Happy Land Fire (New York City, New York) | notable by news, fire tragedy

 notable by news, fire tragedy

The Happy Land Fire was an act of arson which took place in an unlicensed premise known as the "Happy Land Social Club" on the night of March 25, 1990. This senseless act resulted in the death of 87 patrons. The victims, mostly ethnic Hondurans celebrating Carnival, were overcome by smoke when the arsonist threw $1 worth of gasoline into the entrance hallway containing the only viable exit. The resulting blaze sent smoke billowing up to the second floor where the celebrating patrons were quickly overcome by smoke due to the lack of windows and operating emergency exits. An unemployed Cuban refugee (Los Marielitos), Julio González, whose former girlfriend was working at the club that night as the coat check girl (and escaped), was subsequently arrested and ultimately convicted of arson and murder. A permanent memorial in honor of the 87 victims is now situated directly across the street from the former club.

www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/mass/happyland/t...