THE TRIANGLE FIRE How it Changed America Forever!

DO NOW: Do you know the story of the triangle Fire? Write down your thoughts. Do we have laws that protect us when we are working? What are Unions?

THE STORY March 25, 1911 This incident has had great significance to this day because it highlights the inhumane working conditions to which industrial workers can be subjected. A fire broke out on the top floors of the Asch Building in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company.

HISTORY The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. The company employed about 500 workers, mostly young female immigrants. Worked 14 hours shifts. Sewed clothes for a wage of $1.50/week.

FACTORY CONDITIONS Over crowded Underage Flammable textiles were stored throughout the factory Smoking was common Lighting was provided by open gas lighting No fire extinguishers were available

THE FIRE In the afternoon of March 25, 1911 a fire began on the eighth floor. 146 had died of the 500 employees.

At the corner of Greene Street and Washington Place despairing onlookers saw fire fighters struggle to control the blaze while young men and women escaping the fire jumped to certain death. Sprinkler systems were available which might have controlled the fire but they were considered by many factory owners to be too costly.

THE TRAGEDY For endless hours, police officers held lanterns to light the bodies while crowds filed past victims laid out in numbered rough brown coffins. As the dead were identified the coffin was closed and moved aside. Forty-three were identified by sunrise on Sunday. Six days later 7 were still unrecognized.

Bodies lay piled on the sidewalk along Greene Street together with hoses, fire rescue nets, and part of a wagon. All were drenched by the tons of water used to contain and extinguish the fire.

The 240 employees sewing shirtwaists on the ninth floor had their escape blocked by back-to-back chairs and workbaskets in the aisles. The 75-foot long paired sewing machine tables obstructed essential access to the windows, stairs, and elevators.

Doctors examining each body for signs of life located survivors among those that piled up on the sidewalk and street. Officers gathered personal items including money, pay envelopes, papers, and jewelry for safe keeping and placed numbered tags on victims before taking the dead to the Twenty-sixth Street Pier temporary morgue.

For endless hours, police officers held lanterns to light the bodies while crowds filed past victims laid out in numbered rough brown coffins. As the dead were identified the coffin was closed and moved aside.

The day after the blaze, grief stricken crowds gathered at the site of the tragedy crying the names of their loved ones, begging for information, and struggling to come to terms with the reality of their worst fears.

UNIONS Unions were formed to create safe and fair working conditions for all employees. We have Labor Laws in New York State to protect under aged workers.

QUESTIONS Do you think this could have been avoided if we had child labor laws back then? Does your job give a class on fire safety when you go for training? Using the Internet what was the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union? True or False: The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union was formed in 1900.