I've probably said this in comments before, but this channel could also be called "Why we have fire and safety regulations channel."
@J.F.-yy8ji13 күн бұрын
As the old saying goes, 'The book of Safety Code is written in blood'.
@eliz_scubavn12 күн бұрын
This channel has made me realize just how many things I give no thought to, like clearly marked fire exits, are actually vital life-saving items.
@steve329117 күн бұрын
The standout here is Sir Francis Henry May taking responsibility. These days he would have blamed everyone but himself.
@moestrei17 күн бұрын
So bloody true!
@kirkmattoon259417 күн бұрын
Well, yes. But even in those days there were plenty of blame-ducking, buck- passing officials. Sir Francis would have been as unusual then as now.
@UlshaRS17 күн бұрын
Robber barons didn't get where they are for taking accountability for their greedy endeavors. People with money and integrity are the oddity and usually not the ones to even be in a situation that sets up for a disaster to happen.
@theoldar17 күн бұрын
First, yes it was good he took responsibility. All too rare. But did he suffer any consequences thereby?
@frankvietzen742017 күн бұрын
Yeah! I think "taking responsibility" should mean he quits his job at least.
@DylanDoesArt17 күн бұрын
I could never imagine having to leave my sister in burning wreckage to save myself. That kind of memory would haunt your dreams.
@MarkJoseph8117 күн бұрын
It would haunt your waking days.
@S.M.917 күн бұрын
I truly would never get over that :/
@Dulcimertunes17 күн бұрын
Survivors guilt 😢
@Boco_Corwin16 күн бұрын
Eh. I'd get over it.
@AnUndeadMonkey16 күн бұрын
Straight out of "Barefoot Gen"
@QT565617 күн бұрын
It's only a matter of time until there is an episode on the serious topic of Bouncy castle accidents.
@davewitts17 күн бұрын
😂
@frank_fick17 күн бұрын
“On the morning of June 23rd, 1999, five people entered Big Jim’s Bounce House, which resulted in the worst disaster in bounce house history.”
@tremensdelirious17 күн бұрын
Saw an episode of Paw Patrol in that exact scenario. Mayor Humdinger had to be rescued from a flyaway bouncy castle by the pups. Blood curdling
@Zyxxx10117 күн бұрын
Like that bouncy castle accident that killed 5 kids in Tasmania
@cesariojpn17 күн бұрын
That's for April Fools.
@snattlerake441717 күн бұрын
It always amazes/terrifies me how many disasters there have been with triple digit+ casualties that I've never heard of.
@cindys.968816 күн бұрын
Same here.
@K3N0PSIA16 күн бұрын
Stuff like this tends to gradually become less and less known as time goes on, and new generations are born.
@bunnymad504917 күн бұрын
Oh, that sister telling her brother to save himself ... heartbreaking. I wonder how he coped in life afterwards. I'm amazed that someone actually took responsibility and did something about it. Amazing. Cold comfort for those lost or mourning though. Thank you. xxx Your work is great.
@quinu17 күн бұрын
Cant even begin to imagine the feelings that poor boy felt
@bunnymad504917 күн бұрын
@@quinu yeah.
@Coolcarting17 күн бұрын
Yeah right, sure she did. That's what he just told everyone.
@saragrant974917 күн бұрын
@@Coolcartingoh be quiet Karen. Unless you’re psychic you aren’t in a position to make such a childish, ignorant comment.
@bunnymad504917 күн бұрын
@@Coolcarting You're not very good at this at all, dude. lol
@kjb832117 күн бұрын
Please could you cover the Valley Parade fire in Bradford. That was a shocking disaster, which went from a minor incident to bedlam in a matter of minutes, all on live TV in 1985
@owangejewice17 күн бұрын
kzbin.info/www/bejne/maW3aZKCnqllmbcsi=KXd2Tb6G8BPEVT6k Awful...not sure how I'm going to die but I really hope I'm not surrounded by cheering sports fans when it happens.
@user-ts5ve3if8s17 күн бұрын
I have just watched this video and it reminded me of the Valley Parade fire at Bradford Football Club. Hope that this never happens again at a sporting venue.
@cindys.968816 күн бұрын
@@owangejewice ~ Thank you for sharing the link. I'd never heard of this. Absolutely terrifying!! What a tragic day. The announcer did a good job keeping up with it, being respectful and focused. Sad so many lost their lives. It would definitely make a good Fantastic Horror story.
@yelahneb16 күн бұрын
@@owangejewice Jiminy Christmas this is horrifying. That the football chants from the crowd went on as long as they did is baffling
@QT565616 күн бұрын
I remember the Valley Parade fire being shown on TV live. I was six but I remember my Dad gasping in horror as he understood what was happening. I later became a match day steward for a top flight football club. We were shown the footage nearly every year during training to remind us how serious fires can be.
@searchanddiscover17 күн бұрын
building collapse, fire, stampede... I never would have guessed such a deadly event could happen at a racetrack given all the open space compared to theaters. of course it makes sense given the conditions, its just not the first thing that would come to mind.
@wensdyy646617 күн бұрын
as a voluntary firefighter this is one of my nightmares-beeing somewhere where is a fire and not having the equipment to fight it
@FFEMTB0817 күн бұрын
How is pulling up to a fire in your POV and waiting 20 minutes for an engine to arrive any different?
@wensdyy646617 күн бұрын
@@FFEMTB08 One of my first experiences was our fire engin breaking apart and we were forced to watch a house burn down with one person still inside-the rest was pulled out before the fire goit too big (the fire was just too big for us to go inside after-we are not profesionals and our gear is much older and less modern so no oqygen masks for example). There is nothing worse than helplesly watch and not be able to do anything other than to stand there and watch. For the record we still have that engind (from 1980s) and it is still in use with many voluntary firefighter units (it is not possible to get every unit a new one with over 400 units in as country as Czechia that has only 10 milion inhabitans-some units are in villages that have just a few hundreds people and deffinetly do not have the funds as local municipalities ard hte ones providing funding)
@FFEMTB0817 күн бұрын
@@wensdyy6466 oxygen masks? You do not wear an oxygen mask in a fire.
@wensdyy646617 күн бұрын
@@FFEMTB08 when we got there the fire was small but there was smoke everywhere-if we had oxygen masks we could have went in and try to get the preson out, if the fire engine worked we could start putting down the fire and give the person better chance at survival. There are many pieces of equipment we do not have (already mentioned qxygen masks but also stuf like personal radios of fire proof pants and gloves-luckily we have fireproof jackets and new helmets). We are volunteers and not profesionals and by law we are forbiden to go in dangerous situations that endanger our lives.
@FFEMTB0817 күн бұрын
@@wensdyy6466 *wonders why vollys are a joke*
@DoloresSeurat16 күн бұрын
As always, thank you for honoring the deceased by remembering them and telling their story so respectfully. 💐
@nightowldickson17 күн бұрын
I never expected to see on this channel a disaster from Hong Kong. Interesting one as I'm from Hong Kong and I've never heard of this fire.
@skynotaname222917 күн бұрын
same, i go to the racecourse all the time and never saw the memorial, i wonder where it is
@juliusma488017 күн бұрын
@@skynotaname2229It's in Mount Caroline Cemetry.
@LordMxr17 күн бұрын
You should have, they have a memorial plaque there as far as I know
@magicpyroninja15 күн бұрын
There's a good chance the story was lost to time or they tried to keep it from spreading
@katfromthekong41414 күн бұрын
Same
@elliottprice608417 күн бұрын
A tragedy that was waiting to happen. Coal fires and matsheds made of wood and bamboo, the sense of impending doom was palpable. And as with a tragedy like this, when corners were cut with health and safety, it took the loss of hundreds of innocent people for safety to be taken seriously. A shocking disaster with a huge death toll that has vanished into the mists of time. Thank you FH for raising this tragedy so that the victims can be remembered
@faenethlorhalien17 күн бұрын
It does feel like people back then were just fucking idiots and couldn't predict obvious consequences that were yelling at their faces.
@DaveSCameron17 күн бұрын
You could say the same about todays Asian scaffold tho?!
@KebabMusicLtd17 күн бұрын
This fire occurred in 1918. Obvious though they might seem, safety standards that we take for granted today, weren't even thought of at that time. Our own Health and Safety Act didn't come into legislation until 1974 and despite it, large fires still do happen. Consider Bradford City 1985, Kings Cross 1987, Summerland Fire 1973, Grenfell Tower 2017, Piper Alpha 1988 as examples of this.
@eliz_scubavn12 күн бұрын
The moment I heard about the mat sheds being wood, close together and using open fires for heat, I could pretty much guess what was going to happen.
@blc28x14 күн бұрын
Ty ty ty ty ty for NEVER changing the music! I LOVE it and ive come go totally associate it with these stories and your voice! ❤❤❤❤
@nickdebenedetto61964 күн бұрын
Yeah, except it was way more effective when he used to play the music throughout the whole video!! I hate that he doesn’t do that anymore!
@blc28x2 күн бұрын
@@nickdebenedetto6196 i noticed that:/ but at least he left the OG tune for opening
@geoffkeeys694617 күн бұрын
I used to live and work in Hong Kong a bit over 25 years ago. I did part time work at both Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses and no one ever mentioned this event. Now, I wish that I had paid more attention to my surroundings when in the Happy Valley racecourse.
@nVolodimer17 күн бұрын
Same here, never heard about this tragedy before. Hong Kong never been good with its own history as well.
@componick639316 күн бұрын
Same here - lived just down the road and never heard about this tragedy at all.
@EmmaBGames17 күн бұрын
Over 600 casualties at an event where happy is in the title is absolutely horrifying.
@gray_mara15 күн бұрын
Maybe it's a British thing, but if you see Happy in the title, it's definitely a place you'd never be happy in.
@magicpyroninja15 күн бұрын
Don't forget it was ironically named Happy valley due to the amount of people who die there
@rogerrendzak80556 күн бұрын
What about the 'Happyland' fire, that took place in the Bronx, back in '87???
@paulyiustravelogue16 күн бұрын
This is a rather unexpected episode. We learned about this tragedy as a kid growing up in Hong Kong, but it had always been a local story didn’t get much of any attention internationally. Great stuff and well done as always, cheers. 👍🏻
@petaloka117 күн бұрын
This just reinforces a rule I live by: stay away from large crowds and crowded events.
@tremensdelirious15 күн бұрын
So how do you manage at the railway station or airport or sports or concerts or are you quite dull and never go out?
@saragrant974917 күн бұрын
As soon as you mentioned the presence of charcoal burning food stands under bamboo constructed stands… I knew it was going to be really bad. That’s just a recipe for catastrophe, especially given the inspections being done by inexperienced people.
@littlebear27416 күн бұрын
Yeah the only thing I got wrong was I expected it to be a fire and then a collapse, not the other way round. Both options that should have been easily anticipated.
@saragrant974916 күн бұрын
@@littlebear274 exactly. Some very foolish and unfortunate oversights.
@sarahh617 күн бұрын
Haven't watched your videos in a while, yet excited to catch up. Thank you for helping me through COVID and informing me on things I didn't know about or didn't have the facts correct on!
@DanKoning77717 күн бұрын
That which the world offers is only a distraction and temporary-but this peace and joy never fails, or ends: *"Peace* I leave with you; *My peace* I give to you; *not as the world gives* do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" [Jn 14v27]
@user-ym2in6so3l17 күн бұрын
Remember, COVID was just a setup to steal an election 😊 the US government rigged the whole thing.
@ST8URCASE17 күн бұрын
Binge watching FH is a guilty pleasure but is very heartbreaking.
@sarahh617 күн бұрын
@@ST8URCASE fr. a close family member of mine studies history, and of course it's heartbreaking to hear of disasters that happen close to a place you know. (I love the April Fools videos so muh)
@user-ym2in6so3l17 күн бұрын
@@sarahh6 my comment already got deleted…but remember, covid was not what they pretend it was. Tucker Carlson exposed everything.
@DanKoning77717 күн бұрын
Great content as always. After watching Fascinating Horror there's never any mystery re: the origins of: "Hindsight is 20/20"
@seandelap858717 күн бұрын
Always look forward to a Tuesday morning video by FH
@markp962117 күн бұрын
It's so ironic that the Huts are called Match-Sheds when it clearly sound's like Match-Head when said a bit quicker.
@henryturnerjr385717 күн бұрын
I was hearing it as match-head at first and thought, well, that's foreshadowing.
@MarkJoseph8117 күн бұрын
I think it's MAT sheds. Not sure, but it sounded like that to me.
@markrobinson995617 күн бұрын
I heard match head also. Assumed it was foreshadowing.
@diligentcircle17 күн бұрын
@@MarkJoseph81 That's how I would say it, and then "match-heads" would be more like "matcheds".
@anneboyd781116 күн бұрын
The closed captioning makes clear that it's "matsheds".
@SeventhSwell17 күн бұрын
Oh, mat sheds. I kept hearing 'matchheads'. I was like how can they call them matchheads and not think about them burning?
@rogerrendzak80556 күн бұрын
British pronunciations🤭!!
@davidstevens-25117 күн бұрын
The tragedy of accidents is that they are always waiting to happen because we do not, or cannot, think of every possible scenario to prevent them. And in nearly all cases the key factor is complacency, the most direct human condition as we invariably take for granted everything that is around and also governs us.
@seandelap858717 күн бұрын
So much death and destruction in such a short space of time RIP to them all
@LisaBrackin-fj5fm16 күн бұрын
I have no idea if you’ll see this but I’d sure like to see you do an episode on the disaterous fire in 1968 aboard the Naval aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. My dad was officer in charge of ordinance at the time. Didn’t know for 3 days if he had survived or not. You do a great job with brining to light past events that, in reality, shouldn’t be completely forgotten due to the lives lost as well as lessons learned.
@ald114417 күн бұрын
It used to be a cemetary? Hold up, DID THEY MOVE THE BODIES?!
@Michael-te6ly13 күн бұрын
They're here.......
@rogerrendzak80556 күн бұрын
What comes to mind?? 'POLTERGEIST'!!!
@sedanosable17 күн бұрын
What a tragedy...thank you for all you do to bring these stories to light...
@hk871234514 күн бұрын
Thank you for creating this segment about the tragedy that happened in Hong Kong. When I was a child, I lived near that mass grave and often played there, without realizing it was related to so many victims. Looking back, I feel truly ashamed.
@michelledavis815917 күн бұрын
Never heard of this story. Thanks for all the effort you put in to discover and tell these stories so well
@KenDAKL4ever15 күн бұрын
Never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing.
@deliameyer601017 күн бұрын
🖤 appreciate your uploads
@tkwc217 күн бұрын
Being from HK it is always great to find contents relating to the city. Thank you Fascinating Horror.
@zeropoint21617 күн бұрын
Props to the governor for taking responsibility. A true gentleman.
@marieelisa117 күн бұрын
Finally, a real man of integrity
@DinoCism15 күн бұрын
Doesn't really help the dead any.
@jacekatalakis831617 күн бұрын
Oh I never knew about this, this is truly fascinating and horrific
@hood_TheJoker12 күн бұрын
what good is a fire brigade without water and hoses... that's like shooting at a target range that's got a million holes in it.. unbelievable
@yukiefromoz257317 күн бұрын
Oh I once visited a friend in HK who lived in a high rise apartment overlooking the racecourse. Nice views.
@irishpsalteri14 күн бұрын
Heartbreaking. Well done.
@Not_The_FBI_199217 күн бұрын
That's incredibly hilarious that the soldiers called it Happy Valley because of their morbid sense of humor!
@lonneke764716 күн бұрын
Many MANY compliments on how and where you find your stories and the amount of research this must take!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@MustertheBrohirrim13 күн бұрын
This channel has turned me into a real life Buzz Killington. "Who would like to hear a story about a building fire?" 🤣
@TerryFarrah9 күн бұрын
LOL truth! Debbie Downer here!
@melrauko17 күн бұрын
Amazing work. I found researching this (just out of general interest) to be quite difficult so I applaud your efforts. I was never able to find details outside of the casualty estimates.
@fourstringbuck16 күн бұрын
Best channel on KZbin. Thanks for all your hard work!
@GenXfrom7517 күн бұрын
Happy Tuesday from Charleston, SC ❤
@user-ll8be9vt4u17 күн бұрын
Learn something new every time I watch your channel. Thank you for the excellent content
@lisaknits6917 күн бұрын
Thank you for sharing 😊😊
@sum1calledjo15 күн бұрын
You tell these so well. Your voice has become such a familiarity to me... its rather soothing despite the nature and content of your videos!
@JoMarieM13 күн бұрын
As a history buff, I'm surprised I never heard of this tragedy, but in another way, I can understand why I didn't. Keep in mind that WW1 was still going on, along with the Spanish Influenza epidemic, so as far as international news went, this was just one more tragedy in a sea of tragedies!
@David1955312 күн бұрын
Excellent channel. Live long and prosper.
@sallykohorst880316 күн бұрын
Thanks for this video
@tres90916 күн бұрын
It feels so weird giving a thumbs up to a video where thousands of people died, but I do love your videos. Thank you for bringing these tragedies that would have gotten lost to time to more people's awareness.
@sophiaisabelle022717 күн бұрын
We appreciate your insights. We hope to see more from you.
@ELCADAROSA17 күн бұрын
I'm in the Fire Alarm/Life Safety industry. As has been too often the case, changes in codes & regulations, and improvements in building design & materials come at a steep human cost.
@_kaleido17 күн бұрын
wow so many people, that’s so sad :( I can’t imagine being in that situation
@daviegriffin353917 күн бұрын
Thanks for the uploads. 🤓 *Cheers from **#CancúnMéxico* 🤘🏽🍻🏝️🍹💙🇲🇽
@bryanestes855817 күн бұрын
Far out how the area around the track grew in population and building, looking at the mountains in old picture can't hardly see them today
@davidcarr743614 күн бұрын
I believe that the RAF christened the Ruhr valley in Germany, "Happy Valley," because so many bomber crews were lost there during WW2. If the British didn't invent gallows humor, they perfected it.
@jaz.s2k217 күн бұрын
Love your channel mate - from Manchester UK 💖
@davidmarquardt903413 күн бұрын
Here in the US. Most of the deaths from tornadoes where from fire. In the 1800's up until say the early 1920's US homes had wood stoves in the kitchen. Also, unless you lived in town, most people did not have electricy. So you had to use kerosene lamps for lighting. Many people were trapped in the collapsed house and burned alive before they could be rescued.
@FranssensM13 күн бұрын
The description is of someone building a bonfire not a public stand for a sporting event. Lots of dry wood, bamboo and dried leaves. Put large braziers beneath it. Just an urn with plenty of charcoal. Now Light these and stand well back. Allow the wind to take control of the flames.
@RIVALContentJammerz17 күн бұрын
I'm fascinated by this horror.
@Namelpin15 күн бұрын
I was perusing the comments when I thought I heard “popular meat” at 2:25, and thought he was talking about horse meat. I had to rewind and listen two more times to realize he said “popular meet”! 😂
@ronjohnson691617 күн бұрын
I knew of this disaster but not much about the specifics. Nice job as always.
@patrickhamos298717 күн бұрын
this channel = legit
@lisasteel681714 күн бұрын
I wasn’t expecting someone to take full responsibility, ban temporary stands, build safe alternatives, limit crowd sizes and increase fire service attendance. I don’t know but I think this might just be a first?
@debbieellett909317 күн бұрын
Those poor souls and the survivors as well. The survivor guilt must have been as terrible as witnessing those who perished.
@DavePainkiller15 күн бұрын
The landscape around this building transforming the way it has is astonishing. Going from being the only structure around, to being completely surrounded by towering skyscrapers.. What a horrific accident. 600+ casualties due to an unfortunate lack of safety protocols.
@POLARTTYRTM17 күн бұрын
This disaster is one of the prime examples of how people underestimate how quickly a fire spreads out of control. I remember a video inside an apartment where someone drops something, and the fire engulfs the whole apartment in seconds. At least now we have more regulations in place to prevent it, but it's not a lot of help considering that many things are built with horendously flammable materials.
@thomassecurename315217 күн бұрын
20/20 hindsight vision is often so clear to see.
@JedCurrie17 күн бұрын
Good video thanks.
@ashleydelacruz457117 күн бұрын
Hi! I'd like to suggest a story--the Roseburg Blast. In 1959, a truck loaded with dynamite and ammonium nitrate caught fire in downtown Roseburg, Oregon. It caused an explosion that killed a dozen people and injured many others.
@Sibyle7917 күн бұрын
Thanks🎉
@adammullarkey49969 күн бұрын
Huge props to the governor for accepting blame when he was barely even partially responsible.
@user-of5lw4oy3c17 күн бұрын
I've been to Happy Valley. Heart goes out to the innocent victims.
@dennis237617 күн бұрын
Thank you.
@DaneOrschlovsky15 күн бұрын
Instead of building fail-safes into the stands, they built fail-certains.
@classicmicroscopy939817 күн бұрын
So much for a happy valley.
@Coygon17 күн бұрын
Seems to have lived up to the original, morbidly sarcastic meaning just fine.
@katrinafitch353417 күн бұрын
This incident was completely horrifying.. You do so great telling us about FH, but it's history that isn't really taught in schools. 👌🏆
@timd452413 күн бұрын
Here's a good idea. Let's make the stands out of the flimsiest and most flammable materials. Brilliant.
@naturalroyalflush16 күн бұрын
The course looks pretty good now. The sister telling her brother to leave...tragic and brave. The death toll was dreadful. It’s appreciated that the governor took full responsibility.
@ThePlayaJohn17 күн бұрын
you should do a video on the Staines air crash of 1972 it’s half a mile from where I live
@reachandler365517 күн бұрын
Not far from where I lived at the time, I was 3, so I don't remember.
@daffers234517 күн бұрын
Try emailing him the idea. He has an email in the description. :)
@k.c112617 күн бұрын
I'm always struck by the high death rate of women and children in these large scale disasters from a century ago... In this situation their smaller body mass would have contributed heavily to their being unable to get out of the collapsed structures before being overwhelmed by smoke and fire. Sad.
@ball778117 күн бұрын
Wow this is so cool🎉🎉❤❤❤
@28russ17 күн бұрын
Wow, that's the date of my birthday. Exactly 60 years before I was born, but still, the same date. And I thought he was saying matchheads the first couple of times, which was tragically quite foreshadowing.
@foreverpinkf.760316 күн бұрын
That was true fascinating horror.
@QT565616 күн бұрын
Chilling.
@Dr_121217 күн бұрын
New Fascinating Horror 👍
@saraquill17 күн бұрын
Running back for that cash box was not worth his life.
@princessmarlena135912 күн бұрын
Ironically a friend of my cousin owned a shop that burned down, but the cash box and money in it that he had stashed in a hidden cavity in the wall behind a moveable panel survived the fire.
@stinchjack2 күн бұрын
Francis Henry May taking responsibility like that makes him a star. Now, where do we find more politicians like that?
@GoldenBear_17 күн бұрын
Thanks as always for the well researched content. There remains a cemetery across the street from the racetrack today. Hong Kong is crazy about horse race betting, according to Wiki: "Hong Kong generates the largest horse racing revenue in the world...In 2009, Hong Kong generated an average US$12.7 million in gambling turnover per race 6 times larger than its closest rival France at US$2million..."
@TomLehockySVK16 күн бұрын
"There were firefighters but no fire engines and no hoses", it is like the organizers were waiting for this catastrophy to happen, such a sad tragedy.
@canman50609 күн бұрын
This most tragic incident which was second to the Haifax Explosion in Nova Scotia Canada in casualty figures has long been forgotten ever since the early 1920's when the new governor of Hong Kong ordered the more durable construction of the spectator stands.
@bessofhardwick931116 күн бұрын
Kudos to Sir Francis for taking responsibility.
@giraffesinc.219317 күн бұрын
Good morning, FH!!
@gracewsho17 күн бұрын
The fact that this episode came out when I traveled to the opposite side of the globe to visit Hong Kong???
@eadweard.17 күн бұрын
What about it?
@gray_mara15 күн бұрын
Wait, someone took responsibility AND took action right away? That's not on my FH bingo card!
@magicpyroninja15 күн бұрын
I find it incredibly sad and disheartening that when emergency situations arise, people act like stampeding animals regardless of who or what gets in their way
@danielcollins863117 күн бұрын
Let get this guy to 2 million subs 😊
@SamanthaEatsCookies17 күн бұрын
After something so devastating, im shocked that it kept going the next year and that it remains successful
@funtimetuber0933 күн бұрын
Interesting that even thought I was born and raised in Hong Kong, I have never heard of this disater before