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.
Our nation is no stranger to tragedy, both on large and small scales. Unfortunately, fires have left their mark on American history. Moving forward, however, we've been able to extract many lessons from these fires and have done better in the realm of fire protection. One especially tragic fire that occurred in the United States happened right in the borough next door - in the heart of Brooklyn. Back in 1876, just about 150 years ago, the Brooklyn Theater fire devastated our very own NYC.
On the cusp of winter in December 1876, tragedy struck our city. The Brooklyn Theater, located on the corner of Johnson and Washington streets, experienced devastation on a large scale. On December 5th of that year, over 1,000 people were in attendance for a theater performance, having no idea just what was about to strike. During the show, in something of the perfect storm, a gas light happened to touch a section of the scenery. Once ablaze, the ignited scenery spread the fire to other pieces of the set. It wasn't before too long that the stage was going up in flames and panic set in.
There were a string of things that went wrong that night, but a fateful error was the response of the stagehands. Instead of prioritizing getting the guests safely out of the building, they focused their energy on putting out the fire, which ended up being a futile act. Essentially, this trapped the patrons inside while the playhouse was ablaze. Another tragic mistake was in the design of the building itself. There were not enough fire escapes to handle a crowd that size, only one narrow, tight staircase that would lead to safety. As expected, the terrified crowd raced to this one exit, creating a bottleneck that caused individuals to be trampled and trapped in the burning building.
When the damage was assessed, among the loss of the theater was the loss of 278 lives.
The only redemption of a tragedy like this is that we have learned lessons to prevent further devastation from fires. Today, set, scenery, curtains and other decorative items are required to be treated with fire retardants, which slows the burning process and prevents the escalation of a fire. Any place where the public gathers, including theaters, is required to have flameproofing treatments on site. Had flameproofing been in practice back in 1876, the outcome would have been very, very different.
Other fire safety measures are in place now that weren't back then. For example, public buildings require adequate fire exits to handle the maximum capacity of individuals that is allowed. Additionally, automatic fire sprinklers are now a requirement as well. Evacuation over extinguishment is also now prioritized.
Thankfully, we have very strict codes in NYC which allow us to keep the public as safe as possible from the threat of devastation like the Brooklyn Theater fire. At Queens Flameproofing, we are proud to do our part in keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe from fire. As industry experts, we use our skills and modern techniques to keep our borough protected. If you have flameproofing needs you would like to discuss, please call today. We would be happy to serve you: 1-800-972-5587