Citation

Rasbash DJ. Fire Safety J. 1991; 17(2): 85-93.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Three major fire disasters are considered: Summerland, Isle of Man, 1973; Stardust, Dublin, 1981; King's Cross Underground Station, London, 1987. In all three cases many fatalities were caused by a sudden extensive development of fire following a period in which the fire was much smaller. Evidence indicates that the occurrence of a local fire capable of exposing a part of an extensive combustible surface to a high heat transfer rate was a major factor. In all three, lapses in Fire Safety Management contributed to the presence of some of the extensive combustible surfaces involved.