NFPA Journal - September/October 2017 - 60

Firewatch
determined that rubbish inside the
office was the first item ignited and
indicated that smoking materials were
the most likely source of ignition.
Firefighters found one smoke alarm
in the apartment, but it was missing a
battery and failed to operate.
The apartment complex was a twostory structure comprised of eight
apartments covering a ground-floor
area of 3,356 square feet (321 square
meters). The building was constructed
with a wood frame and brick walls,
with wood floor and roof framing and
asphalt shingles.
The fire caused an estimated $2,000
in damage to the structure and $3,000
in damage to its contents.

MASSACHUSETTS
Two perish in house fire started by
smoking materials
Firefighters were dispatched to a house
fire at 7:43 a.m. following multiple
phone calls from passers-by.

Shortly after being dispatched, an
engine company reported that a heavy
black column of smoke was visible
some distance from the site, leading incident command to request an
additional engine, in addition to two
engines and a ladder company that
were already en route.
First-arriving crews reported a fully
involved structure fire as they reached
the scene, with occupants reported
to still be inside. Crews prepared to
initiate an interior attack, but incident
command requested that a fourth
engine be dispatched to serve as a rapid
intervention team.
Incident command reported that fire
and thick black smoke was discharging
from the front, rear, and one side of the
house, and that fire was issuing from
the roof in the rear. Crews deployed
four handlines and two rapid-attack
nozzles to attack the fire and made
multiple unsuccessful attempts to
enter the structure for a rescue. As the

roof began to sag and floor joists fell
into the basement, incident command
ordered all units to restrict operations
to exterior attack.
Crews maintained their exterior fire
attack until the fire was extinguished.
Cuts were made in the roof in order
to spray streams onto hot spots in
the attack. When it was determined
safe to enter, crews found a female
occupant on the first floor and a male
in the basement. Incident command
requested the Red Cross, a chaplain,
and a rehab unit to the scene.
Newspaper reports indicated that three
other occupants were alerted by smoke
alarms and were able to escape the fire.
Investigators determined that the
fire originated in the basement when
smoking materials ignited ordinary
combustibles, then spread to furnishings and eventually up a stairway to
living areas on the first floor.
The house was equipped with a
smoke alarm on the first floor. Reports

CORROSION
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Model 7950 ILV
Inline Air Venting Valve

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60 | NFPA JOURNAL S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - September/October 2017