- 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 the Roosevelt Hotel on April 24, 1979.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBS GCR 80-253, October 1979., 33 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
- breathing apparatus | evacuation | fire departments | fire fatalities | flashover | hotels | room fires | smoke
- Abstract
- This fire incident occurred on the eighth floor of the Rossevelt Hotel, 2101 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. on April 24, 1979. The fire incident was initially detected by a resident on the eighth floor who detectd an odor of smoke and phone the Hotel receptionist. The Hotel receptionist phoned the building engineer in the basement and the fire department. The District of Columbia Fire Department arrived after flashover had occurred in the room of fire origin, room 818, with extensive smoke throughout the eighth floor corridors. The fire was extinguished with one preconnected 1 1/2 inch hose line by the first due engine company, located 1 1/2 blocks away. The fire department evacuated the eighth floor with personnel providing assistance to some residents from their breathing apparatus. The fire damage was limited to the room of origin, and smoke propagation to the eighth floor of this fire resistive constructed building. A total second alarm fire department response was required to assure the evacuation of the residents. One resident, the sole occupant of room 818, was fatally injured, and four other residents received medical treatment at hospitals. Two of the injured residents from other floors were treated for chest pains.