WORCESTER—Early indications are a nationwide problem exists with hose burn-through incidents, according to a leading fire safety researcher at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Specifically, lighter-weight hoses, originally developed for high-rise applications, are being used in a wider range of situations.
Kathy Notarianni, an associate professor in the Fire Protection Engineering Department, explains. “This is a problem that has just bubbled to the surface. It’s a tsunami. We’re finding more burn-throughs around the country of fire attack hoses.”
The Fire Protection Engineering Department received a grant recently from the Last Call Foundation to study fire hoses and develop more fire resistant construction methods. The foundation was started by Kathy Crosby-Bell — the mother of Boston firefighter Michael Kennedy, 33, who died March 26 along with colleague Lt. Edward Walsh Jr., 43, in a nine-alarm fire at 298 Beacon St.
But three weeks into her research, Notarianni said she’s already spotting flaws in attack fire hoses.
“My phone started ringing and my inbox started going crazy when everyone learned we were looking into this,” she said. “I’m now alarmed we have a bigger problem than we first thought.
“I’m very afraid of what’s happening and we’re only seeing hints of what could be out there,” she added. “The hose is failing where we don’t expect it.”
For updates and more information, see http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/11/fire_hose_failure_uncovered_researcher_sounds_the_alarm
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