Planning, Cooperation Vital To Fire Protection in Jails
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National news services recently reported a multiple-death fire in a prison. Local news media from time to time tell of mattress fires in city county jails that cause little damage but threaten the lives of the people or in the facility.
With this in mind, we must become aware of the unique problems of jail fires, and develop methods of preserving life when fires occur. Many jail fires are small, but the fatalities and injuries result from the inhalation of toxic gases.
The first concern of jail fires should be to prevent them, but even the most rigorous fire prevention efforts can be thwarted by an individual intent on starting a fire. Fire departments should work closely with correctional agencies to develop practical fire prevention programs.
Realizing that fire prevention programs may be overridden by individual intent, a fire department must develop tactical operations that will minimize the threat to life.
Early warning vital
Early detection and warning is imperative in a jail fire. In most cases, the occupants are unable to flee to a safe area. A delay in calling the fire department may enable even a small fire to develop sufficient volumes of toxic gases and smoke to make the area tenable.
First-aid fire fighting equipment should be available so correctional officers can stop a fire in its incipient stage. If such equipment is provided, those responsible for using it should be completely familiar with both its operation and limitations.
Ventilation appears to be one of the major problems in jail fires. Considering that many fires are limited to one cell, adequate ventilation of the products of combustion could provide an atmosphere that would minimize the hazard to life. Building construction often determines the method of ventilation to be used, whether initiated by the employees of the facility or by the fire department. How and where to ventilate can be determined only by knowledge attained before a fire occurs.
Lack of standpipes
Many facilities lack standpipes, so the distance hose lines have to be advanced often prevents prompt application of streams to a fire area. Furthermore, fire fighters entering a jail fire should wear self-contained breathing apparatus, which adds to the load the fire fighter must carry in addition to hose.
Fire Safety Questions For Prison Guards
- Do you have any type of formal plan in the event of a fire in your facility?
- Is life safety the primary objective of a fire plan in your facility?
- What means do you have of reporting a fire in your facility to the fire department?
- Are smoke/fire investigations carried out by personnel within the facility before notification of the fire department?
- Is someone designated to meet the fire department and assist them in reaching the fire area?
- Are personnel trained in the use and inspection of first-aid fire fighting equipment?
- Do you have the means of venting smoke and fire gases from security areas without the assistance of the fire department?
- Does the security area have fire department standpipe connections?
- Do you have standpipe hoses for use on a fire that cannot be controlled by extinguishers?
- Are extinguishers (if they are provided) checked by each shift?
- Are means provided for a prompt and rapid relocation of occupants in the event of a fire?
- Are personnel available to control occupants if they must be removed from security areas?
- What means are available to obtain immediate assistance from police agencies to supplement your forces during a fire situation?
- Are personnel familiar with the hazards of the smoke and toxic gases generated by even a small fire?
- Who is responsible for the safety of the occupants of your correctional facility?
Fire fighters should remember that a fog stream can move large volumes of air and a hose stream’s initial objective may be to move out smoke and bring in fresh air.
Correctional personnel must remember that fire fighters can do their job only after reaching the area of need. Pre-fire plans should include designating personnel to guide fire companies to the fire area by the shortest distance as quickly as possible.
Moving prisoners
Plans should also include, if possible, a method of rapidly relocating prisoners within the facility without creating a security problem. When prisoners cannot be moved, it may be possible to place heavy fog streams into operation to force in fresh air and provide extinguishment at the same time. Occupants may get wet, but they will be alive.
With the problems that both the correctional facility and the fire department face, it is imperative that they work together, cooperate, and develop a pre-fire plan for the operations that will be necessary for life safety.
We must not become complacent and think that fires in security facilities only happen elsewhere. The situation is not if it will happen, but how soon it is going to happen.
