House Fire Research Articles

Comparing Large-Eddy Simulation and Gaussian Plume Model to Sensor Measurements of an Urban Smoke Plume

The fast prediction of the extent and impact of accidental air pollution releases is important to enable a quick and informed response, especially in cities. Despite this importance, only a small number of case studies are available studying the dispersion of air pollutants from fires in a short distance (O(1 km)) in urban areas. While monitoring pollution levels in Southampton, UK, using low-cost sensors, a fire broke out from an outbuilding containing roughly 3000 reels of highly flammable cine nitrate film and movie equipment, which resulted in high values of PM2.5 being measured by the sensors approximately 1500 m downstream of the fire site. This provided a unique opportunity to evaluate urban air pollution dispersion models using observed data for PM2.5 and the meteorological conditions. Two numerical approaches were used to simulate the plume from the transient fire: a high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics model with large-eddy simulation (LES) embedded in the open-source package OpenFOAM, and a lower-fidelity Gaussian plume model implemented in a commercial software package: the Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling System (ADMS). Both numerical models were able to quantitatively reproduce consistent spatial and temporal profiles of the PM2.5 concentration at approximately 1500 m downstream of the fire site. Considering the unavoidable large uncertainties, a comparison between the sensor measurements and the numerical predictions was carried out, leading to an approximate estimation of the emission rate, temperature, and the start and duration of the fire. The estimation of the fire start time was consistent with the local authority report. The LES data showed that the fire lasted for at least 80 min at an emission rate of 50 g/s of PM2.5. The emission was significantly greater than a ‘normal’ house fire reported in the literature, suggesting the crucial importance of the emission estimation and monitoring of PM2.5 concentration in such incidents. Finally, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the two numerical approaches, aiming to suggest the selection of fast-response numerical models at various compromised levels of accuracy, efficiency and cost.

Rational Design of Amorphous Carbon-Coated Laminar-Structured Wood for Integrating Repeatable Early Fire Detection and High-Temperature Affordable Flexible Pressure Sensing in One System.

High-temperature affordable flexible polymer-based pressure sensors integrated with repeatable early fire warning service are strongly desired for harsh environmental applications, yet their creation remains challenging. This work proposed an approach for preparing such advanced integrated sensors based on silver nanoparticles and an ammonium polyphosphate (APP)-modified laminar-structured bulk wood sponge (APP/Ag@WS). Such integrated sensors demonstrated excellent fire warning performance, including a short response time (minimum of 0.44 s), a long-lasting alarm time (>750 s), and reliable repeatability. Moreover, it achieved high-temperature affordable flexible pressure sensing that exhibited an almost unimpaired working range of 0-7.5 kPa and a higher sensitivity (in the low-pressure range, maximum to 226.03 kPa-1) after fire. The high stability was attributed to reliable structural elasticity, and the wood-derived amorphous carbon is capable of repeatable fire warnings. Finally, a Ag@APP/WS-based wireless fire alarm system that realized reliable house fire accident detection was demonstrated, showing great promise for smart firefighting application.

Gender determination using mandibular intercanine distance and mesiodistal width of right mandibular molar.

Forensic odontology plays an important role in mass disasters, house fires, criminal deaths, identification of missing persons, and child abuse cases. Teeth are the most stable part of the human body and are resistant to thermal, mechanical, and chemical insults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mandibular intercanine distance and mesiodistal width of mandibular first molar in gender determination. The study comprised 100 participants (50 males and 50 females) in the age group of 18-23 years. The mandibular impressions were made, and casts were prepared using dental stone. The intercanine distance and mesiodistal width of the right mandibular first molar were measured using digital vernier callipers. The data obtained was statistically analysed using SPSS software version 23. The mean mandibular intercanine distance was found to be 27.2 ± 2.3 in males and 25.94 ± 1.76 in females (P = 0.03). There was no statistical difference in the mesiodistal width of the mandibular molar between males and females (P = 0.166). However, the mean mesiodistal width of males was higher when compared to females. Males have a greater intercanine width and mesiodistal dimension when compared to females. This result will be helpful in forensic medicine, anthropology, orthodontic treatments, and clinical dentistry.

Pengembangan Kapasitas Kelembagaan Desa Tangguh Bencana (Destana) di Kabupaten Magelang

Development of institutional capacity in disaster management in Magelang Regency through the Disaster Resilient Village (Destana). The number of disasters that occurred in Magelang Regency in 2022 was 624 disaster events consisting of strong winds or tornadoes, landslides, house fires, forest or land fires, floods and volcanoes. The aim of this research is to analyze the Institutional Capacity Development Policy through Disaster Resilient Villages (Destana) in Magelang Regency. The research methodology uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques through observation, interviews and documentation. The research results found that institutional strengthening in the Destana program was achieved by establishing a Village Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (PRB). This forum has been formed since 2015 and is called "Ing Sasmita Response Forum (FORTIS)". Fortis consists of representatives from the community, government, vulnerable groups and representatives from women. Fortis has 30 members with 10 women (33%). Furthermore, strengthening institutions by forming a Volunteer Team (Disaster Preparedness Team) with volunteer team members coming from members of the PRB forum and volunteers. Apart from that, the Magelang Regency government also strengthened institutions by collaborating between institutions and areas closest to the border. However, this collaboration does not yet have a cooperation agreement (MoU) agreed upon by both parties, so it is not yet binding on the parties involved in disaster management

Causes of preventable death among children of female sex worker mothers in low- and middle-income countries: A community knowledge approach investigation.

Female sex workers (FSW) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are disproportionately vulnerable to poor health, social, and economic outcomes. The children of female sex workers (CFSW) experience health risks based on these challenging circumstances and the unique conditions to which they are exposed. Although country child mortality data exist, little is known about the causes of death among CFSW specifically, thereby severely limiting an effective public health response to the needs of this high-risk group of children. The Community Knowledge Approach (CKA) was employed between January and October 2019 to survey a criterion sample of 1280 FSW participants across 24 cities in eight LMIC countries. Participants meeting pre-determined criteria provided detailed reports of deaths among the CFSW within their community of peers. Newborn deaths were gleaned from FSW maternal death reports where the infants also died following birth. Of the 668 child deaths reported, 589 were included in the analysis. Nutritional deficiencies comprised the leading cause of mortality accounting for 20.7% of deaths, followed closely by accidents (20.0%), particularly house fires, overdoses (19.4%), communicable diseases (18.5%), and homicides (9.8%). Other reported causes of death included neonatal conditions, respiratory illnesses, and suicides. The causes of CFSW death in these eight countries are preventable with improved protections. Governments, intergovernmental organisations like the United Nations, nongovernmental stakeholder organisations (e.g. sex worker organisations), and funders can implement targeted policies and programmes to protect CFSW and assist vulnerable FSW who are pregnant and raising children. Further research is needed to identify effective child welfare safeguards for CFSW.

Rola prewencji społecznej w rozwijaniu bezpieczeństwa w instytucjach oświaty na przykładzie lekcji muzealnych Centralnego Muzeum Pożarnictwa w Mysłowicach

The role of social prevention in developing safety in educational institutions on the example of museum lessons of the Central Fire Museum in Myslowice In the presented article, the authors address issues related to the educational activities of the Central Museum of Fire Fighting in Myslowice. The Myslowice museum, which is also an organizational unit of the State Fire Service, has in its offer a number of educational activities for different age groups. Some of them are part of the tasks implemented in the field of activities related to social prevention in the broadest sense. One such lesson is the class titled “Safe Home,” which is conducted using the Mobile Simulator of Single-Family House Fire Hazards, an innovative multimedia tool. With its help it is possible to address issues related to: the dangers of using an open fire, putting out a grease fire, using fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, but also, importantly, the topics of alarming and safe evacuation. The simulator is equipped with two computers controlled by a specially designed application, as well as installations to produce light and sound effects. In this way, it is possible to have a multi-faceted effect on the perception of the viewer, so that the information conveyed is reinforced and sinks deeper into the memory, creating the right behavioral patterns in dangerous situations.

Markov chain analysis to predict natural disasters in the Province of Bangka Belitung Islands as part of preventative measures to prevent environmental damage

Bangka Belitung Islands Province is a province which is famous for its beauty and natural wealth. In addition to its natural beauty and wealth, this province has disaster-prone areas. Based on the results of the 2021 Indonesian Disaster Risk Index (IRBI) measurement, the Bangka Belitung Islands Province has the second highest risk class in Indonesia with a value of 160.98. Therefore, a study is needed that aims to determine the prediction of natural disasters in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province as a preventive measure to prevent environmental damage. The analytical method used in this research is the Markov Chain method. The data used in this study is secondary data obtained from the official website of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) from 2017 to 2022 with several types of disasters, including floods, landslides, tornadoes, forest and land fires, and natural disasters others (missing persons, house fires, drowning persons, etc.). Based on the results of calculations using the Markov Chain concept, it can be concluded that the possibility of flooding in 2023 is 31.46%, landslides are 7.73%, tornadoes are 43.81%, forest and land fires are 14.32%, and other disasters of 2.69% with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.356 and a Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0.17.

The value of a statistical life in reducing fire risk: A choice experiment among dutch citizens

Getting insight in the value of a statistical life (VOSL) attributed by the public to a specific risk such as dying from a house fire is important for policy makers to decide upon investments in risk policies. We conduct a choice experiment among 504 Dutch citizens, including trade-offs between a reduction in the probability of dying from a house fire and tax increases, to derive the VOSL in the Dutch context of fire risk. We estimate a random parameters logit model, allowing for heterogeneity in citizen preferences. We find that after correcting for choice anomalies among respondents our VOSL estimate is around EURO 15–22 million.

Inhalational Injury Secondary to House Fire.

This scenario was developed to educate emergency medicine residents on the diagnosis and management of patients with an inhalational airway injury secondary to a house fire. Burn injuries are a common occurrence encountered by the emergency physician. According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, around 371,000 patients were treated in emergency departments for fire or burn injuries across the United States in 2020. This represents around 1% of emergency department visits related to injury, poisoning, or adverse effects.1 One of the most dangerous and time critical aspects of managing severely burned patients is inhalation injury. Inhalation injury is a relatively vague term which may refer to pulmonary exposure to a wide range of chemicals in various forms. In the context of burn patients, this is most often smoke exposure. It is critical that the emergency medicine provider rapidly identifies the potential for an inhalational injury in order to determine the need for definitive airway management. It is also important that the provider has the necessary skills and systematic approach to manage what is likely to be a difficult airway. Furthermore, providers must then have the knowledge of how to best manage and resuscitate these severely burned patients post-intubation. At the conclusion of the simulation session, learners will be able to: 1) recognize the indications for intubation in a thermal burn/inhalation injury patient; 2) develop a systematic approach to an inhalational injury airway; and 3) recognize indications for transfer to burn center. This session was conducted using high-fidelity simulation, followed by a debriefing session and lecture on the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management of inhalational airway injury secondary to a house fire. Debriefing methods may be left to the discretion of participants, but the authors have utilized advocacy-inquiry techniques. This scenario may also be run as an oral board case. Our residents are provided a survey at the completion of the debriefing session so they may rate different aspects of the simulation, as well as provide qualitative feedback on the scenario. The local institution's simulation center's electronic feedback form is based on the Center of Medical Simulation's Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) Student Version Short Form2 with the inclusion of required qualitative feedback if an element was scored less than a 6 or 7. Nine learners completed a feedback form. This session received all 6 & 7 scores (consistently effective/very good and extremely effective/outstanding, respectively) other than one isolated 5 score. This is a cost-effective method for reviewing inhalational airway injury diagnosis and management. The case may be modified for targeted audiences, expected resources, and learning objectives, such as removal of a bronchoscope availability in settings which are expected to be resource-limited. Some readers may choose to focus on other aspects of burn management instead of airway securement such as cyanide and/or carbon monoxide toxicity. We encourage readers to limit the number of learning objectives because airway algorithms and troubleshooting for this scenario was a rich, stand-alone debriefing. There was not enough time to review in detail all nuanced aspects of the burned patient, including: Lund-Browder versus rule of 9's, modified Brooke versus Parkland formulas, indications for and completion of escharotomies, and/or identification and treatment of cyanide and carbon monoxide toxicity. Medical simulation, burns, airway emergencies, emergency medicine.

Identifying firefighters' situation awareness requirements for fire and non-fire emergencies using a goal-directed task analysis

A firefighter's situation awareness (SA) is considered crucial to making effective tactical decisions and actions at the scene. Despite the importance of the firefighter's SA, there have been limited research efforts to understand what cues and information firefighters use to assess ongoing situations and predict future conditions. In addition to fire events, contemporary firefighters respond to an increasing volume of non-fire incidents. Thus, this study aims to identify firefighters' SA during three fire incidents (single house fire, vehicle fire, and passenger aircraft fire) and three non-fire incidents (medical emergency, hazardous materials, and urban search and rescue). A goal-directed task analysis was conducted via focus group discussions with eight career firefighters. Findings indicate that firefighters build their SA by processing various cues from hazards (e.g., fire, ignition source), humans (e.g., occupants, bystanders, drivers, passengers), spatial elements (e.g., building structure, location of hazards), and surrounding conditions (e.g., traffic, weather). Our findings provide insights into SA measurement, SA-oriented work processes, training for SA, and designing technologies to support firefighters' SA during all-hazard responses.

Autonomus Call System Berbasis ESP32 Untuk Peringatan Dini Kebakaran Rumah

Fires can occur anywhere, both in buildings and in residential areas. Fires often occur due to human negligence caused by many factors, such as large or small LPG cylinder leaks, the danger of disposing of cigarette butts, and electrical short circuits, causing fire and spreading to other parts. The problem that often arises so far is that the information received about the location of the fire is often wrong, so the fire department arrives late to the actual fire location, therefore a tool is needed to provide an early warning system for house fires. Based on the above problems, we propose a tool that can make calls automatically to provide accurate fire information such as address coordinates to firefighters and early warning of gas leaks to homeowners. This tool uses the ESP32 as a microcontroller, a fire sensor, and MQ2 as the main sensor, Thiger.IO monitors data sensors, telegram messages, email notifications, and phone calls using SIM 800L. The results of this tool can detect gas leaks when gas levels greater than 400 PPM, and a fire occurs with a maximum fire detection distance of 250 cm. Telegram notifications sent in real-time to homeowners, phone calls, and emails of fire address information to the firefighter worked great. The average response time for telephone calls is 6.59 seconds, and a success percentage of 100% obtained in making telephone calls with stable signal conditions.

PENYULUHAN K3 DI RUMAH TANGGA PADA PESERTA SENAM SEHAT KELURAHAN MENTANGOR KECAMATAN KULIM

The risk of hazards in the household is quite a lot, such as electrical cables containing potential hazards, if there are parts that are peeled off, then the cable is at risk of causing a short circuit which may result in a fatal fire. In this case, the role of residents is important to know and understand the existence of hazards because they are faced with these hazards every day, as well as gas cylinder/hose leaks, cleanliness of living rooms, kitchens, beds and bathrooms, storage and use of hazardous chemicals or perhaps pet feces, etc. All of these become important to understand about Occupational Safety and Health (OHS). All of these make it important to understand Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) in a domestic setting. There are many examples that we can see from various television news or other media. Most house fires are caused by work accidents either by household assistants or family members who live in the house. Damage to electrical/electronic equipment or leakage of gas cylinders/hoses is also caused by ignorance or neglect of factors that are at risk of causing accidents in the workplace and will ultimately threaten the safety of the residents of the house. Therefore, we provide community service information about household occupational health safety to participants in healthy gymnastics organized every Sunday morning by residents in RT 02 RW 18 Mentangor housing, Kulim, Pekanbaru in the hope that it can increase knowledge in homeowners and households.

Resilience Compendium: Strategies to Reduce Communities’ Risk to Disasters

Introduction:The Victorian Compendium of Community-Based Resilience Building Case Studies supports place-based disaster risk reduction by promoting strategies to reduce communities’ risk before, during, and after disasters or emergencies and by strengthening community resilience through shared learning. It grew from Community Resilience Forums at Monash University, where community resilience practitioners presented their programs, explained their evolution, how they solved challenges, and shared unforeseen learnings. Forum attendees expressed an urgency for a sharing platform to help build community expertise, save precious community resources, avoid program duplication to prevent communities from reinventing the wheel. These now represent key tenets of the Compendium.Method:International exemplars inform the structure of the Compendium and a thematic analysis identified critical success factors for underpinning disaster risk reduction and resilience strategies.Results:As an Australian first, the Compendium gathered 38 programs between 2012 and 2022, which were addressed before (29), during (7), and after (17) events. Programs addressed all hazards (23), bushfires (11), heat (2), fire safety (1), and house fires (1). Twenty programs used a framework. Thirty received funding, with nine receiving less than $20,000 and five receiving more than $100,000. Twenty-nine addressed a whole-of-community perspective.Critical success factors included: strong governance and Board support; trust, partnerships, commitment, adaptability, stamina, and community leadership; paid facilitator, local government support, external funding; and celebrating often-neglected success.Conclusion:Offering an innovative contribution to resilience practice and research, the Compendium supports and enables locally-led and owned place-based disaster risk reduction efforts. It supports the Sendai Framework and augments principles in the National Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by connecting people from diverse sectors to deliver distinct, adaptable actions to help reduce communities’ risk before, during, and after disasters or emergencies. The Compendium enables communities to preserve valuable community resources offering opportunities to extend to a national or international Compendium.

DEMATEL, AISM, and MICMAC-Based Research on Causative Factors of Self-Build Housing Fire Accidents in Rural Areas of China

In recent years, the fire safety problems in self-build housing in China’s vast rural areas have become increasingly prominent. We analyzed the interaction of causative factors and logical structure of self-build housing fire accidents (SBHFAs) to find their key causes and reduce their occurrence. Using the 24Model, 30 SBHFA investigation reports were analyzed, and 44 SBHFA causative factors and 97 causal relationship codes were obtained. The causality and centrality degree of causative factors were analyzed using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to obtain the causal attribute and importance of causative factors. An adversarial hierarchical topology model of causative factors was conducted using the adversarial interpretive structural modeling (AISM) method, and the causal hierarchical relationships were obtained. Using the Matrices Impacts Croises-Multiplication Appliance Classement (MICMAC) analysis, the causative factors’ dependency degree and driving force were calculated. Combining and comparing the results of DEMATEL, AISM, and MICMAC analyses, we found that the adversarial hierarchical topology model of causative factors was reasonable, and key direct causative factors, key transitional causative factors, and key root causative factors were mined. Controlling the key causative factors could effectively reduce the occurrence of SBHFAs and guide the fire safety management of self-build housings in rural areas of China.

Collect for a Family Friend Killed in a Sabbath Morning House Fire

Collect for a Family Friend Killed in a Sabbath Morning House Fire

Cognitive Modeling of Information Support for Game-Based Automated Learning

Purpose of research. The main goal of this work is to increase the efficiency of automated game learning based on cognitive modeling. Based on the methodology of system analysis and cognitive modeling of weakly structured situations, the structure of a gaming automated training complex is proposed, which can be used in training personnel in various subject areas. In our case, staff training was simulated in stereotypical and non-stereotypical situations.Methods. This work is based on the general provisions of systems theory and system analysis, mathematical graph theory (which is based on cognitive modeling). The main tool of cognitive modeling was the construction of fuzzy cognitive maps of Silov. A modification of the algorithm for calculating the main system indicators of a fuzzy cognitive map was proposed. Game modeling, based on business games, was used for automated learning. The concept of an operational game was introduced, then modeling of the development of some unfavorable situation was carried out using fuzzy cognitive maps..Results. he main result of this work is the method of cognitive modeling of information support for game-based automated learning. Based on the developed methodology, a game simulation simulation of the operational game "House Fire" was carried out, which was based on the construction of a fuzzy cognitive map, for which the main quantitative system indicators of mutual influence, consonance and dissonance were calculated.Conclusion: the developed methodology allows for game modeling of unfavorable (including emergency) situations, which in the future will ensure adequate behavior of students in real situations.

Monsoon flood risks in urban areas of Pakistan: A way forward for risk reduction and adaptation planning

Climate change poses a significant threat to sustainable urban development. Heavy rainfall has led to severe urban flooding, disrupting human life and causing widespread damage. This study aims to examine the impacts, preparedness, and adaptation strategies related to monsoon flooding in Lahore, Pakistan's second-most populous metropolitan area. Using Yamane's sampling method, a total of 370 samples were surveyed and analyzed using descriptive analysis and chi-square tests. The results indicate that houses and parks were the most commonly damaged properties, with common impacts including roof collapse, house fires, seepage, and wall dampness. These impacts not only caused physical damage but also disrupted basic amenities and damaged roads, resulting in significant socioeconomic costs. Despite these challenges, residents adopted a variety of adaptation strategies such as the use of temporary tarps, moving household appliances to upper floors, and shifting to tiled floors and wall paneling to mitigate damage. However, the study highlights the need for further measures to reduce flood risks and promote adaptation planning in order to effectively address the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and urban flooding.

Analyses of physical factors that contribute to the blood carboxyhemoglobin saturation in autopsy cases of house fire fatalities

The authors analyzed data from forensic autopsies of 75 patients who died as a result of house fires to clarify the physical factors that affect blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturation. Blood COHb saturation levels were significantly lower in patients who survived in the hospital. No significant differences were found in the blood COHb saturation levels between patients who died immediately at the scene and those who were pronounced dead at the receiving hospital without heartbeat being restored. The COHb saturation levels were significantly different among the groups of patients classified by the amount of soot. Although age, coronary artery stenosis, and blood alcohol concentration did not significantly affect blood COHb saturation, on comparing patients who died in the same fire, lower COHb saturation was observed in two patients, one with severe coronary artery stenosis and other with severe alcohol intoxication. To accurately interpret blood COHb saturation during forensic autopsy, the heartbeat status (present or absent) at the time of the rescue and the amount of soot in the trachea must be determined. Low levels of COHb saturation may be observed in fatalities with severe coronary atherosclerosis or severe alcohol intoxication.

Blood pressure responses are dependent on call type and related to hypertension status in firefighters

Background Impaired cardiovascular health is a concern for firefighters, with over 50% of line-of-duty deaths having cardiac causes. Many firefighters have hypertension and <25% have their blood pressure (BP) controlled. The alarm response could be an unidentified cardiac risk, but interestingly, the BP response to different calls and on-the-job activity is unknown. Purpose We aimed to measure the physiological stress resulting from different call types (fire, medical) and job activity (riding apparatus, pre-alert alarms) through ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring in a population of firefighters. Materials and methods During 111 12-h work shifts firefighters wore an ABP monitor. BP was measured at 30-min intervals and manual measurements were prompted when the pager went off or whenever they felt stress. Results Firefighters were hypertensive (124.3 ± 9.9/78.1 ± 6.7 mmHg), overweight (30.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2), middle-aged (40.5 ± 12.6 years) and experienced (17.3 ± 11.7 years). We calculated an average 11% increase in systolic and 10.5% increase in diastolic BP with alarm. Systolic BP (141.9 ± 13.2 mmHg) and diastolic BP (84.9 ± 11.1 mmHg) and the BP surges were higher while firefighters were responding to medical calls compared to fire calls. Between BP groups we found that medical call systolic BP (p = .001, d = 1.2), diastolic BP (p = .017, d = 0.87), and fire call systolic BP (p = .03, d = 0.51) levels were higher in the hypertensive firefighters. Conclusion This is the first report of BP surge responses to alarms and to occupational activities in firefighters, and medical calls elicited the largest overall responses.

Study on the Influence of Nozzle Setting Density of Water Mist System on the Fire Extinguishing Performance of Residential Fires

There are no standards for water mist systems in Taiwan. When installing a water mist system, the instructions in the installation manual are relied upon. However, this study uses simulation software (Fire Dynamics Simulator, FDS) to explore the impact of sprinkler head density on house fires. When considering the impact of fire extinguishing performance, it was found that if the maximum installation distance between nozzles is set according to the user manual based on economic benefits, the fire extinguishing effect will be less than ideal. Therefore, this study conducted simulations by increasing the nozzle density to analyze and discuss the nozzle setting density