NEW YORK — 1990 · Major Tragedy

The Happy Land Social Club Arson

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

In the early hours of 25 March 1990, an arson fire at the unlicensed Happy Land social club at 1959 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx's West Farms killed 87 people. Most were young Hondurans celebrating Carnival, many from the Garifuna community. A man who had been ejected from the club poured petrol at the building's only exit and set it alight. The club had been ordered closed in 1988 for lacking fire exits, alarms and sprinklers, but there was no follow-up. The arsonist was convicted in August 1991 of 87 counts of murder and arson and died in prison in 2016. It was New York's deadliest fire since 1911.

Date: 1990
Place: West Farms, Bronx, New York, USA, New York, US
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: 40.8395, -73.8800 ↗

Timeline of Events

November 1988The club was ordered closed for fire-safety violations; the order was not enforced.
25 March 1990The only exit was set on fire; 87 people died.

19 August 1991The arsonist was found guilty on 87 counts of murder.
13 September 2016The convicted man died in prison.

Sources

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