Madrid Skyscraper Fire- Fully Involved 32 Story Building

[x635 4,066]

Man, this is like right out of a movie! I can't believe there were no systems in place to prevent this type of fire spread in such a large building. They say this fire was started by a candle. And only 200 firefighters responded. Guess not much you can do there.

Madrid's Biggest Fire Destroys Skyscraper

Sun Feb 13, 9:05 AM ET   Top Stories - Reuters  

 

By Jesus Aguado and Daniel Flynn  

MADRID (Reuters) - A fire described as the worst in Madrid's history ravaged a 32-story skyscraper in the Spanish capital's financial district on Sunday, causing no injuries, but the tower stayed upright despite fears of collapse.  

 

Slideshow: Fire Engulfs Madrid Skyscraper  

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/...3&a=0&t=&prev=2

More than 200 firefighters worked all night to quell the spectacular blaze in the Windsor building, the city's eighth largest tower that looms over the northern financial district.  

"We have confronted the most extensive fire that this city has ever had," Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon said.  

Seven firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.  

The flames had died down by Sunday afternoon but the fire was not declared under control.  

"You can't say there is total certainty that it won't fall down," Javier Sanz, fire chief for the Madrid region, told local television.  

At its peak, the fire lit up the Madrid sky like a huge torch as temperatures inside reached 1,000 degrees centigrade.  

Bright orange flames devoured the 106-meter-high building from the top down, stripping away its metal shell in twisted pieces to expose a smoldering concrete skeleton.  

Giant balls of flame billowed up into the night as parts of its sides collapsed, raining fire on to the street below. Surrounding buildings were evacuated and roads blocked.  

Officials said an electrical short circuit was the probable cause of the blaze which began on the 21st floor.  

The building, which houses the offices of U.S. accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, was completed in 1979.  

It lies next to a huge department store and just a short distance from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home to Real Madrid football club

Streets, shops and offices in the area and some sections of the Metro network will remain closed until officials are sure the building is safe, Ruiz Gallardon said.  

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was due to visit the scene on Sunday afternoon.  

The blazing tower evoked memories for many Spaniards of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York.  

[x635 4,066]

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Gotta love "fire resistive" construction.

I was shocked that the upper floors didn't completely come down for the amount of fire volume and for the amount of time it burned. Then again looking at the pictures it looks like it is a solid steel frame and not lighweight steel bar joist like that used in the WTC.

[Guest]

x635, I also don't understand why only 200 FFs are reported to have responded. Then again, that city has always been understaffed.

The Madrid Fire Brigade Service is organized as follows:

--- 4 Sectors containing 12 firehouses and 1,261 FFs (includes officers)

--- Covers a population of 3 million over 380 sq.miles

--- Eastern Sector = 354 FFs for 1.1 MM residents

--- Southern Sector = 325 FFs for 700 M residents

--- Central Sector = 322 FFs for 650 M residents

--- Northern Sector = 260 FFs for 500 M residents

[Truck4 48]

There's some great video from Rueters at Yahoo!News.

[Guest]

Here is a Photo Slideshow from Yahoo News. And yes, the video is great!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/...=ga&e=1&m=g&c=1

[Guest]

Madrid skyscraper faces collapse

Sections of a well-known Madrid office building 32 storeys high disintegrated on Sunday morning after a fire raged through the upper floors.

No one is believed to have been inside but firefighters say the entire structure is now at risk of collapsing.  

The fire was put out on Sunday evening, but officials say the building's skeleton could have been weakened by the high temperatures.  

Businesses and offices are to remain closed and transport has been diverted.  

Large pieces of the Windsor Building plunged to the ground as the blaze destroyed its top floors, sending columns of black smoke into the night.  

Nearby bars, nightclubs and blocks of flats were evacuated as flames ripped through the building, one of the capital's most emblematic structures.  

A spokesman for the fire services said the building in the business heart of Madrid was empty when the fire started.  

He said no civilians had been injured, but three firemen were being treated for smoke inhalation.  

Short-circuit theory

Several top floors have slumped onto lower ones, and Madrid fire chief Javier Sanz told local radio the 106m (350ft) tall building was still unstable.  

"It is clear the structure has been damaged and has suffered high temperatures, and we cannot be certain that a pillar, girder or some other structural element will not collapse," he said.  

The fire was put out shortly after 2000 (1900 GMT). Officials said the next 48 hours would be crucial in determining whether the structure would fall.

Source: BBC News- London

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Seeing some of the footage on Fox News and CNN last night, I would say 200 is all that was needed to maintain a perimeter. That building was fully involved and showing severe signs of collapse potential. Other then protecting the exposures and life safety, the building was gone, they did a great job.