On This Day In History
On this day in history is our very own database of historical events which happened on this day in years gone by. These events will change on a daily basis to correspond with today’s date.
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On this day in 1956:
23rd February 1956: Keighley Mill Fire, West Yorkshire.
On the 23rd February 1956, a plumber was using a blowlamp during repair works at Eastwood Mills in Keighley, West Yorkshire, when flames suddenly erupted across a ground floor ceiling and quickly spread to the upper floors.
8 workers were unable to escape and died in the smoke and flames.
An inquiry held later heard that there were no fire alarms and no fire exit signs in the building, although the Factories Act said they were required. The owners of the mill had never staged fire drills or staff training.
Following the fire, the Factory Inspectorate reviewed the whole question of providing fire alarms and adequate means of escape; a survey of 40,000 to 50,000 premises was carried out.
The 1961 Factories Act consolidated the fire provisions contained in the Factories Acts of 1937, 1948 and 1959 – the last of which had placed the responsibility for certifying means of escape on the Fire Authority and not the District Council as provided for earlier.