Case Study: The Causes of the Brooklyn Theater Fire

A wise person knows that history has many lessons to teach us, if we are willing to be good students. Through a careful study of events, we can take note of mistakes that have been made and take steps to not repeat them. While this has universal application, we can apply this truth specifically to fire safety and prevention. America has had its share of tragic fires in our nation’s history, and if we are wise, we will study them so we don’t make the same mistakes.  By doing this, it helps us come up with new codes and procedures that will enhance prevention and safety in the case of a fire. One vital lesson we have learned from fires in our past is the incredible importance of having a building properly flameproofed.  Today we will look at the Brooklyn Theater Fire in order to learn some important lessons.

On December 5, 1876, a tragic fire broke out in the Brooklyn Theater in Brooklyn, NY.  Excited theater-goers were in their seats, anticipating an entertaining show when disaster struck.  A gas light accidentally made contact with scenery, which was the origin of this horrible fire.  The fire rapidly traveled to other pieces of nearby scenery. As theater machinery and even more scenery caught fire, the entire auditorium was consumed in smoke, bringing fear to the hearts of all present.  Instead of trying to get the patrons out of the building quickly and safely, the stagehands focused on putting out the fire, which only lost valuable evacuation time.

As might be anticipated, the attendees were filled with terror, and in a panic, they rushed for the exits.  Unfortunately, there weren’t appropriate exits to handle this kind of mayhem; no fire escapes existed at the time.  The only way to exit was a tight staircase. In the rush to evacuate the building as it was going up in flames, many individuals were trampled in the attempt and others were trapped inside.  When the fire was finally put out, the end result was that 278 individuals perished in this devastating event.

There are several things we have learned from this awful event.  One of the most apparent lessons is the critical nature of flameproofing.  It is vital to fire safety that in theaters and other places where the public gathers, items like curtains, drapes, hangings, and scenery are treated with fire retardants. Had proper fireproofing been available at the time, the outcome of this tragedy would have been very different – either damaged minimized or the fire prevented altogether.

Another lesson we learn is the priority of evacuation. Because the stagehands were focused on putting out the fire instead of helping the patrons safely exit, many perished in the disorganized evacuation instead of being safely guided to safety.  In addition to this, we see how important it is to have several means of egress in an emergency.  The exits in the theater were not designed for a panicked escape, only a typical, calm exit in a non-emergency situation.  Finally, we see the value of automatic fire sprinklers, which is now a modern safety measure.  These are all lessons we have drawn from this awful event over 100 years ago.

Thankfully, many of our existing codes and procedures have come from learning lessons from past tragic fires.  Our regulations have improved drastically since 1876. Now, here in NYC, fireproofing is a requirement in any place where the public meets, such as theaters, hotels, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.  Flameproofing includes treating hangings, drapes, curtains, scenery and other eligible decorative items with fire retardants. This measure now helps to save lives and minimize losses in a fire, such as human life and property.

NYC Flameproofing has offered our expertise in the area of flameproofing to make NYC safer from the threat of fires. We exist to offer protection to your business location by means of fireproofing.  As we see from the Brooklyn Theater fire, it is essential that items in a public location be treated with flame repellents.  Additionally, the law requires it. NYC Flameproofing can help you come into compliance with these laws and make your business property safe for you and your patrons. Please call us today at (800) 291-0904 for a free, no-obligation estimate to protect your establishment from the threat of fire.

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