Grossman’s Lumber of Braintree was established in 1946 when the Grossman Co. of Quincy purchased a 100 acre site on Union St. to store unused war surplus purchased from the US Government following the end of World War 2. The company took possession of the contents of dismantled army camps, naval bases, and shipyards. The vast array of goods stored at the site in Braintree soon attracted tourists as well as potential buyers. The company purchased surplus Quonset huts and army barracks and encouraged young couples to turn the structures into temporary homes.
In 1958 Grossman's began to manufacture prefabricated component homes at the Braintree site. The company also made office buildings, vacation cottages, garden houses, and garages. Most of this material was stored at the rear of the yard in piles and on unused freight cars.
On December 15, 1961 at around 4:15pm, workmen spotted smoke coming up near the freight cars. A call was placed to the Braintree Fire department and Engine 5 was dispatched from Central Station to investigate. When Engine 5 arrived on scene they found one of the box cars on fire and requested a first alarm be transmitted. Box 4214 was sounded bringing out Engine 1, Engine 3 and Ladder 1 at 4:17pm.
At 4:18pm the Deputy arrived on scene and requested a Second Alrm be transmitted as the fire was spreading. This brought Braintree Engine 2, Holbrook Engine 1 and Weymouth Engine 4 to the scene.
All the material was piled high and close together making it very difficult to get water into the smouldering crates. Many of the large wooden containers had to be individually torn apart.
Wind whipped flames threatened the nearby Ray Oil building containing oil, creosote, anti-freeze fluids, and machinery. M&M Chemical Company was also threatened. The fire spread to four freight cars and large piles of lumber.
Traffic on the Southeast Expressway Route 3, which passed right next to the Lumber Yard, was slowed by the smoke. Many people gathered on the highway as it was a good vantage point to watch the action.
The temperature at the time of the fire was around 7 degrees, causing all the water to freeze rapidly making the ground very slippery for the firefighters. The wind was around 25 miles per hour.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries; Lt. John Ryan was sent to the hospital with smoke inhalation, while FF Robert Prario got a laceration under his right eye.
53 men responded from the Braintree Fire Department; 39 permanent men and 14 callmen.
It took two days to fully extinguish the fire. The engines pumped water for about 60 hours. The All-Out was finally sounded on December 17 at 5pm. Loss was around $10,000.
On April 16, 1974 around 1:30pm fire was discovered in a large warehouse at the Grossman Lumber Yard. The warehouse was full of pool supplies, prefinished plywood, paneling, insulation, outdoor furniture, and boating equipment – all in cartons.
Box 4214 was transmitted at 1:35pm. Engine 1, Engine 4, Engine 3 and Ladder 2 reponded. Companies were on scene in just a minute as the building is a half mile from the Central Fire Station. Deputy Chief Joe Hall struck a Second Alarm on arrival. Chief Robert Tenney arrived at 1:37pm and requested a Third Alarm struck. Within minutes seventeen pieces of apparatus were going to work.
Soon the entire warehouse was engulfed in flames. Five Ladder pipes were put into operation, some directed at the fire building others to protect the exposures which included the Retail Store, piles of lumber, and four trucks containing powdered chlorine. A few hand lines were used to protect the trucks until they could be moved to a safer location.
Liquid chlorine inside the burning building exploded at one point forcing firefighters and apparatus to retreat from the intense heat and flames. It also caused breathing problems for many on scene.
The Retail Store was damaged by radiant heat. Engine 3’s windshield was damaged, and the headlights melted when the chlorine exploded. Two Braintree Firefighters suffered minor facial burns and were treated at the hospital.
Low water pressure from the hydrants and strong winds also hampered efforts to fight the fire.
As in the 1961 fire, smoke slowed traffic on Route 3 and brought out many observers who parked on the highway to watch.
The fire was ruled an act of arson.
Appartus that responded:
Braintree: Eng 1, Eng 2, Eng 3, Eng 4, Eng 6, Lad 1, Lad 2, Car 1, Car 2
Quincy Eng 5, Eng 4, Eng B
Weymouth Eng 4, Eng 5, Lad 1
Holbrook Eng 1, Lad 1
Randolph Eng 2, Lad 2
Canton Eng 2 (covered HQ)
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