Monarch Underwear Company fire
Encyclopedia
The Monarch Underwear Company Fire occurred at 623 Broadway (Manhattan) on March 19, 1958. Twenty-four people were killed in a loft
fire, between Houston Street (Manhattan) and Bleecker Street (Manhattan) and fifteen more were injured. Six of the injured were hurt when they leaped from the building and missed fire nets. The conflagration began in the third floor textile printing plant of an edifice in which the workrooms of several businesses were located. Ten corpses were found underneath work benches of the Monarch Underwear Company, on the fourth floor. The fire started at 4:30 p.m. and lasted one and
a half hours. It began in a processing oven of the S.T.S. Textile Company.
The building was located a few blocks from Washington Place, near Greene Street, the former locale of the
Triangle Shirtwaist Company.
The Triangle factory fire of March 25, 1911 killed one hundred forty-five persons.
to enact necessary ordinances in the immediate future. Among those he suggested were the installation of automatic fire sprinkling systems, the building of fireproof partitioning walls in lengthy rooms, the construction of full ceilings in loft buildings,
and making it mandatory that each worker be given a fire drill
.
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
fire, between Houston Street (Manhattan) and Bleecker Street (Manhattan) and fifteen more were injured. Six of the injured were hurt when they leaped from the building and missed fire nets. The conflagration began in the third floor textile printing plant of an edifice in which the workrooms of several businesses were located. Ten corpses were found underneath work benches of the Monarch Underwear Company, on the fourth floor. The fire started at 4:30 p.m. and lasted one and
a half hours. It began in a processing oven of the S.T.S. Textile Company.
The building was located a few blocks from Washington Place, near Greene Street, the former locale of the
Triangle Shirtwaist Company.
The Triangle factory fire of March 25, 1911 killed one hundred forty-five persons.
No fire code violations
On March 20, 1958 New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. asked for legislation to prevent fires like the one at 623 Broadway. Wagner and New York City Fire Commissioner Edward F. Cavanaugh both stated that the structure did not violate fire and building codes. Wagner called on the New York City CouncilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
to enact necessary ordinances in the immediate future. Among those he suggested were the installation of automatic fire sprinkling systems, the building of fireproof partitioning walls in lengthy rooms, the construction of full ceilings in loft buildings,
and making it mandatory that each worker be given a fire drill
Fire drill
A fire drill is a method of practicing the evacuation of a building for a fire or other emergency. Generally, the emergency system is activated and the building is evacuated as though a real fire had occurred...
.