Fire in Jersy

[chilidog]

Ron,
What about elevator shafts and stair wells? I know they have concrete walls that could possibly insulate them from the main fire, but it seems like they could act as giant chimneys too. Would the draft pull the fire up and out any open doors above? They always say in a fire to take the stairs and not the elevator. Would it help if an elevator's power fed from a separate source so that the building fire wouldn't affect it? Thinking about drafts, I imagine that updrafts play havoc on helicopter rescue from tall buildings. Does the building height affect how far you have to watch away from the building? I remember the news showing a fire in Galveston when Rita was blowing in. The high winds were blowing sparks for several blocks.

Chilidog