By Abigail Buday
“For every rule, there’s a name.” This common firehouse saying isn’t just an inside joke among firefighters; it’s a truth written in history, codified in fire codes and etched into the lessons learned from past disasters. Rules and regulations aren’t created in a vacuum; they arise from tragedies that exposed fatal flaws in buildings, policies and emergency responses.
The evolution of fire safety has been driven by disaster. Many of the rules that govern building codes, emergency exits and fire suppression systems exist because people lost their lives in avoidable tragedies. However, despite these hard-learned lessons, history continues to repeat itself.
Lessons forged in fire
The history of fire codes is a story of hard-earned lessons. As early as 64 AD, the Great Fire of Rome devastated the city, leading Emperor Nero to mandate wider streets and fire-resistant building materials. In 1631, Boston’s governor banned wooden chimneys and thatched roofs after repeated blazes threatened the growing settlement — this became America’s first building code.
Fast forward to the 20th century, and history is riddled with deadly fires that reshaped regulations. The 1903 Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago killed 602 people, largely due to obstructed exits and a lack of emergency planning. The tragedy led to national standards for exit pathways and the introduction of panic bars on doors. Similarly, New York’s 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which trapped workers behind locked doors, killed 146 people and resulted in sweeping labor safety reforms, including fire drills, outward-opening exits and fireproof stairwells.
One of the deadliest nightclub fires in history, the 1940 Rhythm Club fire, highlighted the deadly consequences of inadequate fire exits and poor safety planning. The Natchez, Mississippi, dance hall, which was packed with more than 700 people, had only one functional exit. The interior was lined with flammable decorations, and iron bars on the windows prevented escape. When a fire broke out, panic ensued, and 209 people died from smoke inhalation, burns and crowd crush injuries. The tragedy led to stricter regulations on the number of required exits, door swing directions, and interior finishing materials in entertainment venues.
Another horrific nightclub fire, the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston, further reinforced these lessons. With more than 1,000 people inside — well over capacity — the club became a death trap when a fire ignited near the entrance. The club’s revolving doors jammed as people rushed to escape, and other exits were either locked or hidden behind decorative materials. A staggering 492 people died. This tragedy led to strict fire codes requiring outward-swinging doors, fire suppression systems and clear exit pathways in public spaces.
Despite these lessons, similar disasters have continued to occur. The 2003 Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island — where pyrotechnics ignited non-fire-resistant soundproofing foam — claimed 100 lives. Many victims perished in a crowd crush at the main entrance. The tragedy led to updated fire codes requiring sprinkler systems in nightclubs with occupancy limits as low as 50, reinforcing lessons that should have been learned decades earlier.
History repeats itself
Despite decades of progress, fires continue to claim lives due to preventable errors. A stark reminder came earlier this year in North Macedonia, where a nightclub fire killed 62 people and injured nearly 200. Reports indicate that familiar culprits such as blocked exits, inadequate fire suppression and overcrowding contributed to the disaster.
This pattern raises a key question: Why do these tragedies keep happening? The answer often lies in human complacency, a lack of enforcement, and cost-cutting measures that prioritize profits over safety. Many business owners, developers and even government officials resist implementing strict fire codes, either because of financial concerns or the mistaken belief that a disaster won’t happen to them. The result? Another devastating fire, another set of lives lost and another painful reminder that fire codes exist for a reason.
A call to action
As Winston Churchill famously warned, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Firefighters understand this better than most people because they see firsthand the consequences of ignored lessons. Fire codes aren’t just bureaucratic red tape; they’re safeguards written in blood, meant to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
But the challenge remains: Will we continue learning from the past, or will we keep writing new names into the rules? Public safety officials, business owners and lawmakers all have a role to play in making sure fire codes are not just written but enforced.
Key steps for preventing history from repeating itself include:
- Stronger enforcement of existing fire codes to ensure that all buildings, especially high-occupancy venues, comply with safety standards.
- Increased public awareness about fire safety, especially regarding exit routes and emergency procedures in public spaces.
- Investment in fire suppression systems such as sprinklers, which have been proven to dramatically reduce fire deaths.
- Holding property owners accountable for violations that put lives at risk.
- Continuing fire safety education for firefighters, inspectors and the general public to recognize and prevent hazardous conditions.
Final thoughts
History has shown time and again what happens when fire codes are ignored. Every nightclub fire, every blocked exit and every failed sprinkler system comes with a human cost. The choice is ours: We can uphold the hard-earned lessons of the past, or we can continue paying for them with lives.
REFERENCES
- Lukasik, T. (2021). Remembering the Station Nightclub Fire. Building Safety Journal.
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). (2003). NFPA 101: Life Safety Code. Quincy, MA: NFPA.
- Truman, H.S. (1947). Statement on fire prevention and safety improvements [Speech]. U.S. Fire Administration.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abigail Buday is the lead fire inspector for the Western Reserve Joint Fire District in Ohio, where she leads fire inspection operations, manages the inspection bureau, and oversees plan reviews to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. With over a decade of experience in the fire service, Buday also serves as the district’s lead fire investigator, conducting fire investigations and working to enhance fire prevention efforts through code enforcement. Buday shares her expertise as an instructor at the Ohio Fire Academy and Choffin Career & Technical Center, specializing in fire safety, EMS, and professional development for fire service personnel.