It is with extreme sadness to learn of the fire in New York State that claimed the lives of three people.
There is no doubt that neighbors, the police first on the scene, and the responding fire fighters did everything possible to get everyone out.
But there just was not enough time, the house was engulfed before the fire department arrived.
Various news clips and web postings indicate a number of factors that contributed to the seemingly rapid spread of fire through the house and to the inability for the occupants to get out.
The rapid spread of fire may have been partially caused by everyday common products, appliances, televisions, furniture, even the picture frames on the walls.
Everything is plastic, or some form of a petroleum based product. That stuff burns fast, hot, starts easy and produces an unbelievable amount of toxic fumes quickly, very quickly.
As far as the inability to get out… this article has many, many times talked about the two most fundamental fire safety aspects of any building… early warning and detection and the ability to get out.
Emergency egress and rescue openings, which are windows of a certain size and style specified by code are absolutely critical regarding life safety.
They must be in all sleeping areas [bedrooms] and be accessible from the outside, not blocked by snow banks, stockade fences, sheds or junk piled against the building.
Smoke detectors, properly functioning and located, provide the early warning.
However, because these fires can accelerate so fast, people must act immediately.
Today’s type of fire can start easier, accelerate faster and create more heat and horrible toxic fumes than ever before.
The difference of life or death can be less than a minute. That’s not very long.
The house itself is not the only contributor to a fire safe structure, the contents, now more than ever, play a huge role in fire safety in today’s world. Plastic, plastic and more plastic.
Over the last twenty years New York State has considered making sprinklers a requirement in new homes, additions or remodeling.
Over the years lobbying efforts to prevent this from happening has always been strong. Although more so twenty years ago than recently.
Sprinklers are required in homes in other states.
Even though all states use the International Building and Fire Codes, each state can add or delete sections as they feel appropriate.
New York has held out requiring sprinklers for single family dwellings until now.
However, because things are changing within our plastic world, probably not for very much longer.
The sprinkler design for a single family dwelling is pretty simple. Flexible pex tubing and residential heads make it simple.
Unlike a full blown commercial sprinkler system, the domestic water supply may be used.
Most residential sprinkler heads put out a very low amount of water, as low as a quart per minute spread over a relatively large area.
Years ago the major objection by lobbyists against sprinklers was the water damage and cost of installation.
Today, the costs are minimal and water damage is simply not an issue… especially if lives are saved, let alone if property damage is slight.
Why are these types of sprinklers so effective? It’s pretty simple. What does fire need to accelerate? Fuel, air and heat. Take out any one of those ingredients, no fire.
The sprinkler is designed to immediately knock down the heat. Just like any other life safety system, it must be installed properly.
They are activated by two different means; first, by just reaching a certain temperature, and second, by exceeding a rate of rise in temperature.
Either way, they have proven, by test and in real life, to prevent a fire from accelerating, even putting the fire out quickly all within that first critical minute.
So when the code officer, wherever you are, insists on the bedroom window to be a certain style and size and makes you change it, no matter how hard that may be, or insists on smoke detectors being placed and tested properly, and makes you change that to meet the code, please know, however mad you may be at the inspector, he goes away hoping that his actions may have just saved lives.
Soon, sprinklers will be part of the Residential Code of New York, and there will be angry people and confusion… but all that will save lives. Maybe yours.