Final answer:
The common issue with fires in upper floors, illustrated by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, is that fire departments often struggle to reach those levels with their equipment. This leads to high casualties and underscores the need for better safety measures and firefighting tools for high-rise buildings.
Step-by-step explanation:
When fires break out in high-rise buildings, fire departments face serious challenges in combating them, especially when they occur on upper floors. An historical example of this is the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, where firefighters could not reach the upper levels of the building with their ladders. This tragedy brought to light the limitations of fire rescue equipment and led to changes in building codes and safety measures.
The New York City Fire Department moved quickly to respond to the fire, but they soon discovered that their ladders could not extend beyond the 6th floor, leaving the workers on the 8th and 9th floors without a means of escape. The lack of adequate fire escapes and the practice of locking stairwell doors to prevent theft worsened the situation. The fire not only highlighted the need for improved safety protocols but also the necessity for firefighters to have better equipment to reach people trapped on higher floors in emergencies.