by Michael O'Brian on March 4, 2012
March 4, 1908 Clevland Ohio
The Collinwood School Fire (also known as the Lake View School Fire) of Ash Wednesday, March 4, 1908 was one of the deadliest disasters of its type in the United States during its era. 172 students, two teachers and a rescuer were killed in the disaster in Collinwood, Ohio, a community that has since been absorbed into the city of Cleveland.
While the Lake View School was built with load bearing masonry outer walls, much of the four story building’s floor structure system used wooden joists. It was one wooden joist that caught fire when it was overheated by a steam pipe. The building’s main stair [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on March 11, 2011
What’s “Right” and What’s “Wrong”?
A special guest post by Jon Nisja
Editor’s note: the opinions and views expressed in this article are the those of the author; they do not represent the opinions and/or views of this association or the author’s employer.
I am starting my 29th year in fire code enforcement. I started doing fire prevention inspections in late- 1982. Like many careers, after a while you begin to look back and reflect on things you have seen happen and where you perceive that things are heading.
For the record I wish to categorically state that I strongly believe in fire codes and fire code inspections. I feel it necessary to make this statement as you may be tempted to think otherwise as you read this article. I am certain that a few of my fire code enforcement counterparts will consider some of my comments to be blasphemous.
It is my sincere belief that fire codes have saved thousands and potentially hundreds of thousands of lives over the years. This is evidenced by the reduction in annual fire deaths from 12,000-plus to under 4,000 in the past three decades at the same time that the population has almost doubled in this country.
While we [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on August 17, 2009
One Exit, Hampered Escape of Occupants
Pictures show how devastating this fire was, with nothing but a burned out area littered with shoes and support poles. On Saturday night, August 16, 2009 a wedding was taking place in the tribal town of Al-Jahra outside of Kuwait City, which quickly turned deadly. The fire has claimed the lives of 43 people and nearly 90 have been injured. The cause of this fire is under investigation, although news reports are indicating the ex-wife of the groom may have intentionally started the fire.
The size of the tent could have had up to [click to continue…]
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