At Least 12 Die in Shanghai Apartment Bldg Fire

[raybrag]

A 30-story apartment building in Shanghai burned . . . at least 12 dead, many jumpers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40190224/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

and

http://shanghaiist.com/

 

[Bulldog]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/15/china.building.fire/index.html?hpt=T2

 

[raybrag]

When was the last time you saw a 30-story building fully involved???

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-518934

 

[Bulldog]

Interesting video of a rescue from the scaffolding.  The shuttle platform on the tower ladder looks like a great way to bring people down to safety!  Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?

Video of Deadly Shanghai Fire - NYTimes.com.flv

 

[raybrag]

They've been around for a long time.  I lived in Korea more than 30 years ago, and the Seoul FD had a number of them (Japanese; Isuzu/Moritas, I think).  They made a Korean movie just outside my apartment building while I lived there, and used one for one of the scenes in the movie.  It was fascinating to watch them use it (over & over again until the director was happy with the shoot).  I've got photos of it somewhere . . . I'll try to find them & post them.


Here's a link to their current apparatus:

http://www.morita119.com/en/fire_engine/ladder/turn_table.html

 

[guitarman314]

They believe the fire was caused by that old culprit, a welder's torch. Arrests have been made and it appears that 4 welders were operating their torches improperly. The scaffolding was made of bamboo covered with other material so that helped make this fire what it was.