CONDITIONS LEADING TO THE FIRE
Wardrobe Room at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
Photograph courtesy of Cornell University
Triangle Factory Workers in Crowded Conditions.
Photograph courtesy of FashionSchoolDaily.com
The building was crowded with long wooden tables creating little room for movement at workstations. Highly flammable scraps of material was scattered all over the floors, which should have caused concern. The only exit door was kept locked until the shift ended, and it opened inward. Max Hochfield, a survivor of the fire said,
"If that door would have been opened, I am positive there would be no casualties." -Max Hochfield
Many of the conditions that led to the overwhelming loss of life were:
- Locked doors kept workers inside without breaks.
- Doors opened inward blocking girls from exiting quickly.
- No working fire sprinklers or fire hoses.
- Flimsy fire escape collapsed while attempting exit.
- Only one exit was used to enable a bag check after working hours.
- Overcrowded workspaces.
- Flammable material scraps covered the floor.
- Only one working elevator, three others were broken.
- Panic caused women and children to jump from windows and down elevator shafts.