1997 — May 13, Fire, Board and Care Facility, Harvey’s Lake, PA — 10

lornajarrettblanchard May 13, 1997

— 10 NFPA. Fire Invest. Summary. Harveys Lake PA Board…Care Fire, May 13, 1997. 1998.

— 10 PA Gen. Assembly. The Feasibility of Retrofitting High Rises, College Dorms…, 2001.

Narrative Information

NFPA: “On Tuesday, May 13, 1997, a fire occurred at a board and care facility in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania. State fire investigators determined that the fire most likely started on a screened-in porch. Investigators determined that the fire was caused by disposal of smoking materials on the screened-in porch area of the building. The fire killed ten residents and injured three others. The building was heavily damaged by the fire, and the property loss was estimated at $270,000.

“The facility was a two-story plus basement, wood-frame structure with several additions that had been made over time, which increased the size of the building. Fire protection features included a fire alarm system with smoke detectors and heat detectors, and fire extinguishers. Interior stairways were enclosed. Steel doors with self-closing devices protected openings to the stairways; however, the self-closing device on one of the stairway doors was deactivated. Wall and ceiling finishes were noncombustible. The facility was not equipped with an automatic sprinkler system….

“One staff member and 21 residents were in the building at the time of the fire. The 21 occupants of the building ranged in age from 58 to 99 with varying medical needs and mental capacities. State regulations do permit individuals identified as immobile to be housed in personal care homes….

“Investigators determined that the fire started on an exterior screened-in porch that was being used as a smoking area. Once ignited, the fire involved the combustible materials used in the construction of the porch, combustible exterior siding for the building, and combustible furnishings. Investigators believe that the fire broke large windows between the porch and the interior of the building allowing the fire to enter one bedroom and a living room.

“According to investigators, the staff member was in the kitchen completing paperwork when the building alarm sounded. Based on previous false alarms, the staff member attempted to reset the building alarm system. When the alarm system did not reset, the staff member silenced the alarm trouble and the panel trouble indicators. It was at this time that the staff member was informed of a fire by a resident. After confirming the fire, the staff member returned to the kitchen and notified the rest of the residents by activating the drill switch on the alarm panel. The staff person then took action to assist in the evacuation of residents.

“At approximately 9:10 p.m. a call was placed to the Harveys Lake Fire Department reporting a fire at the board and care facility. At 9:10 p.m., a telephone call was received at Back Mountain Control (Regional 911 answering point) from a neighbor whose house is located south of the building and through a thickly wooded area. She told the dispatcher that the board and care facility was fully involved. The Harveys Lake Fire Department was immediately dispatched with the fire chief responding directly from his home. During this. time numerous 911 calls were received at Back Mountain Control.

“Fire fighters began arriving on the scene about 3 minutes later and they found that the building was heavily involved in fire. Many residents had escaped by the time that fire fighters arrived, and they reported to fire fighters that others were still in the building. Despite the severity of the fire, which prevented fire fighters from entering many areas, fire fighters were able to rescue six residents. Four of the residents who had been rescued, later died in the hospital. After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of six residents were found in various locations throughout the building. Preliminary information indicated that all residents died of smoke inhalation….

“Based on the NFPA’s investigation and analysis of this fire, the following factors were considered to have contributed significantly to the loss of life and property in this incident:

Improper use or disposal of smoking materials
Ineffective resident and staff action
Inadequate means of egress
Open fire doors in vertical fire separations
Room doors with inadequate fire resistance ratings
Lack of automatic door closing devices on individual room doors
Lack of automatic sprinkler system….

“All of the seven significant factors identified in this incident as contributing to the loss of life are issues that are addressed in NFPA documents. A change in any one of them could potentially have had the ability to reduce the number of deaths that occurred at this fire.” (NFPA. Fire Investigation Summary. Harveys Lake PA Board…Care Fire, May 13, 1997. 1998.)

PA General Assembly: “Large board and care facility, 16 or more residents. The building was a two-story, wood-framed structure with non-combustible interior finishes. The first floor had three exterior exits, and the second floor had two enclosed interior stairways. Self-closing metal doors protected the stairway openings, although one of the closing devices had been deactivated. Twenty-one residents and one staff member were in the building at the time of the fire. The ages of the residents ranged from 58 to 99 years. All residents had varying medical needs and mental capacities. No information was available regarding training that may have been provided to the residents. A building-wide fire detection and alarm system was provided. There were no automatic sprinkler systems….

“Improperly disposed smoking materials ignited combustible furniture and construction materials on a porch. The fire broke windows allowing it to spread into rooms on the first and second floors. The fire also blocked the primary exits from the second floor. The fire alarm system operated, but a staff person silenced it. A neighbor reported the fire, and arriving firefighters found the building heavily involved in fire. Several residents and the staff person escaped before the arrival of the fire department. Firefighters were able to rescue six trapped residents, although four died from their injuries. Six more victims were found in the building after the fire was extinguished.

“Contributing Factors

– Lack of an automatic sprinkler system

– Improper disposal of smoking materials

– Ineffective staff and resident actions

– Inadequate exit arrangement

– Open fire doors

– Lack of automatic door closing devices for resident rooms.”

(PA Gen. Assembly. The Feasibility of Retrofitting High Rises, College Dorms…, 2001, p. 45.)

Sources

National Fire Protection Association. Fire Investigation Summary. Harveys Lake PA Board and Care Fire, May 13, 1997. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1998.

Pennsylvania General Assembly, Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. The Feasibility of Retrofitting High Rises, College Dorms, and Certain Other Buildings With Fire Sprinklers, Volume II (A Report in Response to Senate Resolution 132). Harrisburg, PA: PA General Assembly, January 18, 2001. Accessed at: http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:KBzYm2dK2qIJ:lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/reports/2001/224.PDF+Fire,+Boarding+Home,+Connellsville,+PA+April+1+1979&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us