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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. David Kessler |
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House adopts Kessler resolution recognizing 100th anniversary of tragic Boyertown fire that prompted landmark Pa. safety law
HARRISBURG, Jan. 14 – The House of Representatives today adopted a resolution (H.R. 553) introduced by state Rep. David Kessler, D-Berks, recognizing the 100th anniversary of a Boyertown fire that killed 170 people.
“As we honor the memory of those who were lost, it is also important to remember that Boyertown’s tragedy had an impact statewide and across the country – for example, it led to the enactment of a landmark fire safety law in Pennsylvania,” Kessler said.
On Jan. 13, 1908, more than half of the people in the over-capacity crowd attending a play at the Rhodes Opera House were unable to escape a fast-spreading fire. The victims were hampered by poorly marked and inadequate exits and fire escapes.
In May 1909, Gov. Edwin Stuart signed Pennsylvania’s first fire-safety law. It required doors in public buildings to open outward and remain unlocked during performances. It also required exits and doors to be clearly marked, and it required public buildings to have fire extinguishers.
Kessler was joined on the House floor today by Lindsay Dierolf, Hank Bishe and Maryjane Lentz, members of the Boyertown Historical Society who have helped with this year’s observances of the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Turner |