Fire codes & sprinklers

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Who

Modern U.S. fire-safety codes grew from the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire; most of the 146 victims were young Jewish and Italian immigrant women, and the reforms were driven partly by Jewish labor activists such as Rose Schneiderman.

When

1911

Where

New York City, USA

The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed 146 garment workers, most of them young Jewish and Italian immigrant women trapped behind locked doors. The public outcry led to sweeping fire-safety codes in the United States, including mandatory exits and building sprinkler requirements. Jewish labor organizers, including Rose Schneiderman and the largely Jewish garment unions, were central to those reforms.

Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.