Tag Archives: Fire Management

by | November 9, 2013 · 11:27 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Risk Management: “Security Alert! Check The Security Of Your Hotel’s Knox Boxes Frequently” By Todd Seiders, CLSD, Petra Risk Solutions

Security Alert! Check The Security Of Your Hotel’s Knox Boxes Frequently

by Todd Seiders, CLSD

Check your Knox Boxes! A Knox Box, known officially as the KNOX-BOX Rapid Entry System, is a small, wall-mounted safe-like box that holds building keys for firefighters and EMTs to retrieve in emergencies. In many jurisdictions, the local Fire Department requires that a Knox Box be located outside of your hotel (check with your local Fire Department for requirements; some jurisdictions may not require hotels to have one), for their use only, in the event of an emergency. The Knox Box has a complete set of the hotel’s master keys locked inside this box.

Knox Boxes simplify key control for local fire departments. Local fire companies can hold master keys to all such boxes in their response area, so that they can quickly enter a building without having to force entry or find individual keys held in deposit at the fire station. Sometimes Knox Boxes are linked via radio to the dispatch station, where the dispatcher can release the keys with telecommunication tone signaling over analog phone lines.

Knox Boxes have advantages and disadvantages for both business owners and emergency responders. The main advantage for their use is that they cut fire losses for building owners since firefighters can more quickly enter buildings without breaking doors or windows. The disadvantage of the system is that it provides a single point of failure for security. If the key to a district’s Knox Boxes is stolen or copied, a thief can enter any building that has a Knox Box. Likewise, if the locking mechanism or structural integrity of the box is compromised, a thief can gain access to the keys and hence access to the entire building. For this reason some building owners wire Knox Boxes into their burglar alarm systems so that opening the box trips the alarm, thus negating its use in facilitating clandestine entry.

Knox Boxes are an actual miniature safe designed to withstand tampering and are built in a variety of sizes ranging from a box designed for two keys to one designed to hold hazardous material information and multiple keys. Prices start at approximately $250.00. Most Knox Boxes are mounted onto a wood or steel mounting with the screws or bolts covered.

Todd Seiders Petra Risk SolutionsYet, this does not mean that Knox Boxes are indestructible or cannot be removed from their mounting with force. We have recently seen many of these Knox Boxes forcefully removed from their wall mountings and stolen from the property. In several cases the thieves then returned to the hotel with the master keys and stole items.

In one theft at a hotel the thieves specifically used the master keys to access the storage room for the hotel night audit packets and guest files. The thieves stole hundreds of night audit packets containing the names, addresses and credit card numbers of previous guests. Obviously, hotels can be held liable for breach of guests’ personal information or loss of their credit card data.

So, what should hoteliers do? Secure your night audit packets/files in a secure room that has a hard metal key, rather than a magnetic key card lock. There should only be one or two hotel employees that have access to the night audit storage room, and storage room keys. Secure these files separately, and control all access to them. DO NOT include a key to this storage room in your Knox Box, or on your “master key ring”, or even leave this key unattended in a key box. The night audit file storage room key should be kept separate from all other keys.

As for the hotel’s Knox Box, local ordinances may require that your property have a Knox Box in the event of an emergency. If so, follow these suggestions:

  • Check that your Knox Box is solidly secured to its location, using numerous heavy duty screws or bolts to make it extremely hard to remove.
  • Relocate your Knox Box to a well lit area, and in view of security cameras, if your property has them.
  • Add a visual inspection of the Knox Box to your property inspection form and security tours so it will be inspected on a regular basis. This will let you know in a timely manner if someone has tried to remove it, or has in fact actually removed or damaged. Immediately re-key the entire hotel if the Knox Box is stolen or the keys inside come up missing. 

Pictured above: Here’s what some of the various Knox Boxes look like.

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(Todd Seiders, CLSD, is director of risk management for Petra Risk Solutions, which provides a full-range of risk management and insurance services for hospitality owners and operators. Their website is: www.petrarisksolutions.com. Todd can be reached at 800-466-8951 or via e-mail at: todds@petrarisksolutions.com.)  

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by | October 21, 2012 · 6:57 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Mississippi Hotel Fire Causes $4 Million In Damage As Roof And Most Of Third Floor Rooms Destroyed; Heavy Water Damage To Lower Floors

“…Three-quarters of the roof is gone, along with the tower over the elevator shaft, which collapsed… Most of the third floor rooms were damaged or destroyed by fire and the lower floors inundated by water from the fire hoses…”

Federal investigators have joined the investigation into Wednesday’s fire at a Howard Johnson Inn on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The fire burned through the roof of the three-story hotel, doing an estimated $4 million in damage. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will help state and local officials determine the origin and cause of the fire, says Joel Lee, who leads the ATF’s Gulfport field office.

Four Jackson County fire departments responded to the blaze at the hotel Wednesday, which is in the unincorporated St. Martin community north of Ocean Springs. The fire burned for more than three hours.

Officials said the fire spread because the older building lacked the fireproofing required by building codes in newer structures. Another fire damaged the hotel in 2010.

For more:  http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/oct/20/federal-agency-joins-hotel-fire-investigation-ar-4794171/

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by | September 15, 2012 · 6:18 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Motels "Non-Compliant" For Failing To Install Manual Fire Alarms With Specific Decibel Levels; Cost Of New Systems Estimated At $10,000

“…The problem at each motel was either a lack of manual fire alarms or an insufficiently loud fire alarm…the specific fire code, chapter 4603.6.5.1, specifies that hotels or motels with 20 rooms or more must install manual pull systems with specific decibel levels…the cost of installing fire alarm systems at $10,000-$15,000…”

The city of Columbia charged two motels — The Deluxe Inn and America’s Best Value — on Aug. 30 for failing to install manual fire alarms. They are among seven motels found non-compliant with the international fire code after an inspection last year, said Columbia Fire Marshal Brad Fraizer. The motels were given one year after Aug. 25, 2011, to make the necessary adjustments.

Two of the original establishments cited, Super 7 and Motel 6, have since complied, but the other five are currently in violation of a city ordinance related to fire code non-compliance.

They are misdemeanor violations of two city ordinances (sections 9-21 and 9-22), which also violate Chapter 46 of the International Fire Code. According to City Prosecutor Steven Richey, the other three motels are being reviewed for compliance.

The state then makes a sentence recommendation to the judge, who will apply it based on motel and fire department statements about what they’re doing to comply. The city ordinance violations carry fines of between $1 and $1,000 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment.

The fire department was unable to specify which of the motels in question did not have fire alarms and which simply had alarms without the proper noise level.

“There was a range of violations with some hotels not possessing the systems and others that didn’t have the proper decibel levels,” Fraizer said.

For more: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/09/14/columbia-hotels-lacking-fire-alarms-working-towards-compliance/

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by | February 26, 2012 · 8:23 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: Hawaii Hotel Restaurant Fire Caused By "Gas Leak Behind Oven"; Originally Thought To Have Started In Grease Trap

“…Firefighters originally believed the fire had been started in the oven’s grease trap. However, twenty minutes later the fire reignited… Firefighters then discovered a gas leak behind the oven. Gas service was cut off to the restaurants fed by the line, and the fire extinguished…”

Fire safety officials will return to the Ala Moana Hotel later Wednesday after a fire broke out overnight at the Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant inside the hotel.  When firefighters arrived at the hotel shortly before 2 a.m., they found hotel staff using fire extinguishers to put out flames on the third floor restaurant.A hotel guest told KITV4’s Ryan Kalei Tsuji he was never alerted by a fire alarm. 
 
 The Ala Moana Hotel said an initial alarm was sounded, but the fire was quickly contained so guests could remain in their rooms. The hotel said the Honolulu Fire Department determined that a hotel evacuation was not necessary.Read more: http://www.kitv.com/news/30515611/detail.html#ixzz1nVKkYksE

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by | January 5, 2012 · 6:42 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Florida Hotel Fire Possibly Caused By Guest "Manufacturing Drugs"; $35,000 In Property Damage And Contents Loss

“…firefighters suspected that the room could have been used to manufacture drugs. Investigators noted that the occupant was seen “running away with soot and possibly with burns…”

 “Heavy fire was coming from the 4th floor southeast corner” when crews began to arrive at the hotel…

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating to determine what caused a 1:00 a.m. hotel fire that resulted in the evacuation of dozens of guests and racked up an estimated $35,000 in property damage and contents loss during the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

First responders launched an immediate search for victims, evacuated guests on adjoining floors, established a water supply and began to attack the flames.

Once extinguished, crews searched for additional fire above, behind and beside the fire room, Aviles said. “Once the fire was extinguished crews left the scene intact for incoming investigators.” According to the fire report, the major damage was confined to the 4th floor hotel room and did not spread.

Sheriff’s representative Chuck Mulligan told reporters this afternoon that the police may have located the occupant of the room, however, details have not yet been confirmed.

For more:  http://www.historiccity.com/2012/staugustine/news/florida/injuries-reported-ramada-inn-fire-morning-21950

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by | November 28, 2011 · 6:36 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Damage Risks: Texas Hotel Fire "Contained By Protective Water Sprinkler"

 “…a fire protection sprinkler is what prevented the fire from spreading and causing major fire damage.  A restoration company is currently at the hotel conducting clean up…”

Fire investigation determined the fire was unintentional and caused by food cooking in a microwave. 

A fire that could have turned out to be an inferno was kept contained by a protective water sprinkler after a fire broke out at an apartment on Sunday night.

Temple Fire & Rescue responded to a fire at the Candlewood Suites, 1850 Scott Boulevard.

Firefighters arrived at 7:36 p.m. and found smoke in the hallway on the second floor.  Upon making entry into one of the rooms, they located the fire which was quickly extinguished. The fire was under control by 8:10 p.m.

For more:  http://www.kxxv.com/story/16134214/water-sprinkler-prevents-major-fire-damage

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by | July 10, 2011 · 5:20 pm

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: Maryland Hotel Suffers Over $3 Million In Structural And Content Damage As Fire Alarms Successfully Assist Evacuation, Limiting Injuries

A four-alarm fire that injured three people and caused several million dollars in damages to a Days Inn hotel in Catonsville began in a locked storage room, Baltimore County fire investigators said Sunday.

Guests said they heard fire alarms go off, then encountered heavy smoke in the hallway.

The cause of the fire on the seventh floor at the Days Inn at 5701 Baltimore National Pike is still under investigation, said Elise Armacost, director of public information for the Baltimore County Fire Department and Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Authorities contradicted earlier reports from hotel patrons blaming the fire on smoking materials.

Fire dispatchers were notified of an alarm at the Days Inn at 8:14 p.m. Saturday. Engine 13 of Westview station arrived first and found billowing smoke. The fire escalated to four alarms and involved nearly 70 pieces of equipment, including units from Howard and Carroll counties, Baltimore city and other jurisdictions, officials said.

Firefighters evacuated about 160 patrons from the building and the guests were relocated to other hotels and motels.

Two guests suffered minor injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals. One firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries.   Fire investigators estimate that the fire caused about $2.5 million worth of damage to the hotel and about $1 million to the hotel’s contents.

“We heard the fire alarm go off, then stop, and go off again,” said Omar Oliver of Landover, who was visiting with Theresa Tolson and had rented a third-floor room.

“We called downstairs and they said it was nothing, just somebody playing with the fire alarm,” Oliver said. “Then the TV went out and we started to smell smoke.”

At least one guest was evacuated from an upper floor down a fire department ladder.

For more:  http://elkridge.patch.com/articles/four-alarm-hotel-fire-began-in-locked-storage-room

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by | June 27, 2011 · 11:35 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: Florida Hotel Is Nearly Destroyed By Fire Caused By Faulty Electrical System And Faulty Sprinklers, Extinguishers Fail To Work

“…the building had a series of problems, including a broken sprinkler system, empty fire extinguishers and smoke detectors without batteries…the building had electrical problems, too, including a sparking outlet in his room. The motel capped the outlet instead of fixing it…”

“…the fire spread from single room, got into the attic and raced throughout building, destroying nearly everything…”

A fire that caused the roof to collapse and burn through a wing of a 430-room Kissimmee motel late Sunday is still burning this morning. Eight people, including two firefighters, have been hospitalized from injuries caused by the blaze at the Vacation Lodge, which essentially functioned as an apartment complex.

The fire investigation, which will likely start Tuesday, will look into the alleged problems with the sprinkler system. Micheal White, who paid $135 a week to live in Room 1230, said he heard an explosion in Room 1305 before the fire broke out.

He said the motel has been in news recently after the water was shut off for 27 days for nonpayment.  He did not know if complex was built with firewalls designed to contain fires.

For more:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/os-kissimmee-hotel-fire-20110626,0,2952712.story

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by | May 6, 2011 · 6:15 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: South Carolina Hotel Completes Major Renovations After "Dry-Storage Area" Fire Breaks Out In Restaurant

“…The Surfside Beach Resort has been undergoing major renovations to the 160-room building since October, when a fire broke out in a dry-storage area in the resort’s restaurant…”

“…The fire caused smoke and structural damage, prompting hotel management to move forward with not only restoration of the smoke-damaged areas, but an entire facelift of the building…structural repair and insurance issues were worked out before proceeding with the makeover…”

Renovations are kicking into full gear at one Surfside Beach hotel, in hopes of re-opening its doors to guests by mid-May. Joel Coker, general manager for the Surfside Beach Resort, said Thursday the bulk of renovations to the hotel only began 24 days ago. He says structural repair and insurance issues were worked out before proceeding with the makeover.

Rooms damaged by the October fire have been completely renovated, while undamaged rooms received upgrades. Improvements to the rooms include new beds and bedding, bathrooms, furniture and carpet.

Coker says he believes guests already have rooms booked starting May 17. “Bike Week is extremely busy now,” Coker mentioned. “Of course, it’s affected us with the decisions in Myrtle Beach a few years back. We could lose $100,000 easy that week – or more.”

The Surfside Beach Resort estimates it lost $1 million in guest revenue as a result of renovation efforts. The resort must undergo a handful of inspections – including building, fire and health – before it is allowed to re-open.

For more:  http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/14583174/hotel-damaged-by-october-eyes-may-re-opening

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by | April 25, 2011 · 7:04 am

Hospitality Industry Fire Risks: Oklahoma Hotel Is Consumed By Fire Caused By "Electrical Short" But Fire Extinguishers And Good Escape Plans Prevent Tragedy

A three-alarm fire at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites near Mustang Rd. and I-40 forced people onto the streets as flames and smoke overtook their rooms.

“…Driven by the wind, flames quickly spread into the rafters and began pouring out of the roof…. Fire officials say the fire appears to have been caused by an electrical short…”

John Thompson works at the hotel and tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers. He went through four of them before giving up and evacuating the area.

“We could only put out what was exposed,” Thompson said. “So, we knew it was a losing battle when it traveled.”

“Initially our concern was the wind. We had a pretty good breeze that was blowing through here and heavy smoke that was drifting all the way across Reno Avenue,” OKC Battalion Chief Greg Lindsay said.

Occupants in one of the rooms saw smoke coming from underneath the floor and pulled a fire alarm. Everyone was evacuated safely including two people who had to be rescued by ladder.

“Everything worked like it was supposed to and everybody was able to get out,” Lindsay said.

For more:  http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-fires-apt-hotel-story,0,1882611.story

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