Seconds From Disaster Season 3 Episode 4 London's Subway Inferno (a.k.a. Kings Cross Fire)

On November 18, 1987, a tragedy struck London's subway system that shocked the world. The King's Cross Fire, as it came to be known, claimed the lives of 31 commuters and injured over 100 more. This episode of Seconds From Disaster takes an in-depth look at the events leading up to the fire, the chaos and destruction of the fire itself, and the aftermath that included a complete overhaul of London's subway safety procedures.

The episode begins with a brief history of the King's Cross subway station, one of the busiest in London and a hub that connects several important railway lines. But on the night of November 18th, 1987, something went horribly wrong. The exact cause of the fire may never be known, but it is believed to have started as a small flame on one of the wooden escalators leading down to the station's platforms.

As the fire grew, it sent thick black smoke billowing up through the escalator and into the main station concourse. Within seconds, chaos ensued as panicked commuters tried to flee the smoke and figure out what was happening. In the confusion, some people even tried to board trains that were pulling into the station, not realizing the gravity of the situation.

Those who were inside the station at the time describe a scene of utter horror. The smoke was so thick that it was impossible to see or breathe, and flames were shooting up from the escalator and igniting other surfaces throughout the station. Some brave individuals attempted to help others trapped in the smoke, only to become disoriented and lost themselves.

The fire department was quickly called, but they were hampered in their efforts by several factors. For one thing, the station's layout made it difficult to access the site of the fire. For another, the escalators that were burning were made of wood and produced extremely toxic fumes as they burned. By the time the firefighters were able to get close enough to extinguish the flames, it was already too late for many of the victims.

The episode also explores the aftermath of the fire, which included a lengthy investigation and a total overhaul of London's subway safety protocols. Many of the victims' families sued the subway company for negligence, claiming that they had known for years about the dangers of wooden escalators but had failed to take action. The resulting investigation revealed numerous safety lapses throughout the entire subway system, and numerous changes were made in the years that followed to prevent another tragedy of this scale from occurring.

Throughout the episode, interviews with survivors, witnesses, and emergency responders provide a chilling look at the events of that night, while expert analysis explores the root causes of the fire and the lessons that were learned from it. This is a powerful and emotional episode of Seconds From Disaster, showcasing both the bravery of those who fought to save lives and the devastation that can occur when something goes wrong in one of the world's busiest transportation systems.