The Towering Inferno from Best Natural Disaster Movies

Architect Doug Roberts returns to San Francisco for the dedication of the Glass Tower, which he designed for James Duncan. At 138 stories, it is the world's tallest building. An electrical short starts an undetected fire on the 81st floor. Roberts suspects the electrical engineer, Roger Simmons, also Duncan's son-in-law, of cutting corners and confronts him, but Simmons stonewalls Doug. During the dedication ceremony, public relations chief Dan Bigelow turns on the tower's exterior lights. The lighting overloads the electrical system and Roberts orders it shut off. Smoke is seen on the 81st floor and the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) is summoned. Roberts and engineer Will Giddings go to the 81st floor, but Giddings is hospitalized due to burn injuries.