12. The Fire: Tragedy or Tactical Mistake?
Around noon on April 19, flames erupted within Mount Carmel, quickly engulfing the wooden structure and trapping many Branch Davidians inside. The fire’s origin remains fiercely debated, with authorities asserting that the Davidians deliberately set the blaze in a collective act of apocalyptic martyrdom. Conversely, survivors and critics argue that FBI actions inadvertently sparked the inferno, citing the combustible tear gas and structural damage caused by armored vehicles. Regardless of its source, the rapidly spreading fire claimed the lives of 76 Davidians, including David Koresh himself, forever branding the siege’s conclusion as one of American history’s most contentious tragedies.
