Gas Company Explosion

April 9, 1940

At around 9:40am on April 9, 1940, a terrific explosion ripped through the plant of the Old Colony Gas Company on Quincy Ave in East Braintree near Weymouth Landing, causing $1,000,000 in damage and killing 4 workers.

Box 23 was received at the Braintree Fire Department sending Engine 1, Squad A and Ladder 1 to the scene, followed at 9:45am by the second alarm, bringing in Engine 3 and Squad B. Due to the proximity of the explosion, Weymouth Fire also responded.

When Engine 1 arrived on scene. Lt Silver found several buildings destroyed, the large gasometer plates sprung and escaping gas burning. There were also several small fires burning throughout the yard of the plant.

At 9:55am a call was placed to Quincy Fire for assistance and also to the State Police for crowd control.

Rescue crews searched for men reported missing in the compressor house, which was the building that exploded. Four men were pulled from the debris and transported to area hospitals by ambulances and patrol cars. Another man was found under the rubble later. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The explosion occurred in the compressor house, where gas received by main under low pressure from Boston Consolidated Gas Company was compressed and sent through high pressure gas mains to the towns of Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Rockland, Cohasset, Abington and Whitman.

When the 2 story 50x50 brick compressor house exploded it sent bricks flying into the air, puncturing the large gas tank full of 750,000 gallons of illuminating oil. The escaping gas burst into flame.

Firefighters risked their own lives to rescue men from the compressor house. Under the direction of Chief Fred Tenney, they poured six streams of water onto the gas tank to cool it off while letting the gas burn off until it was empty. Four handlines and two turrets were used.

The blast was heard over ten miles away. Every window in the area was shattered. People 3 miles away were knocked down from the concussion. An Eastern Mass Bus was stopped in front of the Gas Company when the blast occurred. The bus had shatterproof glass which withstood the explosion. No passengers on the bus were injured.

The damage was over one million dollars. When it was all over, four men were dead and 12 people were injured and taken to area hospitals.