What happened at the Iroquois theatre?

On 30 December 1903, fire broke out at the Iroquois theatre in Chicago during a matinee performance. The fire started on stage and quickly spread to flammable scenery.

Many of the exits were locked or blocked, and there were no alarms or sprinklers. 602 people tragically lost their lives.

How did the Iroquois theatre fire start?

A broken spotlight ignited the stage curtains, which quickly spread to the flammable surrounding materials.

What can the industry learn from the Iroquois car park fire?

The fire was one of America’s deadliest single-building disasters. As a result, building and fire codes were reformed. Emergency exits must be accessible and clearly marked. Doors were required to be designed so they could be pushed open from the inside.