Hartford circus fire
Tent on fire | |
| Date | July 6, 1944 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°47′41.9″N 72°40′28.0″W / 41.794972°N 72.674444°W |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Deaths | 167+ |
| Non-fatal injuries | 700+ |
| Accused | Robert Dale Segee |
| Convicted |
|
| Verdict | Guilty (all later pardoned) |
| Convictions | Involuntary manslaughter |
| Sentence | Smith and Aylesworth: 2 to 7 years in prison Haley: 1 to 5 years in prison Versteeg and Caley: 1 year in jail Blanchfield: 6 months in jail |
| Litigation | $5 million given to victims' families in 1954 settlement |
A circus fire occurred on July 6, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, killing at least 167 people and leaving more than 700 injured. It was one of the worst fire disasters in United States history. The fire broke out during an afternoon performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus that was attended by 6,000 to 8,000 people. It was the deadliest disaster ever recorded in Connecticut.