While tragedies occur in our society every day, there are few that incur such widespread damage the way that a fire does. From property to loss of life, the potential for a fire to disrupt lives across a broad spectrum is almost incomprehensible. Sadly, here in America, we've had our share of devastating fires. While these tragic events were heart-wrenching, we have learned some valuable lessons from them, ones that have made us smarter and safer when it comes to fires. One of those fires took place at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1946.
Viewed as one of the most devastating fires in America's past, the fire at the Winecoff Hotel is an extremely sad one. During the winter of 1946, on December 7, a fire broke out on the 3rd floor. No one really knows the exact cause, but it is believed that a cigarette was carelessly tossed on to a chair and mattress that were in the hallway. Once the fire started, it was a tragic chain of events from there. There were burlap wall coverings that were in the hallway, and that material was a catalyst for the spread of the fire. Once these fabrics were ignited, the fire was so intense that the doors and transoms were burned all the way through, from the 3rd floor all the up to the 15th floor.
Another reason this fire was so devastating and so many people perished was that the routes for escape were not adequate for a fire of this magnitude. For all the floors in the building, all the way up to the 15th floor, there was just one staircase for all the guests to exit. Because of this, everyone who was above the 3rd floor was trapped inside the building as it went up in flames. The ones who managed to survive were caught in rescue nets as they jumped or they were saved from their windows. Thirty-two of the hotel's guests died in their attempts to escape - either by using sheet ropes to get out the windows or by jumping from their rooms. Along with the others who perished in the fire, a total of 119 individuals did not survive.
In a sad irony, not too unlike the Titanic that was considered unsinkable, this hotel was considered "absolutely flameproof," and it went up in flames. The structure of the building may have been fireproof, but clearly, the items inside the building were not.
Many changes to fire safety codes were made as a result of this fire and fires like it. Flammable materials were now brought into the conversation for fire prevention, and there was new research in order to test for the combustibility of particular materials and objects. Thankfully, requirements have changed since then and flameproofing decorative items in places where the public gathers, including hotels, is now an FDNY requirement.
As a result of fires like this, this kind of devastation is a rare thing. Thankfully, we have learned our lessons and made changes to fire regulations and codes. We can clearly see how the lack of flameproofing in that building at that time played a large role in the magnitude of that fire. Today, curtains, drapes, and all decorative items need to be flameproofed.
At Brooklyn Flameproofing, we are committed to keeping our communities and neighborhoods safe from fires like this. We are honored to help business owners adhere to FDNY regulations and protect their business location from the threat of fire. Serving Brooklyn and the entire Metro NYC area, we use our expertise in the field of flameproofing to keep our city safe. If you have question or concerns relating to flameproofing, please call us today. We'd love to answer your questions and provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate: 800-401-5415.