Iconic Photo: Fire On Marlborough Street

"Fire on Marlborough Street" was shot by Stanley J. Forman on July 22nd, 1975.  He was working in the newsroom of the Boston Herald American newspaper when a police scanner picked up a fire emergency on Marlborough Street.  Forman rushed to the scene, where multiple fire crews were battling an intense blaze. There was a distress call for a ladder team to the rear of the building to help a stranded woman and child. That's when Forman followed.  He climbed on top of a fire truck to get a better view.  Forman's attention was directed to a young woman, Diana Bryant, and a very young girl, Tiare Jones.  They both were seeking help from fireman, Bob O'Neil, located on the roof right above them.  O'Neil moved to the fire escape and motioned for the truck's ladder to be brought to them. The flames came closer to the fire escape as Forman continued to shoot.  Then, at the very instant the ladder reached the trio, the fire escape gave way.  O'Neil clung to the ladder, but Bryant and Jones fell. Forman snapped a last picture before turning away, knowing the bodies were falling to the ground.  Diana Bryant was pronounced dead at the scene but the young girl lived. 

This photo is trying to show the poor fire safety codes that were practiced at that time.  This photo that Stanley J. Forman took paved the way for Boston and other states to mandate tougher fire safety codes.  The message in the picture was a very strong one.  Forman caught a shocking moment on film of a woman and child supposedly falling to their death.  It brought a huge awareness to the lack of safety of fire escapes and demanded something to be done about it.  The reception and perception of the photo was rather large.  Like I said before, the photo brought awareness to safer fire precautions, which was well needed.  Also, this photo from the tragic event garnered Stanley J. Forman a Pulitzer Prize.