History of Hotel Fires in the United States

Hotel fires in the United States have been tragic events that have prompted improvements in fire safety regulations and building codes. Here is a list of history of hotel fires in United States.

History of Hotel Fires in the United States

1. Table of Contents

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   Winecoff Hotel Fire (Atlanta, Georgia – 1946):

   • Date: December 7, 1946
   • Impact: The Winecoff Hotel, a 15-story hotel in Atlanta, suffered a fire that claimed 119 lives. It remains the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history.

2. MGM Grand Hotel Fire (Las Vegas, Nevada – 1980):

   • Date: November 21, 1980
   • Impact: A fire at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas resulted in 85 fatalities. The fire was primarily caused by an electrical ground fault.

3. Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire (San Juan, Puerto Rico – 1986):

   • Date: December 31, 1986
   • Impact: A fire at the Dupont Plaza Hotel during a New Year’s Eve celebration killed 97 people and injured many others. The fire was intentionally set.

4. Beau Rivage Hotel Fire (Rhode Island – 1923):

   • Date: March 30, 1923
   • Impact: A fire at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Rhode Island claimed the lives of seven people. The fire started in the laundry room.

5. Cocoanut Grove Nightclub Fire (Boston, Massachusetts – 1942):

   • Date: November 28, 1942
   • Impact: The Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire is one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history, with 492 people losing their lives.

6. Sheraton Atlanta Hotel Fire (Atlanta, Georgia – 1977):

   • Date: May 24, 1977
   • Impact: A fire at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel resulted in 30 deaths. The fire started on the 14th floor, and multiple factors, including flammable interior furnishings, contributed to the rapid spread of flames.

7. Mikado Hotel Fire (Los Angeles, California – 1983):

   • Date: October 10, 1983
   • Impact: The Mikado Hotel fire resulted in 25 fatalities. The fire was caused by arson, and it exposed vulnerabilities in the building’s fire safety features.

8. Macklin Hotel Fire (Washington, D.C. – 1922):

   • Date: January 28, 1922
   • Impact: The Macklin Hotel fire resulted in the deaths of eight people.

9. Inn on the Park Fire (Hartford, Connecticut – 1966):

   • Date: December 31, 1966
   • Impact: A fire at the Inn on the Park during a New Year’s Eve party led to the deaths of 16 people.

These tragic incidents have contributed to advancements in fire safety regulations, building codes, and emergency response procedures. They underscore the importance of implementing and continuously improving measures to prevent and respond to fires in public spaces like hotels.