National Fire Protection Association Blog

Work in Progress: America Burning at 40 - We need data!!

This is the second in a series of posts about the 40^th anniversary of America Burning and the related NFPA Journal article. The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control was frustrated by how little was known about the causes and circumstances of fires. In the very first chapter, the Commission recommended “that a national fire data system be established to provide a continuing review and analysis of the entire fire problem. USFA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), the source of detailed information in most of NFPA’s statistical analyses, was the result.

The country also needed a better understanding of fire behavior and fire department productivity. This led to NIST’s Center for Fire Research and fire.gov – “Better firefighting through research.”

We still have data needs. Currently, NFPA is entering the public comment phase for the second draft of the proposed NFPA 950: Standard for Data Development and Exchange for the Fire Service and seeking input or proposals for the proposed NFPA 951: Guide to Building and Utilizing Digital Information.

What kinds of data or information do you use or need about fire? Where or how do you get it? What are the obstacles? How could we get better data?

 

 

Limo fire that killed five leaves many wondering how many people die in auto fires

Five women were tragically killed Saturday evening in a limousine fire that happened on a bridge above the San Francisco Bay, according to news reports.  The limo passengers were a bride-to-be and her friends out for a bachelorette party to celebrate an upcoming wedding. We have had many people reach out to us today for information on automobile fires. Does this incident leave you wondering about how often automobile fires happen and how many people die because of them?  

NFPA’s Fire Analysis & Research Division tracks vehicle fire statistics and estimates that on average, 17 automobile fires were reported per hour and these fires killed an average of four people every week in 2006-2010.  During the same period, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 152,300 automobile fires per year in 2006-2010. These fires caused an average of 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries, and $536 million in direct property damage. The top causal factor in automobile fires was “mechanical failure or malfunction” at 45 percent and leading the list for automobile fire deaths was “collision or overturn” at 60 percent.

Do you know what steps you can take to prevent a car fire or what to do if your car is on fire?  Visit www.nfpa.org/vehicles to check out our tip sheet and find out.  

Have you experienced a car fire? 

 

 

NFPA names Donald Bliss vice president of field operations

NFPA recently appointed Donald P. Bliss as vice president of Field Operations. In his new position, Bliss will oversee NFPA’s International Division, Government Affairs Division and NFPA’s Regional Operations.

Bliss’ career began with the Durham-UNH Fire Department in 1970 and he has been a part of the fire service in some way since then, holding such titles as director of the University of Connecticut Fire Department, and both Fire Chief and town emergency management director for Salem, N.H. Bliss served as both the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal and state homeland security director, and has held leadership roles in numerous professional organizations, including the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) and NFPA. He previously served on the NFPA Standards Council, served as president and chief operating officer of the not-for-profit National Infrastructure Institute in Portsmouth, N.H. and was a senior public safety consultant with Municipal Resources, Inc.

He served as a member of NFPA's board of directors 2003-2009; was the chair of the NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code Committee, and served as chair of NEC Code Making Panel 13. Bliss has also been on the NFPA Technical Committee on Emergency Management and Business Continuity and was a trustee of the Fire Protection Research Foundation.

Congratulations on your new position Don, and welcome to NFPA!

NFPA 13 now open for public input

NFPA 13, The Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, along with the other sprinkler installation standards, NFPA 13R, NFPA 13 D, NFPA 24, and NFPA 291 are currently open for public input. Public input is the term now used at NFPA to address a code change proposal to a technical document.  

Submitting public input can be done in three easy steps.

1)Log in to the document information page of the standar d you would like to submit public input too. (for NFPA 13 use www.nfpa.org/13).

2)Find the code section you would like to modify and enter your changes in the text editor.

3)Provide a substantiation for your proposed change to the standard and click submit.

Once you have completed those three steps your proposed change will be sent to the  technical committee responsible for the section of the standard you would like to change. Your public input will be reviewed and acted upon at the First Draft meeting this summer.

It is important to remember that NFPA 13 and its associated  documents have a modified public input closing date of May 31. That means that all changes proposed changes to NFPA 13 and the other sprinkler design and installation standards must be submitted online through the new online submission process by that date.

We look forward to reviewing your proposed changes and look forward to another exciting cycle for the NFPA 13 committees.

Deadly Brazil nightclub fire reminiscent of 2003 Station nightclub fire and others

The Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston was the deadliest nightclub fire in world. Over 400 peoplel died in 1942.

News accounts are reporting that more than 200 people have died in an early morning fire in a nightclub in southern Brazil.  According to CNN, at least 245 people were killed in the Kiss Nightclub in Santa Maria.

NFPA provides a number of resources and information on this topic on its website.

News reports are comparing the Kiss nightclub fire to the 2003 fire at The Station nightclub in W. Warwick, RI, on February 20, 2003 that claimed 100 lives. Prior to the Kiss nightclub, the Station Nightclub was the fourth-deadliest public assembly and nightclub fire in U.S. history. Five of these fires were in nightclubs. Since that fire, NFPA has enacted tough new code provisions for fire sprinklers and crowd management in nightclub-type venues. Those provisions mark sweeping changes to the codes and standards governing safety in assembly occupancies.

Deadliest public assembly and nightclub fires

• Ten deadliest fires in U.S. history
• Ten deadliest fires outside the U.S. since 1970

NFPA also offers safety tips for the public when in an assembly occupancy.

Before you enter

• Take a good look. Does the building appear to be in a condition that makes you feel comfortable? Is the main entrance wide and does it open outward to allow easy exit? Is the outside area clear of materials stored against the building or blocking exits?
• Have a communication plan
  Identify a relative or friend to contact in case of emergency and you are separated from family or friends.
• Plan a meeting place
  Pick a meeting place outside to meet family or friends with whom you are attending the function. If there is an emergency, be sure to meet them there.

When you enter

• Locate exits immediately
  When you enter a building you should look for all available exits. Some exits may be in front and some in back of you. Be prepared to use your closest exit. You may not be able to use the main exit.
• Check for clear exit paths
  Make sure aisles are wide enough and not obstructed by chairs or furniture. Check to make sure your exit door is not blocked or chained. If there are not at least two exits or exit paths are blocked, report the violation to management and leave the building if it is not immediately addressed. Call the local fire marshal to register a complaint.
• Do you feel safe?
  Does the building appear to be overcrowded? Are there fire sources such as candles burning, cigarettes or cigars burning, pyrotechnics, or other heat sources that may make you feel unsafe? Are there safety systems in place such as alternative exits, sprinklers, and smoke alarms? Ask the management for clarification on your concerns. If you do not feel safe in the building, leave immediately.

During an emergency

• React immediately
  If an alarm sounds, you see smoke or fire, or other unusual disturbance immediately exit the building in an orderly fashion.
• Get out, stay out!
  Once you have escaped, stay out. Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. Let trained firefighters conduct rescue operations.

 

NFPA, The Home Depot and Kidde donate 50K smoke alarms to fire departments nationwide

The Home Depot in Travers City, Michigan donated 2500 smoke alarms to area fire departments

‘Tis the season for giving and thanks to a joint effort by NFPA, The Home Depot and Kidde, fire departments across the country are receiving 50,000 smoke alarms, valued at $1million dollars to enhance fire safety in their communities. The Home Depot and Kidde ran a fall fire safety program which inlcuded a challenge to store associates to compete for top sales of smoke alarms and CO detectors.  The top selling store in each region was rewarded with an opportunity to give back to their community by donating up to 2500 smoke alarms to local fire departments.

Several of The Home Depot stores that won the challenge invited the public and fire service to store events where smoke alarms were presented to fire departments. Congratulations to the winning stores and thanks to Kidde, The Home Depot and all of its associates for raising awareness for fire safety. 

In addition, Kidde and The Home Depot will make a $25,000 contribution to The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s “Be a Hero, Save a Hero” initiative.  This contribution follows the launch of the public service campaign about this program, which urges homeowners to log on to www.alarmpledge.com and promise to ensure their home has enough up-to-date and working smoke alarms.

Visit www.nfpa.org/homedepot for more details.

 

NFPA, CPSC and Maryland State Fire Marshal warn against holiday fire risks with live burn demonstration

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum and NFPA's Greg Cade

NFPA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maryland’s Office of the State Fire Marshal recently teamed up to bring needed attention to fire risks that frequently go hand-in-hand with holiday decorating. Greg Cade, NFPA’s director of Government Affairs participated in an event this week at CPSC’s new National Product Testing and Evaluation Center in Rockville, MD that included live burn demonstrations to underscore the importance of being aware of fire risks and taking action to avoid them.

“Christmas and the days around it are typically some of the top days for home fires," said Cade, "With an increased fire risk around winter holidays, following safety tips at this time of year is especially important to prevent fires."

 

The demonstration showed how quickly a dried-out Christmas tree goes up in flames. Christmas tree fires don’t happen often, but when they do the consequences are usually very serious, according to NFPA.

“Make sure you water your Christmas tree frequently, use holiday lights that are tested and certified and safe and not damaged, use candles carefully, and do not put a frozen turkey into a deep fryer,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “We want consumers to avoid fires and injuries by adding “safety” to their holiday checklist.”

Take NFPA's holiday quiz to test your fire-safety knowledge.  Interested in spreading the word to help your community stay fire-safe this season?  Look to NFPA's "Project Holiday" online toolkit for easy-to-use resources. 

November/December issue of NFPA Journal now available in digital and app versions

The latest issue of NFPA Journal, featuring our stories on fire safety issues in “green” buildings and the formation of the new Cocoanut Grove Coalition, is available as a digital reader and in app form—two great ways to enjoy Journal anytime, anywhere.

The digital reader is a Web-based version of Journal that shows you the magazine exactly as it appears in print—except that all Web links and emails, in both stories and ads, are live and clickable. The digital reader also includes versions optimized for iPad, iPhone, and Android.

The NFPA Journal app, available through Apple's app store, lets you download the magazine and create your own library of Journals that you can read whenever you want, even if you're offline. If you're using it with a Web connection, you have all the flexibility that you do with the digital reader: watch embedded slideshows and videos, link to products and services, share stories with colleagues, and much more. The app is designed for iPad and iPhone.

Our cover story, “A Night to Remember,” looks at the 70^th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire, which killed 492 people in Boston on November 28, 1942, and remains the nation’s deadliest nightclub fire. To commemorate the event, Journal staff writer Fred Durso, Jr. takes a closer look at the new NFPA-led Cocoanut Grove Coalition and its mission to collect and archive the stories, artifacts, and other materials related to this historic fire.

Elsewhere in the issue, Fred provides an update on green buildings and fire safety, and we also have the 2011 Large-Loss Fires and Firefighter Injuries reports. The “In A Flash” section includes “Karachi Nightmare,” an article I wrote based on my blog post from September on the deadly garment factory fire in Karachi, Pakistan, that reportedly killed 258 people and has become, according to NFPA data, the deadliest fire ever recorded in a manufacturing or industrial facility. The Karachi fire has its roots in the 1911 Triangle Waist Co. fire that I wrote about last year for Journal, and the problem of garment factory fires worldwide shows no indication of abating anytime soon. 

We hope you enjoy this issue of NFPA Journal.

What was the inspiration behind the Safety Design and Sustainable Buildings Symposium?

  

Amanda Kimball, research manager for The Fire Protection Research Foundation says discussions of sustainable building design and its impacts on fire safety that began at the Foundation’s strategic planning meeting several years ago is where the need for more information in this area was solidified. 

As the Foundation continued to explore the need for more discussions on this topic, it became clear that there was great value in bringing together members of the design and fire protection communities to discuss it, which eventually led to the development of the Fire Safety Design and Sustainable Buildings Symposium. The Foundation discovered that to pull together a comprehensive program, they would have to expand their network of relationships because they were limited in some industries that are central to this topic. Working in collaboration with the Chicago and Illinois chapters of the American Institute of Architects, the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the Foundation was able to compile a compelling program aimed at prompting discussions between members of the fire safety and design communities. 

The event is taking place in Chicago, November 7-8 and will feature perspectives from architects, engineers, the sustainability community and research institutions on the challenges and opportunities of integrating fire safety and sustainable design. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are being offered.

How I became a fire protection engineer: NFPA's Jonathan Hart tells his story

Fire Protection Engineering recently spoke with three fire protection engineers to find out about everything from college classes to searching for a job to trends in the profession. Included in the magazine's feature was NFPA's Jonathan Hart, an associate fire protection engineer, and graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Read the full article.