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The MGM Grand Tragedy - IT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN!!!
Today, (November 21, 2010) marks thirty
years since the deadly fire at the MGM Grandin Las Vegas, Nevada. The fire claimed a total of eighty-seven lives and stands today as the second deadliest hotel fire in US history (second only to The Winecoff Hotel Fire in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1946 which claimed 119 lives).
While thirty years have passed and many
changes have been made, the unfortunate truth is that were becoming more and more vulnerable to this type of event everyday. What occurred during the construction of the MGM Grand (the initial phase of this disastrous event) is being repeated in communities throughout the country - opposition to automatic fire sprinklers.
The owners of the MGM Grand saved an
estimated $192,000 by refusing to install automatic fire sprinklers. In short, they gambled with the lives of every worker and patron of the MGM Grand and ultimately paid the price of 87 lives and billions of dollars in court settlement and lost revenues.
Although many who read this post may
not have the responsibility to protect a hotel or high-rise structure within their response district, the lessons from this tragic event are applicable to every firefighter and fire department in the country.
Critical Lessons:
The best form of firefighter safety is FIRE PREVENTION
We work in a political system – get politically active to better support your mission - Saving lives and protecting property
Remember the three E’s of Prevention – Education, Engineering and Enforcement – we ALL must play a critical role in each of these in order to provide effective fire protection to our customers
Never overlook the opportunity to conduct pre-fire planning and don't forget to use them - EVERYDAY
Fire is not the ONLY enemy - Fear the smoke, read the smoke and control the smoke (forecast its travel patterns and know its effects on victim survivability
Fire Sprinklers Save Lives - Its not a motto, it's a fact!!! Learn it, teach it and support it!
Never forget and always - Stay Safe.
Timothy E. Sendelbach
Editor-in-Chief
FIRERESCUE Magazine
years since the deadly fire at the MGM Grandin Las Vegas, Nevada. The fire claimed a total of eighty-seven lives and stands today as the second deadliest hotel fire in US history (second only to The Winecoff Hotel Fire in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1946 which claimed 119 lives).
While thirty years have passed and many
changes have been made, the unfortunate truth is that were becoming more and more vulnerable to this type of event everyday. What occurred during the construction of the MGM Grand (the initial phase of this disastrous event) is being repeated in communities throughout the country - opposition to automatic fire sprinklers.
The owners of the MGM Grand saved an
estimated $192,000 by refusing to install automatic fire sprinklers. In short, they gambled with the lives of every worker and patron of the MGM Grand and ultimately paid the price of 87 lives and billions of dollars in court settlement and lost revenues.
Although many who read this post may
not have the responsibility to protect a hotel or high-rise structure within their response district, the lessons from this tragic event are applicable to every firefighter and fire department in the country.
Critical Lessons:
The best form of firefighter safety is FIRE PREVENTION
We work in a political system – get politically active to better support your mission - Saving lives and protecting property
Remember the three E’s of Prevention – Education, Engineering and Enforcement – we ALL must play a critical role in each of these in order to provide effective fire protection to our customers
Never overlook the opportunity to conduct pre-fire planning and don't forget to use them - EVERYDAY
Fire is not the ONLY enemy - Fear the smoke, read the smoke and control the smoke (forecast its travel patterns and know its effects on victim survivability
Fire Sprinklers Save Lives - Its not a motto, it's a fact!!! Learn it, teach it and support it!
Never forget and always - Stay Safe.
Timothy E. Sendelbach
Editor-in-Chief
FIRERESCUE Magazine
Add a Comment
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Comment by Timothy Sendelbach on November 21, 2010 at 8:16pm
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Ben:
That's a new one for me..I'll add it to the list for next time.
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Comment by Ben Waller on November 21, 2010 at 10:29am
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Tim,
I thought the "Three E's of Fire Prevention" were "Extingushers, Exits, and Extension Cords" - at least for company-level inspections. :-)
Just kidding, of course, good reminder.
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