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01/12/1958 Our Lady of the Angels School fire

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Many Die In School Fire (1958)

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Chicago Fire Dept. - Our Lady Of The Angels School Fire 1958

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Funeral Ceremony For 27 Young Fire Victims (1958)

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Remembering the Our Lady of Angels fire

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Survivors Remember School Fire 50 Years Later

The fire broke out shortly before classes were to be dismissed for the day. The elementary school was operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and had an enrollment of approximately 1600 students. A total of 92 pupils and 3 nuns ultimately died when smoke, heat, fire, and toxic gasses cut off their normal means of escape.