- Author
- Bryan, J. L. | Milke, J. A.
- Title
- Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the Maryland Masonic Home on June 21, 1979.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBS GCR 80-243, August 31, 1979, 31 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
- dry chemicals | fire incidence
- Abstract
- This fire incident at the Maryland Masonic Home on June 21, 1979 was detected by a housekeeper upon entering resident room 116 at approximately 0910 hours and observing a light accumulation of smoke at the ceiling. The house keeper turned on a window fan in the unoccupied room to remove the smoke, and left the room closing the door, to report the smoke. The housekeeper reported the smoke to the administrator who immediately ordered the fire department to be notified. The housekeeper and the administrator returend to room 116 to investigate the source of the smoke. Upon opening the closet doors, flames involving the contents evolved. The administrator ordered evacuation of the first floor and the assistant administrator ordered evacuation of the first floor and the assistant administrator extinguished the fire with the application of two, five-pound, listed dry chemical extinguishers, rated 2A, 10BC. Three residents from the adjacent section A of the first floor were assisted in their evacuation by staff. Most of the residents of this facility were already outside the building due to a scheduled field trip, and approximately eight percent of the residents are ambulatory.