CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-TSUNAMI INDUCED FIRES DUE TO THE 2011 OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

 Around 330 post-earthquake fires occurred duw to the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake. Not only in Tohoku region with devasted tsunami damages but also in Kanto region, there were large number of outbreak of fires. In this study, firstly, fire incident database based on data provided by affected fire departments was developed. Secondly, electric fires was shown as dominated cause of earthquakeinduced fires (non-tsunami induced fires). Thirdly, based on relations between time of outbraek of fires in cumulative outbreak ratio, its characteristics were discussed. It is shown that electric firs are able to occurre without power outage area. Finally, fire outbreak ratios according to seismic intensities and causes of fires were calculated.