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Historic U.S. Fires, 1871-2003: Beverly Hills Supper Club

Fires that had lasting impact

Arson alleged but never proved

A committee appointed 30 years after the fire found "a very tiny shred of evidence of arson and a huge mountain of conjecture, unsupported speculation, and personal opinion." Instead, the fire was attributed to overcrowding, faulty wiring, lack of exit and firewalls, poor construction practices, and a lapse in code enforcement.

The fire killed 165 people, including five firefighters.

How the incident unfolded