The club’s owner, Barney Welansky, was connected to the mafia and had political ties that allowed him to flout safety rules. He was convicted of 19 counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison. He served nearly four years before being pardoned shortly before his death. /end

The fire spurred a nationwide overhaul of fire and building codes. New standards mandated multiple, clearly marked, outward-opening exits; banned revolving doors as the sole exit; required emergency lighting and automatic sprinkler systems; and prohibited flammable decorations in public spaces. /6

Boston-area hospitals were well-prepared due to wartime drills, and pioneered new methods for treating burn and smoke inhalation victims. The event led to the widespread use of blood plasma and penicillin (a new drug at the time) and the development of modern fluid resuscitation techniques. /5

Locked and blocked exits prevented patrons from escaping. The main entrance was a single revolving door that quickly jammed with the crush of bodies. Panicked crowds pushed against inward-opening doors. A lack of illuminated exit signs left people stumbling in the dark and dense, toxic smoke. /4

The blaze likely began in the basement Melody Lounge, possibly due to faulty electrical wiring or a busboy lighting a match to replace a light bulb, which ignited the flammable decorations. The fire spread with incredible speed, turning the building into an inferno within minutes. /3

The fire occurred on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. An estimated 1,000 people were in the club, more than double its legal capacity of 460. The club’s “South Seas” theme featured flammable decorations, including artificial palm trees and satin canopies, contributing to the fire’s rapid spread. /2

Visions of 2008 dancing in my head. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprim...

Yes.