- Author
-
Bryan, J. L.
|
DiNenno, P. J.
- Title
- Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the University Nursing Home on April 13, 1979. Final Report.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBS GCR 80-191,
January 1980,
36 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
-
death
|
doors
|
egress
|
evacuation
|
fire alarm systems
|
fire departments
|
fire fighters
|
flashover
|
nursing homes
|
nursing staff
|
patients
|
room fires
|
smoke detectors
- Abstract
- At approximately 0833 hours on April 13, 1979, the smoke detector located on the ceiling of the lounge area at the south end of the corridor of the South Section of B wing on the second floor activated in the University Nursing Home, 901 Arcola Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. This detector was activated by a flow of convected heat and dark smoke from the door of patient room 27 fifteen feet to the North. The activation of this smoke detector automatically initiated the activation of the local alarm system. The receptionist upon hearing the alarm notified the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center. The nursing staff were able to close the doors to all the patient rooms in both the South and West Sections of B wing with the exception of the door to the room of fire origin, room 27. The room experienced flashover and the rapidly spreading heat and smoke forced the staff out of the area. The smoke barrier doors closed with the activation of the local alarm system and prevented the spread of smoke extensively to the West Section and in particular to A wing. Approximately 21 patients were removed from rooms in the South Section by the fire department, 7 of these down ladders. An additional 26 patients were evacuated from the West Section of B wing. Seventeen patients were transported to hospitals for medical treatment with eight staff members. Two of these patients subsequently died. The total fire department response involved three alarms. The fire was extinguished within 5 minutes of the arrival of the first engine and within 9 minutes of smoke detector activation.