In Chicago today, people are remembering a school fire that threw the entire city into mourning 50 years ago.

Ninety-two students and three nuns died inside Our Lady of the Angels School on the city's west side in 1958.

Some burned to death. Others died of smoke inhalation or were trampled. Still others were killed when they jumped or were pushed or thrown from windows.

The only bright spot is it led to an almost immediate reform of the country's school building and safety codes.

Inside the school, fire alarms were ignored by the staff and they weren't connected to the city's fire department. On top of it, the school's only fire escape was locked.

As for inside, one former student says the interior may as well have built "out of tinder and kindling wood."

A public Mass will be held this afternoon to mark the fire.