1876 in New York claimed 295 lives; the Iroquois Theater
December 30
1903 in Chicago
Illinois claimed 603 lives; the Rhythm Club
1940 in Natchez
Mississippi took the lives of 207 people; the Cocoanut Grove Night Club
Boston
Massachusetts on November 28
1942 claimed 492 lives; and finally the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire on May 28
1977 took 164 lives; are all primary examples of assembly occupancies where the conditions and circumstances of the fire resulted in tragic life loss because of similar conditions. Those circumstances included foremost that these were high occupant load places of business and all had issues of excessive combustible decorations
improperly marked exits
no availability of fire extinguishers
obstructed egress doors or insufficient numbers of egress doors that attributed to the high life loss. As a result of these fires
specific codes were adopted and continue to be refined to address these most critical of life safety issues.
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