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Close the Door for Life!

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From our very beginning in New Amsterdam, the role of the fire service was to be proactive and save lives through fire prevention. In 1647 Fire wardens would inspect houses and chimneys, fining the owners for potential hazards, to prevent fires from happening.  If the early firefighters were not actively inspecting, then they were patrolling the streets looking for fire. A team of firefighters would walk the streets with wooden rattles and would sound the alarm upon discovery of fire. The intent of this team was to find the fire in it early stage so major disaster and loss of life would be prevented.

Now let’s fast-forward to 2013. The fire service has many roles today from EMS to fighting fires. With all these added roles and responsibilities, it is easy for us to lose focus of our original intent to prepare residents for fires and prevent them.

The fire service of America has many traditions that have been carried down throughout the generations and much to be proud of. The one we should be most proud of is that from our beginning, and even to this day, we have made it our mission to save lives and property through preventive measures and how to react when there was a fire.

Every fire department has an obligation to not only prevent fire, but also prepare people in the event they have a fire. A major role of preparing our community is to teach Fire Escape Planning.

Most fire departments are involved in teaching their communities fire escape planning and usually teach Get Out and Stay Out. This is a very good message and should be taught in every community, however I feel we need to take it a step farther.

The next step we must take is to put a major emphasis on once you get out, CLOSE THE DOOR FOR LIFE

The simple act of closing the door reduces fire growth, spread, damage to the home and can save lives

 

 

 

 

 

FDNY “CLOSE THE DOOR” Campaign PSA Video

More FDNY Community Awareness Videos

The tale of two fires:

While I know all the variables are not the same in these two fires. The point I want to make is the outcome. One had a door left open by an escaping resident and the other had a door closed by the escaping resident.

17 Vandalia Avenue New York City New York  (Door Left Open)

Early Friday morning December 18, 1998, tragedy struck the NYC Fire Department for the 3rd time that year. A mere 7 days before Christmas the Red Devil claimed the lives of 3 fire fighters.

At 0454 hours Brooklyn transmitted box 4080 for a top floor fire at 17 Vandalia Avenue in the Starrett City development complex. The sprawling complex is located on Brooklyn’s south shore in the Spring Creek section. The 10 story 50 x 200 fireproof building is used as a senior citizen’s residence.

Engine 257 and ladder 170, both quartered in Canarsie, were assigned 1st due and arrived within 4 minutes.  By that time the fire already could be seen blowing through two windows. Second and 3rd alarms were quickly transmitted.

As the 1st due ladder company, L170′s duty is to search the fire floor. Lieutenant Joseph Cavalieri, and fire fighters Christopher Bopp and James Bohan ascended 10 flights of stairs with extinguishers and forcible entry tools. Their mission was to rescue the resident of apartment10-D who was believed trapped inside.

Fortunately for the elderly resident she escaped shortly before the forcible entry team arrived. Unfortunately for them, she left the apartment door wide open. The additional oxygen from the hallway fed the inferno within and blew out the windows.

Additional Info:

http://www.fdnewyork.com/77334080.asp

http://commandsafety.com/2009/12/fdny-brooklyn-box-4080-17-vandalia-avenue-12-18-98/

NIOSH Report:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9901.html

230 E. Ontario Chicago Illinois (Door Closed)   

Fire and smoke billow from a high-rise building fire in the 200 block of E. Ontario Street in downtown Chicago. — Keri Wiginton, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 1, 2013

An extra-alarm fire at a Near North Side high-rise building was largely confined to the unit where it started because the apartment’s resident remembered to close the door after fleeing the fire, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

Crews were called about 11:15 a.m. to a building in the 200 block of East Ontario Street, according to Larry Langford, a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department. The fire was raised from a still and box alarm to a 2-11 alarm just before 11:30 a.m. Traffic around North Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River was affected.

The woman who lives in the apartment, age 25, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good-to-fair condition to be evaluated, Langford said.

When the fire started, the resident may have tried at first to put it out herself, but she soon left, shutting the door behind her, Langford said.

“That kept it confined to that unit,” Langford said.

The woman went downstairs and told building management about the fire, and the Fire Department was called, he said. When firefighters arrived and went into the burning unit, windows blew out, but they were able to keep the fire contained, he said. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire on the seventh floor of the 27-story building by about 11:45 a.m., Langford said.

Fire crews also called an EMS Plan I for the fire, automatically sending at least five ambulances to the scene, according to Langford. Several people were checked at the scene for smoke inhalation.

 

Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

 

Additional Info:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-01/news/chi-crews-on-scene-of-reported-fire-at-downtown-building-20130201_1_extra-alarm-fire-fire-crews-fire-unit

Picture Gallery:

http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-130201-highrise-fire-chicago-north-side-pictures/

As I mentioned before I am very well aware that there were a lot of different variables between the two fires but the outcome with the closed door resulted in not only civilians life’s being saved but NO Firefighters died! It is paramount that we as a fire service are more proactive in teaching our community about getting out alive but also CLOSING THE DOOR FOR LIFE! For more information concerning our Fire Prevention message check out http://greenmaltese.com/2012/10/is-your-fire-prevention-message-up-to-date/ .

Here are the links of two fire departments that understand the importance of this message.

http://lynnfire.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=112

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/article/390044?archive=2012-03

Please share this message with every firefighter you know who is serious about saving lifes.

Thanks

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on February 2, 2013 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings Report

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Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings


Author: Brian Meacham, Brandon Poole, Juan Echeverria and Raymond Cheng, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  Re-posted by permission  of Brian Meacham NFPA

Introduction
Many new commercial facilities are being designed and constructed with an objective of achieving a “green building” certification. There are many sustainable building features and products that singly or together may have an impact on fire safety unless there is a design approach which mitigates those effects. The Foundation commissioned this study to develop a baseline of information on the intersection of “green building” design and fire safety and to identify gaps and specific research needs associated with understanding and addressing fire risk and hazards with green building design.

Executive Summary:

A global literature review was undertaken to (a) identify actual incidents of fires in green buildings or involving green building elements, (b) identify issues with green building elements or features which, without mitigating strategies, increase fire risk, decrease safety or decrease building performance in comparison with conventional construction, (c) identify reports, studies and best practice cases which speak to the issue of addressing fire risk introduced by specific green building design elements, and (d) identify research studies in which building safety, life safety and fire safety have been incorporated as an explicit element in green building indices. In addition, consideration was given to how one might express the level of increased risk or hazard, or decreased performance, associated with fire performance of green building features. Steps were also taken to identify gaps and specific research needs associated with understanding and addressing fire risk and hazards with green building design.  Brian Meacham et al, Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings (Fire Protection Research Foundation, 2012), p.2

Full Report Link:

 

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

 

 

Posted by on December 3, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is your Fire Prevention message up to date?

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As most firefighters should know this week is National Fire Prevention Week . I am sure many of you are out spreading the message of Fire Prevention this week. I would like to say thank you for serving your communities and  you will probably never know how many life’s were truly saved by your wonderful dedication to your communities.

So since it is  Fire Prevention Week this post will be about this years Fire Prevention theme in the context of our modern fire environment.

The NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13, 2012. This year’s theme is “Have Two Ways Out” and focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice in the home.

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage. One home structure was reported every 85 seconds in 2010.

Having Two Ways Out and being Rabbit Ready:

I must say I am actually excited that the NFPA theme this year is about Having Two Ways Out and being Rabbit Ready because it will fit perfect with a project I am working on and the message I have already been preaching locally here in my recent fire behavior and search classes.

So not to take anything away from this years theme but to only add too. I would to challenge everyone going out and doing Fire Prevention this week and from now on. To add a few  more things to your presentations that I feel will save life’s and reflect the modern fire environment that we are faced with.

If you have been in the fire service more than a week you have probably heard someone say something  like Today’s Fires have Changed! While this statement is usually said with good intentions it isn’t 100 percent accurate. Fires still require Heat,Fuel and Oxygen just like they did when the first Cave Man rubbed to sticks together :) However what has changed is Fire Behavior within a building.

These changes are a result of people having more stuff made of plastics  and buildings being more airtight than ever before. So you are probably asking yourself by now what does this have to do with my next Fire Prevention program? The answer is real simple. We need to add one more step to Having Two Ways Out and being Rabbit Ready.  CLOSE THE DOOR!

I think a very important part of fire escape planning we fail to convey is the need of civilians closing the door behind them on their way out!

 

So one might ask why is it so important to teach civilians to close the door?

Answer:  Modern Building Construction + More Plastics = Extreme Fire Behavior

With these two changes firefighters need to have a better understanding more than ever before of how ventilation drastically affects fire development.

Today’s fires are Ventilation Limited due to having  more hydrocarbon based fuels available and the structures are very airtight as well.

I am NOT a expert on Fire Behavior however want to share a few things I have gathered from many other experts as it pertains to Fire Behavior is modern buildings. The following will help you as a Fire Prevention presenter better understand why we need to stress the extra step of CLOSING THE DOOR!

  • Air Track *
  • Flow Path*

Air Track:  Air track is the movement of air and smoke as observed from the exterior and inside the structure. Air track is used to describe a group of fire behavior indicators that includes direction of smoke movement at openings (e.g., outward, inward, pulsing), velocity and turbulence, and movement of the lower boundary of the upper layer (e.g., up, down, pulsing).

 

 Flow Path: In a compartment fire, flow path is the course of movement hot gases between the fire and exhaust openings and the movement of air towards the fire.

Flow path can significantly influence fire spread and the hazard presented to occupants and firefighters.

 

Now with a very basic understanding of how air majorly affects modern fire behavior lets look at a few more examples of the need to CLOSE THE DOOR!

This picture is from Thermal Imaging Camera view at a  Kill The Flashover   burn. KTF is great group that every firefighter needs to follow their research.

Look at how quick you change the fire environment by closing the door!

 

The next example is a very sad one where a brother of ours lost his life and it might have been prevented if the civilian  had closed the door on their way out!

On January 19, 2011 we lost firefighter Mark Falkenhan of Baltimore County, Maryland.  During this incident a fire started in the kitchen on a second-level apartment.  Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire conditions present and fire extending into a common foyer area.  The ventilation flow path allowed this fire to extend to an adjacent apartment on the third level where the LODD occurred.

The following pictures show how a door closed by a crew conducting VES on this incident made a major difference in that room.

Behind the CLOSED DOOR!

 

ATF FDS Analysis of 30 Dowling Circle videos:

I hope with the information I presented that you will now be willing to accept the challenge of updating your fire prevention program with one more step CLOSE THE DOOR!

I feel that by changing this public behavior we will save more life’s and keep fires more choked up in a early decay stage instead of the fire getting all the fresh air it needs grow and take over the entire structure before we have a chance to extinguish it.

Thanks

Lt. John Shafer

For another Fire Prevention article written by Lt. Shafer check out http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/?s=ounce+of+prevention

 

A special thanks to Chief Shawn Oke from KTF for discussions we have had on this subject of closing the door.

 

For more information and the complete expert source I used for the definition of Air Track & Flow Path * go check out  Chief Ed Hartin work at http://cfbt-us.com/wordpress/?tag=ventilation

 

 

Posted by on October 9, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NFPA & Green Builder® Media to partner at VISION House®

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has partnered with Green Builder® Media, North America’s leading media company focused on sustainable living to participate in the VISION House® located in INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The innovative exhibitis set to present green living ideas in a fun and informative manner that will empower guests with the knowledge that a sustainable future is possible.

Vision HouseNFPA will showcase home fire sprinklers as an important addition to the home. “Through this partnership with Green Builder® Media, we hope to educate visitors on the key environmental benefits of sprinklers,” said Jim Shannon, NFPA president. According to findings of a groundbreaking study, greenhouse gases released by burning buildings can be reduced by 98 percent when automatic fire sprinklers are installed. The study, conducted for the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, also found that automatic sprinklers:

  • Reduce fire damage up to 97 percent
  • Reduce water usage to fight a home fire by upwards of 90 percent
  • Reduce the amount of water pollution released in the environment

The VISION House® in INNOVENTIONS is inspired by Green Builder Media’s VISION House demonstration home series and will open Earth Day, April 22nd. Guests visiting the house will explore the major themes of green building, including whole-home automation, energy generation and efficiency, water conservation, indoor environment quality and high-performance materials and durability.

As guests tour the home, they will encounter intelligent products and advanced technologies, such as:

  • Fire sprinkler information from the National Fire Protection Association
  • High efficiency heating and cooling systems and controls and innovative whole-home automation system and door hardware by Ingersoll Rand
  • Electronic vehicle charging station by SIEMENS
  • Chevy Volt electric vehicle by GM
  • Photovoltaic solar panels from Hanwha Solar
  • Durable and environmentally friendly exterior systems, including smog-eating tile roofs, cultured stone, bricks, permeable pavers, and trim by Boral
  • Ventilation solutions by Panasonic
  • Energy efficient windows and doors from Pella
  • High performance appliance glass products by Schott
  • Sustainable hardwood flooring and cabinets from Armstrong World Industries
  • Water-conserving fixtures, faucets, showerheads, and home standby generators by KOHLER
  • ENERGY STAR certified home appliances by Bosch
  • LED lighting solutions by SYLVANIA

For more information about sustainable living and the VISION House® in INNOVENTIONS, visit www.visionhousegreen.com. For more information about home fire sprinklers, visit www.nfpa.org/sprinklers.

 

Original link with full story:

http://www.nfpa.org/newsReleaseDetails.asp?categoryid=488&itemId=56426&cookie%5Ftest=1

 

Posted by on April 22, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

2011 NFPA Home Structure Fire Report

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U.S. Home Structure Fires

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 373,900 home structure1 fires per year during 2005-2009. These fires caused an annual average of

2,650 civilian fire deaths,

12,890 civilian fire injuries, and

$7.1 billion in direct damage.

92% of all structure fire deaths resulted from home fires.

On average, seven people died in U.S. home fires every day.

Causes and Circumstances of Home Fires

Details from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System show that in

2005-2009:

Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.

Smoking was the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths. Heating equipment was the second most common cause of home fire fatalities.

Almost all homes have at least one smoke alarm, but almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2005-2009 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Home Fires: How Often and How Likely?

Sometimes it is easier to think of the statistics in terms of time. The statistics below are based on home structure fires reported during 2005-2009.

 

Reported home fires by time

More than 1,000 home structure fires were reported on an average day. This translates to 43 fires every hour or one reported home fire every 84 seconds.

Home fires killed an average of seven people every day.

A civilian (non-firefighter) home fire injury is reported every 41 minutes.

Home fires cause roughly $225 in damage every second.

The odds of a reported fire

According to the U.S Census Bureau, the U.S, resident population averaged 301 million people during 2005-2009 and roughly 115 million households. That means that, on average during this period:

● Roughly one of 800 people had a reported home fire each year.

● Roughly one of every 310 households had a reported home fire each year.

● On average, one of every 114,000 U.S. residents died in a home fire per year.

 

Food For Thought!

Link to full report:
http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1287&itemID=29862&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20reports/Occupancies&cookie%5Ftest=1

This is an excellent report from NFPA to help us better understand where and how most home fires happen. This information can help us educate our customers to prevent fires and fire deaths. However there was one part that really jumped out at me.

Reported home structure fires fell to a new low in 2009, 51% lower than in 1980.

I could really get on a soap box and go on forever about 51 % less fires and we still kill about 100 firefighters a year, but I will refrain for the sake of the reader’s time!

So I have one question I want you to ask yourself. What does your department spend the most amount of time on in training?

More than ever before we need training with safe live fire evolutions! The numbers don’t lie we respond to 51% less fires.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

 

Posted by on August 14, 2011 • Filed under: News and Events • Tagged: , , , ,