- 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 Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital on April 5, 1979.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBS GCR 80-241, July 31, 1979, 32 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
- beds (furniture) | evacuation | fire departments | fire extinguishers | fire investigations | hospitals | patients
- Abstract
- The fire incident at the Shepard and Enoch Pratt Hospital on April 5, 1979 was detected by a patient at approximately 0721 hours. The fire at detection consisted of the blankets, linen and top surface over three-fourths of the area of a single bed in room 110 of wing 1-E of the Chapman Building. The fire was reported by phone to the facility operator who initiated the "fire call" announcement on the public address system and notified the Baltimore County Fire Department. The approximately twenty ambulatory patients on the wing at the time of the fire were evacuated initially through the smoke barrier door to the stairway and eventually to the second floor of the building. The fire was extinguished by staff and the facility fire brigade, expending fifteen 5-pound dry chemical listed extinguishers with a 5A, 10BC rating. The fire department responded, verified extinguishment and performed salvage and overhaul operations.