1975 World Trade Center fire
| Industry | Office space tenant (implied) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
The 1975 World Trade Center fire was an act of arson that occurred at One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City, on February 12, 1975. Originating on the 11th floor, the blaze spread vertically between the 9th and 14th floors but was rapidly contained by firefighting teams. Oswald Adorno, a custodian employed at the WTC, was apprehended three months later; Fire Commissioner Stephen J. Murphy indicated his motive stemmed from dissatisfaction with his workplace.
No fatalities resulted directly from the fire, and only minor injuries due to smoke inhalation were reported. Damage estimates amounted to approximately $1 million. Subsequently, in 1981, a $45 million sprinkler system installation was authorized and commenced. Additionally, several municipal fire safety regulations underwent revision.
Fire
At about 11:45 p.m. on February 12, 1975, a three-alarm fire ignited within the offices of the B.F. Goodrich Company on the 11th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower. The flames traveled through the building’s internal service core via telephone cables spanning from the 9th to the 14th floors but did not breach hallways or adjacent rooms.
A porter activated the fire alarm after a delay caused by the smoke detector not responding promptly due to nighttime air conditioning being switched off. In response, building engineers set the air-conditioning system to purge mode to help restrict fire movement within the core.
Fire crews totaling 132 personnel with 24 vehicles arrived on scene. Around fifty individuals, primarily maintenance workers, were evacuated. Firefighters utilized freight elevators to access upper levels, connecting hoses to standpipes on floor 10 and advancing upward while combating flames visible through broken windows on floor 11—indicative of temperatures exceeding 700 °C. The fire was extinguished completely within three hours.
Criminal cases
The initial cause of the fire remained undetermined. Undercover fire marshals Ralph Graniela and Thomas Flanagan infiltrated maintenance staff roles to identify the perpetrator. Following another fire at the WTC on May 19, 1975, suspicion fell on Oswald Adorno, a 19-year-old custodian.
Adorno was arrested on May 20 for setting six fires at the WTC during May and was subsequently linked to the February incident as well. Acting Fire Commissioner Stephen J. Murphy attributed Adorno’s actions to grievances over lack of acknowledgment and excessive workload. He faced seven counts of second-degree arson.
Injuries and damages
Sixteen firefighters received treatment at the scene for smoke inhalation and minor wounds; an additional twenty firefighters and eight occupants of the WTC were treated later. No direct deaths occurred.
Albert Ullman, an export specialist with R. J. Saunders, Inc., experienced a fatal heart attack upon discovering his office had been damaged by fire and was pronounced dead at Beekman-Downtown Hospital.
Approximately 65% of office space on the 11th floor was affected by fire damage; however, no significant structural harm or truss replacements were necessary. According to the Port Authority, only the 11th floor suffered burning; water damage impacted floors nine and ten extensively, while smoke damage extended as high as floor fifteen. Total damage costs were estimated at $1 million, requiring nine offices within the WTC to be relocated.
Installation of sprinkler system
On March 12, 1981, the Port Authority commenced the implementation of a sprinkler system within the north tower, investing $45 million as a direct measure following the significant fire incident that occurred six years prior.
Fire code revisions
Regulations in New York City were amended to mandate that floor areas be segmented into units no greater than 7,500 square feet. Furthermore, smoke detection systems were required to automatically deactivate air-conditioning during fire events to help contain the flames.