Author Topic: Wigan Wharfside Fire - Timber Framed Building  (Read 4214 times)

Offline Golden

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Wigan Wharfside Fire - Timber Framed Building
« on: June 15, 2015, 09:06:02 AM »
Good interview with the GMFRS CFO regarding fighting the fire in a timber framed block (flats I'm assuming?) using some of their new toys including COBRA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZayjw3vxeA&feature=youtu.be

Offline kurnal

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Re: Wigan Wharfside Fire - Timber Framed Building
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2015, 09:42:37 AM »
What an outstanding interview. Should be essential viewing for all in the construction industry. I hope there will be a thorough legal investigation into the reasons for the spread of fire within voids.

Offline William 29

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Re: Wigan Wharfside Fire - Timber Framed Building
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2015, 10:58:52 AM »
See link below:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/recap-sydenham-house-fire-sefton-9235970

Seems like there have been a few of these recently? Not timber framed this one but fire originated on an external balcony on 15th Penthouse floor. 12 pump fire, destroyed 2 Penthouse flats.

Offline Golden

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Re: Wigan Wharfside Fire - Timber Framed Building
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2015, 06:12:26 PM »
I've seen a few of these and the CFO summed up the issues perfectly - fire travelling unseen through the voids and coming out in unlikely places. They remind me of the old fire travel in lath and plaster buildings and one in particular that stands out for me was the old FA building in Lancaster Gate where a couple of ffs from one of my old stations had to jump out of a first floor window when they became trapped by a rapid escalation of the fire when a section of wall collapsed and the fire suddenly erupted when it found a source of oxygen after being ventilation controlled for some time. The interesting point about the expansion of the floors is interesting; also COBRA is a useful tool in this type of fire but I'd imagine it difficult to control the depth of cut.

A small block in W. London completely collapsed in on itself after the internal supports burnt away - extremely difficult buildings in which to fight a fire.