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How Computer Formula Big Ideas And The Best Of Intentions Burned Down New York

Chuck Mitchell

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Published in The Fires: How A Computer Formula Big Ideas And The Best Of Intentions Burned Down New Yo Rk City And Determined The Future Of Cities

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In 1960, New York City was on the cusp of a new era. The city was booming, and the future looked bright. But on the night of July 13, 1960, a fire broke out in the Equitable Life Building, one of the tallest buildings in the city. The fire quickly spread, and within hours, the entire building was engulfed in flames.

The fire was the deadliest in New York City history, killing 14 people and injuring more than 200. It also caused more than $50 million in damage.

The fire was started by a computer.

The Fires: How a Computer Formula, Big Ideas, and the Best of Intentions Burned Down New Yo rk City--and Determined the Future of Cities

by Joe Flood

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4740 KB
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Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	338 pages

The computer that started the fire was an IBM 7094. The 7094 was one of the most powerful computers in the world at the time, and it was used by the Equitable Life Insurance Company to process insurance claims.

The computer was located in the basement of the Equitable Life Building. On the night of the fire, a power surge caused the computer to malfunction. The computer's power supply overheated, and the fire quickly spread to the rest of the building.

The fire spread quickly through the Equitable Life Building. The building was made of steel and concrete, but the fire was so intense that it melted the steel and caused the concrete to crumble.

The fire also spread to the neighboring buildings. The fire department was able to contain the fire to the Equitable Life Building, but the damage was extensive.

The fire was a major disaster for New York City. The city lost one of its tallest buildings, and more than 200 people were injured. The fire also caused more than $50 million in damage.

The fire also had a significant impact on the computer industry. The fire showed that computers could be dangerous, and it led to new regulations on the design and operation of computers.

The fire at the Equitable Life Building taught us a number of important lessons.

Computers can be dangerous. Computers are powerful machines, and they can cause serious damage if they are not properly designed and operated.
It is important to have safety regulations in place for computers. The fire at the Equitable Life Building led to new regulations on the design and operation of computers. These regulations helped to prevent similar fires from happening in the future.
We need to be prepared for disasters. The fire at the Equitable Life Building was a major disaster. It showed us that we need to be prepared for disasters, and that we need to have plans in place to respond to them.

The fire at the Equitable Life Building was a tragedy. But it also taught us some important lessons about computers and about disaster preparedness. We need to remember these lessons and use them to make sure that a similar tragedy never happens again.

The Fires: How a Computer Formula, Big Ideas, and the Best of Intentions Burned Down New Yo rk City--and Determined the Future of Cities

by Joe Flood

4.4 out of 5