FIRE DISASTERS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters - vol. XX - n. 2 - June 2007

FIRE DISASTERS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY Cavallini M., Papagni M.F., Baruffaldi Preis F.W. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Operative Unit, IRCCS Galeazzi, Milan, Italy

SUMMARY. In the field of natural and man-made disasters, fire has played a predominant role. A report is presented of fire disasters in the twentieth century, with a chronological analysis of different worldwide typologies.

Introduction

In the field of natural and man-made disasters, fire has played a predominant role. The extrinsic effects of disasters caused by fire have progressively changed over the centuries, especially in the twentieth. As a result, owing to industrial, technological, and military development, as also to the increasing number of armed conflicts, there has also been a rapid change in the modalities and numbers of burn injuries. For this reason a report is presented of fire disasters in the twentieth century, with a chronological analysis of different worldwide typologies. From the classification point of view, as regards the data reported in the literature, a fire disaster is defined as an event involving more than 25 deaths. However, discrepancies exist as to the number of injuries in accidents. Fire disasters from 1900 to 1969

The first accident in the period concerned occurred in 1900 in Hoboken, USA, with a high number of deaths (326) (Table I). The main reason for most of the disasters in the period was the lack of prevention and safety regulations. This is testified by certain accidents such as the fire in 1903 in the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago (602 deaths), where no fire system was installed, and the fire at Lakeview Elementary School in Ohio in 1908, when the absence of a fire detecting system and fire and safety equipment caused 176 deaths, mostly of children. Hospitals were often involved in fires, including a case in 1929 in Cleveland, USA, due to the accidental burning of X-ray film, causing 123 deaths. Accidents in nightclubs without safety regulations caused serious disasters, including one at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Boston in 1942, when 500 people died. After the Second World War, industrial and econo-

mic development, together with a progressive improvement in the quality of life, diversified the nature of fire disasters, and flammable liquids were more frequently involved. This is reflected in the great number of accidents in various parts of the world due to the explosion of oil depots, refineries, and vehicles transporting flammable materials. There were significant and singular accidents in circuses, including one in 1944 in Connecticut, with 144 deaths and more than 450 injured, and one in 1965 in Niteroi (Brazil), with over 400 deaths and 600 injured. These accidents demonstrate how the lack of prevention and safety regulations caused serious disasters. Fire was a constant and singular presence in hospitals, where the lack of prevention programmes and organized evacuation plans led to many burn accidents. Fire disasters from 1970 to 1979

Wih regard to this decade it is possible to see the involvement of the entire world in diversified accidents (compared to the former period, when the USA and Europe were mainly involved). This has been attributed to changing political and social changes conditions (particularly as regards accidents in the UK during periods of racial protest) and to considerable increases in industrial productivity (Table II). Even if there was a reduction in the number of accidents, the failure to standardize all safety regulations caused serious disasters. This decade saw the first approach to organized firstaid emergency plans, although no official project has been found in the literature. Fire disasters from 1980 to 2000

Since the 1980s the diversity of reasons for burn accidents has been linked to various human activities - one which has increased considerably is the number of fire dis101


Table I - Main fire disasters from 1900 to 1969. Date 30.6.1900 20.9.1902 30.12.1903 4.3.1908 13.1.1908 25.3.1911 14.10.1913 13.4.1918 12.10.1918 20.6.1919 17.5.1923 24.12.1924 15.5.1929 24.7.1931 23.4.1940 12.12.1942 7.9.143 9.7.1944 5.6.1946 7.12.1946 12.12.1946 5.4.1949 7.1.1950 29.3.1953 16.4.1953 17.2.1957 1.12.1958 16.12.1958 12.3.1960 14.7.1960 13.11.1960 17.12.1961 4.5.1963 23.11.1963 7.12.1966 22.5.1967 16.7.1967 11.5.1968 18.11.1968 2.12.1969

Incident USA, Hoboken, New Jersey. Port USA, Birmingham, Alabama. Church USA, Chicago. Iroquois Theatre USA, Collinwood, Ohio. School USA, Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Rhoads Theatre USA, New York. Plant Glamorgan, Wales. Mine USA, Norman, Oklahoma. Hospital USA, Cloquet, Minnesota. Forest fire Puerto Rico, San Juan. Mayaguez Theatre USA, Candem, South Carolina. School USA, Hobart, Oklahoma. School USA, Cleveland, Ohio. Clinic USA, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nursing home USA, Natchez, Mississippi. Dance hall Canada, St John’s, Newfoundland. Hotel USA, Houston. Gulf Hotel USA, Hartford. Ringling Circus USA, Chicago. La Salle Hotel USA, Atlanta. Winecoff Hotel USA, New-York. Plant USA, Effingham, Illinois. Hospital USA, Davenport, Iowa. Mercy Hospital USA, Largo, Florida. Nursing home USA, Chicago. Metallurgy plant USA, Warrenton, Missouri. Nursing home USA, Chicago. School Colombia, Bogota. Depot Korea, Pusan. Chemical plant Guatemala, Guatemala City. Hospital Syria, Amude. Cinema Brazil, Niteroi. Circus Senegal, Diourbel. Theatre USA, Fitchville, Ohio. Nursing home Turkey, Erzurum. Barracks Belgium, Brussels. Depot USA, Jay, Florida. Prison India, Vijayawada. Saloon Scotland, Glasgow. Plant Canada, Notre Dame. Nursing home

Dead 326 115 602 176 170 145 439 38 400 150 76 35 125 48 198 100 55 168 61 119 37 77 41 35 35 72 95 83 68 225 152 323 64 63 68 322 37 58 24 54

asters caused by terrorist criminal activities (Table III). Some examples are the terrorist attacks in Dublin (1981), Bologna (1985), Barcelona (1987), and London (1988), which were the most devastating to occur in Europe. There have also been serious attacks in Palestine in recent years due to ethnic, political, and religious reasons. Analysis shows an increase of fire disasters caused in different ways after air accidents, with a variety of injured persons involved (most of them burned). Also in this period, fire disasters due to the explosion 102

Table II - Main fire disasters from 1970 to 1979. Date 9.1.1970 1.11.1970 20.12.1970 6.3.1971 20.4.1971 25.12.1971 5.7.1972 13.5.1972 6.2.1973 6.11.1973 29.11.1973 2.12.1973 1.2.1974 30.6.1974 3.11.1974 12.12.1975 24.10.1976 25.2.1977 9.6.1977 28.5.1977 14.11.1977 14.7.1979 31.12.1979

Incident USA, Marietta, Ohio. Nursing home France, Grenoble. Dance hall. USA, Tucson, Arizona. Hotel Switzerland, Burghoezli. Psychiatric clinic Thailand, Bangkok. Hotel South Korea, Seoul. Hotel England, Sherborne. Hospital Japan, Osaka. Night club France, Paris. School Japan, Fukui. Train Japan, Kumamoto. Commercial centre South Korea, Seoul. Theatre Brazil, Sao Paulo. Bank U.S.A, Port Chester, New York. Disco South Korea, Seoul. Disco Saudi Arabia, Mina. Camping site USA, New York. Social club USSR, Moscow. Rossija Hotel Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan. Night club USA, Southgate, Kentucky. Night club Philippines, Manila. Hotel Spain, Saragossa. Hotel Canada, Quebec, Chapais. Social club

Dead 27 145 28 28 24 162 30 116 21 28 107 50 189 24 88 138 25 45 41 164 47 80 42

of flammable material constituted a considerable portion of the total number of accidents. The worst fire disasters in the period 1980-2000 were in 1984 (LPG explosion in Mexico, with 550 deaths and 7000 people injured, of whom 625 were burned) and in 1989 (gas container explosion on a bridge following a railway accident in the Urals region, with 2200 deaths and 3000 injured, including 800 burned). Despite improvements in rescue techniques and treatment in such emergencies, no specific organizational model for fire disasters has been identified.1-13 Conclusion

Throughout history, fire has always played a fundamental though conflictual role. For if on the one hand fire has enabled mankind to improve the conditions of everyday life, affording protection and developing technology and industry, on the other hand it has represented a danger to be defended against. This historical analysis of fire disasters in the twentieth century shows the need to devote more attention to the control and prevention of fire-related accidents. Currently few specific international organization assistance models for serious emergencies are available.


Table III - Main fire disasters from 1980 to 2000. Date 20.5.1980 21.11.1980 9.1.1981 13.2.1983 17.12.1983 21.4.1985 26.4.1985 11.5.1985 31.12.1986 6.5.1987 17.11.1987 25.3.1990 10.10.1990 28.12.1990 9.4.1991 6.5.1991 19.9.1991 19.1.1993 14.2.1993 19.4.1993

Incident Jamaica, Kingston. Nursing home USA, Las Vegas. Grand Hotel MGM USA, Keansburg, New Jersey. Hotel Italy, Turin. Cinema Spain, Madrid. Disco Philippines, Tabaco. Cinema Argentine, Buenos Aires. Hospital England, Bradford. Stadium Puerto Rico, Dupont. Hotel Plaza Northern China. Forest England, London. Underground USA, New York. Social club India, Ghatkesar. Train Bangladesh, Dacca. Textile plant Turkey, Istanbul. Coach. Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Fireworks plant Indonesia, Honai. Village Taiwan, Taipei. Restaurant China, Tanghsan. Shopping centre South Korea, Seoul. Hospital

Dead 157 84 30 64 83 44 79 53 96 193 30 87 47 55 36 150 38 30 78 34

19.4.1993 10.5.1993 2.11.1993 19.11.1993 13.12.1993 20.8.1995 28.10.1995 23.12.1995 18.3.1996 28.3.1996 22.11.1996 23.2.1997 17.4.1997 13.6.1997 11.7.1997 29.9.1997 29.10.1998 24.3.1999 30.10.1999 13.5.2000

USA, Waco, Texas. Church Thailand, Bangkok. Toy factory Vietnam, Quang Nihn. Pipeline China, Kuiyong. Toy factory China, Fuzhou. Textile plant South Korea. Seoul. Penitentiary Azerbaigian, Baku. Underground India, Dabwali. Elementary school Philippines, Manila. Disco Indonesia, Bogor. Shopping centre Hong Kong. Shopping centre India, Baripada. Church Saudi Arabia, Mina. India, New Delhi. Cinema Thailand, Pattaya. Hotel Chile, Colina. Hospital Sweden, Gotenborg. Disco Italy-France. Mont Blanc Tunnel South Korea, Inchon. Karaoke Netherlands, Enschede. Fireworks plant

72 240 39 81 60 38 300 400 185 78 39 164 343 60 90 30 70 40 55 20

RÉSUMÉ. Le feu a toujours joué un rôle important pour ce qui concerne les désastres soit naturels soit causés par l’homme. Les Auteurs présentent un rapport sur les désastres par feu qui se sont vérifiés pendant le vingtième siècle, avec une analyse chronologique des différentes typologies dans le monde. BIBLIOGRAPHY 01. Hall J.R., jr: The U.S. experience with smoke detectors: Who has them? How well do they work? When don’t they work? J. NFPA, 88: 36-9, 41-6, 1994. 02. Arturson G.: The tragedy of San Juanico - the most severe LPG disaster in history. Burns, 13: 87-102, 1987. 03. Eisentrout T.H.: Story of the Beverly Hills fire: Minister’s role in a major disaster. Bull. Am. Protestant Hosp. Assoc., 42: 105-8, 1978. 04. Reynolds T.A.: Why the fire story had a happy ending. Mod. Hosp., 85: 64-6, 1955. 05. Bjornhagen V., Messner T., Brandstrom H. (Swedish Disaster Medicine Study Organization: KAMEDO Report no. 82: Explosion at the fireworks warehouse in the Netherlands in 2000). Prehospital Disaster Med., 21: 123-5, 2006. 06. Brandsjo K., Hedelin A., Lundin T., Lundalv J. (Swedish Disaster Medicine Study Organization: KAMEDO Report no. 75: Fire catastrophe in Gotenburg, 29-30 October 1998). Prehospital Disaster Med., 20: 258-61, 2005. 07. Kulling P.E., Lorin H.: KAMEDO - Swedish Disaster Medicine Study Organization. Prehospital Disaster Med., 14: 18-26, 1999. 08. Kulling P., Lorin H., Hamburger B.: When a disaster is a fact. KAMEDO analyses how the help was functioning. Lakartidningen, 92: 855-9, 1995. (In Swedish) 09. Koffel W.E., Birk D.M.: Seeing the big picture: Seven basic principles of fire risk management. Health Facil. Manage., 4: 19-22, 1991.

10. Annelli J.F.: The national incident management system: A multiagency approach to emergency response in the United States of America. Rev. Sci. Tech., 25: 223-31, 2006. 11. Welling L., Perez R.S., van Harten S.M., Patka P., Mackie D.P., Kreis R.W., Bierens J.J.: Analysis of the pre-incident education and subsequent performance of emergency medical responders to the Volendam cafe fire. Eur. J. Emerg. Med., 12: 265-9, 2005. 12. Ballesteros M.F., Jackson M.L., Martin M.W.: Working toward the elimination of residential fire deaths: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Smoke Alarm Installation and Fire Safety Education (SAIFE) Program. J. Burn Care Rehabil., 26: 434-9, 2005. 13. Mahoney E.J., Harrington D.T., Biffi W.L., Metzger J., Oka T., Cioffi W.J.: Lessons learned from a nightclub fire: Institutional disaster preparedness. J. Trauma, 58: 487-91, 2005.

This paper was received on 1 December 2006. Address correspondence to: Dr Marco F. Papagni, Unità Operativa di Chirurgia Plastica e Ricostruttiva, IRCCS Galeazzi, Milan, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]

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