This blog presents Metropolitan Engineering Consulting & Forensics (MEC&F) claim management and claim investigation analyses of some of the typical claims we handle
A woman faces felony arson charges for setting the fire that displaced 20 North Dallas apartment residents Tuesday afternoon, firefighters said.
Firefighters began battling the flames at the Sutton Place Apartments just after 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The 2-alarm fire was extinguished after about two hours, said Jason Evans, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman. No firefighters were hurt, and a resident inside the third-floor apartment that caught fire was able to escape unharmed.
The damage left 13 units uninhabitable, displacing 20 people, Evans said.
Investigators determined the fire was set by a woman who had gotten in a fight with the person who escaped the fire.
Explosion Rocks SpaceX Launch Site in Florida During Test
By marcia dunn, ap aerospace writerCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Sep 1, 2016, 9:29 AM ET
Erin Head/TwitterErin Head posted this photo on Twitter with this caption:"Explosion at #spacex. Can't be good," Sept. 1, 2016.
An explosion has rocked the SpaceX launch site in Florida.
NASA says SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast occurred Thursday morning. The test, considered routine, was in advance of a planned Saturday launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Buildings several miles away shook from the blast, and multiple explosions continued for several minutes. A cloud of dark smoke filled the overcast sky.
Additional details were not immediately available. But sirens could be heard in the aftermath.
The rocket was supposed to hoist an Israeli satellite this weekend.
=======
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, meant to launch a satellite this weekend,
exploded on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The explosion
occurred during a static fire test of the rocket's engines, NASA told the Associated Press. The bl
ast reportedly shook buildings "several miles away."
SpaceX was getting the Falcon 9 ready to launch the Amos 6 satellite, a communications probe for the Israeli satellite operator Spacecom. The mission was scheduled for 3AM ET Saturday morning. Prior to all launches, SpaceX conducts a static fire test, in which the rocket's engines are turned on while the vehicle is constrained. It's a routine procedure the company has done many times before.
The 45th Space Wing, the US Air Force unit that commands the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, is responding to the explosion. "There are no known casualties (other than the destroyed rocket, of course that costs millions of dollars). There's no threat to public safety and our emergency management teams are on site responding," Bryan Bryan Purtell, a representative for the 45th Space Wing, told The Verge. The unit will provide more updates soon.
It's possible that the Amos 6 satellite was not harmed during the explosion. The satellites aren't always loaded on top of the Falcon 9s during a static fire. But right now, the fate of the Amos 6 is unclear.
It costs $60 million to make the Falcon 9, and $200,000
to fuel it, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Reusing rockets could
substantially lower these costs, he says; theoretically, a rocket would
only need to be refueled to launch multiple times again.
This is developing story.
========
Explosion rocks SpaceX launch site in Florida during test
By MARCIA DUNN
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida --
An explosion rocked a SpaceX launch site Thursday during a routine rocket test.
SpaceX
was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast
occurred shortly after 9 a.m., according to NASA. The test was in
advance of a planned Saturday launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, which is next to NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Buildings
several miles away shook from the blast, and multiple explosions
continued for several minutes. Dark smoke filled the overcast sky. A
half-hour later, a black cloud hung low across the eastern horizon.
This photo from an eyewitness shows a huge fireball coming from the site:
Additional
details were not immediately available. There was no immediate word on
any injuries; the launch pad usually is cleared before a test firing of a
SpaceX Falcon rocket.
SpaceX spokesman, John Taylor, said he could not comment as he worked to gather information.
NASA
- SpaceX's major customer - said the explosion occurred at Launch
Complex 40 at the Air Force station, and Kennedy emergency staff was on
standby. At the same time, personnel were monitoring the air for any
toxic fumes.
The rocket was supposed to hoist an Israeli communications satellite this weekend.
This video posted on social media shows heavy smoke coming from the explosion site:
The
initial blast sounded like lightning, but was followed by the sounds of
more explosions. SpaceX is one of two companies shipping supplies to
the space station for NASA. It's also working on a crew capsule to ferry
station U.S. astronauts; that first flight was supposed to come as
early as next year.
Two NASA astronauts were conducting a
spacewalk 250 miles up, outside the International Space Station, when
the explosion occurred. Mission Control did not immediately advise them
of the accident.
The explosion is a setback for SpaceX. The
California-based company, led by billionaire Elon Musk, had been ramping
up with frequent launches to make up for a backlog created by a launch
accident in June 2015. SpaceX was leasing the pad from the Air Force for
its Falcon launches.
The company is also redoing a former shuttle pad at Kennedy for future manned flights for NASA.
Firefighters used ladders while fighting the blaze. By Sean Smyth and John R. Ellement Globe Staff August 31, 2016
The four-alarm fire that ripped through an Allston residential building early Wednesday, displacing 11 people, was caused by an electrical short circuit, and authorities are now investigating the property owner for running an illegal rooming house.
Some internal doors were secured with padlocks, in violation of city housing rules, said Lisa Timberlake, spokeswoman for the Inspectional Services Department.
Investigators have also discovered that six graduate students were among the 11 people displaced by the fire at 3o-32 Myrick St., which broke out around 12:25 a.m. and grew into a four-alarm blaze before firefighters knocked it down.
The city has cited the property owner for operating an unregistered rooming house, Timberlake said.
The home is technically a two-family home, but Fire Inspection Commissioner Buddy Christopher said it was broken up into several units, which is illegal.
"This is a classic example of landlords not paying attention to what their responsibilities are," Christopher told FOX25. Fire inspectors plan to cite the landlord and will meet with him Thursday morning.
The cause of the fire, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage, was determined to be an electrical short circuit in a second floor bathroom, the Boston Fire Department posted on its official Twitter account. “Inspectional Services @ISDBoston will be dealing with property owner about running an unregistered rooming house,’’ the department posted on Twitter.
Timberlake said city officials are summoning the property owner or their representative to a public hearing at City Hall on Thursday to discuss violations found during the post-fire inspection.
One firefighter suffered a back injury battling the fire, officials said.
Fire investigators looking into the cause of fire at a popular Gregory Barbecue restaurant. KIII 11:34 PM. CDT August 31, 2016
GREGORY (KIII NEWS) - Investigators continue to look for a cause in a massive fire that erupted at Mac's Barbecue in Gregory. The flames erupted just after 5PM Wednesday.
Fire investigators tell us the blaze broke out in a rear pit room. The flames eventually making their way to the roof and attic area.
The restaurant's owner tell us about three-quarters of the restaurant was destroyed. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. Though one employee did suffer from smoke inhalation.
Mega container ship CCNI ARAUCO explosion and fire, Hamburg
Sept. 1, 2016 at 13:11 by Mikhail Voytenko
Mega container ship CCNI ARAUCO , docked in Hamburg, Burchardkai,
reportedly under major fire, after an explosion at around 1300 LT Sept
01, which took place aft, understood in container.
Some 80 fire fighting teams said to be deployed.
======
IUMI warning on containership fires - 20 September 2016
The marine insurers’ industry body said industry cooperation is needed
to tackle the risk of containership fires, after several recent blazes.
Fires aboard container vessels are the subject of a note from the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI).
Two recent fires – aboard the NNCI Arauco in September and the Maersk Karachi in May – have drawn IUMI’s attention to the risk.
More
industry cooperation is needed to tackle the challenges involved with
managing these incidents at sea, the industry body said.
"At
sea, below-deck fires cannot be fought with water and so CO₂ is used
instead to displace the oxygen and extinguish the fire. However, if the
fire is burning within a container, the box will protect it from the CO₂
and so this method of fire-fighting is rarely successful," said
Uwe-Peter Schieder, vice chairman of IUMI’s loss prevention committee.
"Currently
there are no other methods of fighting a containership fire below deck.
Even on deck, the crew only have access to hoses and nozzles. They do
not have sufficient monitors or foam and so cannot cool the vessel’s
structure," Schieder added.
IUMI flagged concerns that seafarers are being asked to tackle onboard fires with inadequate equipment.
The association highlighted the unfortunate incident concerning MSC Flaminia when three sailors lost their lives.
The vessel burned for almost six weeks, with 70% of the cargo destroyed and the ship declared a constructive total loss.
Referencing
the maritime industry’s Safety of Life at Sea (Solas) regulations, IUMI
called for further dialogue involving the UN’s International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) and shipping industry stakeholders to improve
firefighting capabilities for containerships.
On September 1
2016 a fire broke out on NNCI Arauco while the container vessel was
alongside in Hamburg during welding operations, leading to 300
firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze.
The hold was sealed and flooded with CO₂, but this was unsuccessful, IUMI noted.
Water
was then used for flooding the hatch and stopped before stability
problems occur. Finally, foam was used to bring the fire under control,
added IUMI.
On May 13 2016 a fire on the Maersk Karachi at
Bremerhaven port – also caused by welding operations – needed more than
100 firefighters to control the blaze, said IUMI, with water monitors
needed to flood the hold to extinguish the fire. "All stakeholders
should work together to identify sustainable solutions to protect lives
and property at sea," said IUMI.
========= IUMI Calls for More Action to Tackle Containership Fires
Image Courtesy: Polizei Hamburg
Two
recent onboard containership fires have fueled concerns from
International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) over the challenges
involved with managing these incidents at sea as seafarers are being
asked to tackle onboard fires with inadequate equipment.
The two
recent containership fires which raised concerns involve the 2015-built
NNCI Arauco which ignited during welding operations on September 1
while the ship was in Hamburg. Some 300 firefighters were deployed, the
vessel’s hold was sealed and flooded with CO₂, however, the attempt to
extinguish the fire failed. Water was then used for flooding the hatch
and stopped before stability problems occur. Finally, foam was used to
bring the fire under control.
The other fire incident occurred
on May 13, 2016, when Maersk Karachi caught fire due to welding
operations. More than 100 firefighters were deployed to control the
blaze and water monitors were needed to flood the hold to extinguish the
fire.
“At sea, below-deck fires cannot be fought with water and
so CO₂ is used instead to displace the oxygen and extinguish the fire.
However, if the fire is burning within a container, the box will protect
it from the CO₂ and so this method of fire-fighting is rarely
successful,” Uwe-Peter Schieder, Vice Chairman of IUMI’s Loss Prevention
Committee said.
He added that there are currently no other methods of fighting a containership fire below deck.
“Even
on deck, the crew only have access to hoses and nozzles. They do not
have sufficient monitors or foam and so cannot cool the vessel’s
structure,” Schieder said.
Apart from the SOLAS regulations,
IUMI is calling for further dialogue involving IMO, class, shipbuilders
and shipping companies to further improve firefighting capabilities
onboard containerships.
===========
IUMI calls for action on fires
Two recent fires onboard containership have increased concerns at IUMI
over the challenges involved with managing these incidents at sea
Uwe-Peter Schieder, Vice Chairman of the International Union of
Marine Insurance's Loss Prevention Committee, explains: “At sea,
below-deck fires cannot be fought with water and so CO₂ is used instead
to displace the oxygen and extinguish the fire.
"However, if the
fire is burning within a container, the box will protect it from the CO₂
and so this method of fire-fighting is rarely successful. Currently
there are no other methods of fighting a containership fire below deck.
Even on deck, the crew only have access to hoses and nozzles. They do
not have sufficient monitors or foam and so cannot cool the vessel’s
structure.”
IUMI is concerned that seafarers are being asked to
tackle onboard fires with inadequate equipment. The Association
highlights the unfortunate incident concerning MSC FLAMINIA where,
sadly, three seafarers lost their lives. The vessel burned for almost
six weeks, 70% of the cargo was destroyed and the ship was declared a
Constructive Total Loss (CTL).
IUMI is well aware of the SOLAS
regulations, but is calling for further dialogue involving IMO, class,
shipbuilders and shipping companies to further improve firefighting
capabilities onboard containerships. All stakeholders should work
together to identify sustainable solutions to protect lives and property
at sea. The two recent containership fires referenced by IUMI are:
NNCI
ARAUCO - 1 September 2016: A fire broke out whilst alongside in Hamburg
during welding operations and 300 firefighters were deployed. The hold
was sealed and flooded with CO₂, but this was unsuccessful. Water was
then used for flooding the hatch and stopped before stability problems
occur. Finally, foam was used to bring the fire under control.
MAERSK
KARACHI - 13 May 2016: A fire caused by welding operations needed more
than 100 firefighters to control the blaze. Water monitors were needed
to flood the hold to extinguish the fire.
Erin Head/TwitterErin Head posted this photo on Twitter with this caption:"Explosion at #spacex. Can't be good," Sept. 1, 2016.
