ISFSI: Understanding and Fighting Basement Fires
(Room Wabash 3)
09 Apr 19
8:00 AM
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12:00 PM
Supported with a Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (UL FSRI) conducted this research to better understand why basement fires present such a high risk to firefighters and what they can do to avoid injury. This study went beyond earlier research by increasing the size of the basement and incorporating three different ventilation and access conditions to the basement: no exterior access to the basement, limited exterior access to the basement, and exterior access to the basement. The results of the experiments show the importance of identifying a basement fire, controlling ventilation, and flowing an effective hose stream into the basement from a position of advantage as soon as possible.