The Coconut Grove Fire Incident
From the Ashes Fire protection engineering, or the application of science and engineering to protect people and their environment from fire, has been around for centuries. The problem with advancements in this field is that they are preventative and, if ahead of their time, often seen as unnecessary. As a result, they are usually not considered or implemented until after severe tragedy has struck. A prime example of this is also the first recorded use of fire protection engineering. In AD 64, Emperor Nero had regulations drawn up that required fireproof materials used in the external walls to the city. This, of course, happened only after an estimated seventy percent of Rome was lost to fire. More noticeable regulations happened in England in the 17th century, when London adopted codes requiring stone and brick houses with fire-resisting wall separations. It only took eighty percent of the city to burn to the ground in the Great London Fire of 1666 to get that progress made. (Cote)
This reactionary interest is the basic issue with fire safety. While advancements in the field are useful and no doubt save many lives each year, the only way an interest in advancement takes place is a devastating fire that snuffs out the lives of many. This becomes a double-edged sword. Would it have been better for the Great London Fire not to have happened? Probably, but the advancements in urban building code, and the interest in the development of firefighting equipment have contributed to the greater good, and perhaps prevented a more catastrophic event.
Through the 18th and 19th centuries, many changes came about to help the prevention or containment of building fires. As building engineering progressed, popular flammable building materials were replaced with non-flammable steel and concrete. Urban engineering led to the installation of water mains and hydrants. Public fire departments are formed and outfitted with specialized equipment. Throughout the
This reactionary interest is the basic issue with fire safety. While advancements in the field are useful and no doubt save many lives each year, the only way an interest in advancement takes place is a devastating fire that snuffs out the lives of many. This becomes a double-edged sword. Would it have been better for the Great London Fire not to have happened? Probably, but the advancements in urban building code, and the interest in the development of firefighting equipment have contributed to the greater good, and perhaps prevented a more catastrophic event.
Through the 18th and 19th centuries, many changes came about to help the prevention or containment of building fires. As building engineering progressed, popular flammable building materials were replaced with non-flammable steel and concrete. Urban engineering led to the installation of water mains and hydrants. Public fire departments are formed and outfitted with specialized equipment. Throughout the
Cited: "Building Code." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. 27 Mar. 2012 Cote, Arthur. "History of Fire Protection Engineering." Fire Protection Engineering: The Official Magazine of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. 2011. Web. Duval, Robert. "The Legacy of Nightclub Fires". National Fire Protection Association, 2007. 15 Mar 2012. Web. Dsteffen, . "How Regulation came to be: The Cocoanut Grove." Daily Kos. 2009. Web. 14 Mar 2012. Schorow, Stephanie. The Cocoanut Grove Fire. Beverly, MA: Commonwealth Editions, 2005. Print. Thomas, Jack. "The Cocoanut Grove Inferno." The Boston Globe Online. The Boston Globe, 1992. Web. 12 Mar 2012.