2002 Catastrophic Multiple-death fires

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

Three other fires killed 5 people each. Two of these incidents were multi-vehicle collisions on interstate highways. The first occurred on a 4-lane highway when dense fog and smoke from a nearby woods fire obscured drivers' vision. Several vehicles collided and caught fire, trapping the victims in their vehicle. The second incident began when a tractor trailer truck collided with a taxicab carrying four passengers and the driver. Seconds later, a second truck collided with the first truck. The taxi became engulfed in fire along with the 2 cabs of the tractor-trailer rigs. The truck drivers escaped the fire.

The third crash involved a van with 11 wildland firefighters onboard on their way to a wildland fire. The driver lost control and the van rolled over, killing 5 firefighters.

One post-crash fire involving multiple vehicles killed 4 people on an interstate highway. No details on this crash were reported.

Six fires killed three each. The first one involved a multi-vehicle crash on an interstate highway. Smoke and fog obscured the highway at the time of the crash. The second involved a van carrying five people that caught fire while being driven. The driver stopped to investigate and found a fire underneath the vehicle. She was only able to rescue 1 child. The final 3 incidents involved wildland firefighting operations. Two involved the crash of aircraft while dropping fire retardant, and the third occurred when a fire truck rolled off a roadway and down a ravine.

Roles of smoke alarms and fire sprinklers

In this year's study, only 8 of the residential fire reports contained information on smoke detection equipment. In 4 of the fires, there was no system present; 3 did have a system and the presence of a system for the last fire was undetermined. Smoke alarms operated in 2 of 3 fires where equipment was present; the operation of the third system wasn't reported. No reason was given for the system that didn't activate. Seventeen people died in these 3 fires. In a fire where smoke alarms operated, the victims chose to retreat to what they thought was a safe haven, which proved deadly. In the other fire where smoke alarms operated, it's unknown if the detection system alerted the occupants. In the 4 properties with no detection equipment, 25 people lost their lives.

These fires demonstrate the severe consequences that can occur in the absence of working smoke alarms. Many of the fatalities in this year's study could have been avoided if properly operating and maintained smoke alarms were present. The most effective and reliable home system is one with hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms, with battery backup, on each level and in each bedroom.

Households should routinely test smoke alarms according to manufacturers' recommendations. Batteries should be replaced yearly. NFPA 72(R), National Fire Alarm Code(R), recommends testing residential smoke alarms monthly.

Smoke alarms are only effective if occupants exit the building when they sound. Children, in particular, should become familiar with the sound of a properly operating smoke alarm. In this year's study, 30 children under age 6 were killed in residential fires. They should be taught to follow a practiced escape plan, which emphasizes two ways out with a designated meeting place. Exit drills in the home are part of many schools' curriculum. Practicing the plan would help families determine if children or others don't readily waken to the sound of a smoke alarm, and that, along with assistance for family members who require it, can be factored into the plan. Practicing sound fire prevention principles could have prevented many of the fires.