- Author
-
Bryan, J. L.
|
Milke, J. A.
|
DiNenno, P. J.
- Title
- Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at Thurston Hall on April 19, 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 80-193,
July 31, 1979,
41 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
-
doors
|
dormitories
|
evacuation
|
fire departments
|
fire fatalities
|
fire fighters
|
flashover
|
ladders
|
room fires
|
smoke
|
students
|
occupants
- Abstract
- This fire incident occurred on the fifth floor of Mabel Nelson Thurston Hall, George Washington University, 1900 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., on April 19, 1979. The fire incident was initially detected by a student who investigated an abnormal noise followed by smoke issuing from the corridor into the room 501, occupied by the student. The student opened the room door and observed that the corridor was involved in fire. Other students were awakened by abnormal noises or the smell of smoke. Many students attempted to evacuate through the corridor, while others waited for rescue in their rooms. Two students jumped and incurred serious injuries. The District of Columbia Fire Department arrived after alashover had occurred in the corridor of the fifth floor. Upon arrival, fire department personnel found students calling for help from their dormitory room windows. Aerial ladders were raised by the truck companies on the North and East sides of the building, and students evacuated from the building. The fire in the fifth floor, north and west corridor and room 533 was extinguished with one 1-1/2 inch hose line off the standpipe system in the Northwest stairway. Smoke permeated the top half of the building, floors five through none, which hindered prompt evacuation of the building. Eight hundred ninety-eight students and University staff residing in the building were evacuated. Approximately 37 occupants required emergency medical treatment; 15 occupants were admitted to hospitals.