Office of the Fire Marshal at Yale University

12/31/2023

12/03/2021

Today we honor and remember our 6 six brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice at the Cold Storage Warehouse Fire in 1999. Please keep their families in your thoughts today.

11/28/2021

On this day in 1942, the Cocoanut Grove supper club was over capacity at more than 1,000 patrons when fire broke out killing 492 people. It is believed that the fire started in ceiling decorations and quickly spread to the false ceiling and raced through the packed club. Within five minutes flames and smoke had spread to the entire nightclub. Escaping the inferno was extremely difficult as many exits were either bolted shut, boarded up, or hidden in non-public areas. The main entrance, a revolving door, was rendered useless as bodies piled up, jamming it shut.

The tragedy led to fire code reformation and increased safety standards across the country. It became illegal to have only one revolving door as a main entrance/exit without having outward opening panic doors on either side. Flammable decorations and inward-swinging exit doors in public buildings were also banned.

05/12/2021

Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters from the New Haven Fire Department. While battling a house fire early this morning, tragically a member lost their life and several others were injured. Please take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice these men and women make on daily basis.

03/11/2021

01/31/2021

A quick update bring the 8-14+ further south and east. Some new guidance suggest near 20" across parts of western Ct but for now leaving it alone until we see more data through this afternoon.

01/27/2021

Congratulations to our friend and colleague Justin McCarthy for his promotion to Assistant Chief of the New Haven Fire Department!

01/09/2021

Today and everyday.