NFPA Journal - Fall 2021 - 79

Neighbors of the victim and police
officers informed investigators that the
victim had a history of leaving food on
the stove.
A smoke detector found inside the
apartment lacked batteries and was
inoperable.
The fire caused $5,000 in damage
to the building, valued at $2.2 million,
and $2,000 in damage to contents,
valued at $400,000.
No additional details were available
on the property.
OHIO
Arson blamed for fatal apartment
building fire
A deliberately set fire inside an elevator
car at a large apartment complex
resulted in the death of one resident
and smoke-inhalation injuries to five
additional residents.
The fire broke out on the third floor
of a four-story, 90-unit apartment
building. Firefighters were dispatched
to the scene at 4:40 p.m. by an alarm
monitoring company after the fire
was detected by automatic detection
equipment.
Arriving crews reported heavy smoke
showing from the roof and two sides
of the building, with evacuation in
progress. Several residents on the third
floor were at open windows or balconies,
unable to escape due to heat and
smoke conditions.
Firefighters used ground ladders and
a ladder truck to rescue the residents
from the third floor, while two firefighters
entered the building to assess
conditions inside.
Interior crews reported heavy fire on
the third floor in a building elevator,
with high heat and heavy smoke in the
hallway. Crews stretched a hose from
a standpipe on the second floor and
extinguished the fire.
After knocking the fire down, firefighters
found a male victim in the
hallway and received assistance in
transporting him outside, where crews
began resuscitation efforts until an
ambulance arrived to transport him
to the hospital. The victim succumbed
to his injuries some time later. Five
residents suffering smoke inhalation
injuries also required transport to a
local hospital.
Following extinguishment and a
check for fire extension, crews set up
ventilation to clear the building of
smoke and gases.
Investigators indicated that the fire
began when garbage was ignited in a
building elevator. According to news
reports, the elevator doors closed
before bystanders could put the fire
out and the elevator stopped at the
third floor, allowing the fire to spread
into the structure. News reports also
indicated that authorities were offering
a monetary award for information leading
to the arrest and conviction of the
fire setter.
The complex was equipped with
smoke detectors in all common areas.
The building was constructed with
block walls, a concrete floor, and steel
roof frame, and a concrete roof deck
covered with tar. It occupied a ground
floor area of 30,000 square feet (2,787
square meters).
No information was available on
dollar losses from the fire.
Assembly
NORTH CAROLINA
Sprinkler contains fire in restaurant
kitchen
An early morning fire in the hood of a
restaurant's ventilation system was controlled
by the facility's sprinkler system
until firefighters arrived to complete
extinguishment.
Firefighters were dispatched at
1:30 a.m. by a restaurant employee.
Although the restaurant was closed for
the night, two employees were still at
work when the fire broke out, according
to news sources.
Arriving firefighters reported that
heavy black smoke was showing from
the roof. Crews deployed an attack line
and entered the structure, part of a
mall complex, where they located the
fire in the ventilation system's hood in
the kitchen area.
Investigators indicated that one
sprinkler in the restaurant's wet-pipe
sprinkler system activated and prevented
the fire from extending beyond
the hood's ventilation system.
According to news reports, it took
firefighters approximately one hour to
extinguish the remaining fire.
Investigators determined that the
fire began when heat from the kitchen's
gas-fired grill ignited grease
buildup in the exhaust ducts of the
hood system. Insufficient cleaning of
the exhaust ducts was cited as a contributing
factor to the ignition.
The fire caused an estimated
$300,000 in damage to the mall
building, valued at $15.8 million, and
$50,000 in damage to its contents,
valued at $1 million.
The restaurant was constructed with
wood and sheetrock walls, a concrete
floor, and metal roof. It occupied a
ground floor area of 5,700 square feet
(530 square meters).
Vehicle
MICHIGAN
Heart attack leads to vehicle crash
and fire
An autopsy of a person involved in a
motor vehicle crash and fire found that
the victim had suffered a fatal heart
attack prior to the fire.
Firefighters were dispatched to a
motor vehicle fire at 9 p.m. and found
a deceased occupant inside the vehicle
after extinguishing the fire. News
reports indicated the vehicle had left
the road and struck a tree and fence,
coming to rest in the front yard of a
residence. A witness reported that the
vehicle had burst into flames shortly
after impact.
The fire apparently did not spread
beyond the vehicle.
Investigators determined the vehicle's
accelerator remained depressed
following the crash, causing excessive
heat and igniting a fire in the engine
compartment. An autopsy revealed that
the victim had suffered a fatal heart
attack before the vehicle caught fire.
No information was available on the
vehicle or on losses.
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NFPA Journal - Fall 2021

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