Some Highlands students also helped with the efforts on the frontlines at the fire.  Their story is below. 

Highlands Students on the Front Lines at Beverly Hills Supper Club

Author: Brayden Moeves, Class of 2024 

Story Contributor: Bob Wood, Class of 1978

On the night of the fire, Bob Wood (1978 graduate) and three of his buddies (Kevin McMahon, Bill Urlage and Eric Steinman), received a phone call (on the house phone) from their friend, Jay Frickman’s mom.  She told them Jay was working that night at Beverly Hills Supper Club, and he called to tell his mom the place was on fire.  Out of curiosity, they hopped in the car and followed the sirens to the Beverly Hills Supper Club. They had no idea they were heading into the front lines of one of the most devastating fires our nation has known. 

 When they turned down Highland Avenue, they could see emergency vehicles lights at Beverly Hills. They parked the car and ran up the hill toward the Beverly Hills Chapel.  They could see the emergency vehicles ascending the main driveway as cars and people were making their way down the same crowded driveway. 

The boys had no idea what they were about to witness when they reached the site and saw a raging inferno, the extent of which they had not expected.  Immediately Bob’s thoughts jumped to concern for his aunt and his friend, both of whom were working at Beverly Hills that night.  As soon as they got up the hill, they could see the thick black smoke consuming the entire building and exits. Firemen and Volunteers were running into the building trying to save people. The three Highlands students offered to help.  They were instructed to help move lifeless bodies firefighters had placed just outside the doors of Beverly Hills; being cognizant not to go into the building. 

The boys took their shirts and tied them around their faces to filter the dense smoke that was determined to invade their lungs. Bob recalls the constant cascade of thick black smoke raging out the doors. Bob and his friends worked alongside of the adults laying the lifeless bodies in the small grassy area between the main building and the wedding chapel. They found the men were easiest to carry, because they could grab onto the belts they wore around their waists.  Eventually there were over a hundred bodies. Adrenaline was powering them as they continually carried bodies away from the building even though they couldn’t comprehend how something like this was happening in their quite peaceful town. They were terrified yet continued to remove bodies. Eventually, the whole road was packed with emergency vehicles, as more fire departments and medical workers arrived. 

At one point, Bob was able to break away and run to the back of the building, where he quickly approached some waitresses and staff.  He asked them the question he’d been agonizing over; if they had seen his aunt and his classmate, Jay Frickman (it was Jay’s first night to work at Beverly Hills). Gratefully, he breathed a sigh of relief as he received the news that both had made it out unscathed.   

After a couple of hours, when their unexpected mission was complete, the boys returned home exhausted.  They threw all their clothes away because of the smokey smell and horrific memories. This carefree spring evening turned into a night these unsuspecting Highlands students put their lives in jeopardy (due to potential smoke inhalation) to lend strength when our community needed help. Although they approached this situation unaware that volunteers were needed, their willingness to jump in and help was a relief for the emergency workers.  It was a night they, surely, will never forget.  

Student Life, Beverly Hills Supper Club, Fire