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Firefighters confer while a two-alarm fire engulfs a home at 15th Street NW and Swann Street NW in Washington in February.
Montgomery County (Map, News) - While technology has made it possible to construct homes faster, lighter and stronger than 25 years ago, the McMansion homes of today are more prone to fire and, once ablaze, burn more quickly, regional fire experts warn.
“Homes today are made of oil. There’s more glue, more plastics, more resins and vinyl siding — all petroleum based — in new homes,” said David McKernan, deputy chief of fire prevention in Fairfax County. “Homes are becoming increasingly made to burn faster and to burn hotter; then we put them closer together.”
Through home development in the fast-growing Washington metropolitan area, the risk of fire increases with each foot of space as homes are crowded onto small lots and tight developments, according to fire experts.
“There’s definitely a correlation between an expanding population and the construction that comes along with it and an increase in fire activity,” said Tim Taylor, a member of the Prince George’s Fire and Rescue service. “When I walk around and look at things, I can’t help but think to myself, this can only make things harder.”
Taylor and many others in the field argue that homes are being built larger and larger, while the separation between the buildings is narrower and narrower.
“We’re seeing the building industry putting up larger homes closer together, but at the same time, they’re not changing how they build to add fire prevention methods,” said Tom Polera, assistant fire marshal in Arlington County. “I realize they’re in a business and most follow the rules, but it doesn’t really help us.”
Pete Piringer, a spokesman with the Montgomery County Fire Department, said, “The materials used today shorten the time firefighters have to arrive and get everything under control. There’s pressed wood, for roofs; two-by-fours instead of beams and in many cases, staples for some work instead of nails.”
Piringer said they had “one fire in the last few weeks where a garage caught on fire in Clarksburg and by the time crews were able to arrive on the scene it had spread and damaged 10 other structures and two homes,” he said. “These homes are built to burn fast and spread, that’s what can happen when you combine lightweight construction with higher density.”
Polera said a common problem that hinders firefighters in the new “planned communities” are narrow streets designed to give it a “village” feel. Polera said a ladder truck to be used needs at least 20 feet of space, and “while that may not seem like much, it has become a concern.” They are further crowded by cars parking on both sides of a street.
mzwelling@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:42 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"
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12:16 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008
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12:41 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008
re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"
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10:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008
re: "Residents find their apartment complex garage up in smoke"
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12:14 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008
re: "Firefighters uncover marijuana at Mission district fire"
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8:11 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008
re: "Fire spreads through Mission apartments"
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7:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008
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10:08 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008
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10:53 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"
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6:33 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007
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3:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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Albert Franklin said:
75,000,000 died during the Black Plague starting with 1354! What percent of this were European Christians? How does this play with America's and West Indian's Christians who were also exterminated because of their Christianity? What dreaded diseases brought them down from San Francisco to Gilroy and who is responsible other than France? If October 31 marks "All Saints Day" in Europe, why do we call Mexico's "Days of the Dead," not "All Saints Day" when it begins on the following day: 1, 2, and 3 November?
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This story reveals yet more fear mongering propagated by the media. The real story here is not the possibility of a plague, but the desperation of an Examiner reporter looking to scoop a story. Give me a break.
6 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
he should have let it burn ... only section 8 drug dealers and illegal aliens lived in the apartment
451 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
that's too bad. wish him the best of luck
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Seven said:
In the Mission, the surprise would be if they DIDN'T find marijuana.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I live just one block from the Valencia fire i would like to give massive credit to the SFFD for the way they handled this fire.. Way to go guys and gals...
15 agree | 8 disagree
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Eddie House said:
I would like to know why the police & fire department refused to investigate and take action against the tenants that discarded cigarettes onto my boat cover, on the dry grass area around my stack of firewood. On two occasions I found burned wood laminate strips placed on my deck and dry grass near the boat. But most of all want to know why after 12 or more false calls of burning trash “ and the city knows damn well they were FALSE CALLS as they broke into my home only to find firewood in the EPA woodstove” WHY DID YOU CONTINUE TO HARRASS ME ? AND NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE TENANTS THAT MADE THESE FALSE CALLS OF TRASH BEING BURNED?
490 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When your being evicted from your apartment, you go out with a blaze of glory ? Or just another attempt to set fire to his boat that went all to wrong ? No cleaning or security depost refund for you ! But you are entitled to free room & board at the county jail !.
272 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I better watch out! I'll try not to cry... When Santa Claus comes to town I'll be wearing a frown when reporters get wind that; Citizens "took" gifts...instead of ; Citizens "received" gifts... Geeze!
177 agree | 185 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Very interesting and informative article. In Nashville Tn group home providers with less than 8 clients with disabilities are now required to have sprinkler system and many will close due to a lack funds. Who can I contact to get assistance? Perrion Gordon
192 agree | 194 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i am allans daughter kaitlyn and i just wanted to say that he will be forever missed and that he loved doing wat he was i never loved any one theway a daughter loves a father. love, kaitlyn roberts
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Examiner Reader said:
Who cares?
359 agree | 362 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is this a story? It was $1,200 and the city reviewed and approved. Sounds like someone is trying to make something out of nothing. Shame on you.
505 agree | 361 disagree
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Precious Jenkins said:
i am one of the nieces of the decreased and the cousin of the mother. this is and was a terrible fire that took 5 members of our family. annette was my father's youngest sister and one of my godmother. my father just had lost a sister 1 year and 4 days before. and now he only have one sister. this fire made our family feel that life to short to be walking around and not talking and loving your family members. a family that prays together says together!!!
767 agree | 396 disagree
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