Looking back in history is sometimes a sad experience, especially when there has been a devastating tragedy. However, if we want to learn from history and make sure the same types of disaster don't occur in modern culture, it's a necessary exercise. In the area of fire safety and fire prevention, it's helpful to look at some fires from our nation's history and be schooled by those experiences. One fire that was tragic yet eye-opening was the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago, Illinois.
The fire that occurred at the Iroquois Theater on December 30th, 1903 is perhaps one of the most deadly and tragic in our history. It has all the elements of the perfect storm. During a performance at the theater, just before the turn of the new year, things went bad rather quickly. A piece of the stage curtain, made of muslin, caught fire from a nearby lamp that shorted out. Once ignited, the fire speedily spread to the elevated platform on the side of the stage. In this location, equipment, rope, and thousands of square feet of flammable scenery were hanging. As all of the staging was engulfed in flames, smoke and fire were visible from the half-lowered curtains. Once the audience realized what was going on, mayhem erupted.
As the theater patrons tried to evacuate in a panic, they were crushed by others in the process. Many of the audience tried to make a mad dash for the other doors in order to escape; however, they weren't actual functioning doors - they were windows decorated just to look like doors. As a result, attendees were trapped at these dead ends. When others tried to leave the performance area through the main exits, their way was blocked by bars that were located at the stairways. These barricaded stairways created the worst scenario for loss of life, as hundreds were either crushed, trampled or suffocated.
As all of these elements combined to create a deadly situation, hundreds of people whose plans for the night were to enjoy a theater performance now found their lives in jeopardy, desperately trying to evacuate a burning building. Because of these factors, hundreds of people were stuck inside a building going up in flames with no way out. In the end, 605 people died in the Iroquois Theater that night.
Sadly, this devastating fire has taught us much. First, we can easily see the importance of flameproofing in fire prevention today. A curtain that caught fire was a catalyst for this awful event. If our current flameproofing practices were in effect back then, the outcome likely would have been different. Additionally, the lack of appropriate fire exits, barred staircases as well as the absence of clearly marked exits also contributed to this tragedy. Many theater attendees were also sitting in the aisle during the performance, which also caused a hindrance to a quick evacuation. Also, there were no automatic fire sprinklers in the building either.
As per FDNY regulations today, theaters must have their scenery, curtains and other required equipment treated with flame repellents. This practice serves as a major deterrent to a tragedy like the Iroquois Theater fire. While many factors can contribute to a devastating fire, slowing or stopping a fire at its source is a highly effective practice in fire prevention. Flameproofing does exactly that.
As a country, we hope and pray that we avoid tragic events like the Iroquois Theater fire. Queens Flameproofing is dedicated to playing our part to ensure that a disaster like the one in Chicago over 100 years ago does not occur in our city. We would be happy to serve your business and provide a free, no-obligation quote. Please call us today to discuss all of your flameproofing needs: 1-800-972-5587.