Tag Archives: Smoke

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Multistory Hotels Face Increased Fire Risk From "Elevator Lift Shafts" That Provide "Ready Pathway For Toxic Smoke And Fire" To Travel Upwards

“…lift shafts provide a ready pathway for smoke and fire to travel upwards in multi-storey buildings.  Buoyant fire gases in a lift shaft can quickly fill upper floors, and there is much evidence to suggest that the majority of fatalities in such fires occur on higher floors significantly removed from the seat of the fire…”

Fires involving lift shafts pose particular risk in hotels where there can be large numbers of people, some of whom may be elderly or infirm, and in an unfamiliar place.  In 2007 alone, it’s estimated that one in 12 hotels and motels in the USA suffered a structural fire. 

That was certainly true in 1980 MGM Grand Hotel fire in Las Vegas which claimed 84 lives, the worst disaster in Nevada history.  In that incident, while the fire primarily only damaged the second floor, most of the deaths occurred on the upper floors, with elevator shafts and stairwells allowing toxic smoke to spread upwards.

It’s hard to overestimate the impact this fire had on both our understanding of vertical fire movement and on the building regulations to mitigate against fire risk.  The fire in a garment factory in a tall building claimed 146 lives, and directly led to new laws on building access and egress, fire proofing requirements, the availability of fire extinguishers, the installation of alarm systems and automatic sprinklers.

Under current fire safety legislation it is the responsibility of the person(s) having responsibility for the building to provide a fire safety risk assessment that includes an emergency evacuation plan for all people likely to be in the premises, including disabled people, and how that plan will be implemented. Such an evacuation plan should not rely upon the intervention of the Fire and Rescue Service to make it work.

For more:  http://www.glassonweb.com/news/index/16822/

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Filed under Fire, Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Hotel Roof Fire Results In "Severe Smoke Damage"; Costs Estimated At $20,000

“…(there was a) significant amount of smoke throughout the building…and damage in the lobby…estimated preliminary damage costs to be $20,000, according to the news release…”

A roof fire caused severe smoke damage at the Quality Inn in north Columbia on Tuesday afternoon. Kasey Ryan, a general manager and director of sales at the Quality Inn, said she thought the fire started between noon and 1 p.m.

“We noticed smoke in the lobby,” Ryan said. Guests lingering after a lunch meeting in the motel were asked to evacuate. Columbia Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene shortly after. Firefighters requested a second alarm roughly 20 minutes after their initial arrival, according to a news release. A dozen firefighters, five fire trucks, one ambulance and four police vehicles were present about 2:30 p.m.

Everyone safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.  “We’re just going to go through the process of cleaning up,” Ryan said. Ryan said she hopes the motel will be open in 24 hours, but a reopening date has not been set.

For more:  http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/08/21/fire-department-responds-fire-quality-inn/

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Wisconsin Restaurant Kitchen Fire Spreads To Second Floor Storage Area; Significant Water And Smoke Damage

“…some employees at closing time discovered a fire in the kitchen and attempted to put it out with extinguishers…the fire extended into the second floor that was mostly used for storage and contained a lot of combustibles…there was water damage to the basement and smoke and fire damage throughout the two-story structure….”

Firefighters arrived at Carvetti’s, 642 W. Main St. at 1 a.m., “they encountered heavy smoke and a heavy fire load on the second floor. The fire was pretty heavily involved,” said Capt. Mark Moller-Gunderson. The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation.

Lake Geneva Police Department Detective Ed Gritzner said the task force continues to investigate the fire, but “we don’t think any criminal activity is involved. We just need to talk to a few more employees to see what they have to say since the kitchen appears to be where the fire originated,” he said.

In fighting the blaze, fire crews made an aggressive interior attack while the ladder company opened the roof. Other firefighters chased down fire pockets before fire crews conducted overhaul and salvage work.

“They had the bulk of the fire knocked down in 15 to 20 minutes and prevented more serious damage from the fire that had a pretty good start,” Moller-Gunderson said.

For more:  http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/jun/06/fire-damages-lake-geneva-eatery/

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Illinois Hotel Fire Starts In "Maid's Closet" And Forces Evacuation

“…The blaze was confined to the maid’s closet and elevator area and did not spread to other floors of the hotel…the venting system for the building was used to clear smoke from the building…”

Fire in a fourth floor maid’s closet at Holiday Inn Express hotel near Mannheim and Higgins roads caused an evacuation and fire department response Wednesday. Rosemont Public Safety spokesman Lt. Keith Kania said a hotel sprinkler system activated but additional firefighters were needed to knock the fire down.

Firefighters were dispatched at 11:10 a.m. Kania said the fire was knocked down by about 11:30 a.m. No injuries were reported. Kania did not have an estimate of the amount of damage caused by the blaze.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing smoke billow from both the front and rear of the hotel.

For more:  http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_1fb6b33c-a5c0-11e1-8ed9-0019bb30f31a.html

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Hospitality Industry Property Risks: New York Hotel Electrical Panel Overheats Causing Black Smoke And Evacuation Of Guests

“..(the hotel)… will remain closed until an electrical inspection is completed at the hotel…the main electrical panel became too hot, causing black smoke but no fire…”

The Quality Inn, 10 W. Orvis St., and Dar’s Place, which is inside the hotel, were closed after firefighters responded early Monday to a report of smoke originating in the hotel’s electrical room. All power at the hotel was still off as of 5 p.m. Monday, although a generator was providing some lighting.

“It doesn’t look like we’re going to open tonight,” Mr. Stevens said at that time. “There’s still a lot of work to do. What they’re trying to do right now is get the heat turned on in the building.”

When asked if he expected the hotel to open up today, Mr. Stevens replied, “That will depend on what they do tomorrow. There’s a lot of work left to do to get the building up and running.”

Approximately 40 rooms had guests, all of whom were evacuated safely to Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ, 39 W. Orvis St. There, guests were served a breakfast courtesy of the church.

For more:  http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120221/NEWS07/702219855

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