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U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Chemical Fire in Apex, North Carolina

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"This body of work provides detailed information on the nature of the fire problem and the many types of service provided by fire departments. The information informs policymakers, who must decide on allocations of resources between fire and other pressing problems, and personnel within the fire service, to improve codes and code enforcement, training, public fire education, building technology, and other related areas. For reports on major fires and other critical incidents to which fire departments respond, USFA, which has no regulatory authority, sends an experienced fire investigator into a community only after having conferred with the local fire authorities to ensure that USFA's assistance and presence would support, not interfere, with any local review of the incident. The intent is to arrive after the dust settles so that a complete and objective review of all the important aspects of the incident can be made. Local authorities review USFA's report while it is in draft form. The USFA investigator or team is available to local authorities should they wish to request technical assistance for their own investigation. […] The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) develops reports on selected major fires throughout the country. The fires usually involve multiple deaths or a large loss of property, but the primary criterion for deciding to write a report is whether it will result in significant 'lessons learned.' […] Under this project, USFA also develops special reports addressing a variety of issues that affect fire service such as homeland security and disaster preparedness, new technologies, training, fireground tactics, and firefighter safety and health. The reports are sent to fire magazines and are distributed at national and regional fire meetings"

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

2008-04
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series Special Report: The After-Action Critique: Training Through Lessons Learned

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"The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) develops reports on selected major fires throughout the country. The fires usually involve multiple deaths or a large loss of property, but the primary criterion for deciding to write a report is whether it will result in significant 'lessons learned.' In some cases these lessons bring to light new knowledge about fire--the effects of building construction or contents, human behavior in fire, and so forth. In other cases, the lessons are not new, but are serious enough to highlight once again because of another fire tragedy. Under this project, USFA also develops special reports addressing a variety of issues that affect the fire service, such as homeland security and disaster preparedness, new technologies, training, fireground tactics, and firefighter safety and health. The reports are sent to fire magazines and are distributed at national and regional fire meetings. The reports are available on request from USFA. Announcements of their availability are published widely in fire journals and newsletters. This body of work provides detailed information on the nature of the fire problem and the many types of service provided by fire departments. The information informs policymakers, who must decide on allocations of resources between fire and other pressing problems, and personnel within the fire service, to improve codes and code enforcement, training, public fire education, building technology, and other related areas. For reports on major fires and other critical incidents to which fire departments respond, USFA, which has no regulatory authority, sends an experienced fire investigator into a community only after having conferred with the local fire authorities to ensure that USFA's assistance and presence would support, not interfere with, any local review of the incident. The intent is to arrive after the dust settles so that a complete and objective review of all the important aspects of the incident can be made. Local authorities review USFA's report while it is in draft form. The USFA investigator or team is available to local authorities should they wish to request technical assistance for their own investigation. For additional copies of this report write to the United States Fire Administration, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 or visit our Web site: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov."

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

2008-04
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: I-35W Bridge Collapse and Response

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This document is a report on the collapse of the Interstate 35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis and the subsequent rescue operations. The report gives a background of the collapse, the following fire and rescue response, the actions of emergency medical services, recovery operations, and overview of the Minneapolis Emergency Management System, Hazmat and environmental monitoring, and lessons learned and best practices.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

2007-08?
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Trends and Hazards in Firefighter Training

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"This report examines recent injurious and fatal incidents involving training to determine lessons that can be used to prevent future injuries and deaths. Also included is a discussion of training standards and common hazards as well as a brief analysis of the available data on the number and cause of training-related injuries and deaths."

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

Thiel, Adam K.; Stern, Jeff; Kimball, John . . .

2003-05
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Rail Emergencies, Special Report

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The USFA has selected the topic of rail emergencies as the subject of a special report under the Major Fires Investigation Program. The focus of this report will be the planning and response aspects of managing large scale rail emergencies from the standpoint of command and control, with the objective of providing care to the injured. The purpose of this Special Report is to identify the challenges to strategic planning and tactical operations in the area of rail transportation emergencies and to provide planning suggestions for fire and rescue departments. While this report addresses operations at all types of rail systems; (inter state, inter city, urban commuter, and both privately and publicly operated), the focus is mainly on the emergency response issues pertaining to passenger rail emergencies and the rescue and patient care missions.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

2003-02
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Fire at Watts Bar Hydroelectric Plant - Rhea County, Tennessee

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This technical report series looks at a fire at the Watts Bar hydroelectric plant in Rhea County, TN. Although many people perceive a steel and concrete structure as not being a fire risk, this fire illustrated once again that a fire in an electrical system can quickly be life-threatening, regardless of the structure type.

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

Roberson, Jennifer L.; Stambaugh, Hollis

2002-09
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Santana Row Development Fire

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On Monday August 19, 2002, the City of San Jose, California experienced the worst fire loss in its history. By the time the day was over, eleven alarms would be dispatched to a large structure fire and the numerous exposure fires ignited by flying embers from the fire. Extinguishment required the combined effort of 221 firefighters and sixty-five pieces of apparatus. Fortunately, no one was killed and there were only minor injuries sustained by a number of firefighters.

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

2002-08
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: I-75 Multiple Vehicle Collision/Mass Casualty Incident

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This technical report series looks at a massive motor vehicle collision along I-75 in a rural area of Collier County, FL. Three people were killed and 13 were injured. Access to the site was limited by both its remote location and the massive traffic backups, which ensued following 8 separate collisions along the Interstate. The incident shut down I-75 in both directions, backing up traffic from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. It took 58 emergency responders to manage the incident.

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

2002-01
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Multiple Fatality Single Dwelling Fire

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A technical review of a Florida house fire that killed six people-five of them children under age seven-stresses the importance of smoke alarms, notably in fires that occur when residents would be asleep.

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

2001-06
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Amtrak Train Derailment

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A technical review of an Amtrak derailment in Nodaway, Iowa, which affected 225 passengers and 16 crew members and resulted in one death, concludes that guidelines-previously established for search and rescue operations after a tornado-contributed to the success of the rescue.

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

2001-03
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Seven Alarm Fire Boardwalk Stores

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This report highlights how the absence of business owners for long periods of time can impede the prompt resolution of code violations and the importance of documenting code violations, particularly in states with statutes that allow local fire departments to recover the cost of their suppression if a fire can be directly or indirectly linked to code violations.

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

2000-08-01?
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Concept Sciences, Incorporated

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This report discusses the response efforts on Friday, February 19, 1999, when an explosion destroyed a plant operated by Concept Sciences, Incorporated in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1999-02
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Special Report: Improving Firefighter Communications

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"Several recent incidents involving firefighter fatalities demonstrate that, despite technological advances in two-way radio communications, important information is not always adequately communicated on the fireground or emergency incident scene. Inadequate communication has a definite negative impact on the safety of emergency personnel and may contribute to injuries or deaths of firefighters, rescue workers, and civilians. Inadequate fireground communication is repeatedly cited as a contributing factor in many of the incidents reported through the United States Fire Administration Major Fires Investigation Project. This fact, coupled with the limited availability of research on such an important topic, prompted the United States Fire Administration (USFA) to study some of the potential causes of communication breakdown, and to provide recommendations that will help departments improve their operational communications. While the findings contained in this special report are primarily oriented toward the municipal fire service, this does not diminish their potential relevance to other firefighters and emergency responders. With respect to communicating in high-stress environments, numerous parallels exist across public safety and related disciplines. Some of the ideas presented here are drawn from the experiences of wildland firefighters, airline flight crews, and military personnel."

United States Fire Administration

1999-01
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Interstate Bank Building Fire

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"This is Report 022 of the Major Fires Investigation Project conducted by TriData Corporation under contract EMW-8-4321 to the United States Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency. [...] On Wednesday, May 4, and continuing into May 5, 1988, the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to and extinguished the most challenging and difficult highrise fire in the city's history. The fire destroyed four floors and damaged a fifth floor of the modern 62 story First Interstate Bank building in downtown Los Angeles. [...] This was one of the most destructive highrise fires in recent United States history. The fire presented the greatest potential for the 'Towering Inferno' scenario of any U. S. fire experience and was controlled only through the massive and dedicated manual fire suppression efforts of a large metropolitan fire department. It demonstrated the absolute need for automatic sprinklers to provide protection for tall buildings."

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

1998-05
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Industrial Silo Fire and Explosion

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"On December 21, 1997, three volunteer firefighters from Iredell County, North Carolina were injured in an explosion in a silo used to collect and store wood waste for utilization as fuel at a cord reel manufacturing facility. The silo was an agricultural type that had been converted for use as a collector for sawdust. The structure had been the site of a minor explosion five years previously that had caused no injury. The firefighters had been directing water into the silo for over two hours from openings in the silo roof when the decision was made to access the wood product inside. A loud, low order explosion destroyed the top of the silo and endangered the firefighters who had been operating on the roof. The explosion buffeted personnel operating on the ground as well."

United States Fire Administration

1997-12
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Kona Village Apartments Fire Bremerton, WA

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"On November 13, 1997, an early morning fire in a large apartment building in Bremerton, WA, caused the death of four elderly residents and forced the evacuation of an additional 150 residents. Estimated property damage was in excess of $7.5 million. The fire, determined to be accidental, started in an unoccupied apartment (Apartment 316) and spread rapidly, trapping many residents. At least 21 people had to be rescued by firefighters using ground ladders. The construction features of the non-sprinkled building contributed to the fire spread. The blaze quickly involved the exterior walkway in the courtyard from the apartment door, communicated upward via pipe chases and utility shafts, and extended from the exterior rear window of the apartment of origin. Once in the attic, the inadequate and poorly constructed fire walls allowed rapid horizontal fire spread."

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1997-11
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: LP-Gas Tank Explosion Kills Two Volunteer Firefighters

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"On Thursday October 2, 1997, two Carthage, Illinois Fire Department volunteer firefighters died, one was seriously injured, and another was injured when a horizontal liquefied petroleum gas (LP- Gas) tank BLEVE'd (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion). The rocketing tank struck them as they prepared to advance pre-connected hoselines from their high-pressure fog pumper about eight minutes after their arrival."

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

Miller, Thomas H. (Professional safety engineer); Lackman, Michael

1997-10
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Structural Collapse at Dwelling Fire Results in Two Firefighter Fatalities - Stockton, California

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"Two firefighter fatalities and one civilian fatality occurred in a single family residential dwelling fire. The second floor addition collapsed during suppression operations, trapping the firefighters. A captain was also trapped under the debris, sustaining serious injuries, but was later successfully rescued."

United States Fire Administration

Duckett, Dennis C.; Barry, Sheila-Faith; Routley, J. Gordon

1997-02
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Five Fatality Residential Motel Fire, Thornton, Colorado

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"At 2:33 a.m., the Adams County Communications Center (ADCOM) received a telephone report of smoke and fire at the Hacienda Plaza Inn. Police officers who reached the scene within two to three minutes of the alarm reported flames visible at the exterior and occupants evacuating into the 17 degree night air. Four occupants were trapped in two separate rooms and perished. A fifth fatality, who had been staying in one of these two rooms, was later discovered at the west exit from the second floor breezeway. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries while fighting the fire. The cause of the fire has been determined to be arson by persons unknown. A $15,000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible person or persons has been advertised by local television, radio, and print media in the Denver area. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms activated a National Response Team at the request of local officials to assist with the scene investigation and interviewing of witnesses."

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1997
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Class A Foam for Structural Firefighting

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"The increasing use of class A foam systems by urban and suburban fire departments for structural fire suppression has created a demand for information on this technology. While class A foams have been used extensively by wildland and rural fire departments, their application to structural fire suppression is a recent trend. This report discusses the use of class A foaming agents in conjunction with water for fire suppression (conventional or nozzle-aspirated class A foam systems); it also provides additional information on the use of class A foam agents with water and compressed air (compressed air foam systems, or CAFS [compressed air foam system])"

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

1996-12
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Sprinklered Records Storage Facility - Chicago, Illinois

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"On Tuesday October 29, 1996, a still alarm was sounded for a fire in an automatic sprinkler protected records archive building shortly before 2 p.m. Before the fire was declared under control nearly ten hours later, it had reached the fourth alarm level with a commitment of 17 engines, 9 trucks and tower ladders, a squad and several additional special pieces of equipment. The last fire company left the scene about 5 p.m. on November 7, 1996 and a full box alarm assignment was involved in overhaul operations for over 24 hours after the fire."

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

Miller, Thomas H. (Professional safety engineer)

1996-10
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Broward Marine Fire, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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"An early morning fire destroyed the Broward Marine boat manufacturing facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and caused extensive damage to several yachts under construction at the facility. The firestorm spread large embers throughout the area, causing spot fires throughout the property and damaging several boats moored near the site. The resulting smoke column was visible from as far as seven miles away. Situated on the New River, the Broward Marine facility housed boat production and storage buildings dating back to the 1930's and marina areas. The structures involved in the fire included a manufacturing building, a boat assembly building, and an office building. (See Figure 1) The facility had previously been cited by authorities for a number of code violations. Damage was estimated at 15 million dollars."

United States Fire Administration

1996-09-05
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Aerial Ladder Collapse Incidents

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"This report addresses five separate incidents in which fire department aerial ladders collapsed. The most serious of these incidents occurred in New York City, where one man died and his wife, two young children and two firefighters were injured when an aerial ladder collapsed during a rescue attempt. Two of the other incidents also resulted in serious injuries to firefighters. Each of these incidents involved the collapse of an aerial ladder due to structural failure. [...] These incidents indicate a significant potential problem with existing aerial ladders that were not designed to provide the structural capabilities of ladders that are currently in production. Hundreds of similar aerial ladders are currently in service in United States fire departments. This emphasizes the need for aerial ladder operators to be properly trained and thoroughly familiar with the capabilities and limitations of their particular units, so that they will be able to recognize situations that are beyond the safe operating limits of their equipment"

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1996-04
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Manufacturing Mill Fire

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"An explosion and fire in an industrial complex in Methuen, Massachusetts on December 11, 1995 injured 37 people and destroyed nearly one million square feet of manufacturing space. Several workers were critically burned by the initial explosion and six firefighters received minor injuries as the incident progressed. The ensuing fire, driven by 40 mile per hour winds, destroyed several large buildings in the complex, which straddled the municipal boundary between the cities of Lawrence and Methuen."

United States. Office of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration

1995-12
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Old Buckingham Station - Chesterfield, Virginia

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Fire protection issues, particularly unsprinklered combustible spaces, associated with a 4-story apartment complex fire are examined.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

Miller, Thomas H. (Professional safety engineer)

1995-05?
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Logan Valley Mall Fire

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"An early morning fire on December 16, 1994 destroyed approximately 20 percent of the Logan Valley Mall, a regional shopping complex. An effective attack by 59 fire companies successfully controlled the fire although an additional 40 percent of the complex suffered severe smoke and water damage. The fire, which was reported at 2:29 a.m., completely destroyed 15 stores and 9 sales kiosks. The direct loss is estimated at $50 million, with total economic impact of more than $75 million."

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1994-12
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Multi-Agency Ocean Rescue Disaster Plan and Drill

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This report discusses the Broward County, FL off-shore emergency response plan and lessons learned from using it in a rescue drill for a downed aircraft in water.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1994-12-01?
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Hospital Fire Kills Four Patients, Southside Regional Medical Center

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This technical report series looks at a hospital fire in Petersburg, VA that resulted in the death of four patients. Lessons learned from this fire include the importance of installing sprinkler and smoke detection systems throughout institutional facilities and the preparation of hospital staff as an integral part of fire protection.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1994-12
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Sodium Explosion Critically Burns Firefighters

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This report illustrates how quickly and unpredictably an apparently minor hazardous materials situation can change and how standard protective clothing and equipment, designed for structural firefighting, is dangerously inadequate for a molten metals.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1993-10-25
U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Nine-Fatality Apartment House Fire

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This technical report series looks at an apartment house fire in Ludington, Michigan. Tenant overcrowding and inadequate fire protection led to the tragic consequences of this fire.

United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration

1993-02-28

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