NFPA Journal - September/October 2017 - 83

in 65 deaths, including one child under age six.
There were two such fires in 2015, accounting
for eight deaths. The increase in the number of
deaths in this category over 2015 was largely due
to the California warehouse fire that killed 36-
this fire alone accounted for 55.4 percent of those
killed in non-home structure fires. Other fires in
non-home structures occurred in two rooming
houses, two adult board-and-care facilities, one
boarding house, one motel, and one vacant office
building. In addition to the fire that killed 36, one
fire killed six, one killed five, three fires killed four
each, and two fires killed three each.
The fire that killed six people broke out at 4:54
a.m. in a dwelling being used as a boarding house.
The fire began in a den, but the cause is listed as
undetermined at this time. Neither smoke alarms
nor an automatic suppression system were present. The fire that killed five had no information
reported other than it was a vacant office building.
Seven of the eight non-home fires broke out
between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., killing
60 of the 65 victims, including one under age six.
Seven of the eight properties were fully operating
and one was closed for the night.
The cause of the fire was determined in two
incidents, both rooming houses. One was deliberately set and the other was caused by improper
disposal of smoking
materials.
The area of origin
was reported as known
in three of the eight
non-home structure
fires. Two broke out in
living rooms or lounges
and one broke out in a
bedroom.
In 2016, two
non-structure fires-the
hot-air balloon and wildland fires mentioned
above-killed 30 people,
or almost 19 percent of
those killed in multiple-death fires.

The role of
suppression
equipment and
smoke detection
Information about automatic smoke detection
equipment was available
for nine of the 11 catastrophic home structure
fires. Six homes were
equipped with smoke
alarms. Five of these
systems did not operate:

automatic suppression equipment in the home.
Fire Origin and Path
The fire started in an attached
garage when a cigarette was
improperly disposed of under
a set of steps that led into the
home and spread into the home
through a utility room.
Contributing Factors and
Victim Locations
The victims were three adults,
all with mobility impairments,
and two children under age six.
Two adults were located on the
first floor-one in a bedroom
and the other in a hallway-and
two children were located in
a second-floor bedroom with
an adult. In addition to the
fatalities, two occupants also
suffered serious smoke inhalation injuries, and two firefighters
received burns.
Michigan
Date, Time of Alarm, Number
of Deaths
January, 9:31 a.m., five deaths
Number of Stories, Occupancy
Type, Construction Type
This was a two-story single-family home of unprotected
wood-frame construction that
covered 960 square feet (89
square meters) and was occupied by five people.
Smoke Alarm and Other
Protection Devices
Smoke alarms had been
installed but were disconnected. There was no automatic
suppression equipment present.
Fire Origin and Path
The fire started in bedding next
to a bed close to a heat source
in a basement bedroom. The
heat source was not reported.
The fire did not spread out of
the basement.
Contributing Factors and
Victim Locations
On arrival firefighters found
heavy smoke throughout
the home with a fire in the
basement. Firefighters were
informed there were five
people in the home so searches
were performed on the first
and second floors and both
proved negative. As the fire was
knocked down in the basement,
a search located the five victims. Two victims were located
in a bathroom and the other
three were in bedrooms. The
victims were four adults and one
juvenile.
Pennsylvania
Date, Time of Alarm, Number
of Deaths
April, 9:33 p.m., five deaths (one
under age six)
Number of Stories, Occupancy
Type, Construction Type
This was a two-and-a-halfstory duplex of unprotected
wood-frame construction. No
information was reported on the
area covered.

Smoke Alarm and Other
Protection Devices
No information was reported.
Fire Origin and Path
No information was reported.
Contributing Factors and
Victim Locations
No information was reported.
Georgia
Date, Time of Alarm, Number
of Deaths
October, 3:34 a.m., five deaths
Number of Stories, Occupancy
Type, Construction Type
This was a two-story,
1,800-square-foot
(167-square-meter) split-level
single-family home of unprotected wood-frame construction.
Smoke Alarm and Other
Protection Devices
There were smoke alarms in the
home but they did not operate as the batteries had been
removed. There was no automatic suppression equipment
present.
Fire Origin and Path
The fire broke out when embers
from a modified fire pit ignited
wood decking on the rear
wooden deck. The fire extended
to the home's siding and entered
the living room through windows and the rear door. The fire
then spread from the living room
up the stairs to the second floor.
Contributing Factors and
Victim Locations
All five adult victims were
located on the second floor
and were asleep when the fire
broke out. Four of the victims
were located in the master bedroom and one was located in a
bathroom.
NON-HOME FIRES
California
Date, Time of Alarm, Number
of Deaths
December, 11:24 p.m., 36 deaths
Number of Stories, Occupancy
Type, Construction Type,
Operating Status
This was a two-story warehouse of unprotected, ordinary
construction that covered
approximately 5,100 square
feet (474 square meters). The
structure was being operated at
the time as an artist collective
divided into living and work
spaces and a performance area.
Detection Systems and Suppression Systems
There was no automatic
detection system present but
firefighters found a smoke alarm
in the debris. It was not known
if it operated. There was no
automatic suppression system
present.
Fire Origin and Path
The cause of the fire has been
listed as undetermined.
Contributing Factors and
Victim Locations
Throughout the building there
were living/work spaces and

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