2002 Catastrophic Multiple-death fires

NFPA Journal, Sep/Oct 2003 by Badger, Stephen G, McCarthy, Roberts S

"EARLY MORNING FIRE KILLS EIGHT IN FAMILY"

"FAMILY DEVASTATED AS MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN DIE IN BLAZE"

"FATAL EXPLOSION, THREE DEAD, NINE INJURED"

"DEATH TOLL RISING IN EXPLOSION"

"TROOPERS IDENTIFY FIVE KILLED IN FIERY WRECK ON INTERSTATE"

"FIVE DIE IN HOME BLAZE"

"MOBILE HOME FIRE KILLS SEVEN"

These are just a few of the newspaper headlines of tragic multiple-fatality fires of 2002. In 2002, 160 people died in 32 catastrophic multiple-death fires, compared to the previous year when 183 people died in 35 such fires, excluding the events of September 11, 2001.1 Of these 160 deaths, 20 were firefighters.

FOR THIS STUDY, "catastrophic multiple-death fires" are defined as fires that kill five or more people in a residential property, or three or more in a nonresidential or nonstructural property. The area of origin, cause, existence of smoke alarms, and location of victims are provided if known. A table containing additional information, such as the state where the fire occurred, month, time of alarm, number of victims under age 6, construction type, and contributing factors, accompanies this article.

Catastrophic residential fires

In 2002, the largest share of catastrophic multiple-death fires occurred in residential structures. This year's study includes 16 residential fires; 14 in single-family dwellings (3 of these were manufactured homes), 1 in a 3-story, 2-unit dwelling with a store on the first floor, and 1 in an unlicensed rooming house. As a percentage of the total, these occupancies accounted for 59.3 percent of the catastrophic fires in 2002. There were 95 deaths in these fires, down from 125 in 2001, a 24 percent reduction. Thirty children under the age of 6 perished in these fires, compared to 35 in 2001. Eleven of the 16 catastrophic residential fires occurred between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Table 1 breaks down this information.

The deadliest residential catastrophic fire occurred in Louisiana when 8 people (2 under age 6) were killed in an early morning fire in a 2-family dwelling. A portable electric space heater ignited a couch, spreading fire throughout the structure. There were no smoke alarms present and the front apartment where the fire occurred had only 1 exit. Three victims were found in 2 rear bedrooms, 2 were found m the bathroom, 2 were found in the kitchen and 1 was found by the front door. When firefighters arrived, the dwelling was totally involved. At the scene, firefighters were told that people were trapped in the rear section of the house. Arriving companies were used in the rear of the house for rescue attempts that proved unsuccessful. A fire attack was initiated on the exterior fire and fire at the front of the house.

Four other residential fires killed 7 people each. The first fire involved a kitchen stove used to heat a manufactured home. The cause was listed as an electrical failure. The stove ignited combustibles (the type materials wasn't listed) and the fire rapidly spread down the hallway, trapping 7 occupants in a rear bedroom. There were no smoke alarms.

The second fire originated in the first-story den area of a 2-story, single-family structure. Smoke alarms were present and appeared to have operated. Furnace-ductwork and a furnace motor contributed to the spread of intense smoke into a closed second-story bathroom where the victims, a pregnant woman and her 5 children, chose to retreat.

The third fire started in the kitchen of the second-floor apartment of a 3-story residential dwelling with a store on the ground floor when hot cooking oil ignited kitchen cabinets. An occupant attempted to extinguish the fire before fleeing the building and leaving the apartment door open. The fire extended throughout the second-story apartment and through the open door to the third story via an interior stairwell, blocking that egress path. The fire also extended out a rear window, blocking the fire escape as a means of egress. There were no smoke alarms present. All 7 victims were occupants of the third-story apartment where 6 victims were found; the seventh was found on the second story, apparently after falling through burned-out floor boards.

The fourth fire was an incendiary fire in a 3-story row house. Details on that fire are unavailable due to ongoing litigation.

Four other fires claimed the lives of 6 people each. The first fire began in the living room of a 1-story single-family home when an extension cord supplying an air conditioner overheated, igniting the carpet and furniture. There were no smoke alarms and the rear door had been permanently blocked, trapping the occupants.

The second fire began when furniture placed on top of an extension cord caused an overheating condition, which ignited nearby combustibles. All the victims were found in a first-story bedroom. Due to ongoing investigations, details are unavailable on the other 6-fatality fires, 1 of which killed 3 firefighters.

Seven catastrophic residential fires killed 5 people each. Six of these fires were in 1- or 2-family dwellings including a manufactured home. The cause of 4 fires was undetermined or not reported. One of the 3 fires with a known cause began in a first-story bedroom when a short circuit in a wall outlet ignited nearby combustibles. The fire rapidly spread throughout the structure. There were no smoke alarms to warn the victims of the early morning fire. The fire blocked the front exit, and smoke overcame 2 adults and 3 children. The second fire followed an explosion caused by a propane leak in the basement that was ignited by an undetermined source. The blast demolished the home in which the 5 victims were sleeping. Four victims were found in the yard where they were propelled by the blast, and 1 was found in the basement.