Safety
Rescue squabble revives NYC police, fire rivalry
On March 25, 1911, the worst factory fire in the history of New York City erupted in the three floors occupied by the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in a tall

On March 25, 1911, the worst factory fire in the history of New York City erupted in the three floors occupied by the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in a tall building on the northwest corner of Washington and Greene streets in Greenwich Village. The fire began in the cutting room on the eighth floor shortly after 4:30 p.m. and, fed by thousands of pounds of cotton fabric, it spread rapidly.

Panicked workers, all of them women, rushed to the stairs, the freight elevator and the fire escape, and while some escaped, dozens died, unable to force open doors that had been locked to keep workers in and union organizers out.

Loading…