fire investigation and prevention …€¦ · protecting businesses through fire emergency...
TRANSCRIPT
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•
Scen
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TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI
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W 6
.W3
W5
TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI
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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
TIMBER FACTORY FIREFI
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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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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
WOODWORKS FIREFI
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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
PRO
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Thank you.