Duke University Durham, North Carolina Saturday, February 14, 2009

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  2015 Yearby Ave  Multi-family Dwelling  Type V Construction--Wood Frame  Built  Non-sprinkled  Local smoke detectors/alarms only

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University

 On Saturday, February 14, 2009 at approximately 9:28 AM, Duke University Police 911 received a call of an explosion in Central Campus  At approximately the same time, the Durham City Fire Department responded  Upon arrival of Duke Police, they noticed the apartment’s sliding glass door frame blown out

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Sliding Glass Door frame with glass still in tact

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Duke Police noted smoke coming from the apartment  Duke Police noted that no one was visible in the apartment  At approximately 9:33 AM, Durham Fire Department arrived on the scene  Entry was made by the fire department and the fire was located in the bedroom  Fire was extinguished using a 1 ¾ inch hoseline  Fire under control at approximately 9:40 AM

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Upon investigation, it was determined that a heat lamp was being used to provide heat for a pet snake in a glass aquarium on top of a wood dresser  Adjacent to the side of the dresser was a wood frame bookcase that housed loose-leaf binders, loose papers, and magazines

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  At the time of the fire, it was confirmed that the lamp had power to it (Note beading on wire of heat lamp) Ignition Source—Heat Lamp

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  A thermostat was being used to control the lamp  The lamp was on the exterior of the aquarium  At some time, the thermostat failed to turn off the lamp and heating continued to a point that the lamp housing softened and the lamp fell

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Lamp fell between dresser and rear of bookcase  Material first ignited-Composite board on rear of bookcase

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University Burn through point at rear of bookcase

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Papers and other combustible items in bookcase continued to fuel the fire

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Fire impinged on two cans of Axe Body spray which caused rapid release of the contents of one can and release of propellant gas (ISOBUTANE) from both

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Overpressure from exploding aerosol cans caused minor structural damage to seam joint between living room wall and ceiling

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Aerosol Can Heating Demonstration Video

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Value of Property at Risk: $300,702  Value of Personal Property at Risk:  Estimated Damage to facility & property:  Estimated value to personal property lost:$

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  Students were relocated to vacant apartment adjacent to damaged quarters  Estimated time to repair quarters:

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University  No Deaths or injuries reported (Note: Pet snake perished in fire does not count towards stats)

Central Campus Apartment Fire Duke University Questions & Comments