1. After The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

2. Inside the factory

3. Attempting to put out the fire

4. Bodies of the women who jumped out of the building to escape the fire

5. The factory after the fire

6. The fire escape

7. Why did the fire start?
Either a match or cigarette was thrown onto a pile of fabric scraps, which immediately went up in flames
So many flammable items, including fabric, gasoline, and wood were very close together in the small factory room, making it easier to catch

8. Why Couldn’t They Get Out?
The doors to the factory were locked to prevent workers from stealing materials
The NY State Code at the time stated that “All doors leading in or to any such factory shall be constructed as to open outwardly, where practicable, and shall not be locked, bolted, or fastened during working hours”
When the owners went on trial, this was a key point

9. What about the stair cases?
The NY law stated that “Buildings with more than 2,500 square feet per floor--but less than 5,000 square feet per floor--require two staircases.  Each additional 5,000 square feet per floor requires an additional staircase.”
The Triangle Shirtwaist factory had 10,000 square feet of space and had two staircases

10. Ok… How about the fire escapes?
NY law left this matter to the discretion of the building inspectors and owners. The building inspector for this building made a suggestion for the fire escape leading into a yard, rather than a skylight
After construction was complete, the fire escape ended at the skylight on the 2nd floor, rather than the 1st floor
The fire escape also collapsed under the weight of the fleeing workers

11. What about sprinkler systems?
In 1911, when indoor plumbing was still not the standard, sprinklers were not required in NYC buildings
The Asch building had no sprinkler systems, but they did provide buckets of water, in case of a fire

12. Did they have fire drills?
Fire drills were not required at this time, so many workers, not to mention managers did not know what to do in the case of an emergency
The Triangle Shirtwaist Company never conducted a fire drill