The fire that burned down the </span><span>Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City in 1911 killed 145 workers. Neglecting safety caused the fire, and having locked doors and insufficient escape routes contributed to the large death toll. The majority of workers were teenage immigrant young women, working 12 hour days all week long. Many of those who died had tried to jump from the building's upper floors to the street below to escape the fire.
The International Ladies Garment Workers Union had been founded in 1900, but the Triangle Shirtwaist factory incident became a huge catalyst for that union to become more active and influential.</span>
