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Fire Safety: Kiss, The Station Redux

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No Seconds to Spare

Station Fire at 40 seconds

Sunday was a day of disaster in the Brazilian city of Santa Maria as a raging fire at a popular club called Kiss killed over 230 patrons.

The fire was caused by pyrotechnics initiated by the band.  In addition to reports of severe crowding, witnesses stated that revelers were prevented from exiting by guards concerned about lost revenue.

Panicked club-goers then streamed toward bathrooms that were a dead-end with no exit.

West Warwick, Rhode Island 2003

We are just a few days shy of the 10th anniversary of the West Warwick, Rhode Island, Station night club fire that killed 100 patrons on February 20, 2003, in nearly identical circumstances.

At 11:07 that evening the band ignited pyrotechnics which rapidly spread to the ceiling and wall coverings, some of which were covered with polyurethane foam.  The sequence of events were nearly instantaneous and shocking in their severity.

The building had no sprinklers.  A fire detection system went into alarm at +41 seconds after fire ignition.  At +36 seconds three patrons had already made a call to 911 reporting the fire.  At +1:30 thick black smoke was visible from windows and smoke appeared to be at floor level inside.  As a reference point, the first engine arrived on scene at +5:21.

Victim Locations

NIST Study

In the wake of the fire the National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted extensive testing to explore the conditions in the club and the effect that sprinklers would have had.

In the unsprinklered test, roughly paralleling the actual fire event, at +60 seconds the temperature below the ceiling was just under 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  At +1:30 the temperature ten feet below the ceiling was 464 degrees Fahrenheit.  Lethal conditions existed well before the fire department ever left quarters.  They faced an impossible task on arrival.

In the sprinklered test, the fire was controlled and conditions were clearly survivable for over five minutes, indeed the temperature held at just 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Santa Maria fire is a wake-up call for firefighters and patrons, alike.  Firefighters should use the event to visit such high hazard occupancies in order to warn against the use of  pyrotechnics and to monitor the condition of life safety features.

We all must remind ourselves and those we care about to stay out of venues where fire survival is unlikely.

Stay safe.

 

Posted by on January 29, 2013 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Mass Casualty Incident, Safety and Health

American Jihad

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Gun Ownership is a Cherished and Protected Freedom

Now that we have that out of the way, it would be nice to explore  an aspect of the American response to the idea that there are limitations to such a  freedom.

The much reviled Taliban is an outgrowth of the US sponsored and funded Mujahideen who fought the Soviets during their failed Afghanistan invasion.  Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, supported the Taliban and was himself a partial invention of the US.  He served us well in our proxy fight against the Soviets.

Mujahideen

Perhaps the Taliban are best known for their extremely rigid ideology as well as their very strict interpretation of both Islam and more importantly, Sharia law, the moral code of Islam.  The effect of the Taliban’s enforcement has been to destroy cultural plurality.  There can be but one position and dissent is neither welcome nor tolerated.  It is extremely harsh fundamentalist doctrine.

There is a very marked similarity in the post-Newtown and Webster debates from what can be referred to as the Hard-Core Gun Lobby(HCGL).  The notion that any discussion on the issue, much less action,  is democratic or American apostasy is forcefully made.  In the fashion of the Taliban no debate is possible because no change can be sanctioned.  It’s just that simple.

A key point:  I am not suggesting that ardent gun rights proponents are terrorists, un-American, or supporters of either Bin Laden or the Taliban.  I am suggesting that their zeal has led them down the road of rigid fundamentalism to adopt an extreme approach that is at odds with our democratic system of government where moderation, flexibility, accommodation and creativity allow for problem-solving, even on a national scale.

Professionally, the Webster killings were a tragedy.  Newtown, however, was a national holocaust.  The HCGL response has been first, to seek to delay public discussion, and second, to suggest that more guns in more places is the answer.  The public has rightly balked at such a bizarre position, roughly analogous to public be-headings and limb amputations.

Cooler heads correctly point out that this is a complicated problem because it involves several aspects of liberty, mental health, the Constitution and firearm liability.

But a nation that is immobilized by fundamentalist zeal of Talibanic proportions as innocent children are murdered is, in fact, becoming unworthy of the descriptor of “constitutional democracy.”

We speak scathingly of Taliban fundamentalism and send our soldiers to die defending the concept of rational liberty while it withers in front of us as our children lay lifeless.

 

Posted by on January 4, 2013 • Filed under: Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, History, Major Incidents, Safety and Health, War and Peace

Murders in Webster: The Deafening Silence

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Fire Service Leaders with Nothing to Say

Webster, New York

On Christmas Eve, four Webster, New York, firefighters were shot and two killed when a paroled felon with a prior murder conviction set them up.  It’s more accurate to say they were executed with premeditated precision.  Arson was used as the pretext for drawing them into the killing zone so the connection to our profession is both direct and compelling.

If our national/international fire/rescue organizations exist in part to protect us by formulating solutions, they are all asleep at the wheel on this one.  A scan of web pages (IAFC, IAFF, NFFF, NVFC) reveals either complete silence or the issuing of  platitudinous press releases.  Pretty thin gruel under the circumstances.  So much for decisive leadership.

By the way, I’m not talking about overturning the second amendment but you would think they could momentarily shrug off their collective holiday torpor and (at least) pretend to give a shit.

If “balls”, (or rather the lack of them) is the problem, they can look to NYPD’s Chief Ray Kelly for leadership inspiration.  Kelly said,”I think it’s important to let the federal government know that something has got to change.”  Kelly backs his tough words up with action, something fire service leadership, both labor and management, seem unable or unwilling to do.  Come to think of it, we don’t even have the tough words so we are a long  way from action.

NYPD’s Ray Kelly

 

And Chief Kelly is no simpering-pinko-liberal-lefty.  He is a combat veteran and Marine who served (and led troops) in Vietnam as a Second Lieutenant.

The guy’s got balls enough to loan out.  Perhaps he’ll give us some.

 

We are certainly in need of them.

 

(Credits:  USA Today and NYDN)

Posted by on December 27, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Major Incidents, Mass Casualty Incident, Values and Ethics

Kathmandu FD

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Nepal’s Bravest

Kathmandu Valley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nepal’s Capital, Kathmandu, is nestled in a broad valley at about 4,000 ft above sea level.  As it is about the same latitude as Key West, Florida, and despite it’s proximity to the world’s tallest mountains, it is surprisingly warm.

The Valley is roughly 220 square miles with about 1,000,000 residents.  Most live in apartments that are sometimes crowded onto very narrow  streets where access of any kind is quite difficult.

Traffic in the city is horrible and is compounded by the fact that many side streets are unpaved mud paths.  Getting around is very difficult.

Center City Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sprawling valley is comprised of three main centers: Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.  Each has but a single fire station, meaning three for about 1,000,000 people.

Fire protection is obviously on the back Burner, (no pun intended) since the response times and lack of staffing are so great as to render a quick attack impossible.

Firefighter on Duty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathmandu’s fire station is in the “New Road” area not far from the historic Durbar Square.  The equipment bays face the street and an enclosed and gated courtyard.  The rigs exit through the courtyard for security.  In fact, guards with automatic weapons are on patrol on the grounds.  Some will know that Nepal has struggled with a Maoist insurgency and political instability.  Terrorist attacks targeting the police and the military, especially in the countryside, were once common.

SCBA Bottles and Compressor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of the apparatus and equipment comes from Europe, often as a donation.  Kathmandu is like much of the rest of the world, including many parts of the US where fire protection is either an after-thought or entirely ignored.  Police protection takes pride-of-place over fire safety and protection.  Perhaps because of the extreme shortage of resources,  nuisance fires are allowed to burn in streets and vacant lots where they add to the pollution and can easily spread to structures.

Fire protection plays “Second Fiddle” the world over.

Posted by on December 19, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Travel

The Deutsche Bank Fire and J’accuse? Not So Fast.

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Yesterday’s blog post at IAFF online by Rich Duffy trumpets a “must read” article in a “prestigious, professional online magazine” by author John Steadman concerning the fatal fire at the former Deutsche Bank building which was under demolition at the time of the incident.

First, employing “J’accuse”, a reference to the 19th century Dreyfuss affair in France is at least odd.  Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a low-level artillery officer, was wrongly convicted of treason on trumped up charges.  He was not a commander or senior officer in the French military establishment and using him as a surrogate in the Deutsche Bank affair is singularly inapt.  Dreyfus was not only completely innocent, he was framed.

Mr. Steadman’s breathless prose has much chaff but it also has its share of wheat.  He correctly points out the infuriating bureaucratic bumbling in various city agencies (including FDNY) which set the stage for the fire.  He also documents that FDNY staff had much of the information they needed to protect fire companies but it never made its way to the troops.

But both Mr. Duffy and Mr. Steadman can be excused for missing a central point  because neither are firefighters:  serious fires typically occur in buildings with serious problems.  How many times have firefighters ridden past a structure only to comment to each other, “That’s going to be a bear when it goes up.”  Such a statement, uttered daily by firefighters belies the truth that we usually know which buildings in our districts are likely to pose the biggest danger.  Was Deutsche Bank a magic exception for company officers, battalion and district commanders?  Maybe, but probably not.  In fact, falling debris from the Deutsche Bank had previously damaged Engine/Ladder 10 in a not so subtle reminder of the danger lurking close by.

It’s not simplistic to say that on a fundamental level firefighting is a deadly “game”.  Watch those training films, drill non-stop, and practice key plays, but on game day, surprises may await you.  Senior firefighters, company officers and their commanders witness but often fail to internalize that it seldom goes the way we think it should.

The Deutsche Bank fire ground was mayhem:

-  Firefighters were committed to extremely exposed and dangerous positions in an abandoned building under active demolition.

-  It took over 80 minutes to obtain a reliable water supply.

-  Desperate calls for help went unheard and unanswered.

-  Fire crews split up losing accountability and control.

Company officers and commanders allowed these events to unfold and any writing about the fire that fails to state these facts is neither a “must read” nor “professional.”

The Steadman article references “stop work” orders issued in at least one case by inspectors after a torch incident.  Another stop-work order should have been issued by the incident commander the day of the fire as the losing proposition became glaringly apparent.

Finally, revisionist writing touted as safety literature is both confusing and potentially deadly.

 

Posted by on May 2, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Major Incidents, Rescues, Safety and Health

Would Your Family Survive a “Stamford” Fire?

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No doubt many of you read about the tragic incident in Stamford, Connecticut, early on Christmas morning, when three young children and their grandparents were killed attempting to escape from their fiery home.

An all too familiar fact: they did not die in bed–they were on the move and killed as they attempted to escape. Would you or your family fare better?

Below are ten suggestions to improve your chances.

To the surprise of some, a properly operating smoke/fire detector may give you as little as two minutes to exit your home safely in the event of an actual fire. You need to talk NOW about what you will do if fire occurs, especially  if you need to see to the safety of children or others.

 

120 Seconds

How would you use your 120 seconds if the detector sounds and you see or smell smoke or fire?

If you have only yourself to worry about, you can be less precise in your movements, but not much.

If you are responsible for the safety of others, you MUST have a plan established:

If it is 3AM and you are waking out of a sound sleep, reacting to smoke or fire, and you decide to throw on jeans and a shirt and grab a cell phone, you have probably used 60 seconds, so you have a minute to go and you are still in your bedroom.

Clothing is optional.  If dressing, it should be what is immediately at hand. This is not the time to be in the closet poking about.

The only thing you might need is a cell phone–nothing else matters.

 

 ***As soon as possible, train people to sleep with their doors closed.

It buys precious time.***

Alarm Sounding

When the alarm sounds, young children and others needing help should stay in their rooms, unless you direct otherwise. When practical, they should be taught how, when and why to raise a window in an emergency and to call 911. (They need to have their address memorized and how to explain to a person where they are located in the house: “I am at a third floor window in the back of the house.”)

 

 

 

 

Windows

 

You need to make sure YOU can raise the window in any room that you or others may need to escape from. Do you, or they, need a chair or other lift to raise the window?

A note on double-hung windows: if you are awaiting rescue, pull the top sash down about 1/3 to release smoke and heat above you. Push up the bottom sash enough so that you can obtain fresh air and exit easily.

 

 

 

 

Ready To Go?

If you are ready to go, feel the door and the door knob. Let’s assume it is cool or warm (not hot) and when you open it onto the hallway there is enough smoke that you instinctively duck to see under it and to breathe. Your eyes are stinging and you start to cough. You may be able to see or hear the fire burning. Stay low where the breathable air is, move quickly, but pay close attention to what you are seeing because you have a very important decision to make and mere seconds in which to do it. (Expect visibility to be almost zero, even with a small fire. Most furnishings produce huge amounts of black smoke when burning.)

You may be unable to physically reach the folks you are responsible for if the fire is blocking your way. If that is the case, give them clear verbal direction. With their doors closed and the knowledge of how to open a window, call 911 and report their location–you have given them valuable tools–and time.

 

 

Stairs

If you are above the first floor and have to go down open stairs, or if you are on the same floor and the fire is between you and the exit, you have a key decision to make: take the normal route (stairs) or exercise another option. The other option will most often be out a window. You need to know that other option NOW for yourself and for each person you need to assist or look after. If the fire is on the floor below, on the stairs or between you and the stairs, the decision is probably made–it’s the window.

If you decide to use the stairs to exit, remember that you are banking on getting to the folks you need to help, traveling to and going down the stairs, getting to the door, unlocking it, and making your way outside. It may sound doable now, but try it when you can neither breathe nor see, and you are trying to help someone else who may be panicky. Instinct will probably be to take the normal way out. But, instinct can be deadly.

 

Kids

If there are two adults responsible for people in two or more sleeping rooms, possibly on other floors, your planning just became even more crucial (and complicated.) Such a moment is hardly the time to be discussing who will help which person in need. That should have been decided well in advance. Make your way, if you can, to the room of the person you are responsible for helping. As you do so, you need to be making your exit decision based on what you see, feel and hear around you. After you reach them, do you try the stairs or go for the window or other exit option, if there is one? Remember: going towards the fire or smoke is a high risk option especially if you can place a door between you and the fire and open a window to the outside.

 

911

 

As soon as you can, call 911. They need to know at least three things: building fire, address, people inside. (They would like to know more, but I personally would not get caught up in a lengthy conversation if I had things to do.) A quick word here about fire department operations. As they arrive, they prioritize their actions, chief of which is to look for rescues that have to be made, so if you can get to where they can see you, there is a very high probability they will take it from there.

 

 

Too Hot to Touch

Now, let’s talk about the other option: that door or knob is too hot to touch. You are trapped in your room and you have others in the house you are responsible for. You must see to your own safety by getting to a window and by calling the fire department as soon as possible. The most important thing you can probably do is to give responding firefighters specific and detailed information about those unaccounted for.

This scenario is where training folks to open a window and to remain there or exit is important. If they exit, they MUST go to the established meeting place in order to be accounted for.

 

Meeting Place

 

 

Part of your planning must be to identify a place outside the home where everyone will meet so that you can account for those missing and provide that information to the fire department. Once outside, DO NOT reenter.

Practise these scenarios at least twice a year. If it seems silly, don’t be fooled, it’s deadly serious. Talking about fire safety now and planning in advance is essential.

 

 

 

 

Time:  Use It Wisely

The bottom line:  If the scenarios above don’t fit for you, you still need to talk this over and plan it out–you need to be ready to assess risks and make decisions when lives are in the balance.

In the Stamford fire the adult male who died was a safety professional and had spent a lifetime in fire prevention. Again, everyone was in the act of escaping, they simply did not have enough time or use that time effectively.

Take the time NOW to plan what you will do if the worst ever happens–and if it does:

 

Make Every Second Count

(Graphics Credits:  Amazon.com, WSFB, Wiki, cfab.co.uk, cdc.gov, idostuff.co.uk, bangalore.olx.in, blog.wolfram)

Posted by on December 31, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Prevention & Education, Fires, Safety and Health

Willy-Nilly? Two FDNY Members Burned.

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Willy-Nilly: in a haphazard or spontaneous manner.

A Monday morning fire at 1100 Prospect Place in Crown Heights,  Brooklyn, resulted in serious injuries to members of Rescue Company-2 as they apparently conducted a search on the top floor of the dwelling.

According to the New York Times, a family with four children lives in the brownstone and R-2 was on the four-bedroom, top floor when the fire rapidly spread.  Video from the scene captures fire exploding from the top floor bay window as a firefighter emerges onto an aerial ladder positioned below.

Steve Cassidy, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, was quoted in the Times  as saying that, “When you take one firefighter away from the team, it takes longer, … there was at least a one-minute delay today in getting water to the fire, and if they had been there with a fully staffed engine, the fire never would have gotten out of the back room.”

First-in Engine 234 is apparently one of the companies to lose a firefighter as part of FDNY cutbacks.  Chief of Department Edward Kilduff denied Cassidy’s assertions stating, “It was a very short stretch across the street, and the line was in position in a sufficient, adequate amount of time.”

City residents must shake their heads at two fire professionals taking such diametrically opposing views about such an obvious point.   Does having one less person available result in increased time required to suppress a fire?

The answer is, yes, up to a point, if the firefighters are trained, which in FDNY, they certainly are.  This is especially true if the company is the first arriving engine and therefore responsible for putting the first water on the fire.

There can be little professional doubt that E-234 was less effective in the one scenario where it counts the most: first arriving engine, uncontrolled fire, people in exposed positions.

It would turn out that those exposed persons were FDNY members who are presumably well aware of the lost efficiencies when an engine crew is down a member.  They also knew of the thin ice on which they were about to skate as they were apparently operating ahead of the first line.

While Cassidy is obviously right, FDNY members continue to place themselves in extremely exposed positions where any environmental hiccup (unexpected ventilation, flash-over) or operational glitch (understaffed or late arriving company) can spell disaster.  The question is, when will Cassidy’s own members hear the message he so clearly espouses?

FDNY’s brave victories are at once heroic and pyrrhic, performed amidst an adoring public, largely ignorant to the irony of it all.

 

Sources:  NYT, FFN, Statter911, NYP, Daily News

Posted by on December 21, 2011 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Rescues