The theatre was built to be fireproof on account of the disastrous theatre fires in North America during that period , Walker having been impressed by the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire . Fireproofing features included a steel cage system , many structural members being encased in concrete or terracotta , concrete floors ( covered with fire-resistant wool carpet ) , fire-retarding metal doors between spaces , brick and terracotta firewalls , and slate-covered metal stairways . Walker claimed it to be the first fireproof theatre in Canada
Iroquois Theatre fire
Iroquois Theatre fire
Burton Cummings Theatre