Construction and renovation fires
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Construction and renovation are common circumstances for fires, which present particular difficulties to firefighters.
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During construction, buildings often do not have elements that would protect them from fire, such as walls and sprinkler systems.[1] Poor water supplies and the accumulation of flammable materials also present risks.[2] Works often require heat or even open flame, and these can set off fires that smoulder for hours before being noticed. For this reason, work sites may need 24-hour fire watches.[3]
Builder's risk insurance may cover damage from such fires.
Probable cause found |
Cause unknown |
Under investigation |
| Fire | Date | Probable cause | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Boniface Cathedral | 1968 | started in roof by worker's cigarette | [4] |
| Nantes Cathedral | 1972 | an oxy-fuel torch used in the attic | [5] |
| Montreal Biosphere | 1976 | spark from a welding torch being used on steel girders; welder's extinguisher proved empty, so fire spread to the acrylic glazing | [6] |
| Hotel Margaret, Brooklyn | 1980 | possibly caused by space heater used by workers[failed verification] | [7] |
| Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, Massachusetts | 1982 | blowtorch set fire to roof timbers during restoration | [8] |
| Uppark, Sussex | 1989 | roof re-leading | [9] |
| Windsor Castle | 1992 | incandescent spotlight, permanently installed too close to the altar curtains behind which it was hidden, was accidentally turned on by restorers unfamiliar with the light switches; curtain decomposed over several days | [3][10][11] |
| Limoges-Bénédictins station | 1998 | thermal conduction to timbers from hot working of copper roofing during restoration | [12] |
| Central Synagogue, Manhattan | 1998 | blowtorch used to install air conditioning on roof | [13] |
| University of Kentucky Main Building | 2001 | thought to be welding torch used to repair guttering | [14][15] |
| St. Catherine's Church, Gdańsk | 2006 | started in roof, short circuit of a tinkered cable | [16] |
| Trinity Cathedral, Saint Petersburg | 2006 | originated in exterior scaffolding[vague] | [17][18] |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | 2008 | started when worker used blowtorch to heat asphalt shingles | [19] |
| Heydar Aliyev Center | 2012 | negligent use of welding equipment | [20] |
| Hôtel Lambert, Paris | 2013 | under investigation, started in roof | [21][22] |
| Basilica of St. Donatian and St. Rogatian, Nantes | 2015 | oxy-fuel torch used to repair lead gutter.[23] | [5] |
| Battersea Arts Centre, London | 2015 | under investigation, started in roof | [24][25] |
| Mackintosh Building, Glasgow School of Art (2018) | 2018 | 2022 investigation report could not identify cause | [26] |
| Notre-Dame de Paris | 2019 | under investigation; as of 2020[update], thought to be either a cigarette or a short circuit in the temporary wiring for the reconstruction works | [3][27] |
| Børsen | 2024 | under investigation | [28] |
| Fire | Date | Probable cause | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS Normandie | 1942 | sparks from a welding torch, during conversion to troopship | |
| MS Bergensfjord | 1980 | fire broke out during reconstruction work[how?] | [29] |
| Cutty Sark | 2007 | industrial vacuum cleaner was left on overnight and overheated; 24-hour firewatchers were absent and keeping false inspection logs | [30][31] |
| USS Miami (SSN-755) | 2012 | arson | |
| USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) | 2020 | accusations of arson were not upheld in court |
