The magnificent and luxurious Hotel Vendôme was built in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts in 1871. It was built on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street. This elite hotel was hosted by presidents and ambassadors and was unique in its era. In 1881, the hotel became even more luxurious and prestigious when it was expanded and renovated. Thomas Edison even visited the site and electric lights were installed and inspected, making the Hôtel Vendôme the most modernized hotel in the country. It was built “with brick arches, steel beams, and masonry walls with slates covering the attic roofs to prevent flying brands from spreading fire from one building to another” (Mochen 2012). This sturdy and exceptional building endured a very difficult time between 1968 and 1971. This structure suffered 6 fires during those 3 years, causing the Department of Public Safety and the Massachusetts Division of Licensing to pull the permits occupancy due to risks to personal safety. In late 1971, however, a new owner obtained a permit to begin transforming the Hôtel Vendôme into 124 residential apartments and a shopping center. Later that afternoon, the new owner opened the basement to serve as a cafe while the rest of the structure began the new renovation. On the fateful and unforgettable afternoon of June 17, 1972, the Hôtel Vendôme experienced another fire. In fact, on this date, several fires took place in different places. Electricians working on the first floor reported smoke coming from upper floors and a bartender reported smoke in the basement. All occupants of the basement cafe were escorted out safely, and 3 engine companies, 2 ladder companies and 1 district manager arrived on scene and noticed......in the middle of 'a paper...... security should have inspected the building before issuing permits for further renovations, especially since this structure was going to accommodate 124 residents. It appears that the lack of knowledge of the previous owners and the lack of accountability of the municipal authorities are responsible for this collapse and, unfortunately, the loss of 9 brave men in the line of duty. The Boston Fire Department could have worked more closely with the owner and construction crew of the Hotel Vendôme, and the deficiencies would have been detected, and they would have known the instability they were heading into on June 17. At this point, firefighting operations would more than likely have been defensive. Firefighters failed to conduct pre-incident planning that would have let them know they would encounter construction barriers as they attempted to lay the hose, maneuver it, and bring it to a source water..