Building Construction
The building construction resource page includes important information about how structures are designed and how such construction factors affect building strength, likelihood of collapse, interior layouts and other issues that could compromise firefighter safety.
A mayday was transmitted after a collapse trapped Baltimore County firefighters
One firefighter was injured, nine residents displaced by the fire in Chinatown
Columns in the Surfside collapse that killed 98 people did not meet 1980s standards
After a fire killed two construction workers, state and local officials look at the challenges and hazards construction sites possess
Davenport officials announced plans to demolish the unstable building even though two people may be trapped in the rubble
Davenport city officials had received several complaints about needed repairs and maintenance from occupants of the six-story building
Collapse
A partial failure of the crane system at a high-rise building caused the evacuation of a one-block radius
Fire Chief Reggie Johnson and Communications Shift Supervisor David Bradshaw address the mayday call, fill-in response, and heroic acts amid loss of life
The large response of first responders to the Charlotte construction site fire led officials to tell the public to not use 911 except in a true emergency
Portland firefighters are concerned about structural collapse after a 4-alarm fire destroyed the building a day after fire inspectors did a walk-through
How post-fire risks contributed to the fatal 1972 collapse just minutes after the fire was called under control
Glendale firefighters heard a loud noise; over 100 crewmembers with five departments worked on the rescue and patient transport
The president would like to see wider adoption of the latest building codes and encourages individuals to take precautions
Decades of deadly fires spurred federal action, culminating in the iconic 1973 publication that remains relevant to the fire service today
Collapse
We can’t eliminate collapse dangers, but we can mitigate some risk by studying building construction and rapid-fire events
As the ATF investigates, a fire research lab in Maryland is working to create a computer model showing how the fatal fire spread and grew
The 12-alarm blaze resulted in the deaths of three Philadelphia firefighters: David Holcombe, Phyllis McAllister and James Chappell
Hingham Fire Chief Steve Murphy said multiple patients were transported, and fire crews were evaluating the structural stability of the building
The surge of lightweight construction across the country underscores the need to look to the future of community development
“The coordinated efforts to protect first responders, building engineers and others is vital,” Fire Chief Niles Ford said
Gainesville firefighters were told that multiple people were inside of the 30,000-square-foot metal building, and heavy smoke was billowing out of the roof
The Evansville Fire Department Training Division suddenly found itself with two high-rise buildings at its disposal for countless training evolutions
Among the many, many acronyms used by firefighters, two stand out as critical to an efficient and successful response; learn more and test your knowledge
Part 2: A detailed look at standpipe and attack options, building systems, and fireground communications
Part 1: Inside the maze-like hallways, confusing access areas and stairwells, void spaces and other puzzling features that hamper operations
The 1978 roof collapse served as a wake-up call about the dangers hidden in building construction, specifically the weaknesses of trusses
Available through FSRI’s Fire Safety Academy, the course addresses fire control by establishing a basic understanding of fire science and fire dynamics
Under rapidly changing conditions, errors in decision-making can lead to flawed tactics and tragic outcomes
Local Government
If the proposed ordinance passes, Norwalk will join other municipalities in using building signs to identify structural concerns behind buildings’ skins
The goal of the operation is to identify buildings at risk of collapse and prevent firefighters from going inside
Sprinkler systems, smoke detection and fire alarms may not yet be installed and operational
Kansas City firefighters were called to help police investigate a worker’s fall through a skylight when a firefighter fell through a different skylight
While self-rescue drills are vital, so too is mayday prevention training focused on fire dynamics, building construction, case studies and technology
MOST POPULAR
- Waldbaum’s supermarket fire: The historic fire that killed 6 FDNY firefighters
- Fighting the balloon-frame construction fire
- Fire safety on construction sites: What firefighters need to know
- Mid-rise and low-rise: The unassuming buildings you ignore every day
- Situational awareness at structure fires: 4 questions to guide decision-making