$15 Million Sight and Sound Theater Fire and Building Collapse - (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - January 1997) » Key Issues

Issues	Comments
Fire Origin	Welding operations caused the fire.
Sprinkler System Waived	The requirement for sprinklers in the high hazard storage area under the stage was offset for a central alarmed smoke detector system and 2-hour fire walls.
Alarm System Failure	The alarm system failed to notify the county fire communications center and contributed to a delayed response.
Employees Delayed Report of Fire	The fire was discovered by theater employees who used fire extinguishers for several minutes before calling 911.
Structural Failure	Construction on the stage floor damaged the sprayed-on fire-resistant coating of steel structural members. The rapid fire spread caused early structural failure of the stage floor and contributed to fire extension
Water Supply Eliminated	The water supply pond originally intended to provide water for fire suppression was eliminated to accommodate the addition of a prop manufacturing building.
Lack of Compartmentalization	Several additions to the original theater connected the main structure to the maintenance buildings. The additional construction increased the overall size of the complex and compromised the compartmentalization. The high hazard storage area was not discretely separated from the rest of the structure.
Lack for Exterior Fire Streams Access	Lack of windows prevented exterior fire streams from being effective until the roof collapsed.
Inadequate Staff Training	The theater staff and the fire department had not trained together on managing a fire emergency in this technically and tactically challenging complex facility.
Pre-Fire Planning	The fire department was not familiar with the new additions and the increased potential risk to firefighter safety.
Fire Department Tactical Operations	The initial fire attack was conducted with under-sized handlines, inadequate for the heavy fuel load in the building.
Lack of Local Fire Code	There was no mandate for local government, fire officials, and local building owners to coordinate to ensure fire safe occupancies.

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