Cambridge Fire Department Discussion Points
As many in our community are aware, on Sunday evening December 29, 2024 a fire occurred at the Esplanade that required the evacuation of the building. Fortunately, the fire was contained to one unit in the West tower and no loss of life occurred. At the time of the emergency, there was a significant amount of confusion and weeks later many residents still had unanswered questions about the Esplanade’s fire safety systems, emergency protocols, and evacuation procedures.
A concerned resident reached out to the Cambridge Fire Department (“CFD”) and asked if they would be willing to meet with Esplanade residents and answer questions related to fire safety. Christopher Towski from the CFD responded immediately and on Monday, February 10, 2025, Chris and his colleague Kenneth Albert visited the Esplanade to provide an overview of fire safety systems, emergency procedures, and communication protocols and to answer questions.
At the meeting, several residents expressed the desire to have building management review emergency protocols and evacuation procedures, particularly the evacuation of residents with disabilities requiring assistance, and clearly communicate those procedures to residents.
The following is a summary of the topics that were covered during the discussion
Fire Safety Systems in a High-Rise Building:
CFD representatives explained that, in Massachusetts, all buildings built after 1975 and over 70 feet high, such as the Esplanade, are required to have sprinkler systems. The Esplanade has a robust fire protection system, including a sprinkler system, fire alarm, and smoke control system.
These systems work together, with sprinklers activating at high temperatures (typically 135+ degrees) and smoke control systems, which pressurize stairwells to exhaust smoke from the building and prevent smoke infiltration. Annual testing and maintenance of these systems are mandated by law.
Individual apartment smoke alarms are not directly connected to the main building alarm or fire control panel.
Sprinkler activation, both within a unit and in the common areas, will trigger a building-wide alert.
Emergency Procedures:
If residents observe fire or heavy smoke, in their unit or the common areas, they should immediately call 911.
In the event of a fire, residents should evacuate their unit and close their apartment door behind them to contain the fire. There are two emergency stairwell exits on each floor.
Fire alarm pull stations are located in the hallways and should be activated by residents and staff in an emergency.
Fire extinguishers are also located in the hallway and can be used by residents and staff, if they are comfortable operating this equipment.
Elevators should NOT be used during a fire emergency, unless the fire department has determined it is safe.
Firefighters prioritize resident safety and will conduct a search and rescue if necessary. Management of the Esplanade maintains a list of residents that require assistance in the event of an emergency. If you require assistance, please verify with management that you are “on the list.”
Evacuation routes and muster stations should be established for residents.
Telephone communication with the Front Desk may be shut down during an emergency. Management could establish an emergency messaging alert system to provide residents with emergency updates when communication to Front Desk is shut down.
Building-Wide Communication During Emergencies: The discussion covered communication issues during a past fire event. The building uses a selective evacuation system, notifying only affected floors. Communication breakdowns were noted, specifically the lack of all-clear announcements after the fire was contained and the failure to notify residents with disabilities. While the automatic fire safety systems functioned correctly, improvements in communication protocols were identified as a crucial area for improvement. They suggested that the building management could improve communication by maintaining an updated list of residents needing assistance and by improving the alarm system's clarity.
Resident Actions and Preparedness: The firefighters recommended residents understand their building’s fire safety systems and procedures. They advised against using fire blankets, suggesting alternative methods such as simply covering a pan with its lid to extinguish a stovetop fire. The use of fire extinguishers is advised only if residents feel comfortable operating them, but is not mandatory. They emphasized the importance of alerting authorities and evacuating when necessary. They also mentioned the need for building staff familiarization with protocols, procedures, building systems and with the location of emergency equipment.
Building Systems and Maintenance: The panel clarified that the building’s East and West towers share a single fire alarm system and pump. Firefighters connect hoses to the standpipe in the fire stairwell to extinguish fires. They confirmed that the fire extinguishers in the hallways undergo annual testing and are replaced or refilled as necessary. Sprinklers are tested, and while most have a 50-year lifespan, their replacement schedule may vary depending on their type. They stated that evacuation routes should be diverse, with residents considering multiple escape paths when evacuating and establishing a muster location for residents to gather following evacuation to confirm that all residents are accounted for.