BuildingsonFire: Row House Challenges, Construction, and Operations Part 3

BuildingsonFire: Row House Challenges, Construction, and Operations Part 3

In this episode of the BuildingsonFire podcast, host Christopher Naum dives into the complexities of rowhouse construction and its direct impact on firefighter safety and fireground operations. Drawing from recent line-of-duty death investigations in Baltimore and Philadelphia, Naum highlights how predictable building features and subtle variations like the presence of Formstone facades can drastically influence fire behavior and structural integrity. Naum explores regional construction methods and the challenges posed by aging materials such as eastern hemlock wood. He also looks at the consequences of overlooked architectural elements that contribute to collapse risks.