[2] Taking place during World War II, the fire is believed by many to have been an incident of enemy sabotage orchestrated by agents of Nazi Germany.

Within a few weeks, other suspicious fires or their makings occurred in St. John's that winter, at sites frequented by military personnel.

In addition to local forces, personnel from several foreign countries passed through St. John's, as it became an important staging point for trans-Atlantic convoys.

The 1600-acre American Army base, Fort Pepperrell, was built on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake, on land leased for 99 years from the Newfoundland government.

[1] Warships filled the harbour, and navy men and merchant seamen also swelled the population of the capital city.

Two days previous, a Liberator aircraft out of Argentia flown by Ensign William Tepuni caught U-656, under Kaptänleutnant Ernst Kröning, on the surface in broad daylight, a mere 40 kilometres south of Trepassey, and destroyed it.

The centre entertainment space was a large auditorium[1] equipped with both a stage for live performances and a projection booth for showing films.

[5] Around 11 PM,[6] soon after the next act started, featuring Canadian soldier Eddy Adams singing "The Moonlight Trail", a cry of fire was heard.

[2] A survivor of the fire also stated that the doors would only swing inwards to the room and not outwards, further causing individuals to be clustered and unable to escape.

At least two individuals., US Army Cpl Hoosier and RNC Constable Bartlett, entered the building in an attempt to help evacuate individuals overcome by smoke.

In a third incident, a lighted cigarette was put through a letterbox at 11 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hostel in Halifax, when servicemen were watching a movie.

[citation needed] Sir Brian Dunfield examined 174 witnesses a month later in the St. John's Court House, and guardedly concluded it was of "suspicious... incendiary origin".

A joint funeral for the 80 soldiers and merchant marine men of the two nations and Dominion of Newfoundland was held, with thousands in the city turning out in their honor.