Circus Fire Research Paper

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Name of the Fire: Ringlings Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Fire Location: Hartford, Connecticut Date & Time of Fire: July 6, 1944; in the afternoon 15 minutes into the show (approximately 2:15pm) Occupancy Class\Use & Construction Type: Place of Assembly (Group A1-A5; can fall under any one of these). No construction type, canvas tent was used with wooden stands Fire Protection Systems: No alarm or sprinkler system, however Merle Evans, the bandleader, saw the fire and signaled the band to play Star and Stripes Forever, which was code to the circus employees that there was an emergency. Contents, Class of Combustibles & Special Hazards: Special Hazard: number of people attending (6000 people) Class A combustible liquid…show more content…
Origin of fire located at the entrance of the tent. Steel railings along the front of the bleachers impeded exits Ignition Source: Tent had been waterproofed with 3-4 parts gasoline (6000 gallons) and 1 part paraffin wax (1800 gallons). Cause (Incendiary or Accidental): Unknown: Investigators say it could have been a flicked cigarette, children playing with fire or an arsonist by the name of Robert Segee Emergency Response\Fire Department Units Sent to the Fire: 1st Alarm - Box 82 - Clark & Westland St. - 2:44 p.m. (Engine 7, 2, and 16 with truck 3 and 4 2nd Alarm - Box 828 - Barbour Street & Cleveland Ave. - 2:44 p.m. (Engine 14, 4, and 3 with truck 1 and Additional units: Sent by Headquarters on adjacent box - 2:49 p.m. (Engine 5) Deployment of Emergency Resources, Strategy and Tactics: Three or four 12-quart buckets of water used to douse flames but to little effect. Circus employees tried to escort patrons out in an orderly fashion but everyone was already in a state of panick. Extinguishing Agents Used: Alert Fire extinguisher, soda and acid (2.5…show more content…
Laws passed in Connecticut shortly after the fire made it illegal for big tops to be used Circuses were required to have a fire department on standby for all performances, with hose lines charged A dedicated fire watch was required during performances Aisles had to be maintained free of seating The big top was now required to have a flame-retardant treatment Many of the big tops relocated from tents to arenas which provided air conditioning and improved lighting Any tents still in use today, have to abide by NFPA 102: Standard for Grandstands, Folding and Telescopic Seating, Tents, and Membrane Structures New minimum fire safety guidelines have been created for circuses, fairs, carnivals. exhibitions, contests, gospel meetings, auctions or other public assemblage which include issues as the minimum number of exits, exit and aisle passages, fastening of seats, flame-proofing materials, combustibility of wood and wires, amount and location of fire-fighting equipment, training of personnel, use of ventilators to draw off heat and gases in the event of a fire, and emergency lighting systems to ensure against panic during power

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