Trends in Firefighter Fatalities Due to Structural Collapse, 1979-2002.
Trends in Firefighter Fatalities Due to Structural
Collapse, 1979-2002.
(401 K)
Brassell, L. D.; Evans, D. D.
NISTIR 7069; 37 p. November 2003.
Available from:
Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Keywords:
fire fighters; fire fatalities; building collapse; fire
statistics; fire data
Abstract:
[DVD also available by contacting David Stroup at:
david.stroup@nist.gov]
Between the years 1979 and 2002 there were over 180
firefighter fatalities due to structural collapse, not
including those firefighters lost in 2001 in the
collapse of the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
Structural collapse is an insidious problem within the
fire fighting community. It often occurs without warning
and can easily cause multiple fatalities. As part of a
larger research program to help reduce firefighter
injuries and fatalities the U.S. Fire Administration
(USFA) funded the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) to examine records and determine if
there were any trends or patterns that could be detected
in firefighter fatalities due to structural collapse. If
so, this information may be valuable immediately in
training or incident command to increase safety of
firefighters.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899