Controlled Fire Teaches How Earthquakes Can Affect Fires

Media
Jul 24
1 min read

FIRE RESEARCH Last week, firefighters from Station 38 Otay Mesa and Station 56 Julian were on site at UC San Diego’s Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table. They supported a controlled fire test led by researchers from UCSD and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

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The project focused on how earthquake damage can worsen the severity of fires in buildings. This phase followed seismic tests in June that simulated historic earthquakes like the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge events.

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Thousands of sensors and cameras recorded structural performance, while our firefighters ensured the fire stayed within test parameters. We’re proud to support research that strengthens public safety and informs the future of emergency response.