|
On the morning of Nov. 21, 1980, fire
erupted at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., with about 5,000 people
inside at the time. Eighty-four died at the scene or in local hospitals,
and, within a year, three more of the 679 who suffered fire-related
injuries succumbed. This was the second largest hotel fire (in terms of
lives lost) in U.S. history.
Investigation revealed that an improperly grounded (but never
inspected) wire behind a wall in the resort's deli simmered, then burned
undetected for hours before it flashed into a blaze that spread at a rate
of 19 feet per second. Because of laundry chutes that failed to seal and
defects in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, a
supposedly smoke-free stairwell that was a crucial escape route filled
with smoke and trapped some victims. Others were cornered in smoke-filled
hallways and rooms.
The investigation also revealed that fire marshals had insisted the
casino have sprinklers installed during construction. The hotel, however,
refused to pay for the $192,000 system, and a county building official
sided with the hotel. Authorities later said the sprinkler system could
have prevented the disaster, which cost $223 million in legal settlements.
About a thousand fires occur in hotels and motels every year. Frequent
travelers need to learn how to survive. Pay attention to fire safety--not
just the hotel's location and amenities--when planning a trip. Knowing
what to do in a fire emergency is the key to surviving a hotel fire.
Preparation Begins at Home
Before you leave home, pack a flashlight and portable smoke detector,
as well as your travel alarm clock. The flashlight can guide you through a
dark and smoky hall. A battery-operated smoke detector, placed on a hanger
at the top of the door to your room, will alert you to possible fires when
you're sleeping. Remember not to place the detector near an air
conditioner or in front of an air-supply duct, because the fresh-air flow
may prevent smoke-filled air from setting off the alarm.
Check the Exits
As soon as you check in, take time to identify exits, stairwells and
escape routes. Count the number of doorways between your room and the
nearest exit. Notice which side of the hall the exit is on and whether an
ice machine or other objects block the way.
See if the exit is usable. Notice how the lock opens. (If it lock
trips the fire alarm, that's as far as you can go without talking to hotel
staff.) If you can open the door without tripping the alarm, do so,
and investigate the stairwell to be sure it is clear.
See if the door locks from the stairway side. If it does, once you
enter the stairwell, you will be able to exit only at the ground floor. Do
not plan to use the elevator because the shaft sucks smoke and heat
upward. Also, smoke and heat may affect the elevator controls or melt
hoist cables.
Next, prepare your room. The window offers an alternate escape route.
Try the latches. See if the ground, roof or deck is within safe dropping
distance--about two stories. Finally, put your room key on the nightstand
or in a clothing pocket so you can find it easily.
Getting Out
In the event of a fire, you probably will be awakened by an alarm, a
phone call, the smell of smoke, or shouting in the hall. Take your key,
roll out of bed, and crawl to the door. Don't stand because smoke and
toxic gases rise. The air just 5 feet from the floor could be filled with
deadly carbon monoxide.
Next, feel the door. If it or the knob is hot, don't open it. If it is
cold, open it slowly, and be prepared to shut it quickly if smoke pours
in.
Check the hall. If it's clear, you have a choice to make: Stay in your
room, or head for the fire exit. Caution: In making your decision,
consider the fact the stairwell door or the room door may lock behind you.
If either happens, you have no retreat. If you still decide to leave
your room and there is any trace of smoke, stay low--crawl, if
necessary--along the wall, counting doorways to the exit. When you reach
the stairwell, hold firmly onto the guardrail and walk down.
If fire and smoke are thick at the lower levels of the stairwell or
hallway, which happens as smoke cools, turn around and pray that you
can get back to your room. Do not attempt to go to the roof, as the
stairs may not exit at the roof, or that exit may be locked.
Staying Put
If your room door is hot, or if smoke is dense in the hall, you have no
choice but to remain in your room. You still can survive. You may be able
to drop to the ground safely if you are on the first or second story. If
you are higher, don't jump because you could be hurt seriously or killed.
If you can't leave through the window, signal for help. First try to
telephone, then hang a sheet out the window to signal firefighters. Get
fresh air. Flip on the bathroom fan to vent smoke from your room, then
open the top and bottom sections of the window about 3 inches to let fresh
air in at the bottom, and ventilate smoke at the top.
If smoke and flames are rising outside, keep the windows shut. If the
outside air is clear, make a tent over your head with a wet blanket and
open the bottom half enough to put your head out the window. If the window
won't open, you may not want to break it because you won't be able to
close in case smoke appears.
Fill the bathtub. You can use the water for firefighting. Use wet
towels and sheets around cracks in the doorway and any place else smoke
can seep into the room. If the door and walls get hot, use ice buckets to
bail water and throw it on them.
Hints for Meeting Planners
If you are a convention or meeting planner, you should pay particular
attention to fire safety. Before scheduling an event, investigate the
hotel's procedures for fire detection, its alarm systems, the provisions
for extinguishing fires, the exit routes, and employee training for fire
emergencies. The hotel should have an alarm system and, ideally, should
have an automatic sprinkler system, particularly for large exhibition
areas and other wide areas. If you are planning a large trade show, be
sure the hotel provides services to remove packing materials quickly from
the exhibit area.
A general rule to keep in mind is that street-level meeting rooms are
the easiest to evacuate. Rooms above the seventh floor are more hazardous
because fire ladders may not reach that high. Hotel-basement meeting rooms
may not be a wise choice, because meeting participants must climb up
stairs in the same direction smoke and flames will travel.
The meeting room should have adequate exits. A rule of thumb is that 50
to 300 people require two exits. Three hundred to 1,000 need three exits,
and more than 1,000 should have four or more exits. The exits should be
lit brightly, not blocked by furniture or curtains, and should be opened
easily. They never should be locked or chained. Seating or exhibit
arrangements should allow enough aisle space for quick evacuation. You
should familiarize yourself with exits and escape routes. Make sure the
hotel's floor plan is posted visibly, and walk the entire escape route.
Hallways, exits and stairwells should be clear of obstructions. Stairs
should have emergency lighting, and elevators should be marked clearly to
prevent use in a fire.
After you check the escape route, ask the hotel staff to remove any
furniture that is in the way. Also ask them to point out the location of
automatic sprinklers and smoke detectors. Locate fire extinguishers in
case of small wastepaper-basket fires, but call the fire department before
trying to control even a small fire. Arrange to listen to the fire alarm
and find out who on the hotel staff is responsible for calling the fire
department. If you spot a fire, though, contact the fire department first,
and then alert the hotel switchboard on the house telephone.
Before your meeting, instruct attendees about alarms, escape routes,
and general fire-safety procedures.
The Best Protection
No matter what safety measures a hotel and its staff provide, the best
protection in a fire emergency is an alert individual who knows what to
do.
|
