The supper club was a popular destination in northern Kentucky and metro Cincinnati for weddings, anniversaries, and retirement parties (via Cincinnati Enquirer). Or maybe it was the spot for a romantic date or a raucous birthday celebration. It was a major Midwest venue for Las Vegas performers, too. Whatever the reason people were there that night, no one anticipated the tragedy that unfolded, the speed at which it happened, or the randomness of who made it out alive and who would be among the dozens trapped in a hellscape of toxic chemical-laden smoke and burning timber.

The burning club cast an eerie, oily glow over the skyline for miles around as thick, black smoke tainted the air for miles around. Most of those who died that night succumbed to smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The bodies of victims desperately trying to escape were found piled up at exits.

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