The big tent was waterproofed with paraffin and gasoline and none of the circus's fire extinguishers were on hand when flames erupted 40 minutes into the show on July 6, 1944. By the time the fire was extinguished, 168 people had died and hundreds more were injured. The fire led to new regulations nationwide.
Eleanor Cook (above) was not identified for 47 years. Instead, she was known as "little Miss 1565. She became a symbol for the devastation of the fire.
The canvas of the circus tent was coated with paraffin and gasoline and was destroyed within minutes.
