Dodger Stadium Fire

The following story from Yahoo! Sports http://yhoo.it/iUwQvM

Sing it with me: The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire!

Thousands might have dusted off that old-school hit at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night as it appeared that the roof literally was on fire in the right-field upper deck. Smoke began billowing into the seating area of the ballpark during the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-1 lossto the Florida Marlins.

Thousands of fans were moved from the affected sections and relocated to another part of the stadium. (As L.A. Times reporter Steve Dilbeckpointed out, there were plenty of empty sections to move to, with an announced crowd of 29,971 on hand.)

No one was evacuated from the park, but some reportedly suffered from smoke irritation. The smoke wafted from the upper tiers of the ballpark down to the lower levels, and eventually reached center field. Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan(notes)definitely noticed something wrong in the air.

From the Palm Beach Post:

"I could smell that smoke and I was like, 'That ain't a hot-dog stand.' Then I saw this huge puff and I said, 'Oh, my God, this place is on fire and we're still playing,' " [he] said.

No, it wasn't a hot dog stand ablaze.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire originated from a small warehouse below the reserved level. Officials on the scene said a small fire of paper products was the cause of the smoke, and was put out by firefighters in 20 minutes.

The stadium's public address announcer informed the crowd of the situation during the sixth inning, assuring them that the fire was under control and there was no need to evacuate the ballpark.

Ultimately, it was yet another bizarre incident in a season full of off-the-field embarrassment for the Dodgers.

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Memorial Grilling

Each year fire departments respond to approximately 7,700 grill related fires. As Memorial Day approaches, here are a few tips to ensure a safe grilling day.

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.

• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

• Keep children and pets away from the grill area. 

• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.

• Never leave your grill unattended. 

• Use only charcoal starter fluid.  

• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

More grilling safety tips and fact sheets available from  the National Fire Protection Association at NFPA.org.

Specific codes related to grills can be found in NFPA 1:10:

1:10.11.3 - Open fires and cooking fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished.  This person shall have a garden hose connected to the water supply or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

1:10.11.7 [applicable only to multi-family residences] - no hibachi, gas-fired grill, charcoal grill, or other similar devices used for cooking, heating, or any other purpose, shall be used or kindled on any balcony or under any overhanging portion or within 10 ft. or any structure.  Listed electric ranges, grills, or similar electrical apparatus shall be permitted.


Grill the perfect steak at Kingsford Univeristy.

Code Violation?

Where do all these fire codes, standards, and regulations come from? How can I find out what fire codes apply to my business or property? What are they looking for during an inspection? Is that really a code violation?

All these fire codes are available on-line at NFPA.org (National Fire Protection Association). 

Here's how to access them:

• From NFPA.org select 'Codes & Standards'

• From 'Codes & Standards' select 'List of NFPA Codes & Standards'

• Select the desired code based on code number or name (most relevant codes are found in NFPA 1 or NFPA 101)

• Scroll down to the section that says 'View the document online', click on the desired edition

• At this point you will be prompted to enter or create a login (quick and free).

• Click 'I agree' to the terms and conditions

• Select 'Open' at the top of the screen that follows.

You can nowly freely read any codes and standards that you may need.

Many municipalities have their own fire codes that go along with state/national adopted fire codes.  Many of these city/county ordinances are available from municode.com. Here is a sample from my jurisdiction Martin County Code of Ordinances.

This video was produced by inspector911.com.



Redneck Mansion

There's a code for that:

NFPA 501A:6.2.1.2

Vertical Positioning of Manufactured Homes.  Manufactured homes shall not be positioned vertically, stacked with one over the other, in whole or in part, unless the structure is designed and approved for such installation and permitted by the authority having jurisdiction.