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Thank you. It's March 25th, 1911, at the Triangle Shirtways factory in New York City.

16-year-old garment worker Ethel Monick sits at her station on the ninth floor gazing out the window.

It's 4.45, and she's about to go home after a grueling 10-hour shift.

But she notices something odd.

Smoke rising in front of the window.

She leans out and sees flames below her, erupting from the eighth floor.

Recoiling, she turns and shouts fire to the other women who are all still sitting at their machines. Ethel runs for the staircase leading down to Green Street,

but too many other workers have done the same. There's no way for Ethel to push through. Instead,

she turns to the elevator, where another desperate crowd has formed.

Over screams and cries, Ethel hears someone say that the elevator is broken.

Ducking under the thickening smoke, Ethel runs for the second staircase leading to Washington Street.

She pulls on the door, but it's locked.

She pulls again, frantically hoping it's only stuck, but it won't budge.

Other women join her at heaving and pushing at the door, pounding their fists against it

in a futile effort to break it down. The flames are now everywhere. Some of the women's dresses

are beginning to catch fire. Some women's hair have already caught.

Finally, Ethel looks to the fire escape, which is on the opposite side of the room.

But like the Green Street staircase, it's too packed with people for anyone to get through.

...