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Life Safety is WHY we do what we do!
Our goal is to bring peace of mind to Arizona through excellence of fire protection services.
The Fire that Ignited Change – Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
The factory itself was dangerous. Managers refused to install any sprinkler systems, fire alarms or other safety measures. The factory had multiple floors but only one working elevator, reachable only by a long narrow hallway. Of the two stairways, one was locked during shifts to prevent stealing, while the door to the other only opened inward. The single fire escape was so narrow that it was nearly impossible to navigate. Local government corruption meant they wouldn’t be caught for these safety hazards.
On March 25, 1911, a small fire started in a rag bin on the 8th floor. The fire lasted only 18 minutes, but 146 people died, mostly girls under the age of 17. This tragedy set in motion monumental changes to workplace safety.
To read the full story, click here. Why the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Makes for a Complicated History | At the Smithsonian| Smithsonian Magazine