An Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the American Nursing Home and Convalescent Center on May 11, 1978

摘要

The fire incident at the American Nursing Home and Convalescent Center on May 11, 1978 was detected by the nursing staff at approximately 1540 hours. The fire at detection involved a polyurethane mattress on an unoccupied bed in patient room 308, the third floor west wing. The three-story and basement building of fire resistive construction was erected in 1973. At the time of the fire incident, the building had a registered occupancy of 265 patients. The fire was confined to the mattress of the bed in room 308 and essentially extinguished by nursing personnel with a 6 pound, 2A, 40BC rated extinguisher. The fire department was notified and responded, with their services being limited to salvage, overhaul and smoke removal. Nine nursing staff, including the Director of Nursing, evacuated the approximately twenty-five patients in the fire zone to other areas on the third floor in a two phase evacuation prior to fire department arrival. There were no patient or staff injuries in this fire incident, including the extinguishing operations.