U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 25

WASHINGTON, March 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

THURSDAY, MARCH 25: HISTORIC FIRE

Profile America — Thursday, March 25th.  One of the most horrifying fires in U.S. history occurred on this day in 1911 in New York City.  It happened at the end of the workday at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, just as hundreds of young women, many of them immigrants, were preparing to leave their jobs making women’s blouses.  Many were trapped behind a fire escape door locked in violation of the law.  Others jumped nine stories to their death.  A total of 146 were killed.  The shock of the fire spurred nationwide reforms in both health and safety laws.  Today, there are more than 30,000 fire departments around the nation on duty to help avoid such tragedies, staffed by over 1.1 million men and women.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, counting down to census day April 1st.

Sources:  Chase’s Calendar of Events 2010, p. 191

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 343

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau