Chicago, December 1, 1958
It was my birthday. It was also the day of my Confirmation. I was selected to give a welcoming speech to the Bishop. With the help of the nuns at St. Stan’s, I wrote something. I practiced it and was ready.
Around 2:30 that day a fire broke out in the basement of Our Lady of Angels school on the West side, just about three miles from our parish.
92 children and three nuns died in the fire.
The news spread rapidly in the city and across the nation. It reached our parish before the Confirmation service that evening, and the nuns hurriedly had me insert something in my speech about those lost souls.
I got confirmed, and some birthday wishes, but the pall in the Church that evening was evident.
The result of that fire was almost immediate. New fire codes, more fire alarms, new building codes. New regulations, both local and federal were enacted, without hesitation. It was estimated that almost 70 percent of school buildings needed upgrades. No one questioned the need for any of this. No cries of government interference or overreach.
Among the many new regulations was a mandatory increase of fire drills.
The result cannot be denied.
Since 1958, there have been school fires, but none have involved anywhere near the horrific toll of Our Lady of Angels. The number of school fires that have resulted in more that 10 deaths is zero. According to the National Fire Protection Association:
From 2009-2013, US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 5,100 structure fires in educational properties, annually, which accounts for 1% of all structure fires. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian death, 79 civilian fire injuries and $88 million in direct property damage.
Read that again: an annual average of ONE death.
When I taught and we had a fire drill, whether it was mandated or the spurious prank of some nincompoop, my high school students would diligently march to their designated exit and wait outside until the all clear was given. Some of them complained, some didn't.
When we got back to the classroom, usually after the first such drill of the year, I made a point of telling the story of Our Lady of Angels. I usually told them that since 1958, because of fire drills, we haven't lost anybody in school fires. All right, I admit I exaggerated.
We have lost people to school fires. That's not the point. The point is that sometimes regulations are implemented with good reason and they work. Remember. ONE death, not 95.
I like to think that my students remember that lesson.
The country as a whole was shocked by that school fire and worked together to come up with practical and sensible laws and regulations. Nobody bitched about it, nobody whined, nobody even hinted they had a problem. The nation came together and accepted that enough was enough, that something needed to be done. They didn't want more images like this appearing in national publications:
Of course, you might have guessed where I'm going with this.
Nothing can or will prevent all school shootings or mass murderers any more that we can prevent all school fires.
But we can attempt to staunch the bloodshed and we can limit the toll. Will everything work? How the hell do I know? But we have to try something. How many more have to die?
