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Three Alarm Fire: Apartment Complex under Construction ignites

Three Alarm Fire: Apartment Complex under Construction ignites

A three-story apartment building that was under construction caught fire on October 27, 2011 in the early evening in Carson, California (LA County). The rapidly advancing fire quickly ran through an apartment building under construction and spread to a nearby mobile home park damaging at least 10 homes and forcing evacuations, according to published reports. There were […]

Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire; Final NIST Report Issued

Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire; Final NIST Report Issued

  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released its final report on its study of the June 18, 2007, fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., that trapped and killed nine firefighters, the highest number of firefighter deaths in a single event since 9/11. The final report was strengthened by […]

General Alarm Fire Downtown Lancaster (PA)

General Alarm Fire Downtown Lancaster (PA)

 A general alarm fire in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, destroyed the Zap and Company vintage store and left its owner, Steve Murray, in critical condition in the burn unit at Crozer Chester Medical Center. The fire began shortly before 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 20th and was fought by all available city crews as well as […]

Modular Construction and Operational Impacts

Modular Construction and Operational Impacts

  Modular homes are built using an engineered approach to produce buildings in a more efficient and cost effect method that can deliver lower home prices per square foot. Instead of the traditional stick-built, on-site construction methods, most of the work is pre-fabricated at an off-site climate controlled factory. As each sub-section is finished it […]

Modular Home Construction to Change

Modular Home Construction to Change

Modular Home Construction to Change BOSTON (FOX25 / MyFoxBoston.com) Updated: Saturday, 22 May 2010, 5:05 PM EDT Published : Tuesday, 13 Apr 2010, 10:56 PM EDT Acting weeks after a FOX Undercover investigation raising questions about fire safety and modular homes, the board that sets the Massachusetts building code voted today to change the way […]

Modular Homes: Built to Burn?

Modular Homes: Built to Burn?

Modular Homes: Built to Burn? Mike Beaudet MyFoxBOSTON.com After six people barely escaped from a fast-moving fire that destroyed their modular home, the fire chief who fought that fire wants changes in the way modular homes are built, saying the construction methods used for these pre-fabricated homes can make fires burn much bigger and faster […]

Modular home fire investigation may lead to building code changes

Modular home fire investigation may lead to building code changes

Modular home fire investigation may lead to building code changes Mike Beaudet(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) State officials are considering significant changes to the state building code in the wake of a Fox Undercover investigation into fast-moving fires in modular homes. Our report last week highlighted concerns that large empty areas called “void spaces” between floors […]

Attic Fires in Residential Buildings Report

Attic Fires in Residential Buildings Report

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has recently issued a special report examining the characteristics of Attic Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF, 884 Kb). Developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center, the report is based on 2006 to 2008 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). According to the report:  […]

Lessons Learned from Structure Collapse Close Call in SC

Lessons Learned from Structure Collapse Close Call in SC

Five firefighters were on the second story of a house when the floor tilted, causing three firefighters to fall On June 23, 2010 Engine 109 was dispatched for a single engine response to the area of 398 Huger Street for a report of smoke in the area. Upon arrival at 0949 hours Engine 109 found […]

NIST Study on Charleston Furniture Store Fire Calls for National Safety Improvements

NIST Study on Charleston Furniture Store Fire Calls for National Safety Improvements

Major factors contributing to a rapid spread of fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., on June 18, 2007, included large open spaces with furniture providing high fuel loads, the inward rush of air following the breaking of windows and a lack of sprinklers, according to a draft report released for public comment […]