The nightclub, is an aged small wood structure in Rhode Island. The club is reported to have a capacity of 182 people. On February 20th 2003, more then 400 fans packed into the small club to see a band. Although there are discrepancies between reports of how many people were in attendance, it is obvious that the number is well over twice the club's capacity. During the performance, as part of the act, pyrotechnics were deployed. The pyrotechnics were gerbs. Gerbs are cylindrical devices that are designed to make a spray of 15-foot plumes of sparks for 15 seconds. Gerbs are befitting for use indoors, as long as the appropriate precautions are taken. The pyrotechnics ignited a polyurethane (egg crate foam) material that is used for packing and product display--but not for "sound proofing," as it was used lining the stage. Considering that this foam is not intended for use as a sound treatment in buildings, it was not treated with fire retardants. Due to the size and age of the building (built before 1976), safety regulations said that the nightclub did not have to have a sprinkler system, and it thus did not have one. The fire originating on the stage quickly filled the club with toxic smoke from the burning polyurethane and other building materials. In the shear moment of panic, the people caused a scene of chaotic proportions: stampeding towards the only exit they knew--the way they got in. Over 400 people all trying to get out one door at the same time caused a massive pileup trapping the majority of people inside. Just prior to the fire department arriving on scene the super heated gases trapped in the building ignited causing what is called a “flashover." Temperatures exceeding 932 to 1112 degrees Fahrenheit inst... ... middle of paper ... ... these pyrotechnics in this situation would have been revealed before the show. Lastly, the enforcement of the capacity—the number of people allowed in club would have dramatically decreased the number of fatalities and injuries in this incident. In conclusion, it is clear that situations like this could easily be prevented with a few vitals steps. The first step in the line of prevention is restriction of flammable materials in nightclubs and other buildings, especially in enclosed spaces. Second is the installation of fire prevention systems—fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and fire alarms with early notification to the local fire authorities. Also, the prevention of using dangerous pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces is imperative. Finally, the need for sufficient exits is vital to the safety of the people in any building, especially a crowed nightclub.
The fire lasted only 12-14 minutes and killed 492 and injured 164, the reason for this is the building construction, occupancy, and interior design of the club. For better understanding the structure will be described in great detail.
In West Warwick Rhode Island, on February 20th, 2003, during the performance of the band Great White, a fire broke out that eventually claimed the lives of 100 people and injured an additional 200. The band’s tour manager arranged for, and ignited pyrotechnic props, large fireworks designed to display a shower of sparks. The sparks ignited foam soundproofing near stage. The fire spread quickly. Most were killed either in the crush to exit the building or overcome by fumes while trying to find an exit. The immediate cause was well documented due to witness reports and a videotape that was taken during the concert. In the period that followed the tragedy there were many attempts to fix blame. Following a Grand Jury investigation, several of the parties involved plead guilty to violations of the law and served or are currently sentences in prison.
Bright, R G. Reconstruction of a Tragedy: The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire, Southgate, Kentucky, May 28, 1977. an Analysis of the Development and Spread of Fire from the Room of Fire Origin (zebra Room) to the Cabaret Room. Appendix C. Richard Bright's Analysis. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified, 1977. Internet resource.
On the fateful and unforgettable afternoon of June 17, 1972 Hotel Vendome experienced yet another fire. Actually it experienced several fires in different locations on this date. Electricians working on the first floor reported smoke coming from the upper floors, and a bartender reported smoke in the basement. All occupants in the basement café were safely escorted out, and 3 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, and 1 District Chief arrived on scene noticing ...
The fire, which began on October 8, 1871, spread so quickly it was unmanageable. One of the reasons the fire became so irrepressible is that the firefighters were already exhausted from having fought a fire the day before. The firemen underestimated the potential of this fire when they first responded to it. As a result of the fire the previous day, the firefighters’ equipment, including the fire hose, was not in the best condition. Furthermore, the hose that was available was in short supply (Murphy 30).
The triangle factory fire was very tragic fire that happened. There were 500 people working. When the fire happened 146 people died in the fire they were 8th floor or above . Daniel Donahue Pulled the fire alarm on the 8th floor and the top floors did not hear the alarm all the bottom floors heard the aram. Everyone in the building was scared and did not know what to do( pg.All the people on the bottom were scared and they never went over the rules and what to do in case there is an fire.The doors were locked, and people were crowded trying to get out. What would you do in the fire if you were on the 9th floor?
in proper manner resulting in a chemical and thermal burn hazard for law enforcement, clean up
There had been a terrible drought that year leaving the wood on the city’s buildings, streets and sidewalks dry and brittle. Building codes were pretty much ignored adding to the risk that these structures were not safe and sound. Chicago was a perfect spot for a major fire to break out. There are many theories on how the fire actually started. The most common theory is that a family’s cow knocked over a lighted lantern inside the barn. From there the fire grew and spread quickly, destroying many homes and commercial office buildings and even ships in the harbor. On October 10, when the fire was finally brought under control, there was an estimated 300 people dead and 100,000 people left homeless (4). Over 17,000 buildings were destroyed. (4) The estimated damage caused by the fire was in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Upon the arrival of Jeremy Crowder – SBI, Certified Fire Investigator, K9 Handler & K-9 Hampton a summary of the fire scene was given. A plan was developed for how and where we wanted K-9 Hampton to check for the possibility of accelerants being present. Handler Crowder and K-9 Hampton conducted 3 separate detection surveys of the area for accelerants.
The fire began at the Korn Leather Factory at 57 Boston Street, which is located in the northern part of the city. Chemicals that were used to create varnish exploded starting the blaze. It is believe that the heat of the day built up in the storage room where the chemicals were kept that caused the explosions and started fires. Some of the factory buildings had a sprinkler system, but because of the wooded structures the buildings were made of the few that had the sprinkler systems were ineffective, allowing the fire to grow hotter. It was a hot windy day that day, and the wind caused the man-made fire to become exponentially worse. The strong wind fanned the flames south into the heart of the city and the fire jumped to nearby buildings and kept growing. During this time most building and homes did not follow any fire ordinances, so the roofs were made out of combustible material like plain wood shingles. Embers were blown from
On April 17, 2013, the community of West, Texas, suffered a devastating and heartbreaking event in the evening hours. After a fire broke out inside the West Fertilizer plant, a massive explosion leveled the facility, caused millions of dollars in damage to surrounding buildings, and took the lives of over a dozen people. Sadly, the majority of those killed were volunteer firefighters who had responded to the fire and were unable to retreat to a safe distance before the explosion. Nearly 200 injuries were also reported to have been treated at local hospitals (Wood, 2013). The explosion was said to be caused by the combination of the fire and large stores of ammonium nitrate fertilizer at the plant.
We play music loudly with our friends and families at social gatherings and ultimately it creates a friendly and open atmosphere. Now the last thing we would think about would be that at one of these social events one of us may die. In recent years there have been more and more deaths and injuries at musical festivals all throughout the United States. Although the number is much lower than deaths and injuries from automotive accidents they should not be over looked. Music festivals are becoming more and more popular and people are flocking to festivals all around the United States. These music festivals in today’s society have turned into drug infested parties in which people’s live are endangered and people themselves are exposed to drugs and unsafe festival conditions.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire not only affected the city of New York, but also the rest of the country. It forever changed the way our country would look at safety regulations in factories and buildings. The fire proved to America what can and will happen if we over-look safety regulations and over-crowd buildings. Unfortunately, 146 lives are taken before we fully understand this concept.
...rting again. The fire itself was seen for miles and the heat was so intense that there was “hardly a building within a one block radius that was not scorched” (Reporter Front Page). Extinguished fire brands were found in all parts of the Eastern section of the city. Some brands were even found in Lakeside Park. The force of the gas explosions in the garage blew debris from E 2nd and Marr to half way down Ellis St. This shows just how large the fire actually was.
The release of the hazardous material or exposure to the fire that ensues results in the need to evacuate 25 or more people