FireTox Awarded SFPE Foundation Grant to Study the Impact of Large-Scale Fires

Our team is happy to announce that we have been awarded an SFPE Foundation research grant which will support our work on "Environmental and Health Impacts of Fire and Fire-Suppression Activities During Large-Scale Fire Events". The primary objective of the research is to characterize the environmental and health impacts following large-scale wildland and structural fire events. The research project will be led by our Technical Director, Dr. Jamie McAllister, and Senior Project Engineer, Brendan McCarrick. To read more about our research objectives or the SFPE Foundation, visit https://www.sfpe.org/newsroom/jan272022

Multiple-Death Fires and Older Structures

On January 5, 2022, a fire in a Philadelphia row house resulted in 12 deaths. A few days later on January 9, 2022, a fire in a Bronx highrise led to 17 deaths. Using data from NFPA, a profile of catastrophic multiple-death fires in the U.S., between 2002 and 2020, is shown below.

Catastrophic multiple-death fires, defined by NFPA as "residential fires that kill five or more people or nonresidential or nonstructural fires that kill three or more people", accounted for approximately 4% (+/- 2%) of overall deaths in the U.S. between 2002 and 2020.

Not surprisingly, a review of these incidents shows that they occurred in structures with no sprinkler systems; buildings were more than 50 years old, and in some cases, over a century old. With most building and fire codes grandfathering older structures from modern fire protection requirements, such as sprinkler systems, early occupant notification, and compartmentation become critical fire safety features. In several of the multiple-death incidents reviewed, non-functional alarm systems and early compromise of egress pathways were common themes, which highlights the need for risk assessment and inspection, testing, and maintenance to combat fire safety challenges in older structures.

©2020 by FireTox

Dr. McAllister appointed to NFPA 921 committee

FireTox Technical Director, Dr. Jamie McAllister, was recently appointed to the NFPA 921 committee. NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations details the scientific methodology and analyses used when conducting a fire origin and cause investigation. In 2000, the Department of Justice stated in "Fire and Arson Scene Evidence: A Guide to Public Safety Personnel" that NFPA 921 is the "benchmark for the training and expertise of everyone who purports to be an expert in origin and cause determination of fires." We are honored to contribute to the continual improvements of the NFPA 921 document and to scientific advancements in the field of fire and explosion investigation.