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.
An internal review calls the Fall River five-alarm fire that killed 10 “one of the most complex” in department history, citing 53 rescues and recommending code changes for high-risk sites
Lessons from one station build help drive a second design
Collapse
An early-morning blast sent the public-housing chimney crashing onto a sidewalk and playground
One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion at the three-alarm blaze that destroyed an apartment complex under construction
Retired U.S. Forest Service Fire Chief Tom Harbour says wildland management strategies must change to adapt to the reality of worsening fire seasons
More than 200 firefighters responded to the blaze that engulfed one three-story home and spread to another
Firefighters were forced to retreat from the interior of the historic building due to falling roofing and debris
A firefighter’s guide to building loads, forces and hazards
The two-alarm blaze broke out late at night on July 4
The pioneering insurance organization helped blaze a path for the first building and fire prevention codes
A firefighter’s guide to building loads, forces and hazards
Researchers conducted 13 experiments to evaluate the coordination of fire suppression and ventilation tactics for fires at multi-family dwellings
An ideal collapse zone is set up to be at a minimum 1.5 times the height of the building to provide a large enough buffer zone
Home Fire Sprinkler Week aims to spread awareness about sprinklers and home fire safety through online resources
Part 3 – Outlining the roles and responsibilities of each part of the response effort
Part 2 – It’s critical to train in actual stairwells to understand the mental and physical requirements of these operations
Preplanning the contents and building construction, while performing walk-throughs and training, builds confidence in responding to these low-frequency events
Establish and enforce a collapse zone, and assign a separate incident safety officer to keep firefighters safe from a parapet collapse
From single-family occupancies, attic and basement fires to businesses and large structures, this guide covers ventilation basics based on structure type
A new way to make wood panels lets builders erect 14-story structures, made mostly of wood; here’s a look at what they are and the risks they present
It’s the building type all firefighters should dread as fire will spread fast and unhampered through the walls and floors
They are often the size of small commercial buildings without the same sprinkler and fire-stop requirements, which can spell disaster for firefighters
Left unchecked, vinyl siding will greatly contribute to fire spread and put interior firefighters in harm’s way
Research, train, and follow best practices and standards when fighting any fire
Firefighters face a very serious threat once the fire in a disposable structure enters the truss void space
