3/26/24 Baltimore MD Bridge Collapse

The 6th and final missing victim was recovered last week, also in their vehicle in the wreckage.

The large portion of the bridge draped over the bow of the vessel is slated to be demolished with shape charge explosives this afternoon at 5pm, weather and conditions permitting.

 
The 6th and final missing victim was recovered last week, also in their vehicle in the wreckage.

The large portion of the bridge draped over the bow of the vessel is slated to be demolished with shape charge explosives this afternoon at 5pm, weather and conditions permitting.

It's gonna be high 70's, 10MPH wind speed, and clear skies. So looks like its going to be on schdule.
 
60 years ago on May 22, 1964, Boston had the largest fire in recent Boston History. The "Bellflower Street Conflagration" The fire spread block after block and required over 12 +Alarms and Mutual Aide from 3 States. The fire started on the porch of a typical wood frame "3 decker" and spread through the neighborhood and jumped streets and rear yards. If a great fire department like Boston F.D. could not control the spread at this fire what does that say to us. Throughout the U.S. Large wood "Stick Built" Multiple Dwellings are being built, or exist, close together and at times without adequate water supply. The wood industry says it is safe but history, some of it is recent history, shows that is wrong. Ask the members of the Lihanna, Hawaii F.D. what a Conflagration is, they know. Is your fire department planning for conflagration involving wood frame multiple dwellings? The fire loading in the interior of these buildings is much higher than it was in 1964. It is now including, over 1300 LBS of synthetics alone in, each dwelling unit.
Brother and Sister are you planning? Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
 
I have talked to an Engineers who told me the problem was that NO Protection was placed to protect the bridge uprights. Good Safety Engineering including place large amounts of very large Rocks or Concrete in water near the bridge uprights to ground or divert a large ship before it hits the bridge upright. I wonder how many other, major bridges are not properly protected? Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
 
I have talked to an Engineers who told me the problem was that NO Protection was placed to protect the bridge uprights. Good Safety Engineering including place large amounts of very large Rocks or Concrete in water near the bridge uprights to ground or divert a large ship before it hits the bridge upright. I wonder how many other, major bridges are not properly protected? Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
Alot. From my limited understanding, the bridge pier protection line of thought really didn't take hold until after the Tampa Skyway Bridge was taken out. Since the Key Bridge was built before the original Skyway, it never had the additional protections put in. Allegedly it was talked about several times but never done. I'd guess and say 90% of the bridges that predate the Key Bridge are underprotected.
 
It may have not been done for a lot of Older Bridges. But the concept is much older than you think. I myself saw old Bridges in the United Kingdom protected from ships, boats and even debris in Spring Floods = "Freshnets". Railroad Bridges sometimes had/have strong posts near the entrance to the bridge to protect them from derailed railroad trains. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
 
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