fire investigation and prevention …€¦ · protecting businesses through fire emergency...

NFEC Fire Safety & Civil Emergency Preparedness Seminar 2010

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Major Lim Beng HuiB.Eng (Civil)(Hons) M.Sc (FI)(Dist), CFEI, CFIIHead Research & Analysis BranchFire Investigation UnitOperations Department

FIRE INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION

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- Introduction- Case Studies on Recent Fires

1.Coffee Shop Fire2.Timber Factory Fire3.Woodworks Fire4.Temporary Structure Fire

INTRODUCTIONFI

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FIRE INVESTIGATION

- Scope:1.Area of Fire Origin2.Cause of Fire

- Objective:To protect and save lives and property by preventing the

recurrence of the same fire cause

INTRODUCTIONFI

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Unlicensed Electrical Worker

Illegal Workers’ Dormitories

Unsafe Work Practices

Manufacturing Defects

Public EducationFire Safety

Our Partners Towards a Safe & Secure Singapore

HOME TEAM

OTHER AGENCIES

Note: list is not exhaustive

Incendiary Fires

Incendiary Fires

INTRODUCTIONFI

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FIRE INVESTIGATION

-Important for people to be ‘fire-safety savvy’

1.Recognise fire hazards2.Remove fire hazards3.React in the event of a fire

• Case in Clementi

COFFEESHOP FIREFI

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COFFEESHOP FIRE

Line of Demarcation

‘V-shaped’ burn pattern

Firefighters checking that the fire within the exhaust duct is fully extinguished

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COFFEESHOP FIREFI

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COFFEESHOP FIRE

• Interview with Mr Ali, the stall helper (Extract)

Frying chicken and fish for 200 packets of ‘nasi lemak’.

He saw fire in the cooking pot while frying.

He scooped fish out but dropped it on the floor.

The fish was on fire and he tried to extinguish it using a domestic hose.

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COFFEESHOP FIRE

• Interview with Mr Ali, the stall helper (Extract)

He also tried to extinguish the fire in the pot using buckets of water but the fire got bigger.

A member of public came with a portable fire extinguisher but fell.

He took over the extinguisher and tried to extinguish the fire, but failed.

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COFFEESHOP FIRE

• Evidentiary Factors

A domestic hose and burnt pieces of fish were found on the floor in the affected stall.

A dry powder fire extinguisher was found on a table in front of the affected stall.

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COFFEESHOP FIRE

• Evidentiary Factors

Spalling of wall tiles at area marked ‘A’

Lines of demarcation extending from the area marked ‘A’

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COFFEESHOP FIRE

• Evidentiary Factors

A cooking pot was recovered from the affected stall.

The interior and exterior surfaces of the cooking pot were severely burnt.

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DiscussionCould this fire be prevented? If yes, how? If not, why?

Could the spread of the fire be prevented or mitigated by the stall helper? If yes, how? If not, why?

What are the challenges in preparing your workplace for such fires? How can we overcome them?

COFFEESHOP FIREFI

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TIMBER FACTORY FIRE

• Case in Sungei Kadut

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TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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Metal bars to support a canvas

Green canvas sheet was erected& extended to the perimeter fence•

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TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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W 6

.W3

W5

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TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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CCTV footage (Opposite Unit @09:53:55)

Fire spotted.This is at the area of the compressor set.

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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Signs of smoke around this edge of the roof within 3 seconds of spotting the fire.

CCTV footage (Opposite Unit @09:53:58)

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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Heavy smoke all round within the next 2 seconds.

CCTV footage (Opposite Unit @09:54:00)

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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• Evidentiary Factors

Air Receiver - not energizedMotors not badly damaged

Air Filter

Compressor

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• Evidentiary Factors

Recovered the remains of the isolator of the compressor

Beading was observed on the

wiring at the isolator

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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• Scene Reconstruction

Isolatorfacing compressor

Gypsum board partitionWiring

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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• Interview with Mr Ta, supplier of the air compressor (Extract)

Owner of a hardware shop, specialising in repairs and resale of machineries & electrical equipment.

2nd hand air-compressor was re-conditioned, tested and certified before it was sold 1½ months before the fire.

The factory informed him that the compressor stopped working on Thursday afternoon.

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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• Interview with Mr Ta, supplier of the air compressor (Extract)

He went to the factory on Fri morning to check and found nothing wrong with his compressor.

He then checked on the isolator and found some burn marks/melting within.

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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• Interview with Mr Ta, supplier of the air compressor (Extract)

He replaced the isolator with a 2nd hand isolator which has a larger amperage, out of goodwill, and the compressor was working again.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Fire occurred on the next day.

TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI

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#2

DiscussionHow was the fire able to spread so quickly?

Could this fire be prevented?

What are the challenges in your recommendations? How can we overcome them?

WOODWORKS FIREFI

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• Case in Tampines

WOODWORKS FIREFI

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Sawdust Extraction Machine

Stacks of Plywood

Machinery Room

Foldable Gate

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• Interview with Mr Yo, owner of the renovation company (Extract)

Left the premises at around 2000 hrs. [Fire was reported at 0020 hrs]

Sawdust extraction machine was ‘off’

There were welding works on his gate in the afternoon.

WOODWORKS FIRE

Foldable Gate

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DiscussionWhat was the cause of the fire?

How could this fire be prevented?

What precautions can we take to ensure fire safety during hot works?

What are the challenges in your recommendations?

TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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• Case in Jalan Besar

TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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• Interview with Mr Ko, security guard (Extract)

He heard ‘crackling’ noises and came over to investigate.

He saw thick smoke coming out from this area.

TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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THIS HOLE WHERE THE THREEWORKERS ESCAPE

TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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• Evidentiary Factors

One of the air con units has fallen off.

Lines of demarcations

THIS HOLE WHERE THE THREEWORKERS ESCAPE

Missing air con unit

Air con unit found 1 floor below

TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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• Evidentiary Factors

Remains of a praying altar recovered after fire debris was cleared at the worst burnt area.

Remains of an oil lamp

TEMP STRUCTURE FIREFI

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DiscussionWhy are such temporary structures dangerous?

What should we do to enhance the fire safety of oil lamps? How can these safety tips be effectively conveyed to the relevant people in your premises?

NFEC Fire Safety & Civil Emergency Preparedness Seminar 2010

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Thank you.