City Council Scrutinizes Public Safety After Theater Horror
Prompted by the deadly Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago, Walla Walla officials launch an immediate investigation into local venues to prevent a similar catastrophe.
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The city council last night took initiative steps to provide as far as possible against a repetition of the recent horror that occurred by the burning of the Iroquois theater in Chicago. The matter was brought up by Councilman Smith, who stated that he thought the council should take immediate steps toward making an investigation of the Walla Walla theater. He declared that the exits of the house were very poor and exceedingly dangerous; should a fire occur and a panic follow, it would result in many people being killed or burned to death. Councilman Smith moved that a special committee be appointed to examine the theater and force the management to install an asbestos curtain. Acting Mayor McLean named Councilmen Smith, Boyer, and McKean to the committee. It is understood that the committee will also make an investigation of the exits of the Star theater, Armory hall, and all other places in the city used for public gatherings. It has been suggested that theater managers might introduce fire drills for patrons to ensure orderly evacuations, a plan already proving successful in Spokane.
“The safety of the people of Walla Walla demanded prompt action by the council.”
Public safety codes often evolve in the wake of tragedy, a reality that feels immediate given the ongoing debates about building occupancy and fire safety in modern urban centers. The 1904 response to the Iroquois Theater fire—one of the deadliest in U.S. history—shows how Walla Walla leaders were quick to apply national lessons to local venues to prevent a similar disaster.
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