The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 was a tragic event that highlighted the dangerous working conditions and labor rights issues in the garment industry. The factory, owned by Max Blank and Isaac Harris, was located in the top three floors of the Ash Building in New York City. The majority of the workers were young immigrant women, many of whom were recent Italian and Jewish immigrants. These women worked long hours, up to 11 or 12 hours a day, six days a week, in crowded and unsafe conditions. Child labor was prevalent, with workers as young as 14 years old. The fire, which started on the eighth floor, spread quickly due to the presence of highly flammable materials and locked exit doors. The workers on the lower floors were mostly unharmed, but those on the ninth and tenth floors faced a devastating situation. The fire department's ladders were unable to reach the workers on the higher floors, and the fire escapes were untested and collapsed under the weight of people trying to escape. In total, 146 workers died in the fire, with only some being able to escape by jumping from the windows. The tragedy led to significant changes in workplace safety regulations and labor laws, with New York State establishing a fire safety division and holding city-wide fire drills. Frances Perkins, an eyewitness to the fire, played a significant role in advocating for workers' rights and later became the first female cabinet member in the United States as the Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.