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Author
Bryan, J. L. | Milke, J. A.
Title
Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the Washington Adventist Hospital on March 5, 1980.
Coporate
Maryland Univ., College Park
Sponsor
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Report
NBS GCR 80-274, April 30, 1980, 25 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Contract
GRANT-79014
Keywords
fire alarm systems | fire departments | fire extinguishers | smoke | sprinkler systems | records storage | automatic sprinkler systems | sprinkler activation
Abstract
This fire incident at the Washington Adventist Hospital on March 5, 1980 was initially automatically detected by the activation of a 165 degree F. sprinkler head on the wet pipe sprinkler system (7) at approximately 0933 hours, which activated the local alarm system. (8) In accordance with the facility emergency procedures the hospital operator initiated the verbal "Doctor Red" announcement on the public address system and notified the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center on the direct private phone line. Due to the initiation of a disaster simulation exercise at 0930 hours, the local alarm system (8) activation for the fire was perceived to be related to the exercise. However, the hospital security staff and the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department responded to the X-ray area. The X-ray area is located on the first basement floor of the four story and two basement fire resistive building which is approximately seven years old. The fire department was at the hospital due to the disaster simulation exercise, and upon verification of a sprinkler activation radioed for a complete alarm assignment. Staff personnel in the X-ray area detected the fire in the Records Storage Room closet by the water on the floor with the smoke in the area, and utilized one 4A, 10BC rated (10) and listed (15) dry chemical extinguisher. Due to the fire resistive construction of the building, the location of the room of fire origin on the first basement level, and the immediate extinguishment action by the automatic sprinkler system precluded the need for patient evacuation. The fire department performed salvage operations and restored the wet pipe sprinkler system to service.