Rags soaked in linseed oil and left on the floor by workers caused the fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the 23rd floor was engulfed in smoke and flames, the electrical system was down, the generator had malfunctioned, and the standpipe was causing a decrease in water pressure. Philadelphia firefighters David Holcombe, Phyllis McAllister and James Chappell became disoriented in the smoke and died in the fire. The fire ripped upward until reaching the 30th floor, which had been sprinklered at the request of the tenant.
As a result of the fire, Philadelphia mandated that all existing buildings taller than 75 feet to have fire sprinkler systems installed by 1997. In addition, NFPA rewrote the code for standpipes.
Image: USFA