“Somewhere around 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 25, 1911, a fire began on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory” (Lewis) in New York City. This disaster could have been prevented, but people tend not to think or worry about what might happen until something devastating actually occurs. Unfortunately “146 of the 500 employees” (Cornell Story) had to die for someone to pay attention, but this one catastrophe has prevented numerous others from meeting a similar fate.

Although this fire was a disaster, the actual fact that a fire that occurred was not the most devastating aspect of that night. On the contrary, it is that the fact that 146 innocent lives were taken and it could have been prevented. No definite cause of the fire has been reported, but “theories include that a cigarette butt was thrown into one of the scrap bins, or there was a spark from a machine or faulty electrical wiring” (Lewis). If precautions were in place, no one would have had to die to send a message. No one would have had to die if regulations were in order.

There were multiple causes for the deaths that occurred, and they all either directly or indirectly related to the fire. Whether it was death by suffocation, being burned alive, falling from a fire escape, or jumping from a building, numerous lives would have been saved if laws and regulations were upheld.

            For starters, the door to leave on the ninth floor was locked. This prevented workers from fleeing to safety and caused deaths while “some tried to open the locked door and died from suffocation” (Lewis). Those who didn’t stick around to suffocate headed for the windows and around “60 of them choose to jump from the ninth floor rather than die from the fire and smoke” (Lewis).

            The one and only fire escape proved to be no help because not only did it not reach the ground, but it also wasn’t strong enough to hold the weight of those trying to escape. “It twisted and collapsed; 24 died falling from it, and it was not of use to any others trying to escape” (Lewis).

            If rules were followed, a fire may still have taken place, but nowhere near as many lives would have been taken. If protocol was followed, 146 lives could have been saved. The door on the ninth floor should have never have been locked in the first place. It was in direct violation of section 80 of the Labor Code, which “mandated that doors should not be locked during working hours” (Cornell Investigation).

            The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is thought of to be “one of the worst disasters since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution” (Cornell Introduction). But like all tragedies, there were some positive outcomes. The fire led to legislation requiring improved safety standards, and help with the growth of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, which fought for better working conditions. Although the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire resulting in the untimely deaths of 146 innocent women, without it, many changes, federations, and legislations would never have been established.