National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 309

Spreading the fire safety message... to college students

We all know the importance of fire prevention; it's something fire safety educators and fire officials think about daily. But what about today's youth? What are their thoughts on fire safety? Are we doing enough to raise awareness of the dangers, and have we provided them with enough tools and resources to get involved and share information with their friends? With these questions in mind, The Center for Campus Fire Safety (The Center) has announced, "Campus Fire Safety for Students," a collaborative campaign that actively works to raise fire and life safety awareness among college students nationwide. The initiative is...

Homebuilder arguments to new sprinkler bill countered by New Jersey fire service

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Today in fire history: a violent explosion ripped through the basement of the World Trade Center killing six people and injuring over 1,000 people during evacuation

On Friday, February 26, 1993, a violent explosion ripped through the sub-basement levels of New York's World Trade Center killing six people. The explosion and subsequent fire caused extensive structural damage in several basement levels, caused damage that interfered with the operation of the fire protection and other emergency systems, and resulted in the evacuation of approximately 100,000 occupants of the World Trade Center complex. Over 1,000 people were injured during the evacuation. The World Trade Center complex includes seven high-rise buildings, a shopping mall and several levels of underground parking. The two largest high-rise buildings are 110 stories tall...

Q&A with Elaine Bush covers the scope of wildfire landscaping

In the winter issue of the Firewise How-to Newsletter, Elaine Bush, MSU Extension educator for Manistee County, Mich., discusses how a bulletin created by the MSU Extension provides information to residents looking for ways to reduce the risk of plants igniting during a wildfire. She explains that using fire-resistant plants can help reduce the chances of a homes igniting during a wildfire, though reminds us that all plants will burn if they become dry enough and are exposed to enough heat. Along with the bulletin, Michigan Firewise staff member Bran Neumann developed a document that offers sample zoning language that...

Jim Pauley thanks Firewise communities for their continuous efforts and dedication to Wildfire safety.

Featured in this month's Firewise How-to Newsletter, Jim Pauley recognizes the nearly 1100 active Firewise communities in the US for their ongoing efforts in reducing wildfire risk. As of this year, there are over 1.3 million Wildland Urban Interface residents living in Firewise communities. Mitigation projects have been very successful in protecting homes and properties from the damaging risk of Wildfire thanks to the actions of these people. Their commitment and dedication are what drives and inspire even more people to participate in Wildfire prevention programs. For those who will be renewing their end of the year renewal application, check...

Social dynamics prove to be the most effective in reducing wildfire risk

In this feature story in the How-to Newsletter, it is shown that the most effective way of reducing wildfire risk is by spreading information, knowledge, and know-how across fire-prone communities. Those people who maintain their own defensible space are more likely to have neighbors who also maintain their defensible space. In addition to motivating those within a community, data also suggests that where individuals get wildfire-related information matters. Findings show that higher levels of mitigation are linked to residents talking about wildfire with their neighbors. While programs and policies can be effective in getting homeowners to mitigate risk, it seems...

Carbon monoxide diffusion through porous walls: A critical review of literature and incidents

It has been reported recently that in laboratory conditions carbon monoxide (CO) diffuses through gypsum board at a surprisingly high rate (Hampson, et al., 2013). Because CO is poisonous and a by-product of systems typically present in residential housing, like boilers, generators, furnaces and automobile engines, this finding could have a significant impact on the life safety standards published by NFPA. This report is the result of a literature review project on CO diffusion through walls. This project report includes detailed analysis of the data from the recent experiments with a mass transfer model and confirms the validity of the...

Fire chief: Sprinklers would have prevented horrific fire that claimed a life

People leaped from second- and third-story windows. Others cried for help. Someone had no choice but to toss a baby from a window.   These were the realities of a recent residential fire in Palmer, Massachusetts. Not everyone escaped with their

Treat frozen pipes and ice dams with fire safety in mind

Frigid temperatures across much of the U.S. are causing all sorts of grief for home and business owners, with frozen pipes and ice dams topping the list. Unfortunately, some people have used blow torches and other open flame devices to treat them. Clearly, no one should ever use any type of open flame to thaw pipes or melt ice dams – it presents serious risks to people and property. As obvious as this may seem, it’s been happening. Recent news stories in The Boston Globe and The Buffalo News have highlighted incidents in which property was significantly damaged and/or firefighters...

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA 13 and NFPA 111

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 111, Standard on Stored Electrical Energy Emergency and Standby Power Systems, are being published for public review and comment: NFPA 13, Proposed TIA No. 1165, referencing 17.2.3.5.6, A.17.2.3.5, and A.17.3.3.5, of the proposed 2016 edition NFPA 111, Proposed TIA No. 1175, referencing Table 4.2.2., of the proposed 2016 edition Anyone may submit a comment on these proposed TIAs by the April 17, 2015 closing date. Along with your comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary,...