Simulation of a Wind Driven Basement Fire - Riverdale Heights, MD

Published

April 27, 2015

Author(s)

Craig G. Weinschenk, Kristopher Overholt, Daniel M. Madrzykowski

Abstract

Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), which is a fire model that is developed and maintained by the Na- tional Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was used to provide insight into the dynamics of a fire that occurred on February 24, 2012, within a single-story, single-family residential struc- ture in Riverdale Heights, MD, that resulted in the serious injury of two Price George’s County firefighters. The inputs for the FDS simulation are documented in this report and are based on the fire scenario, including the building geometry, interior furnishings, and ventilation conditions. The fire started in the basement which generated ventilation limited (fuel rich) fire conditions in the basement area. After the front door was opened, the interior stairwell, aided by strong winds blow- ing into the basement, acted as a chimney for hot gases in the basement to flow towards regions of lower pressure, out through the front door. The temperature of the gases in the interior stairwell was estimated to be in excess of 400 ◦C (750 ◦F). Two firefighters were located in the flow path be- tween the interior stairwell door and the front door of the structure, were exposed to these elevated temperatures, and suffered serious burn injures. Five additional firefighters were injured during fire operations on the first floor.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 1870

Report Number

1870

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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DOI Link

Keywords

LODI, FDS, Fire Modeling, Firefighter Safety

Citation

Weinschenk, C. , Overholt, K. and Madrzykowski, D. (2015), Simulation of a Wind Driven Basement Fire - Riverdale Heights, MD, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1870 (Accessed May 5, 2026)

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