Joe Tarquinio from Arlington Fire District (NY) sent in these photos of a hazard discovered at a fire in the New Hamburg Fire District, Poughkeepsie, NY. This home owner decided they could get a few additional square feet of kitchen space by recessing the refrigerator into the wall. Well it may have seemed like a good idea to them, check out the results of the set-up after a small fire in the basement. Any smoke generated from a basement fire is going to come straight up the stairway opening and obscure the view of this hazard. Any heat from the basement fire will chimney right out of the stairway opening and deteriorate the structural integrity of the new installation. Not only could the refrigerator fall on any crews making their way down the stairs, but if you were fortunate enough to not be directly under it at the time, the fridge would undoubtedly cut off the attack lines, and means of egress.
Click here to see more photos and descriptions of this hazard.
It’s a true indication that it’s not just the contractors and builders that are trying to kill us. The homeowners have stepped up their efforts!
This is such a great website guys, I know in my own travels on duty I look for things now that I could pass along. Thanks again!
this is just life calling…uhhhh. youre fired.
this looks oddly familiar, was this posted before?
Nothing like good old upstate New York White Trash Engineering!
Thank God no Brothers were hurt. Thanks for posting.
Stay safe.
I operated right under this. didn’t know it was there until after the smoke was cleared. SCARY
why wouls someone put a frige there i wander what happens when they wants to put a newer model in
Cause they’re a dumbass.
Scary, we had a similar situation but our rocket scientist framed the exterior of the fridge with lath and nailed paneling up to it, open bottom of course (for a cleaner look I guess). Sorry it was a while ago never got any pictures, good post thank you.
That’s the kind of stuff that makes you go home and kiss your kids. Stay Safe, and thank God for this sight