Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Sudden Roof Collapse ofa Burning Auto Parts Store Claims the Lives of Two Fire Fighters, Virginia, March 18, 1996

摘要

The case of two fire fighters who were killed when the roof of a burning autoparts store collapsed was examined. The victims were an acting lieutenant and a fire fighter specialist employed by a fire department with about 320 workers. The victims were responding to a report of sparking in a fuse box in an auto parts store. The panel box in the store was improperly grounded, and the sparking was caused by a break in the neutral line on the 208/120 volt three phase service drop to the store. Several fire company units responded. The victims entered the store through the rear, and approximately 9 minutes later radioed that they were in trouble and could not get out. The transmission was not understood by the nearest battalion. The fire accelerated rapidly and the roof collapsed about 1 minute later. Body burns and smoke inhalation were listed as the preliminary causes of death.