The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "fire hazard" ...
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Convention Center Code Violations
An investigation by WESH-TV revealed that "riggers at the Orange County Convention Center have been violating fire codes while hanging signs, lights and props for various trade shows. Workers scraped off fireproofing which is designed to protect the steel's integrity during a fire. Experts (WESH-TV) spoke with say compromising the fireproofing is dangerous and needs to be corrected immediately. Convention Center managers acknowledged the problem. The county fire marshal was so concerned he ordered the practice stopped."
Tags: Orange County; Florida; Orange County Convention Center; building safety; fire hazard; TAPE; TRANSCRIPT
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100-Million Dollar Fire Trap
An investigation by KMGH-TV revealed that the contractors who built Denver's new $100-million Federal Courthouse ignored the National Electric Code and installed potentially hazardous wire to save money and time, essentially making the building the General Services Administration said was safe a firetrap. "In the days following (the) investigation, GSA hired an independent contractor to inspect the Federal Courthouse's entire electrical system. Inspectors found nearly three miles of dangerous and improperly installed wire. The GSA ordered the contractor to remove the wire at no cost to the taxpayer. The GSA has also started its own investigation into the possibility of fraud and wrongdoing by the electrical contractor."
Tags: Denver; federal courthouse; National Electric Code; General Services Administration; GSA; TAPE; TRANSCRIPT
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Questionable Care
WLOS-TV reports on abuse and neglect at Pleasant Cove Assisted Living Facility, the largest adult care home in Buncombe County. A tape of the patients and the conditions at the facility at night shows safety hazards and unqualified staff. Some of the findings are that the employees have never been told how to evacuate the building and help the patients in case of fire, and that some were not licensed to handle medicines.The investigation caused for the county and state authorities to inspect the facility and downgrade its license. The Pleasant Cove's owner, who refused an on-camera interview, filed a suit against the TV station, the reporter and her bosses.
Tags: FOIA; FOI requests; elderly; disabilities; mental health; mentally handicapped; fire protection; health care
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Slacker fire inspectors
The Times-Union reports that Jacksonville fire inspectors have spent almost two-thirds of their time shopping, running errands and going home in the early afternoons. The findings are documented with photographs of inspectors goofing off in the middle of the day. The city fire prevention department has left some buildings and businesses not inspected for up to 10 years, making the excuse that there are not enough employees. Other findings include that the fire marshal's office did not try to correct hazards it knew about, that a downtown hotel burned three times because it did not comply with the minimum fire prevention standards, and that the department's records and work logs were false and grossly incomplete.
Tags: city government; public safety; fire prevention; building code violations
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Show & Tell: IRE 2001 National Conference (Chicago)
Compilation tape of investigative stories presented at the 2001 IRE national conference in Chicago: Tape 1 1.) KVBC-TV (Nevada) - "Honor Thy Father" 2.) KHOU 11 (Houston) - "Highway Health Hazard" 3.) Inside Edition - "Drink Up" 4.) KOAA-TV (Colorado Springs) - "Mother Goose daycare investigation" 5.) WSTN-TV (Syracuse) - "Pipeline to Crack" 6.) WAGA-TV (Atlanta) - "On the net; on the clock" 7.) KSAZ-TV (Phoenix) - "Capital Credit" 8.) Inside Edition - "Televangelists" 9.) WJW (Fox 8 Cleveland) - "Coats for Kids" 10.)Kelo-TV (Sioux Falls) - "Painful Steps" 11.) WNBC-TV (New York) - "Help on Hold" 12.) WFLD-TV (Chicago) - "Aggressive Drivers" 13.) WXYZ-TV (Detroit) - "Get Out Alive" 14.) WCPO-TV (Cincinnati) - "Airport Security" 15.) KMOL-TV (San Antonio) - "Slum Lords" 16.) WDIV-TV (Detroit) - "Stealing Power" 17.) WSMV 4 (Nashville) - "A few deadly breaths" 18.) WTVF (Nashville) - "Who's Policing the Police?" 19.) KDFW (Dallas) - "Spot Delivery" 20.) WTVJ (Miami) - "The Price of Beauty" 21.) WXYZ-TV (Detroit) - "Weight Loss Scams" 22.)KETV (Omaha) - "Police Complaints" 23.) KDFW (Dallas) - "Identity Theft" Tape 2 1.) WABC-TV (New York) - "Caught Off Guard" 2.) WTMJ-TV (Milwaukee) - "Get out of jail free" 3.) KTVT-TV (Fort Worth) - "INS Application Scam" 4.) KRON-TV (San Francisco) - "Moving Violations" 5.) WSPA-TV (South Carolina) - "Goodwill Firings" 6.) KWTV 9 (Oklahoma City) - "Lemon on the Lot" 7.) WLOS-TV (Asheville) - "Save or Slaughter" 8.) WISH-TV (Indianapolis) - "Tipped off" 9.) WAMI-TV (Miami) - "AIDS Charity Scam" 10.) WITI-TV (Milwaukee) - "Marine Corp Toxic Water" 11.) WFLD-TV (Chicago) - "No prescription, no doctor" 12.) XETV 6 (San Diego) - "Port Perks" 13.) KSTP-TV (St. Paul) - "Lasik Surgery" 14.) News 12 Long Island (Woodbury, N.Y.) - "Bad Medicine" 15.) News 12 Long Island (Woodbury, N.Y.) - "Double Dipping" 16.) KVBC-TV (Las Vegas) - "Mud Slinging Exposed" 17.) KVBC-TV (Las Vegas) - "What Lies Beneath" 18.) KHOU 11 (Houston) - "Sex Offender Teachers" 19.) KHOU 11 (Houston) - "Highway Health Hazard" 20.) WISH-TV (Indianapolis) - "Inspecting the Inspectors" 21.) WCPO 9 (Kentucky) - "NKU Rape Investigations"
Tags: TAPE
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Camp offenses spoil fun
"Each summer, 350,000 youngsters attend 380 sleep-over camps across Michigan. The vast majority have a safe, fun time. But records show that state regulators have cited dozens of camps during the past three years for problems ranging from fire hazards and unsafe drinking water to exposed raw sewage and food-safety problems. Counselors have been cited for abusing children and for lax supervision."
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Fire Prevention 101
"'Fire Prevention 101' revealed that student housing on college campuses throughout Illinois is filled with fire hazards and fire code violations that could result in deadly fires. Our investigation suggested that lax enforcement of fire codes could make Illinois the site of the next fatal campus fire, and just one month after our story aired, a student died in a fraternity house fire at Milliken University in Decatur, Illinois."
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; fire hazard; fire codes; colleges; students; safety
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Playing with Fire: The Untold Story of Woodstock '99
MTVi "traced the roots of the (Woodstock '99) riot back to the planning stages of 1999's biggest concert. Exploring every aspect of the festival -- from its water system to its pay-per-view television coverage -- the series uncovered new evidence that the concert's promoters and local officials failed to heed signs of impending disaster."
Tags: CD ROM; event planning security permits medical services mosh pits EPA hazardous waste site bonfires
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Dangers Ignored in Mine Tragedy
The Arizona Republic investigated an array of safety violations at a copper mine near Tucson, Arizona. The series started with a story about a fatal rock-fall that caused the death of a miner. This incident led the reporters "to a disturbing story of unsafe conditions, worker intimidation and regulatory laxity surrounding the mostly Hispanic workers..." The investigation found that "Mission Mine management refused to regularly install safety bolts, used to prevent failing rocks" and that Asarco, the owning company, "cordoned off unsafe areas to keep inspectors out even though miners regularly worked there." The reporters revealed a vicious circle that didn't allow the miners to prevent the dangers. The investigation found that "mine managers ordered a supervisor ... to fire employees who complained," while the local regulatory office refused to take seriously anonymous safety complaints.
Tags: Hispanic workers; Mexico; copper; U.S. Labor Department; hazardous conditions; claims
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Detroit Fire Department: Out of Service
A nine-month CAR investigation of the Detroit Fire Department reveals outdated, broken equipment and mismanagement compromises the ability of fire fighters to do their jobs. The report details a fire truck that won't go faster than 45 mph, broken aerial ladders, untested air tanks, broken fire hydrants, lack of safety ropes, understaffed and closed fire stations.
Tags: CAR fire department; ladders; rescue; Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; hazardous spills; FAA; arson; disrepair; inspections; pumper; fireplugs; emergency