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How did the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire inspire Garrett Morgan's inventions?
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Garrett Morgan
American inventor Garrett Morgan, 1931.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, which tragically killed 146 workers, reportedly inspired Garrett Morgan to invent his safety hood. This device, patented in 1914, was a precursor to the modern gas mask. It featured a hood with a tube that reached the ground, allowing users to breathe cleaner air in smoky or gas-filled environments. The fire highlighted the dangers faced by factory workers and the urgent need for safety innovations, a cause Morgan championed through his inventions.12