1. Fires in Abandoned Buildings Flint Fire Department, September 2007

2. Firefighters Enter Burning Buildings: Civilian Life Safety Property Conservation

5. Fires in Vacant and Occupied Buildings August 2004 to August 2007

8. Fires at Vacant and Abandoned Buildings Caused: 64% of burns 100% of abdominal injuries 67% of extremity injuries (non-burn) 75% of eye injuries 33% of back injuries

9. Flint firefighters work 2,620.8 hours per year Cumulatively, 21 injuries at vacant / abandoned buildings cost the Department over 14 months of a firefighter’s duty hours

10. Rate of Injury Flint:11.7 per 100 vacant / abandoned structure fires NFPA National Average: 3.7 per 100 special structure fires Special structures: Vacant / abandoned buildings Buildings under construction Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries NFPA, Feb. 2007

11. Sites of Firefighter Injury

12. 1022 Garden Fire: August 30, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an abdominal injury

13. 421 Garland Fire: February 24, 2007 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an abdominal injury

14. 503 West Second Avenue Fire: April 18, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

15. 1451 Davison Fire: May 26, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered burns

16. 402 East Foss Fire: June 7, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an eye injury

17. 1427 Jean Fire: July 3, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

18. 2622 Forest Hill Fire: July 28, 2006 Scheduled for Emergency Demolition Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

19. 1021 Wolcott Fire: September 3, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered burns

20. 1405 Defreest Fire: October 15, 2006 Offensive Attack Two firefighters suffered burns

21. 425 West First Street Fire: October 30, 2006 Scheduled for Emergency Demolition Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

22. 228 East Taylor Fire: October 30, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered burns

23. 914 Young Fire: October 30 and 31, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered a back injury

24. 6802 College Fire: November 2, 2006 Scheduled for Emergency Demolition Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

25. 354 East Russell Fire: November 2, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

26. 2108 West Court Fire: December 8, 2006 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered an extremity injury

27. 2507 Minnesota Fire: January 7, 2007 Scheduled for Emergency Demolition Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered burns

28. 424 Thomson Fire: March 4, 2007 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered burns

29. 910 Eighth Avenue Fire: March 12, 2007 Defensive Operations Firefighter suffered burns

30. 209 West Baker Fire: March 26, 2007 Offensive Attack Firefighter suffered burns Building destroyed in subsequent fire on April 18

32. Only vacant buildings received any type of rehabilitation or repair The Department found no attempts at repair or rehabilitation of any abandoned building after it burned

33. Demolition Criteria “When the cost to repair exceeds the current market value of the structure, the decision is made to proceed with demolition.” taxes.cityofflint.com/bsiProcedure.htm Average Vacant / Abandoned House Fire: 79 years old State equalized value of $11,524 Demolition list: State equalized value $7,182

34. Abandoned Building Policy

35. Definitions: Vacant and Abandoned

36. Vacant Buildings A property that has an owner but is currently unoccupied Reasonable efforts made by the owner to preserve and maintain the value or condition of the house Firefighters made an interior attack to save this property in August 2006

37. Abandoned Buildings A property that has no legal occupants and is neglected with no efforts being made to preserve its value or condition. Firefighters made an interior attack in April 2007 to save this property. It had been condemned for demolition in February 2007.

38. NFPA 1500 Rules of Engagement What is the survival profile of any victims in the involved compartment? We will risk our lives a lot, in a calculated manner, to save savable lives.

39. NFPA 1500 Rules of Engagement We will risk our lives a little, in a calculated manner, to save savable property. We will not risk our lives at all for structures or lives that are already lost.

40. Occupied and Vacant Buildings Highest level of risk to save savable life. Acceptable level of risk to save savable property based on NFPA 1500 Rules of Engagement.

41. Abandoned Buildings Highest level of risk taken to save savable life No level of unacceptable risk may be taken to attempt to save abandoned property based on NFPA 1500 Rules of Engagement

42. Abandoned Buildings Defensive strategies shall be used to minimize firefighter risk and protect exposures. Defensive strategies can be used transitionally to control fire from the exterior, followed by interior extinguishment and overhaul if structural and hazard conditions permit safe entry.

43. Abandoned Buildings An initial interior attack should not be initiated unless there is a known life in jeopardy or unless fire conditions are incipient or minimal.

44. Fire Tactics Change: At abandoned buildings where fire conditions are between minimal and heavy.

45. Tactics at Abandoned Buildings Incipient or Minimal Fire Conditions: Interior attack if structural / hazard conditions permit safe entry Definition of minimal: Officer’s judgment based on variables of incident

46. Tactics at Abandoned Buildings Minimal to Heavy Fire Conditions: Exterior attack first Interior overhaul permitted if structural and / or hazard conditions permit safe entry Definition of minimal and heavy: Officer’s judgment based on variables of incident

47. Tactics at Abandoned Buildings Heavy to Fully Involved: Defensive operations only Protect exposures

48. Demolition Lists Located in BC truck Updated monthly

49. Demolition Requests Request boarding, demolition, or emergency demolition after EVERY fire in an abandoned building. Requests are submitted to the City’s Demolition Coordinator by the Battalion Chief. Do not submit demolition requests to the 911 Center.

50. What we used to do at abandoned building fires… Fight it Forget it

51. 209 West Baker Two fires within three weeks injured three firefighters

52. 6802 College Fire: November 2, 2006 Scheduled for Emergency Demolition

53. 6802 College Burned in November 2006: Injured a firefighter Burned in June 2007: Fire spread to an occupied house at 525 West Alma and displaced a family

54. 2122 East Carpenter Burned in June 2006 Burned three times in two days in June 2007 Burned in August 2007 and spread to an occupied house at 2118 East Carpenter, displacing a family

55. Fire Service Leaders Speak About Abandoned Buildings

56. The building being abandoned by its owners is not a high priority in the scheme of things. If some extra fire or water damage occurs within this type of structure, it is preferable to injury or even discomfort to the firefighter.

57. “ The building being abandoned by its owners is not a high priority in the scheme of things.” “If some extra fire or water damage occurs within this type of structure, it is preferable to injury or even discomfort to the firefighter.” John Norman FDNY Chief of Special Operations Command Former Captain, Rescue 1 Fire Service Author & Instructor Fire Officer’s Handbook of Tactics

58. When no other person’s life is in danger, the life of the firefighter has a higher priority than fire containment.

59. "When no other person’s life is in danger, the life of the firefighter has a higher priority than fire containment.” Vincent Dunn Deputy Chief, Retired FDNY Fire Service Author & Instructor Safety and Survival on the Fireground

60. The first-responding officer, as well as the incident commander, needs to make a judgment as to what is at risk – people or property. Historically, the fire service has a poor history of changing risk-taking based upon the people/property issue.

61. “Historically, the fire service has a poor history of changing risk-taking based upon the people/property issue.” Excerpt from December 12, 2005 report on the death of a Houston Fire Department Captain at an abandoned building

62. It is my contention that people are dying because they continue to ignore the lessons which history has laid out as the lesson plans for change. Why then are we still risking our people to save property? Lives I can understand, but property, no way.

63. “It is my contention that people are dying because they continue to ignore the lessons which history has laid out as the lesson plans for change.” “Why then are we still risking people to save property? Lives I can understand, but property, no way.” Harry R. Carter, Ph.D. Battalion Commander, Retired Newark Fire Department Contributing Editor, Firehouse Magazine Author of 7 fire service texts and 1,500+ fire service articles

64. When there is no ability to save lives or property, there is no justification to expose fire department members to any avoidable risk and defensive fire suppression efforts are the appropriate strategy.

65. “When there is no ability to save lives or property, there is no justification to expose fire department members to any avoidable risk and defensive fire suppression efforts are the appropriate strategy.” Alan Brunacini Chief (Retired) Phoenix Fire Department Past Chairman, NFPA 1500 Committee Chairman, NFPA 1710 Committee Fire Service Author and Instructor NFPA 1500 Section A.8.2.3

66. Goals Reduce firefighter injuries Reduce frequency of fires in abandoned buildings Assist in identification and reporting of hazardous abandoned buildings

67. At abandoned building fires… Slow down Risk / benefit analysis Be safe See the big picture, not just the fire Be proactive, not reactive