Every high-rise fire is governed by a single, unforgiving variable: how fast a firefighter can complete a stairwell ascend in full gear while carrying the tools needed to fight the fire. When elevators fail — whether out of service on arrival, removed by protocol, or lost to heat and smoke during the incident — stairwell […]
Read MoreOne of the most dangerous misconceptions in big-box fire response is the assumption that a new facility, built to modern fire protection codes with sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and passive compartmentalization, can effectively protect itself. The historical record tells a far grimmer story. In August 2016, a fire at the Gap distribution warehouse in Fishkill, […]
Read MoreSupplemental and incidental energy fire hazards in mid-rise, high-rise, and large-footprint structures present a growing risk that most fire departments have not yet fully accounted for. Part 1 of this series established the fundamentals: primary energy hazards — the purpose-built electrical rooms, utility vaults, and switchgear spaces that distribute power through a large building, and […]
Read MoreAfter a devastating theater fire in 1903, it took more than 150 years to mandate water standpipes in buildings — and firefighters cannot afford to wait that long for air standpipes. This municipal liability series from the Firefighter Air Coalition examines the legal case for the Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS), a code-compliant air standpipe […]
Read More