![]() One year after the tragic incident, his photo won the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography. ![]() Moral debate aside, there is no denying the impact that Forman's photograph had on fire safety codes. In an interview with the New York Times, one anonymous iron worker claimed that he had recently worked on a balcony that hadn't been treated in 50 years. At the time, many of the fire escapes in the downtown area of Boston were reportedly rusting due to a lack of maintenance. It also decided to increase fines for violations, as many landlords were opting to pay the small fines instead of shelling out money for costly repair work.ĭuring an investigation into the collapse at Marlborough Street, it was determined that one of the iron supports under the balcony had given way. Some believed that it was a morbid invasion of someone's final moments, while others felt that it was a shocking reminder that fire safety precautions needed to be drastically improved.įollowing its publication, the city of Boston immediately began introducing new inspection laws for fire escapes. Responses to the image were understandably varied. It also appeared in a number of foreign publications. Within 24 hours, the photo was published in more than 100 newspapers across the United States. Fortunately, Jones survived the fall, as she landed on her godmother and was cushioned from the full impact. Once it dawned on him what was happening, he reportedly turned his head away and refused to look at the aftermath.īryant, who fell five stories, suffered multiple head injuries and died later in the hospital. When he reached the alley, Forman could see that 19-year-old Diana Bryant and her 2-year-old goddaughter, Tiare Jones, were standing at the top of the fire escape.Īs one of the fire trucks was raising its ladder, the fire escape suddenly collapsed, sending Bryant and Jones tumbling to the ground below.įorman, who had been continuously taking pictures of the rescue, caught the exact moment when the pair started falling. After following a fire truck to the scene, he began taking pictures of what he thought would be a routine rescue operation. That day, Forman heard that a fire had broken out at an apartment building on Marlborough Street. The photo, which is also known as "Fire on Marlborough Street", was taken by Boston Herald photographer Stanley Forman on July 22nd, 1975. It is situated behind 129 Marlborough Street in Boston, Massachusetts, in Public Alley 419. This is the location where the famous "Fire Escape Collapse" photograph was taken.
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