A firefighter once said, “Being a fireman is the greatest job in the world, until there is a fire.” Chief security officers can relate.
A fire is an unpredictable monster. In some fires the firefighters can actually see it gasping for air so it can grow. It’s not anything that a security manager wants to face, especially in a high-rise environment.
As tall buildings become the norm in an urban environment, the odds of a major catastrophe increase. Dallas currently has 246 high-rise buildings and is ranked 8th in the United States.
For high-rise training the Dallas Fire Department practices at its own facility, using a five story concrete bunker. But it was trying to put together a program where they could train firefighters and involve building management and security executives in an actual high-rise facility.
Renaissance Tower, managed by CB Richard Ellis, is located in downtown Dallas and is the second tallest building in the city. The building’s security director, David Talley, heard of the fire department’s desire and went to the building’s management with a proposal that they allow them to conduct an exercise using their skyscraper. Cheri Wafford, real estate manager, approved the exercise. It was an ideal situation for both groups to train together using an actual, fully-equipped, modern day structure to test both of their response plans.
The security staff joined with the Dallas Fire Department and the Dallas Police Department in planning a full scale exercise to simulate an out-of-control fire on the sixth floor of Renaissance Tower.
The commitment to the exercise by both of these organizations was tremendous. For the fire department it required organization, planning, a considerable dedication of time, manpower and equipment and the support of many other city service organizations.
On the Renaissance Tower side, Talley needed the support of building management, the tenants and his security staff for this full-scale assault on the building he was assigned to protect. They had written plans and procedures. They had systems and equipment, all hidden from view. Now was the chance to see if it all came together in a simulated disaster.