Human Behavior in Public Assembly Fires Think of that feeling you sometimes have when you awake and, for just a moment, you don't know where you are. That's the feeling people have in a fire... that it's not real, and couldn't be happening. Your mind is trying to reconcile what you are seeing. Panic is often pointed to as a primary cause of death in public assembly fires. The truth is, more deaths are caused by inaction, denial and fear of appearing foolish. The early stages of a public assembly fire are characterized by ambiguity, and are often misinterpreted by the public. In a restaurant, for example, smoke is often assumed to be from the kitchen and non-threatening. Also, the sequence of ordering, eating, paying is ingrained and rarely broken. Groups tend to rely on the staff for information. If the staff fails to provide leadership and direction, the evacuation is further delayed. Research Shows ... There is a strong sense of hierarchy in a fire emergency. Visitors look for and respond to leadership from the staff and management. Visitors do not use escape routes that are unfamiliar to them. The staff needs to make sure secondary exits are clearly posted and utilized in an emergency. Fire extinguishers are rarely used. The earliest cues to fires are strange noises like breaking glass and extra activity by others, not flames or smoke. Early behavior is characterized by uncertainty, misinterpretation, indecisiveness and seeking more information. This delay is critical because failure to act quickly in the incipient stage of a public assembly fire is a primary cause of death. The sound of a fire alarm is often met with indifference by both the public and staff. People tend to be skeptical, concluding that it's either a drill or a false alarm. |