- Author
-
Bryan, J. L.
|
Milke, J. A.
- Title
- Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the Crownsville Hospital Center on October 12, 1979.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NBS GCR 80-269,
January 31, 1980,
30 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
-
fire investigations
|
odors
|
smoke
- Abstract
- This fire incident in the Meyers Building at the Crownsville Center on October 12, 1979 was initially detected by a resident as an ambiguous abnormal odor. The incident was detected at approximately 1612. The resident perceived the odor in the corridor of the central area of the building, adjacent to the dining area. The resident reported the suspected smoke odor to the staff at the nurses ward on 04. The health assistant and the resident investigated the suspected smoke odor in the dining area and detected flames on top of a desk. The health assistant immediately activated the local alarm system, and extinguished the flames with a 2-1/2 gallon, pressurizd water, rated 2A extinguisher. The staff then ventilated the area through the exterior doors of the dining area. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded and personnel confirmed the extinguishment of the top desk. Fire department personnel performed overhaul, salvage and ventilation operations. The smoke was removed from this 25 year old, partially sprinklered, fire resistive construction building with fans through both doors and windows. There were no resident or staff injuries in this fire incident and the damage was limited to the top of the desk, with smoke damage confined to the dining area during the five minutes, of this fire incident on October 12, 1979. This was the second fire incident in the Meyer's Building on this date with the first fire incident consisting of a mattress fire on ward 01 as previously reported.