Information on Basement Fires

[Jonah]

Hi all. This is my first post since discovering your site. Can anybody direct me to some up to date information regarding basement fires that is suitable to present to Watch Managers attending a development course. Anything would be great but I am specifically looking at fire behaviour.

Thanks

Jonah

[lifeboatsteve]

Surface Fires move through fuels on the ground surface. Muirburn fires are an example of this.
Crown Fires occur in forestry where the tops of trees are alight. Such fires are rarely encountered in Britain but are a common problem in North America, Australia and the Far East.
We are concerned therefore solely with surface fires. If uncontrolled, these will normally spread as an elipse shown below and the fire can be divided in three zones according to its spread:

[Jonah]

Anything on basements?

[wee brian]

BDAG have done some work on this recently - check out the DCLG website

[Jonah]

Thanks for that Brian. I have been reading some interesting stuff from the States regarding loss of Firefighters in basement fires, and the unusual fire behaviour in such circumstances. The info you pointed me to aligns itself  pretty much with that material and is very useful. Thanks

[Ashley Wood]

I recall reading in a book many years ago about a fire that took place at smithfields market. I believe this was in a basement on a grand scale. Several fire-fighters were tragically lost in this incident. I think the book was called 'Red watch' and the fire was in the 60's or early 70's

[John Webb]

'Red Watch' was the book written by Gordon Honeycombe following the fatal fire at a Paddington hostel for hotel staff; one of the fatalities was a young fireman. This took place in 1974. It is of little relevence to basement fires as it was the collapse of a weakened building roof and floors which buried several firefighters at 1st floor level.

The Smithfields fire was on the 23rd of January 1958.
Other notable underground fires which may be of relevence:
RAF Neatishead, Norfolk, underground store, 2 firefighters killed (16th Feb 1966)
Oxford Circus Tube station, 1984
Kings Cross Tube fire, 1987

[Jonah]

Yeah I remeber Red Watch. That came out just before I joined. The Smithfield fire gave birth to a lot of our current basic BA procedures if I remember correctly.

[Martin Burford]

Yes I to remember the book...... in fact I have it in front of me as I write..... the fire involved the Clifton Hotel in Worsley Gardens, and involved, initially Red Watch @ Paddington , then A21.One of the firefighters from Paddington transferred to Glos and I had him on my watch,  when I was Sub. in about 75 or 76.  Its a very good read for all who have served as firefighters, as they will relate to the unfolding story which ended so tragically.
Conqueror

[Martin Burford]

The Smithfield fire was a totally different situation from Paddington fire. It was primarily a basement fire and involved large amounts of personnel wearing PROTO sets, as CA was not really in use at that time,  and it did, as a result, introducec such BA procedures as guidelines. the first call to Smithfield, s was at 0215hrs on 23rd January 1958, and initially involved Clerkenwell Fire Station. the fire figting operations lasted over 3 days and involved 1,700 fire fighters.  I can relay much more info if it is needed.
Conqueror
.

[messy]

Jonah

It's a disgrace that you lot at Southwark haven't got access to suitable training resources from within the LFB

Anyway, have you tried http://www.firetactics.com/   ?

Run by Paul Grimwood, there is loads of info there, including about 40 pages of info if you search the site using the word 'basement'.

Good luck mate

[Jonah]

Thanks Messy,
Just got back from my hols and had a quick look at that site. It looks top notch. I will spend ages trawling through that info.

What points you to Southwark???

Jonah