“Uncontrolled building firessimilar to fires experienced in other tall buildingscaused an extraordinary event, the collapse of World Trade Center 7 (WTC 7),” S. Shyam Sunder, lead investigator for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), reported at a news conference in August. This conclusion was reached, Sunder said, “by reconstructing the building, beam by beam, column by column, connection by connection into a computer model.” The investigation results are included in a draft of the report and recommendations available online at http://wtc.nist.gov; NIST was accepting comments on the document up to September 15, 2008. The study took three years to complete.
Among the findings contained in the report are the following:
- The collapse was not caused by explosives or fuel oil fires.
- Fires, which undermined floor beams and a critical structural column, led to the eventual collapse. The fires on Floors 7 through 9 and 11 through 13 were particularly severe.
- Thermal expansion of long-span floor systems in the east side of the building was a critical factor. The building’s exterior columns were more closely spaced than the interior ones. Thermal expansion of the floor beams damaged connections between the steel beams and concrete slab of the composite floor system. Some beams buckled; others pushed the girders, causing some to buckle. A few girders lost their connections to columns, triggering floor failures.
- WTC 7 is the first modern high-rise to collapse primarily as a result of a fire. Debris from the falling WTC Tower 1 damaged structural columns and ignited fire on at least 10 floors. The main fuels for the fire were office paper and furnishings.
- The water supply for the sprinkler system had been cut off on six of the lower floors, which caused these floors to burn with intensity. The upper floors had a backup water supply.
- The collapse started on the 13th floor when a girder disconnected from a critical column (79), which supported a long open floor span. Once the floor gave way, the floors below it, down to the fifth floor, also compressed. The buckling of Column 79 (and then Columns 80 and 81) occurred when lateral support for nine stories was lost. As the building started to fall, a kink occurred at the top of the building as the east penthouse failed.
Sunder noted that thermal expansion effects currently “are not explicitly considered in design practice for fire resistance ratings. No professional is assigned the explicit responsibility for ensuring the adequate fire safety performance of a building’s structural system.” He added that the important lesson for engineers and architects to consider for other skyscrapers is how the heat from fires can weaken structural elements, potentially causing a “so-called progressive collapse.” Owners of tall buildings with a similar floor design, he said, “should immediately consider whether to install reinforcements.” He added, “Perhaps codes should be changed to address the weakness.”
Line-of-Duty Deaths
July 22. Firefighter Brian J. Munz, 24, Fairbury (IL) Fire Department: injuries sustained as a result of falling through the floor into the burning basement of a two-family structure.
July 23. Chief Frank Wichlacz, 76, Pulaski (WI) Tri-County: injuries sustained when he was pinned between a bay door and a fire tanker when a privately owned pickup truck being moved by another firefighter reportedly accelerated out of control and crashed through the door.
July 25. Firefighter Andrew Palmer, 18, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, WA: fatally injured when struck by a falling tree while working on the Eagle fire in California.
July 27. Chief Dan Packer, East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Bonney Lake, WA: overrun by wildfire following an unexpected shift in the wind while supervising firefighting efforts as part of an interagency emergency management team at the Panther fire, south of Happy Camp, a part of the Siskiyou Complex fire near Yreka. Incident details are being investigated.
August 3. Firefighter First Class Gerald R. Leduc, 52, Tiverton (RI) Fire Department: cardiac arrest.
August 5. Pilot Roark Schwanenberg, 54, Carson Helicopters, Inc., Grants Pass, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Pilot James Ramage, 63, U.S. Forest ServiceShasta-Trinity National Forest, Redding, CA: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter Steven Renno. 21, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merlin, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter David Steele, 19, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merlin, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter Rich Bryan, 29, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merlin, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter Edrik Gomez, 19, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merlin, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter Matthew Hammer, 23, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merline, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter Scott Charlson, 25, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merlin, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 5. Firefighter Shawn Blazer, 30, Grayback Forestry Inc., Merlin, OR: helicopter crash while assigned to the Iron Complex fire in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness. Crash under investigation.
August 9. Captain Sean T. Whiten, 47, Roscoe (PA) Volunteer Fire Company: cause still to be reported.
August 14. Firefighter Tony McGough, 44, Amity (AR) Fire Department: motor vehicle accident while responding in his privately owned vehicle to a medical call.
August 17. Firefighter Robert A. Hales, 40, Scappoose (OR) Rural Fire District: cardiac arrest while driving his personal vehicle.
August 21. Assistant District Forester Curtis Jessen, 32, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, Region III, Asheville, NC: injuries sustained from falling at least 50 feet from the Big Bradley Falls near Saluda, NC, while working on an outdoor fire.
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
Metal fatigue reportedly associated with Ferno stretcher Model 35-X
At the beginning of August, Abdullah Rehayem, director, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services, notified all state ambulance services and EMTs that some Ferno-Washington Model 35-X stretchers have experienced breakage of the telescoping legs; the area of highest concern is the X-frame axle (where both telescoping legs connect).
Rehayem noted in his “URGENT NOTICE UPDATED” that Ferno is working diligently to analyze data related to the issues involved and will be contacting customers who may be affected and require further attention. The entire Ferno PROFlexx series of ambulance stretchers is not affected, only Model 35-X.
The Notice is asking all ambulance services in the state using the 35-X stretcher “to immediately inspect all of these cots for signs of metal fatigue (shavings, bent support arms, cracks, etc.) and, if such signs are discovered, to remove the cot from service immediately and arrange for inspection and maintenance by a factory authorized representative as soon as possible.” The Notice continues: “Even if you do not discover any signs of metal fatigue, you should contact Ferno-Washington, or the dealer who provided your stretcher, for immediate inspection and/or maintenance.”
EMTs were reminded “to keep both hands firmly on the cot AT ALL TIMES, since at least one cot leg break occurred as the EMTs wheeled a patient toward the ambulance.” EMTS were also advised to wheel the patient at the lowest cot height, to minimize potential harm to the patient, “since catastrophic failure can occur without warning.” Also, all patients are to be firmly secured to the cot using the over-the-shoulder harness, hip, and leg straps.
Pacific Consolidated Industries recalls mobile oxygen storage tank
On September 8, 2008, Pacific Consolidated Industries, LLC (Riverside, California) initiated a Class 1 recall of its mobile oxygen storage tanks manufactured and distributed from January 11, 2005, through March 28, 2007. The tank is used in military aircraft, in disaster areas, and in healthcare facilities.
The tank’s pressure gauge may rupture and the device may catch fire as a result of the hydraulic fluid present in the pressure gauge tubing. Questions may be directed to Pacific at (951) 479-0860. Healthcare professionals and patients may report problems to www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm or by fax: (800)-FDA-0178. www.fda.gov/cdrh/recalls/recall-090907.html, August 28, 2008
Study: “Conspicuity of ANSI/ISEA- and NFPA-compliant garments comparable”
“In terms of pedestrian conspicuity, there is no apparent difference between American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) 107-2004-compliant Class 2 vests, which meet the requirements of the recent Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rulemaking (23 CFR part 634), and an ANSI-ISEA 207-2006-compliant vest or a turnout gear coat that is compliant with NFPA 1971, [Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, 2007 edition],” according to a report by The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. “The Conspicuity of First-Responder Safety Garments” document, issued in April 2008, concludes: “Consequently, the NFPA 1971-2007 turnout gear and ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Class 2 vest should be considered performance-equivalent to compliance with the FHWA’s 23 CFR part 634.”
The garments were compared in daytime and nighttime conditions. Time of day and pedestrian orientation relative to oncoming traffic were determined to be the most important factors affecting conspicuity.
There is some concern about pending legislation that requires the use of ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 or 3-compliant high-visibility garments for all workers when operating within the right-of-way federal-aid highways and, eventually, all public access roads. NFPA 1971-compliant gear cannot be an option for compliance unless it is added to the FHWA 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCO). “ANSI vests are not NFPA 1971 heat and flame resistant and are not compatible with some of the risks in emergency responders’ work environments,” explains Jean Waller, market development manager, 3M Visibility and Insulation Solutions.
For additional information, contact Colleen Harris, 3M, (651) 733-1566. The UMTRI report is available at www.umich.edu~industry/PDF/UMTRI-2008-4-Abstract.pdf or www.nfpa.org/assets/files/Fire%20 servive/UMTRI-2008-4.pdf/.
USFA releases report on 2007 firefighter LODDs
During calendar year 2007, 118 firefighters died in the line of duty, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2007. Sixty-eight volunteer and 50 career firefighters died while on duty. Twenty-seven firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) resulted from vehicle-related incidents, the report notes. Seat belt status was not known for 19 of the 27 incidents; however, 11 firefighters were confirmed not to have been wearing their seat belts at the time of the event. In seven incidents, two or more firefighters were killed (21 total).
The report also revealed the following:
- Fifty-two firefighters died from heart attacks.
- Eleven firefighters were killed during activities involving brush, grass, or wildland firefighting, the lowest in more than a decade.
- Seventy-six firefighters died while engaged in activities related to emergency incidents.
- Thirty-eight firefighters died while engaging in activities at the fire scene.
- Twenty-six firefighters died while responding to or returning from emergency incidents.
- Eleven firefighters died while engaged in training activities.
- Fifteen firefighters died after the conclusion of their on-duty activity.
Firefighter Cancer Wellness legislation introduced in RI
The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs is supporting the State Senate’s Firefighter Cancer Wellness bill (S-2887 Substitute A), which “would establish an education campaign to inform firefighters of the cancer risks associated with their profession and to monitor increases and medical breakthroughs to decrease the incidence of cancer among firefighters.” Timothy McLaughlin, chief of the Pawtucket Fire Department and president of the Association, explained: “Each day, firefighters are put at risk, but one risk they should not face is an increased risk of cancer, and early detection is our best hope to beat this epidemic.” For additional information, contact ESlingsby@regancomm.com.
Study shows impact of residential sprinkler on heat release rate of a Christmas tree fire
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report Impact of a Residential Sprinkler on the Heat Release Rate of a Christmas Tree Fire demonstrates how residential sprinklers positively affect the heat release rate of a dry Christmas tree fire. Videos of the project’s experiments show a dry Christmas tree fire in rooms with and without a sprinkler and the ignition of a dry tree vs. a properly maintained tree.
The report and videos demonstrate how a single sprinkler was able to prevent flashover even under conditions of extreme fire growth, control the tree fire, and limit the spread of the fire to other objects, as well as the importance of properly maintaining a live Christmas tree. “This project’s experiments demonstrate that a small amount of water can have a significant impact on a fire,” said NIST fire protection engineer Dan Madrzykowski. “In the experiments where the tree was maintained, the moisture contained in the tree provided resistance to ignition,” explained Masrzykowski; “in an experiment with a dry tree, a residential sprinkler flowing nine gallons per minute controlled the fire.” To review the report and videos of the experiments, visit http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/dsn/dry_tree.shtm/.
USFA releases reports
The U.S. Fire Administration has released the following reports:
- Twelve Fatality Hotel Arson: Reno Nevada is a critique of the October 31, 2006, fire that occurred in the Mizpah Hotel in downtown Reno.
- Fire Department Preparedness for Extreme Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters examines the impact of extreme weather and natural disasters on the fire service and the types of service calls most likely to arise as a result of these disasters.
- TR-159 The After-Action Critique: Training Through Lessons Learned is designed to assist in gathering critical preparedness, response, and recovery information from all emergencies; in documenting the lessons learned; and in the continuous evolution of firefighter training.
These reports are available at www.usfa.dhs.gov/.
Online training grants announced for volunteer and combination departments
TargetSafety, a provider of online enterprise risk management solutions for public entities, and the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs are making available to U.S. volunteer and combination fire departments six months of free access to TargetSafety’s PreventionLink platform. It includes 15 hours of online, essential firefighter training covering topics such as NFPA-compliant fire curriculum and EMS continuing education as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration, human resources, and general safety courses. Web-based tools make it possible for a chief or training officer to assign, track, and record all training as well as manage and document required tasks, such as vehicle and equipment inspections and departmental policy and procedure review.
Departments interested in applying for the grant-funded program can do so at www.targetsafety.com/grant. Online applications must be submitted by November 30, 2008. TargetSafety and VCOS will review all applications; winners will be notified by December 31. The program runs through June 30, 2009. Additional information is available at firegrant@targetsafety.com, or visit www.targetsafety.com/grant.
U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy:
Incident Command System Simulation Series
- Q324 Ranch House
- Q325 Town House
- Q326 Mansion
- Q424 Nursing Home
Visit NFA Online at www.nfaonline.dhs.gov. Select “Browse Catalog” or “New Student” option.
USFA and National Wildfire Coordinating Group
- S-130 Firefighter Training; completion of this course earns a certificate for L-180 Human Factors on the Fireline as well.
- S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
The classroom portions of these two basic fire training courses are at www.nfaonline.dhs.gov. Each course is broken down into one- to three-hour modules. The two courses offer about 40 hours of training. Firefighters will still have to complete the field portion of S-130 to qualify as a wildland firefighter.
