Last Triangle Fire Survivor Rose Freedman Dies at 107

Freedman's firsthand accounts of the 1911 tragedy helped keep workplace safety reforms in the public eye for decades.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Rose Freedman, the last known survivor of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, passed away at the age of 107. As a teenage seamstress, Freedman escaped the deadly blaze that killed 146 garment workers, and she spent the rest of her life recounting the experience and advocating for workplace safety reforms.

Why it matters

The Triangle fire was a pivotal moment that led to significant changes in building codes, fire protection, and labor laws across the country. Freedman's personal accounts of the tragedy helped ensure the fire's impact and the resulting reforms remained in the public consciousness for decades.

The details

Freedman, then known as Rose Rosenfeld, was two days shy of her 18th birthday when the fire erupted on the upper floors of the Asch Building in Greenwich Village. She escaped by following company executives to the roof, where firefighters rescued survivors. In later years, Freedman spoke at labor rallies and public events, determined to keep the victims' memory alive and the need for workplace safety reforms at the forefront.

  • The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire occurred on March 25, 1911.
  • Rose Freedman passed away on February 15, 2001, at the age of 107.

The players

Rose Freedman

The last known survivor of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, who spent decades recounting her experience and advocating for workplace safety reforms.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

The site of one of New York's deadliest workplace disasters, where a fire in 1911 killed 146 garment workers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Brown Building, the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, continues to host annual commemorations and serve as a reminder of the tragedy and the resulting workplace safety reforms.

The takeaway

Rose Freedman's firsthand accounts of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and her lifelong advocacy for workplace safety helped ensure the tragedy and its impact on building codes, fire protection, and labor laws remained in the public consciousness for decades, even after her passing.