March 25
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Kills 146 in New York
Summary
On a Saturday afternoon in New York City's Greenwich Village, a fire ignited in a scrap bin at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company on the eighth floor of the Asch Building. Locked exits and inadequate fire escapes trapped mostly young immigrant women workers, leading to deaths from flames, smoke, or jumps from windows. Firefighters' ladders reached only the sixth floor, and the blaze was contained within 18 minutes but claimed 146 lives. The tragedy exposed widespread industrial safety failures and prompted immediate public outrage and investigations.
Why It Matters
The disaster catalyzed New York labor reforms including stricter fire codes, factory inspections, and workers' compensation laws that spread nationally. It strengthened the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and influenced progressive-era workplace safety standards still reflected in modern regulations.
Related Sites
- Disaster Kit Pro: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Kills 146 in New York connects to disaster history and preparedness-relevant risk.
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Sources
- Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed 2026-07-09.
- The Triangle Factory Fire, Cornell University ILR School. Accessed 2026-07-09.