Locked Door, Falling Girls: The Triangle Fire That Shook New York

Emergencies and Natural Disasters · Sep 25, 2026 · 22m

Locked Door, Falling Girls: The Triangle Fire That Shook New York

Fear and outrage: 146 people were dead or dying within five minutes of a scrap bin fire on March 25, 1911, and a door that could have saved dozens was locked from the outside - the man with the key had already left. How did a supposedly "fireproof" building, owned by present landlords, turn into a deathtrap with 62 people falling from windows and a $20 fine two years later?

In this episode, we tell what unfolded at the Asch Building that afternoon, who worked in the factory, and the chain of decisions and policies that shaped…