21 Questions
What was the only known similarity among the structure fires examined in the disorientation study?
The firefighters became confused or disoriented in each incident
How many different types of occupancies were represented among the structures in which disorientation occurred?
6
What was the most common construction type among the structures in which disorientation occurred?
Unprotected noncombustible construction
What was the range of sizes for the structures in which disorientation occurred?
19 ft. wide by 33 ft. long to 500 ft. wide by 600 ft. long by 25 ft. high
What percentage of the structures had an enclosed design?
100%
How many buildings were involved in the structural analysis?
17
What percentage of cases experienced prolonged zero visibility conditions (PZVCs)?
100%
How many buildings were unoccupied during the fire?
50%
What caused confusion and injuries in 100% of the cases?
Handline separation
What type of building was thought to be occupied but was vacant?
Single-family dwelling
What did arriving firefighters encounter in 94% of the cases?
Smoke conditions
What caused the loss of company integrity in 100% of the cases?
Flashovers or backdrafts
In what percentage of cases did disorientation incidents continue to occur nationally?
100%
What caused disorientation in 65% of the cases examined?
Depletion of air supply while attempting to evacuate
What percentage of structures lacked a functioning sprinkler system?
88%
What rendered activating sprinkler heads ineffective in one incident?
High winds entering a high-rise hallway
In how many incidents did disorientation occur within the structures at various distances measured from the point of entry?
Four distances: 10 ft., 10—20 ft., 25 ft., and 30—40 ft.
What caused disorientation in all of the incidents examined during the study period?
"A chain or sequence of events"
"Blinding soup" that covered personal protective equipment was created by:
"Water spray from activating sprinkler heads mixed with suspended powder from a dye-processing operation"
What percentage of firefighters experienced disorientation for sustained periods of time?
100%
How many additional disorientation sequences were identified following a review of cases included in the U.S. Fire Administration's 'U.S. Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study'?
27
Study Notes
- The structural analysis involved 17 buildings, including a 20-year-old single-family dwelling, a thrift store built in the 1940s, and a 98-year-old warehouse built in 1905.
- Half of the structures were occupied during the fire, half were unoccupied, and one was vacant, despite being thought to be occupied.
- Disorientation occurred in structures with various sizes, heights, types of occupancy, and construction.
- Structure analysis revealed that 100% of the structures had an enclosed design.
- Arriving firefighters encountered smoke conditions ranging from nothing to heavy densities in 94% of the cases.
- In all cases, firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack to locate and extinguish the fire.
- Prolonged zero visibility conditions (PZVCs) occurred in 100% of the cases.
- Handline separation or entangled handlines were experienced in 100% of the cases, causing confusion and injuries.
- Company integrity was lost in 100% of the cases, often due to the force of flashovers or backdrafts.
- During the course of the study, disorientation incidents continued to occur nationally in enclosed structures and spaces, highlighting the significance of these findings.
Test your knowledge about the U.S. Firefighter Disorientation Study 1979—2001 and the commonalities observed in incidents of disorientation within structures. Explore the causes and contributing factors of firefighter disorientation.
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