When we look at fire prevention, a helpful thing to do is to analyze an actual fire that has occurred and discover what the causes were. This helps us determine what factors were in play and to not make those same mistakes. In studying certain fires through history, ascertaining causes can improve our methods of prevention. Certain fires might have been stopped or slowed down or prevented entirely if fireproofing procedures were in place at the time. A significant fire in U.S. history is the fire at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, IL which occurred in 1903. This fire is considered one of the deadliest in American history, and if we do our due diligence, there's a lot we can learn about methods of fire prevention.
The Iroquois Theater fire is everything you think of when you imagine a deadly, tragic fire. During a performance at the theater, part of a curtain made of muslin was set on fire because of a nearby lamp that shorted out. From this outbreak, the fire moved quickly to a raised platform at the side of the stage where rope, equipment, and scenery were stored. In this area, thousands of square feet of flammable scenery were hanging. Once this occurred, flames were shooting out from the curtains that were half-lowered, and from there, chaos broke out.
Theater attendees were filled with panic as they tried to exit the theater. Performance-goers were crushed by other patrons as they tried to leave in fear of their lives. Many were also trying to exit through windows that were decorated to look like doors, and as a result, even more individuals were trapped in these dead-end exits. Other patrons tried to leave through the main exits, but they were obstructed by bars that were at the stairways. Because of these factors, hundreds of people were stuck inside a building going up in flames with no way out.
These blocked stairways created the scene for the worst loss of human life in the fire. Hundreds were trampled, crushed or suffocated. Tragically, 605 individuals died as a result of this fire.
As noted previously, this fire started because of a malfunctioning lamp that lit the curtains ablaze. Had our current methods of fireproofing been available back then, the outcomes of this devastating tragedy would have been much different. In this case, flameproofing would have been a significant game-changer, and surely, the loss of life would certainly not have been so severe.
History has taught us a lot, and our fire safety codes today now include flameproofing procedures. As per FDNY codes, curtain, draperies, decorations, hangings, and scenery are required to be treated with fire retardant spray. In this case, other factors were at work in contributing to the severity of this fire such as exits that were not clearly marked, the lack of an automatic sprinkler system, exits that were barricaded due to bars on the stair, and performance attendees who were blocking exit paths by sitting in the aisles. Yet, it is still worth noting that had the curtains and scenery been treated with fireproofing treatments, the outcome would have been significantly altered.
As we study this fire, we easily conclude that flameproofing is such an important aspect of fire safety. Having required items such as draperies, curtains, scenery, and hangings treated with fire retardant spray can be a major factor in whether a fire is going to major or minor, or even if one will actually take place at all. A properly flameproofed building is vital for maximum fire protection. At Certified Flameproofing, we are experts in the industry and would love to use our expertise to make your property as safe from the threat of fire as possible. Please call us today at 800-590-5530 for a free, no-obligation estimate.