King's Cross fire

On November 18, 1987, a fire at King Cross station fundamentally changed how the world understands fire safety. It began when a passenger dropped a lit match on a wooden escalator, igniting grease and debris trapped beneath the steps. What appeared to be a small fire, roughly the size of a cardboard box, suddenly transformed into a lethal, roaring jet of flame that surged into the ticket hall. This disaster claimed 31 lives and led to a major public inquiry that forced a complete overhaul of safety protocols across the entire London Underground system.