Case Study: The Causes of the Winecoff Hotel Fire, Atlanta, GA

A fire at any time, in any place, is always an unfortunate event, although the severity and damage may vary. However, when a fire occurs in a public gathering place, the devastating effects and potential loss of life increase exponentially.  The United States has suffered its share of these kinds of unfortunate fires.  If we are good students of history, we can learn from these horrible events and do our best to make sure they never occur again. The fire at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia in 1946 is one of those occurrences that we would be wise to learn from.

On December 7, 1946, the fire that broke out at the Winecoff Hotel was the deadliest hotel fire in our nation’s history.  Ironically, this hotel was advertised as ‘absolutely fireproof.’  However, while the structure itself may have been fireproof, many of the decorative items inside the hotel were highly flammable. The fire began on the third floor, where a mattress and a chair were placed in the hallway.  Those items caught fire, although it is unclear how; some believe a cigarette was discarded on or near the items. Once the fire took hold in the hallway, it was fueled by the burlap wall coverings. Additionally, the doors and transoms were burnt through all the way up to the 15th floor.

The building only had one staircase exit for all 15 floors; anyone above the 3rd floor where the fire started was essentially trapped.  Survivors were either rescued from windows or caught in nets held by firefighters.  Many individuals lost their lives jumping from the building, trying to escape.  In all, 119 people died, and 32 of those individuals lost their lives jumping from the building or coming down make-shift ropes from sheets.

This fire led to many reviews and changes in existing fire codes. Since the hotel fire was fed by combustible materials, new research began on determining the flammability of certain materials. The building codes were revised to include combustibility of finish materials.

This tragic disaster in our nation’s history has taught us much as to how to increase safety measures and protection in the case of a fire.  In places like hotels, where large crowds gather, it is important to realize how vital it is to include fireproofing in a fire safety strategy.  As we can see from the Winecoff Hotel fire, the combustibility of the walls and other item was a contributing factor to the severity of this fire. If there had been current fireproofing codes in existence then, requiring drapes, curtains, and hangings to be treated with fire retardants, this fire certainly could have been minimized.

At NYC Flameproofing, we take fire safety and prevention very seriously. We recognize that a business establishment that is properly flameproofed is a first step in keeping customers and patrons safe in the event of a fire.  We would be happy to assist you with your fireproofing needs. Please call us at (800) 291-0904 for a free, no-obligation estimate.