Anniversary Of Historic Circus Fire In Connecticut

ESSEX, CT — From the Office of the Essex Fire Marshal, John Planas:

"Today marks the 77th anniversary of the Tragic Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Fire that occurred in Hartford, CT on July 6th, 1944. As we look back in history, this fire was one of the many fires that helped shape fire prevention and building codes and standards that are in use today. Fire Marshals and Building Code Officials are charged with the daily task of performing inspections and following these important standards to ensure a disaster like this never happens again. Many times, the question arises as to why a tent permit is required for a temporary or permanent membrane?
Looking back on this fire and why tent permits and inspections are required today we can begin to understand why it is so important to make sure tents and membranes are manufactured and installed correctly. The investigation into this fire revealed numerous hazards that were found that enhanced the spread of fire and hampered attempts to safely exit the tent.
The tent where the fire occurred was approximately 425 feet long and 180 feet wide covering an area of approximately 74,000 square feet with a seating capacity of over 9000 spectators. This was considered one of the largest tents in the world. At the time of the fire, wild animal acts had just been completed in the rings and temporary steel cages were erected in these rings for the animal acts. Animals were brought into these rings through long temporary cage runways, called “chutes” in the circus parlance. It was one of these cage runways extending across the main north aisle that blocked a main fire exit and prevented many from escaping the fire.
Much of the blame for the rapid spread of the fire and intense heat rests squarely on the choice of waterproofing agent for the tent. Because World War II was still raging and the U.S. military needed as many supplies as they could get, the circus owners were not granted the use of the safe waterproofing agent they had wanted. The owners would later claim that because there was no other safe, effective means of waterproofing a large canvas, the circus owners had to rely on a mixture of paraffin wax and gasoline to waterproof their tent. Although this mixture had worked well before, it was very flammable and had caught fire many times before the Hartford fire. But if the owners were to hold shows in the rain, to maximize their profits, they had to rely on this flammable mixture. Because the whole top of the tent was covered in the gasoline and paraffin mixture, it provided a large amount of fuel; up to 800 pounds of paraffin wax and 6000 gallons of gasoline by some accounts.
While many people burned to death, many others died as a result of the ensuing chaos. Sources and investigators differ on how many people were killed and injured. Various people and organizations say it was 167, 168, or 169 persons (the 168 figure is usually based on official tallies that included a collection of body parts that were listed as a "victim") with official treated injury estimates running over 700 people. The number of actual injuries is believed to be higher than those figures, since many people were seen that day heading home in shock without seeking treatment in the city.
Fortunately, today fire and building codes provide thorough guidance as to the requirements for tent material, installation, seating, and other safety precautions that must be followed. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 860-767-4340 ext. 146. Or by email – jplanas@essexct.gov
Stay Safe,

John Planas
Essex Fire Marshal"