Recalling the Cugees Fire and Collapse of 1981

All bowstring trusses are not created equal.

Identifying, Establishing and Managing Collapse Zones I mentioned in a recent post about on-going research and recommendations being developed for a significant report. A notable issue that seems to resonate and surface on a reoccurring bais is the identification, establishment and management of collapse zones. Building type, construction systems and materials, initiating, apparent or contributIng […]

Before Making Entry, while in the street; Has someone completed or assigned reconned a 360 of the building? Have you looked at the Building and its Profile? Made a Rapid Risk Assessment? Assessed the Building’s Anatomy? Considered the Compartment? Considered the Fire Dynamics? Assessed the Predictability of Performance? Scanned for Situational Awareness? Considered the MELT? […]

Light Weight construction has given way to Engineered Structural Systems (ESS) which in today’s evolving fireground, have an even more extensive array of performance, operational and integrity issues that affect a building’s performance under fire conditions.To unequivocally state that nothing has changed in buildings, occupancies, fire flow delivery rates and demands for increased proficiencies of […]

If you’re planning on heading to the Fire Department Instructors Conference, FDIC in Indianapolis please consider making time to attend our classroom session. We’ll make sure we have a seat waiting for you. There’s a tremendous selection of offerings, check out the program listings HERE. If you’re not able to make the class, make sure you contact me if […]

On March 14, 2001 the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department lost firefighter Brett Tarver at the Southwest Supermarket fire. Remembering Brett Tarver and the Lessons Learned In that event, it was 5:00 in the afternoon, the grocery store was full of people and fire was extending through the building. Phoenix E14 was assigned to the interior […]

Victim #1 was acting as the Incident Safety Officer and Victim #2 was performing overhaul, when the bell tower collapsed on them and numerous other fire fighters.

The Strand Theater Fire turned from a routine fire into one of the worst tragedies in Brockton and Massachusetts history,

Rapid changing conditions and smoke explosion result in close call to operating companies in New Jersey