control room was the above-mentioned dressing room, a telephone booth, and a stairway up to the second floor of the adjoining second class building in which they were