damn

[Egnalf]

this sucks anytime but even more the week before Christmas

https://www.inquirer.com/news/south-philadelphia-fire-explosion-neighbors-20191220.html?utm_campaign=Philly.com+Facebook+Account&utm_medium=social&cid=Philly.com+Facebook&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR26ukw6cniVIphg7Y_I4sc1Y5OR_4HP9xGv8WzXDxcfiK7MUBkNi6Tn0JQ

[MadInNc]

Good to see “love thy neighbor” is remembered and practiced.

[SnikPlosskin]

Holy hell. How does that happen?!

[z06psi]

Holy hell. How does that happen?!

My wife grew up 4 blocks over from this.


Shithole. :yesnod:

[Aerovette]

If that was a boiler, those things are like working around nukes. I believe we have an expert here at the Barn actually.

[69camfrk]

I figured a gas leak. I'm assuming the boilers are natural gas/propane fired? If it is a boiler, I guess it would be fatigued metal, over pressure, etc. that makes it go off like a bomb. Crazy....

[BOTY]

:sadangel:

[Rodnok1]

Probably a gas leak as boilers explode but unless huge wouldn't take out 3 buildings.

[Egnalf]

Holy hell. How does that happen?!

likely a gas explosion. how it can happen: homeowner or shady contractor does improper work creating a leak. once thequantity reaches the range required to blow, a flick of light switch, appliance lighting off or another source of ignition occurs, it goes boom. could also be cheap flex connector broke, or someone had a death wish and did it intentionally.

[Egnalf]

If that was a boiler, those things are like working around nukes. I believe we have an expert here at the Barn actually.

even large industrial boilers are nowhere near as complicated as nukes. in fact, they are quite safe when operated and serviced properly.

[Rikki Z-06]

:sadangel:

[Aerovette]

There are axes behind glass that say "In Case of Fire Break Glass". While it's an effective rescue tool, you still are potentially exposing yourself to fire while waiting for fire trucks. It would seem (especially for row houses) that access to fire hoses would be far more practical. If each row house had 20 feet of hose in a tamper resistant box that alarmed when opened, these neighbors could assemble hose from the hydrant to the house long before the fire department shows up. If foam is needed, you are no worse off than if there were no hose at all. You wait for foam but at least spray the rescue area.

:island14:

[Egnalf]

There are axes behind glass that say "In Case of Fire Break Glass". While it's an effective rescue tool, you still are potentially exposing yourself to fire while waiting for fire trucks. It would seem (especially for row houses) that access to fire hoses would be far more practical. If each row house had 20 feet of hose in a tamper resistant box that alarmed when opened, these neighbors could assemble hose from the hydrant to the house long before the fire department shows up. If foam is needed, you are no worse off than if there were no hose at all. You wait for foam but at least spray the rescue area.

:island14:

obviously you aren't a city slicker. in large cities folks tend to use the hydrants in summer for cooling off. the hydrants use a special stem with a triangular head in effort to prevent tampering. folks use vise grips and such to open them, and ruin the heads. this can make it difficult to open in emergency. regardless, allowing use means thousands of gallons of treated water get losts and on really hot days this causes pressurization issues.

[Aerovette]

obviously you aren't a city slicker. in large cities folks tend to use the hydrants in summer for cooling off. the hydrants use a special stem with a triangular head in effort to prevent tampering. folks use vise grips and such to open them, and ruin the heads. this can make it difficult to open in emergency. regardless, allowing use means thousands of gallons of treated water get losts and on really hot days this causes pressurization issues.

How is having access to hoses related? :island14:

[Egnalf]

How is having access to hoses related? :island14:

where would you connect those hoses and what fluid would you run through them?

[Aerovette]

where would you connect those hoses and what fluid would you run through them?


I'm addressing a single problem of the delay in getting a truck to the scene. Anything is better than nothing, but a bucket brigade or a garden hose won't get it done. If the hydrants are already getting tampered with, at least this tampering is for a worthy cause.

The box storing the hose triggers an alarm. The neighbors pull the hose from the box that could have the tool for turning on the hydrant in it. Several neighbors may have to pull fire hoses from their homes as well in order to reach. Turn it on and spray while waiting. Minutes matter. Even if you are only spraying a doorway fro someone to get out.

One can find fault with the concept of a Kleenex tissue if they want, but again, something>nothing.

No, I'm not a city slicker, but I live near a hydrant and if me and three neighbors can get a jump on the VFD, I'm all for it.

[simpleman68]

I figured a gas leak. I'm assuming the boilers are natural gas/propane fired? If it is a boiler, I guess it would be fatigued metal, over pressure, etc. that makes it go off like a bomb. Crazy....

:iagree: Almost certainly the case. All of the Northeast has really old construction compared to the rest of the US and many of our gas lines and feeders are antiquated.

Every month they are ripping up streets around here to replace old lines because somebody reported smelling gas.
Explosions are not uncommon, sadly.

I'm glad we're in a hood where the old homes were built in 2004 :dance:
Contractors take short cuts and put in cheap ass lighting and siding but the homes are really solid and have modern construction technology.
Scott