Water Supply Performance and Fire Suppression during the World Trade Center Disaster

Abstract

This paper describes the New York City water supply performance and suppression of fire during the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster. The water losses sustained by damaged water distribution pipelines are discussed and their impacts on emergency response and telecommunications and transportation infrastructure are noted. The results of hydraulic network analyses are presented to quantify the performance of hose and engine relay systems from fireboats to the WTC site. The results of an analytical study of firefighting relay systems are summarized to provide guidance on the most effective selection of hose size, number of hose lines, and engines for future use of fireboats for landside fire protection. The fire department response to the WTC disaster is compared with similar response to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Drawing on lessons from both events, recommendations are made for improved emergency planning and services.