Questions and Answers
What was observed about the disorientation fires in the 'U.S. Firefighter Disorientation Study 1979—2001'?
They did not seem to have anything in common initially
What is a common characteristic of the structures in which disorientation occurred?
They varied in terms of occupancy and construction type
What type of construction was most common among the structures where disorientation occurred?
Unprotected noncombustible construction
What was observed about the overall structural size of the structures where disorientation occurred?
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What was the primary cause of firefighter disorientation in the examined cases?
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What percentage of structures lacked a functioning sprinkler system?
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What was the distance range at which disorientation occurred from the point of entry?
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What type of fire rendered activating sprinkler heads ineffective in one case?
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What was the common factor in the disorientation sequences observed?
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What percentage of firefighters depleted their air supply while attempting to evacuate?
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In what percentage of structures was there no sprinkler system or the system failed to operate?
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What caused a film of 'blinding soup' that covered personal protective equipment?
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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.
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