NCJ Number
61303
Journal
FIRE JOURNAL Volume: 72 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 29-42
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
IN JUNE AND JULY OF 1977, 3 MAJOR PRISON FIRES KILLED A TOTAL OF 68 PEOPLE. THESE THREE REPORTS DESCRIBE AND DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR THE FIRES AND HOW THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
Abstract
THE FIVE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF FIRE DEFENSE IN PRISONS ARE IGNITION CONTROL, FUEL CONTROL, OCCUPANT PROTECTION, FIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION, AND TRAINING OF STAFF. THE THREE PRISON FIRES DISCUSSED ARE A JAIL FIRE IN TENNESSEE THAT KILLED 42; A JAIL FIRE IN SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, THAT KILLED 21, AND A FIRE AT THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN DANBURY, CONN., IN WHICH 5 PERSONS DIED. NONE OF THE PRISONS INVOLVED HAD AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS, AND ONLY ONE WAS PROTECTED BY HEAT AND SMOKE DETECTORS. ALL THREE FIRES, AS IS TYPICAL OF FIRES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, WERE APPARENTLY OF INCENDIARY ORIGIN. TWO OF THEM INVOLVED STYRENE-BUTADIENE RUBBER FOAM PADDING ON WALLS AS THE PRIMARY FUEL. IN TWO OF THE FIRES, KEYS TO THE CELL BLOCK AREA WERE LOST DURING THE FIRE, DELAYING EVACUATION OF INMATES AND VISITORS. IN THE THIRD FIRE, THE KEY TO ONE DOOR IN A DORMITORY AREA BROKE IN THE LOCK. A FACTOR IN ALL THREE FIRES WAS LACK OF PRISON STAFF TRAINING IN FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. IN FACT, THERE HAD BEEN LITTLE PLANNING FOR FIRE EMERGENCIES IN ANY OF THE FACILITIES. ALL THREE REPORTS ARE ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF FIRE DAMAGE INCURRED DURING THE FIRES. (MJW)