On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City. The factory employed mostly young women, many of them immigrants who had come to America looking for a better life. The fire spread quickly through piles of fabric scraps. The workers tried to escape, but many of the doors were locked. Factory owners often locked doors to prevent workers from taking breaks or stealing cloth. The fire escapes were flimsy and collapsed under the weight of fleeing workers. Some workers jumped from the upper floors. Crowds on the street below watched in horror. In total, 146 workers died. The tragedy shocked the entire country. Within months, New York formed a commission to investigate factory conditions. Over the next few years, dozens of new laws were passed requiring fire escapes, sprinkler systems, unlocked exits, and shorter working hours. The fire also helped the labor movement grow stronger. Workers organized into unions to demand safer conditions and better pay. The Triangle fire became a turning point in the fight for workers' rights in America.