Abandoned Building Fires: Successfully Reducing Firefighter Injuries With Risk Management

Presented By: City of Flint Fire Department August 25, 2009

City of Flint Fire Department 89 Suppression Personnel 18 Personnel per day minimum 5 Stations 2 75 Quints 3 Engines 1 Squad 1 Paramedic Unit 1 100 Reserve Aerial Ladder 2008: 6,748 calls for service

Flint, Michigan
Population: 112,000 est.

#2 in population loss in the United States since 2000

Area:

34.1 sq. miles 35.7% 27.3%

Below Poverty Rate: Unemployment Rate:

Abandoned Houses

There are approximately 15,000 abandoned houses in Flint, MI

Flint Fire Department Injury Study

Why do firefighters enter burning buildings?

Civilian life safety Property conservation

Civilian Life Safety Incidents at Vacant and Abandoned Building Fires

March 2005 August 2009

Civilian Life Safety Incidents, March 1, 2005 August 18, 2009

945 vacant / abandoned building fires 4 incidents out of 945, or 0.4%, involved a civilian injury

At the remaining 941 incidents, or 99.6%, the life safety hazard was exclusively to the firefighters.

4 Incidents of Civilian Life Safety

1 civilian fatality at a fully involved abandoned house 2 civilians rescued from second floor of an abandoned house fire 1 civilian injured when jumping from 2nd floor window of burning abandoned building prior to fire department arrival

1 civilian fatality found in room of fire origin at an abandoned building

NFPA Vacant Building Fires Report, April 2009

31,000 vacant building fires annually in the United States Vacant building fires resulted in 2% of civilian fire deaths and 1% of civilian fire injuries Vacant building fires caused 13% of firefighter injuries

Source: Vacant Building Fires. Marty Ahrens, NFPA (2009)

Firefighter Injuries at Vacant and Abandoned Building Fires

April 2006 April 2007

Fire Activity, April 2006 April 2007

767 structure fire calls dispatched

443 working structure fires

264 occupied structure fires

179 vacant / abandoned structure fires

Percentage of Injuries by Location of Occurrence

2% 4% 5% 12% 18% 59%

Fireground Miscellaneous

Fire Station Vehicle Accidents

EMS Incident Haz Mat Incident

Percentage of Vacant vs Occupied Structure Fires

40% 60%

Vacant

Occupied

Percentage of Injuries, Vacant vs Occupied Structures

38% 62%

Vacant

Occupied

Firefighter Injuries, April 2006 April 2007 Occupied Buildings: Vacant / Abandoned Buildings: 13 injuries 21 injuries

Fire Tactics at Vacant Structure Fires, April 2006 - April 2007

Incipient / Exterior

13

Defensive

39

Offensive 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

136 140 160

Sites of Firefighter Injury

11022 Garden

Fire: August 30, 2006

Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an abdominal strain Building unoccupied as of August 12, 2009

421 Garland

Fire: February 24, 2007

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an abdominal strain Building has been renovated. Occupied loft apartments.

503 West Second Avenue

Fire: April 18, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: August 8, 2006

1445 Davison

Fire: May 26, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered burns Building demolished: October 5, 2006

402 East Foss

Fire: June 7, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an eye injury Building demolished: April 5, 2007

1427 Jean

Fire: July 3, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: October 26, 2006

2622 Forest Hill

Fire: July 28, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: June 17, 2009

1021 Wolcott

Fire: September 3, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered burns Building demolished: November 17, 2006

1405 Defreest

Fire: October 15, 2006

Offensive attack Two firefighters suffered burns Building demolished: May 10, 2007

425 West First Street

Fire: October 30, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: October 22, 2007

228 East Taylor

Fire: October 30, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered burns Building demolished: February 6, 2007

914 Young

Fires: October 30 & 31, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered a back injury Building demolished: April 27, 2007

6802 College Place

Fire: November 2, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: May 28, 2009

354 East Russell

Fire: November 2, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: October 1, 2007

2108 West Court

Fire: December 8, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: May 4, 2007

2507 Minnesota

Fire: January 7, 2007

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered burns Building scheduled for emergency demolition Building destroyed by subsequent fire on May 25, 2008

424 Thomson

Fire: March 4, 2007

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered burns Building demolished: August 23, 2007

910 Eighth Avenue

Fire: March 12, 2007

Defensive operations Firefighter suffered burns from radiant heat Building burned to foundation

209 West Baker

Fire: March 26, 2007

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered burns

209 West Baker, Part II

Fire: April 18, 2007

Initial offensive attack, withdrawn to defensive position One firefighter suffered burns One firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: August 14, 2007

Injury Rate at Vacant / Abandoned Buildings

April 2006 April 2007: 11.7 injuries per 100 fires

March 2005 April 2007:

NFPA National Average:

8.8 injuries per 100 fires

3.7 injuries per 100 fires

Source: Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries. Michael Karter, NFPA (2007)

Types of Fireground Injuries at Vacant / Abandoned Buildings April 2006 April 2007
5% 10%

9%

43%

33%

Burns

Extremity Injury

Abdominal Injury

Eye Injury

Back Injury

Cumulative Hours Lost to Firefighter Injuries, April 2006 - April 2007

Occupied

768

Vacant / Abandoned

3,112

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Flint firefighters work 2,620 hours per year Cumulatively, 21 injuries at vacant / abandoned buildings cost the Department over 14 months of a firefighters duty hours.

Cost of Fireground Injuries April 2006 April 2007 Occupied Buildings: Vacant / Abandoned Buildings:
Percentage Cost of Fireground Injuries, Vacant vs. Occupied

$13,621 $50,430

21%

79%

Vacant

Occupied

Cost of Fireground Injuries:

209 West Baker

2 fires within 23 days injured 3 firefighters Injuries resulted in 83 days of lost time to injury / restricted duty Cost of lost time due to injury was $18,792.74

Post-Fire Site Surveys

Conducted April May 2007 Each vacant / abandoned building that received an offensive attack between April 2006 April 2007 was surveyed

Status of Vacant / Abandoned Buildings After Offensive Attack April 2006 - April 2007
8% 3% 1%

41%

47%

Demolished

Abandoned

Boarded

Under Repair

Occupied

96% of vacant / abandoned buildings that received an offensive fire attack were found to be demolished, abandoned, or vacant and secured.

Sites of Firefighter Injury, April 2006 April 2007 Vacant and abandoned buildings that received an offensive attack in which a firefighter(s) was injured were demolished within an average of:

270 days

City of Flint Demolition Criteria

When the cost to repair exceeds the current market value of a structure, the decision is made to proceed with demolition.

Source: Taxes.cityofflint.com/bsi/Procedure.htm

Average Vacant / Abandoned House Fire in Flint, April 2006 April 2007 79-year-old building Value: $11,524

Condemned Properties: $7,182

Conclusions from Departmental Injury Study: Firefighter injury rate far exceeded national average 1.1% civilian involvement during study period Vacant / abandoned building fires were the source of 62% of injuries and 79% of the cost of injuries 96% of fire buildings receiving offensive attacks were either not repaired or demolished

City of Flint Fire Department Abandoned Building Fire Policy

What is an abandoned building?

An abandoned building is a property that has no legal occupants and is neglected with no efforts being made to preserve its value or condition.

What is a vacant building?

A vacant property is currently unoccupied with reasonable efforts being made by the owner to preserve the structures value and condition.

Occupied and Vacant Buildings

Highest level of risk taken to save savable lives Acceptable levels of risk taken to save savable property based on NFPA 1500 Rules of Engagement

Abandoned Buildings
Highest level of risk taken to save savable lives No level of unacceptable risk may be taken to save abandoned property based on NFPA 1500 Rules of Engagement

All buildings, whether occupied, vacant, or abandoned will receive thorough searches for potential victims

City of Flint Fire Department Fire Suppression Tactics at Abandoned Building Fires

Abandoned Building Fires Incipient or Minimal Fire Conditions

Initial interior attack if structural / hazard conditions permit safe entry

Abandoned Building Fires Minimal to Heavy Fire Conditions

Defensive / exterior operations first Transition to interior extinguishment / overhaul operations permitted if structural / hazard conditions permit safe entry

Abandoned Building Fires Heavy to Fully Involved Fire Conditions

Defensive operations only Consideration by Incident Commander to concede structure as lost

Incident Commander can call for immediate response of demolition crews

Demolition Requests
After any fire in a vacant or abandoned property, the address is submitted to the Building Department for evaluation, boarding, and / or initiation of the demolition process.

Demolition Lists
List available in Battalion Chiefs vehicle Addresses programmed into 911 Center database

Updated monthly

Demolition Lists

Firefighters made an offensive attack to save this structure in April 2007

The house had been condemned for demolition in February 2007

The Old Fire Department Attitude Towards Abandoned Building Fires

Fight it and forget it If its not on fire, its not our problem

6802 College Place

Fire: November 2, 2006

Offensive attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury Building demolished: May 28, 2009

6802 College Place

Burned November 2006, injured a firefighter

Burned in June 2007. Fire spread to occupied house, displacing a family

Exposure house remains unoccupied as of August 18, 2009

2122 East Carpenter

Burned in June 2006 Burned three times within two days in June 2007 Burned in August 2007. Fire spread to an occupied house, displacing a family

The occupied house has been demolished

2122 East Carpenter

Something should have been done about that property a lot quicker. Vandals keep coming back and horsing with it. There wasnt enough done to keep people out of it. They didnt board it up. John Fanko, Homeowner
Source: FFD Policy Could Have Prevented Thursday Fire. ABC12.com (August 2007)

Media and Public Reaction

1505 Canniff September 1, 2007 9 working fires in 1500 block of Canniff within 10 months

Flint Journal Article September 4, 2007

Flint Journal (2007)

Flint Journal Editorial September 7, 2007

Flint Journal (2007)

A firefighters job is dangerous enough. It makes no sense to expect them to risk life and limb to save a structure that ultimately will be torn down.

Flint Journal Article November 25, 2007

Flint Journal (2007)

The two-story house next door, stripped of half its siding, is a daily annoyance. Residents are discouraged by run-down abandoned buildings in their neighborhood.

Flint Journal Article November 25, 2007

Flint Journal (2007)

They see their property values going down while their homeowners insurance rates are going up.

Flint Journal Article November 25, 2007

Flint Journal (2007)

The day the house comes down will be the happiest day of my life. If we could get rid of that, wed get rid of most of our problems.
Shirley Bradley, 82 Flint, MI

Flint Journal Editorial November 28, 2007

Flint Journal (2007)

No threat to the viability of Flint could be more menacing than the proliferation of abandoned homes

A Tale of Two Cities

Fire Chief Magazine Nothing good comes from vacant buildings unless theyre renovated or demolished. Theres a misperception by some that vacant buildings pay taxes and that the tax base is reduced if these buildings are removed.
Source: Did The Worcester Six Die In Vain? Thats Up To Us. Charles H. Rule. Fire Chief Magazine (May 2000)

Fire Chief Magazine

[M]any times the land is more valuable for economic redevelopment if its vacant than if a dilapidated building sits there.

Source: Did The Worcester Six Die In Vain? Thats Up To Us. Charles H. Rule. Fire Chief Magazine (May 2000)

Metawanenee Hills

For years, abandoned homes and open lots dominated the landscape of the neighborhood. But an eyesore has blossomed into a sight to be seen.
Source: $5 Million Dollar Housing Project a Reality In Flint. ABC12.com (July 2007)

University Park Estates, Flint

Does your community want this

...Or this?

University Park Estates, Flint

City of Flint Fire Department Abandoned Building Policy Post-Implementation Results

2007 Fires at Vacant / Abandoned Buildings

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
93 82

52

36

1st Qtr 2007

2nd Qtr 2007

3rd Qtr 2007

4th Qtr 2007

2007 Firefighter Injuries per 100 Vacant / Abandoned Building Fires

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

13.8

8.7 3.7

3.2

1st Qtr 2007

2nd Qtr 2007

3rd Qtr 2007

4th Qtr 2007

Flint Journal (2008)

Fire Suppression Tactics at Vacant / Abandoned Buildings

Pre-Policy Tactics Post-Policy Tactics

4% 7%

3%

4% 7%
11%

19% 67%

21%

57%

Offensive Exterior

Defensive Transitional

Incipient

Offensive Exterior

Defensive Transitional

Incipient

2-1-2006 to 7-31-2007

8-1-2007 to 1-31-2009

Fireground Injuries at Vacant / Abandoned Buildings

Pre-Policy Injuries Post-Policy Injuries

3% 6%

9% 6% 37%

4% 3% 3% 18%

4% 7%

18%

6% 9% 3% 21%

25% 18%

Burn Back Strain Debris in Eye Heat Exhaustion Puncture Wound

Extremity Strain Abdominal Strain Multiple Contusion

Burn Back Strain Cardiac Tooth Laceration

Extremity Strain Multiple Debris in Eye Contusion

2-1-2006 to 7-31-2007

8-1-2007 to 1-31-2009

Burn Injuries, 18-Month Comparison Pre-Policy: 12 Post-Policy: 5 Injury Time Due To Burns: Restricted Duty Time Due To Burns: Total Cost of Burn Injuries: - 60% - 25% - 22%

Post-Implementation, 18-Month Comparison

Fires: Injuries: + 32% - 24%

Rate of Injury:
Injury Time:

- 42%
- 36%

Restricted Duty Time:

Cost of Injuries:

- 32%
- 32%

2009 Injuries at Vacant / Abandoned Buildings 141 fires

5 firefighter injuries
Rate of Injury: 3.5 per 100 incidents
(National Average: 3.7 injuries per 100 incidents)

Data as of August 18, 2009

Recommendations for Abandoned Building Fires S l o w D o w n

NFPA 1500, Risk / Benefit Analysis

Educate!
Emphasize safe operations

See the big picture, not just the flames

Be proactive, not reactive