By Mark J. Cotter
Below are three residential fire scenarios that have one factor in common. Can you identify it? Read all of the scenarios carefully before you look at the answer in the paragraph that follows the last scenario description.
Answer. All of these fires began on the exterior of the structure and spread to the interior and, despite firefighters’ attempts at extinguishment, resulted in significant damage. They also occurred in my home fire district within the past few years. In each of these examples, all occupants were confirmed to have exited the residence, so fire control was the only immediate objective. The firefighters who made the initial attacks on these fires were experienced and well-trained and acted according to the apparently quite common belief that the best way to protect the building was to outflank the fire from the building’s interior. In each case, the firefighters and the firefight were unsuccessful.
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