Fire Flash Over responsible for loss of life at Camp St. jail – Investigator

The Station Officer told the Commission of Inquiry investigating the deadly blaze that the fire was lit from the ground level of the cell, allowing for a rise in heat and flames to the ceiling.

Fire Flash Over responsible for loss of life at Camp St. jail   – Investigator

Fire Investigator Andrew Holder has rubbished claims that the use of tear gas might have accelerated the recent fire within the Camp Street Prison which killed 17 prisoners.

Supported by his extensive training in fire investigation in the United Kingdom, Japan and across the Caribbean, Holder said he is convinced that it was a phenomenon he described as a “flash over” that was responsible for the damage and loss of lives caused by the fire.

The Station Officer told the Commission of Inquiry investigating the deadly blaze that the fire was lit from the ground level of the cell, allowing for a rise in heat and flames to the ceiling.

He said that development would begin to deplete the oxygen in the room while releasing carbon monoxide which has the ability to cause suffocation, dizziness and after a prolonged period, render fire victims unconscious.

Several prisoners had come before the Commission over the last weeks and testified that tear gas was thrown into the cell where the prisoners had lit fire.

It was speculated that the tear gas abetted the blaze and assisted in causing the deadly destruction. Holder said he didn’t wish to comment on tear gas’ relation to fire but believes that no tear smoke was thrown into the building.

But the Fire Investigator believes that the rare phenomenon was responsible, saying that he did not experience the lingering effects of tear gas.

He explained that it follows a rise in temperature during indoor fires degrees between 500 to 600.

“When a flash over happens everything in the room catches fire, everything… beds, clothing timber, even human beings,” Holder said.

He said the fire would continue to burn until all flammable material in the room would have been consumed by the fire.

He said clothing and mattresses would be the first to catch fire while pointing out that there was no measurement of time that can be affixed to identifying how long after the fire started that the flash over occurred. He believes the flash over occurred before the Fire Fighters arrived at the prison.

He said post mortem observation of the bodies of the burnt prisoners, can determine if they perished as a result of the flash over or other injuries.

The Investigator also believes that the heat from the room may have caused swelling to the steel door, thereby hampering rescue operations.

He interviewed several inmates whose information was valuable to the cause of the fire. His conclusion on the cause of the fire is that the fire occurred as a result of prisoners setting fire to mattresses within the prison, it utilized a flow pattern and engulfed nearby combustibles in its path, giving rise to flash over.

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