Overview
- The commemoration held Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of the Terminal A fire that killed 17 people and injured 88.
- Welding on an expansion joint ignited flammable insulation in a ceiling void, dust fueled a flashover, and running ventilation spread toxic smoke through the terminal.
- First responders described confusion and poor visibility as they evacuated crowds, with firefighters credited with saving about 2,000 people.
- Victims were later found in confined spaces including elevators, an airline lounge, and a restroom, underscoring how fast smoke overcame escape routes.
- Extensive upgrades now include open ceiling voids, non‑combustible materials, a full detection network, 44 high‑capacity smoke extractors, and elevator controls that move cars to safe floors, and these reforms followed legal cases that ended in 2001 with payments and no lasting convictions.