What Grenfell tragedy and deadly Swiss bar fire had in common

Key Concepts

• Polyurethane (PU) Foam: Highly flammable soundproofing material, contributing significantly to the rapid fire spread.
• Fire Safety Management Failures: Deficiencies in prevention, protection measures (like protected staircases), and evacuation procedures.
• Human Behavior in Fires: The tendency for individuals to revert to familiar routes (the way they entered) during emergencies, even if alternative exits are closer.
• Dropping Fire/Liquid Fire: The phenomenon of burning PU foam melting and spreading flames via burning droplets.
• Grenfell Tower Parallel: The use of similar PU foam insulation in the Grenfell Tower fire, highlighting the material’s inherent dangers.

The Crown, Montana Bar Fire: A Detailed Analysis

This analysis details the circumstances surrounding the devastating fire at a bar in Crown, Montana, resulting in at least 40 fatalities and over 100 injuries, with numbers expected to rise. The discussion centers on the factors contributing to the rapid fire spread and the challenges faced during evacuation, featuring insights from Steve Dudney, a 31-year fire service veteran and fire safety consultant.

I. Ignition and Rapid Fire Spread

The fire originated from uncontrolled naked flames – specifically, individuals holding lit pyrotechnics (small fireworks) near the bar’s ceiling. The primary catalyst for the fire’s rapid escalation was the presence of polyurethane (PU) foam used as soundproofing material. Dudney emphasizes that PU foam “should be nowhere where there are uncontrolled naked flames” due to its extreme flammability.

The situation mirrors the Grenfell Tower disaster, where PU foam insulation behind the cladding played a crucial role in the fire’s spread. Dudney explains that PU foam is an “organic hydrocarbon” that “just breaks down and burns really easily,” requiring minimal heat to ignite and sustain combustion.

Video footage reveals the PU foam melting when ignited, creating a phenomenon Dudney describes as “dropping fire” or “liquid fire.” The melted droplets introduce flames to all surfaces below, accelerating the fire’s propagation. This is a critical point, as it demonstrates how the material doesn’t just burn in place but actively spreads the fire.

II. Ineffective Response and Evacuation Challenges

The video shows an individual attempting to extinguish the flames with his shirt. While demonstrating a reactive attempt to help, Dudney clarifies that fanning a fire with fabric is generally ineffective, except for very small flames. The primary course of action should be immediate evacuation.

However, the evacuation process was severely hampered by overcrowding and a critical aspect of human behavior during emergencies. Swiss authorities reported the existence of alternative fire exits, but people largely failed to utilize them. Dudney explains this is a well-documented phenomenon: “Studies into human behavior on fire have always indicated that when people are threatened, they just tend to want to go out the way they came in.”

This “rooting” behavior means individuals instinctively return to the path of entry, even when closer, safer exits are available. Dudney stresses that even proximity to a fire exit is irrelevant unless someone actively directs people towards it, as most individuals do not consciously assess fire safety measures upon entering a premise. He states, “You could be 2 meters away from a fire exit, 10 or 15 meters away from the way you come in. You're going to go back the way you come in.”

III. Systemic Failures and Preventative Measures

Dudney concludes that the tragedy stemmed from “massive failures of fire safety management.” These failures encompass multiple areas:

• Prevention: Allowing uncontrolled flames near flammable materials.
• Protection: The absence of adequate fire protection measures, specifically a “protected staircase” for safe egress.
• Evacuation: The lack of directed evacuation procedures to guide people towards alternative exits.

He emphasizes that even with multiple exits, their effectiveness is diminished without active guidance. In this specific situation, he believes that unless individuals noticed the fire very early and escaped before the ensuing crush, their chances of survival were minimal.

IV. Technical Vocabulary

• Pyro technics: Small fireworks or pyrotechnic devices.
• Hydrocarbon: An organic compound composed entirely of hydrogen and carbon, often highly flammable.
• Combustion: The process of burning something.
• Egress: The action of going out of or leaving a place.
• Protected Staircase: A fire-resistant staircase designed to provide a safe escape route during a fire.

Conclusion

The Crown, Montana bar fire serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of inadequate fire safety measures and predictable human behavior in emergency situations. The combination of highly flammable materials (PU foam), uncontrolled ignition sources, and a failure to effectively manage evacuation procedures resulted in a catastrophic loss of life. The incident underscores the critical importance of proactive fire prevention, robust protection systems, and well-defined evacuation plans, coupled with active guidance during emergencies, to mitigate the risk of similar tragedies. The parallels to the Grenfell Tower fire highlight the ongoing dangers posed by the widespread use of flammable materials in building construction and the need for stricter regulations and enforcement.