- Author
- Bryan, J. L. | Milke, J. A.
- Title
- Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBS GCR 80-272, January 31, 1980, 32 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
- smoke | fire alarm systems | fire departments | fire investigations | evacuation | patients | electrical power
- Abstract
- This fire incident was detected simultaneously by staff personnel on the basement level and first floor of A-3 wing, the "A" building at approximately 2108 on the evening of December 10, 1979. The staff member in the basement detected a smoke odor, while the staff member on the first floor not only detected a smoke odor, but also visibly observed light smoke in the corridor adjacent to room 123. One staff member immediately phoned the operator, while the other staff member activated the local alarm system. (9) The twenty-two ambulatory patients in the A-3 wing were evacuated to the A-1 wing immediately, and the smoke was not a factor in inhibiting the evacuation. The Baltimore County Fire Department was notified by the auxiliary system arrangement (12) and responded. The electrical power to the "A" building was discontinued at approximately 2110, while staff and fire department personnel investigated to find the smoke source. The source of the smoke was located in an overheated fan coil unit located above the ceiling of the first floor corridor of A-3 wing, and above the ceiling of room 123. There was no appreciable damage and no injuries in this fire incident in the 80 year old fire resistive building.