The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

On this day, a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on the eighth floor of the Asch building in New York killing 146 people, mostly young immigrant women working long hours for poor pay in deplorable working conditions. The flames, fed by copious cotton and paper waste, quickly spread up to the top two floors of the building. Fire-brigade ladders were only able to reach six floors, and the building’s overloaded fire escape soon collapsed. Many workers, trapped by doors that had been locked to prevent theft, leapt from windows to their deaths. The tragedy quickly led to the creation of the Factory Investigating Commission and the passing of more than 30 health and safety laws, including factory fire codes and child labour restrictions.

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