- 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 August 19, 1979.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NBS GCR 80-265
November 30, 1979
32 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
-
fire alarm systems
|
fire departments
|
fire investigations
|
patients
|
smoke
|
nursing staff
- Abstract
- This fire incident at the Crownsville Hospital Center on August 19, 1979 was initially detected by two patients in ward 02, adjacent to room 8D at approximately 1530. The patients observed smoke issuing from around the closed door to room 8D. The patients immediately phoned the staff at the nurses station on adjacent ward 01, and then evacuated the ward 02 area without assistance. The nursing staff on ward 01 activated a manual station on the local alarm system, and the system failed to operate as it was undergoing repair. The staff also phoned the facility operator who initiated the facility fire emergency plan and phoned the faility operator who initiated the facility fire emergency plan and phoned the Anne Arundel County Fire Communication Center. The nursing supervisor entered the ward 02 area to confirm the complete evacuation of all patients and was forced to leave the area due to te heavy black smoke. Two facility maintenance personnel attempted to enter the building and the ward through the north exterior door and were prevented by heavy black smoke. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department units included the Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Department responded and personnel with self-contained breathing apparatus extinguished the fire consisting of a polyurethane mattress in room 8D with one 1-1/2 inch hose line. Fire Department personnel performed overhaul, salvage and ventilation operations. The heavy black smoke was removed from this 25 year old, partially sprinklered, fire resistive construction building with fans through both doors and windows.