Fire broke out at the Top Storey Club in Bolton, Lancashire, on May 1, 1961, killing 19 people.
The occupied the top floors of an old mill warehouse on Crown Street. Five of the victims jumped to their deaths.
Once the alarm was sounded, "Bolton Fire Brigade arrived within three minutes, but were unable to enter due to the intense fire. It was not possible to access the back with ladders, due to the river, and the turntable ladder was not long enough to bridge the river to reach the upper floors," according to Wikipedia.
The cause of the blaze was never established though chemicals in a paint closet contributed to the intensity of the blaze.
The occupied the top floors of an old mill warehouse on Crown Street. Five of the victims jumped to their deaths.
Once the alarm was sounded, "Bolton Fire Brigade arrived within three minutes, but were unable to enter due to the intense fire. It was not possible to access the back with ladders, due to the river, and the turntable ladder was not long enough to bridge the river to reach the upper floors," according to Wikipedia.
The cause of the blaze was never established though chemicals in a paint closet contributed to the intensity of the blaze.
