The “Ghost Ship”
The death toll in this weekend’s fire at an Oakland, CA, warehouse being used as an entertainment venue is at 33 and may rise higher still.
Ten of the 20 deadliest fires in US history have occurred in similar venues.
In the aftermath it’s commonplace to dwell on the poorly maintained building as the chief cause of the disaster but that’s not necessarily the case, proven, oddly enough, by firefighters, themselves.
Yes, firefighters have training, a self-contained breathing system and some protective clothing in their favor but they routinely obviate that advantage and much more besides when they enter into fiery environments and operate just on the cusp of the survivable.
Their relative risk can be about the same as unprotected building occupants caught in the opening stages of a deadly fire.
Their advantage isn’t so much in their equipment but rather in their mindset which is hyper-vigilant and aware, the mental state required for survival.
A fancy name for that is “situational awareness” a phrase often used to describe a heightened conscious state useful in dangerous settings.
Unfortunately, an entertainment venue is hardly likely to be a place where occupants will be hyper-vigilant regarding personal safety.
We’ve Been Here Before: The Station Night Club Fire
In 2003, a devastating fire occurred at a club in West Warwick, RI, which resulted in the deaths of 100 people and severe injuries to scores more.
The fire was caused by pyrotechnics igniting polyurethane foam on the stage.
Nine seconds after the pyrotechnics were lit the foam was afire and just 90 seconds later the main exit was blocked by piled bodies; escape without serious injury or death was all but impossible.
One person present that night, a television cameraman, graphically demonstrated the value of awareness and instant action.
Within nine seconds of the foam being ignited he made the decision to evacuate.
Nineteen seconds after his successful exit and just one minute and thirty seconds after ignition, smoke was already down to the floor.
The sad truth is that for those behind him, each second waited and each inch farther from the exit, meant the chance of living plummeted to near zero.
Reality
Every competent firefighter, when entering a building fire, takes a mental snapshot of visible building openings that might be potential routes of escape.
Once inside they are tracking the last exit they passed and the next likely one ahead.
They are also carefully monitoring the conditions around them; sounds, heat, flashes of light and fire.
They know when the tide is turning against them and when to make the move to safety.
In your own way, so should you.
People, especially the young, are going to find themselves in dubious environments where danger lurks.
Enter if you must but follow a couple of life-saving rules:
- On your way in, notice the ways to get out.
- Once in, find the exits, make sure they are usable, and hang near one.
- If trouble arises, make your move; Â 10 seconds is the difference between life and death.
- Remember: going for the main entrance/exit could be a big mistake as it will be very crowded.
Safety First
Sources: Â NFPA, NIST