The Observation Deck

Interesting article about condo construction in Florida and elsewhere.

Fire code allows wood frame if 4 stories or less. Any higher and it’s the more expensive concrete block. This encourages builders and developers to build a lot of similar 4 story structures, because they’re cheap.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tampab ... utType=amp

And this. More fires!
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features ... k-the-same

Some questions:
How much were they expecting to sell these units for?
How many other duplicate developments are there in this area or elsewhere?
Do those people know about this?
If not, who is going to tell them?
What recourse might they have?

Here is an opinion piece from a concrete guy. But still, knowledge and insight into the relatively recent changes to the IBC and UBC's in favor of, or enabling, wood.
https://www.richmond.com/opinion/column ... dbd77.html

More:
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/ ... to-6007834

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/woode ... index.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... story.html

References to 18-story-tall wood buildings - and taller! Um, nope, not me!

Well we can all appreciate that builders will take the cheapest route. It’s the AMERICAN way.

But back to the concern over this happening in Lakewood. Our densely packed homes, all old and mostly wood, are vulnerable. Will numerous new MultiFamily construction made of wood and placed in close proximity to existing homes present a potential fire hazard?

What is Lakewood doing to protect existing housing stock. Is new construction going to be scrutinized sufficiently?

A photo of the fire from the Mather Museum on East 9th, photo sent in by Brian James

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Bridget Conant wrote:The Fire Marshall is reporting today that there are no signs of a criminal act that would cause the fire that destroyed the Rockport River development.

The exact cause has yet to be determined, however, and they will continue to search for answers.

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The extraordinary nature of this fire in terms of time of day and week, extreme speed, and total destruction leads us to expectation of the State Fire Marshall's findings.

More photos still coming in...


This was sent in by Ed Waltz, of what the fire looked like from his house on Atkins Avenue.!


Two days later.

Rocky River Police and Fire said, "nothing suspicious, more after investigators work the scene.

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I don't understand "nothing suspicious" . . . .are they trying to say that it was spontaneous combustion? It was a Sunday, were there workers at the site prior to this happening?

Amy Martin wrote:I don't understand "nothing suspicious" . . . .are they trying to say that it was spontaneous combustion? It was a Sunday, were there workers at the site prior to this happening?

Amy

Yes they are trying to investigate. No one has mentioned spontaneous combustion, yet.

There were workers on site Sunday afternoon. I am not sure what they were doing.

The woman who lived next door in the brick ranch said she had no seen anyone on the site, but others have reported seeing workers that afternoon.

Also there is a couple more amazing lines that cross in this fire happening. It would seem about 20 years ago, a move was made from brick and mortar 3,4,5 story buildings, the national trend went to wood. I was speaking with one person that remembers a lawsuit in Fairview Park, as their regulations were tougher than the state. In the end Fairview Park was forced to adopt less stringent State Rules. Does this have anything to do with it who knows.

Also sent to me was an article about the gold spot in building. In wood construction, the sprinklers, then the walls, then the activation of sprinklers happen. So until that is done these buildings are nothing but a pile of kiln dried wood, ready to burn. IT is also at about this stage, that if enough units are sold, and it is insured, it becomes a break even possibility, or even make a little money. I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS HAPPENING HERE.

The national trend shows this is the most dangerous part of new buildings, and that while this seems to be a growing problem, it is not linked with growing criminal activity.

I believe because of the size of the fire, the speed that it grew, and the final outcome is one of the reasons why Rocky River Police issued the nothing suspicious press release.

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So there were workers there Sunday?

I go by almost every day. There would be activity a few days in a row, then nothing for a week, then activity at night or on a weekend. It seemed very odd to me but it’s not my business.

But it did make me wonder what was going on there. Was there a schedule or not?

Bridget Conant wrote:So there were workers there Sunday?

I go by almost every day. There would be activity a few days in a row, then nothing for a week, then activity at night or on a weekend. It seemed very odd to me but it’s not my business.

But it did make me wonder what was going on there. Was there a schedule or not?

Bridget

I am sure the police will figure out what they were doing.

I would point out that the new Food Truck Park had people working on Sunday. As did the "Hole In Daddy's City Where The Money Goes" had workmen on Sunday as well.

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Jim

That’s odd. Must be non-union? Unions get double time on Sunday and neither project looks to be able to afford that.

Doesn’t the hospital project have a union agreement?

I mean, they heavily funded and promoted the deal during the election!

A couple more before we close this gallery out.


In the circle is the box coming down that was blown out onto I-90, catching grasses on fire.


Now knowing there was a 5,000 gallon propane tank right in the front of the fire, this was probably not real safe.


Wall of fire across Hillard.


The wires burning in the flames.


Wall of flame.







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These photos are fascinating, and the scenes in them are terrible. Yikes.