So sensors and fire sprinklers are only activated by a temperature of 160 degrees plus or minus 3 degrees and that only the sprinkler that has the heat will go off not all sprinkler heads will go off. As far as the sensor goes they will only activate if there is CO in the air, so the smoke machines will not set off the sensor. (Former Fire Inspector)
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Fire at FoLK at AK?
- Thread starter Ignohippo
- Start date
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Thanks Satin!
so, this means no real smoke, it was just the fog machine producing excessive fog?
If one of the fog machines was shorting out you would smell smoke but no wood smoke more of electrical wires (casing) melting and IMO this is what people were smelling and panicked. If you look at the video the back stage personnel were aware of the situation as the big garage door was already opened and they were probably getting ready to take the prop out back and deal with it, but when someone yells fire and scrambles for the exit of course you will get others panicked and that is when you hear the announcement sound for the theater. IMO the crew had everything under control and was trying to keep it quiet and let the show continue but when you get one person to yell fire and not see flames then you cause a mass panic. I watched this video multiply times and was looking for flames but did not see any, so to yell fire is not something to say and cause panic. The staff knew what they were doing and were acting on it and were more than likely following protocols for such an event and the show would have gone on without anyone noticing BUT when you get one knucklehead to yell fire is not a good idea. So for future events please let the staff determine when to execute the evacuation procedures and not someone yelling fire.
mm52200
Well-Known Member
After watching that video I'm pretty upset the way a few guests overreacted and caused the following chaos. The cast, tech crew, stage managers, were in the process it seemed of initiating a calm, safe, procedure that would have caused the least commotion for guests and cast.
frazierle
Member
The video was one my daughter posted then added 2 others. It was really weird, we notice the monkeys pointing and when we looked, right before we moved the camera and a crew member opened a door to the float. We were opposite side of the door so we didn't see anyone pulled out but within seconds of them getting the float door opened, the big door opened and 2 crew members had fire extinguishers spraying in the float and underneath. That was the moment we noticed the first group of folks heading for the exits. We did smell smoke initially but the strongest smell was from the extinguishers. The CM's we're great and reacted with urgency and not panic. They need to be commended. We sort of was looking for the paramedics outside of the venue but fortunately didn't see any. Going back tomorrow to watch the show before we head home Saturday.
muddyrivers
Well-Known Member
I think I need to respectfully disagree. My only knowledge of the event is from this thread and the video that was posted with the person shouting "Fire". However, you could see as soon as the monkey looked over towards the smoking float, there was a lot more smoke there than it should have been. Right then and there the show should have been halted. Instead, the show continued on and Timon's song started playing. Even after they stopped the song, they played instrumental music instead of the message advising guests the show was being stopped. With a theater that size which takes quite some time to empty out, the show should have been halted and evacuation should have started a lot sooner. God forbid it was a real fire, it could have quickly gotten out of control and caused a much more worrisome situation.
In essence, guests may complain but it's better to stop the show and evacuate rather than try and continue the show and stop it only when guests start self-evacuating.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
You act as if the person that happens to notice it first has the activation button in their hands. I happened pretty fast, even in the video. A lot of action had to happen to put all of that in motion, it has to be seen, it has to be recognized as a danger, the proper announcement has to be activated, which I'm sure they don't do everyday, the CM's have to get to the fire extinguishers (they don't keep those in their pockets either) and people have to get to their spots to direct people out. Let's apply a little physical reality to our complaints.
Last edited:
muddyrivers
Well-Known Member
I'm not complaining whatsoever. However, based on the monkeys seeing the smoke, the smoke was noticeable enough to be out of the ordinary before Timon's song began. All I was suggesting was that at that point, they should have stopped the show. No need to be sarcastic, just offering what I though a better course of action would have been. As I said, I wasn't there, I'm only going off of what's been reported here and what I saw in the video.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. I was trying to point out that just because the "monkey" saw it doesn't mean that instantaneously things will happen. Someone that does have control of the music and the show has to be aware of it. It doesn't matter if the monkey saw it an hour before they stopped, the monkey did not have the control nor could he step out of character and yell "fire in a theater" when all he saw was that something was wrong. It could have been any number of things that weren't really a danger. There is no sense in creating a panic like even the minor one that occurred when the audience member yelled it out.
If I misread your post, I apologize, but, it sure sounded like you were absolutely upset about the fact that it took longer then you would have liked for the system to kick in. It did, however, kick in and in a very short period of time.
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
I tend to agree with you. It has been reported in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper that indeed it was a small fire, origin from under the float.I'm unwilling to blame the person who yelled fire because the alarms were not going off and the Cast were not communicating with the guests. From young we teach our children and we learned ourselves get out and then dial 911. While this had a good outcome you never know with fires they can get out of control quickly and some get extinguished and then reignite. A show with many small children, disabled and elderly in attendance along with people with Asthma it just makes more common sense to take control of the guests immediately, escort them out and not leave it up to a guest to shout Fire which there was according to the Officials that the OS spoke with. To me it would be a no brainer, fire get out.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
From small children we are also trained not to yell fire in a crowded theater.
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
That was a lot of smoke. This is why buildings have fire alarms to take the call out of the hands of Monkey's and other CMs. The alarm does that, pull it and it is a universal communication. I'm glad there is a video for fire marshals to review Disney's evacuation procedures first hand and likely revisit and re inspect the fire alarm system in that new building. I'm not willing to be a cheerleader for Disney for their handling of this fire. Me, I hope beyond the Fire Marshalls Disney takes a deeper look into their evacuation procedures. IMO no cast member, including Monkey's should be required to keep character during a fire big or small on stage.
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
But you pull the fire alarm and evacuate them and the Fire Department the people who should be making the call to continue the show or not would be summoned immediately. Fire Alarm boxes are put into buildings for a reason.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
The people were evacuated from the theater and they would have been regardless of some random man yelling fire.
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Yeah, later than sooner. For people with Asthma later is not always better than sooner. If you are bringing out a fire extinguisher the alarm should have already been pulled that is why they are installed and that is what fire departments are for.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
When dealing with large numbers of guests in confined spaces such as this things have to be handled very carefully to avoid chaos. In most cases you won't ever hear an alarm even if one is going off. And they generally will not pull a fire alarm. The fire department would be notified and in most cases would already be aware due to automated monitoring systems and the cast will follow established and trained procedures for an orderly evacuation.
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Interesting. If that is the case I wonder why they are found in theaters and schools. If true you think they would be banned from being installed in buildings.
In the below the fire department was there within 4 minutes of being called. Sadly too late.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Angels_School_fire
ssreward
Member
That fire started 30+ mins before anyone went down the street to turn in the alarm (wasn't one at the school or smoke detectors), firefighters went to the wrong address first & there were no fire escapes - it's not really a matter of "it all happened so fast" being the cause of the tragedy! And in fact, is WHY it became standard for alarms, at least in schools to transmit automatically as mentioned above.