Code & Fire guys, 'splain this

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
Fire at a "historic religious campground" in Catawba County. Large fire damages historic Catawba County campground :: WRAL.com

"According to Catawba County Emergency Services, at least 35 of over 100 wooden tents on the campground were destroyed in the fire."

On google maps, those "wooden tents" look more like a bunch of connected shacks with no firewalls. Over 100 of them means there may be 400+ people sleeping in there during some event. That's just guessing 4 per shack/tent...I wonder what the max capacity is? 4? 8? 12? per shack?? I'd say they are damn lucky the fire didn't happen when something was going on.

What code official or fire marshal would allow that setup under his watch?



Screen Shot 2019-09-30 at 8.10.03 PM.png


Google street view:

Screen Shot 2019-09-30 at 8.09.20 PM.png
 
More info from a couple of other news sites:

"tents" are privately owned on camp property...each valued at about $30k

there are 295 units, (not 100 as in WRAL article)

Facility is unused most of the year, except for 2 weeks in August when usually fully occupied by families for a retreat/revival thing

Bulldozer used to cut fire breaks

Tents #1-12 and 85-105: Burned
Tent #13: exterior damage
Tents #215 and 214 destroyed
Tents #213, 212, 211: extensive damage
Tents #210-209: check/secure doors as many were kicked in to check for fire
Tent #84: heavy smoke and water damage
Tent #14: Damaged porch/exterior
Tent #17: extensive damage
Tents #18-19: demolished as fire break
Tent #20: loft exposed due to adjoining tent
Tents #210-211: smoke damage
Tents #83,108, 105, 209: check doors - they were opened by firefighters to check for hiden fires
 
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I've been driving by it for the last 2 months on a way to job. Lucky it wasnt worse, most looked like tinder waiting to go up. Some appeared to be two stories, didn't realize the were "tents" until I saw the news story.

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kaiser715 said:
and I wonder how many of these "camps" there are....here is one near Denver NC
Click to expand...

I know of at least one more, I'm trying to remember where it is. Either Mooresville or Kannapolis, I can't quite remember where it is. My fishing buddy was explaining what it was as we were driving past it because it was so bizarre looking. I can see it in my head, I just can't remember what road it was on.
 
Here's a nice street view shot of the Tentderboxes near Denver
Screenshot_20190930-224849.png
 
There are Plenty around, & More in the Gaston/Lincon areas too ! I recently passed by one I never knew was there, just because "I" had never been there. I suppose it's all Grandfathered, as per Code. Most of these go back many Generations. I don't know if they can be Added too, by new Family's, but I never noticed anything New. I too, have wondered about Fire or Lightning strikes. It's also considered a religious thing, so Who wants to mess with a Church?
 
Its all grandfathered in. Also, depends on zoning ect. I stayed up to listen to the chatter and see how it turned out. Whooooooollllleeeeee lotta fire in that mess. You know shits getting real when they call in forestry to bulldoze buildings.
 
A few years ago I happen to drive by one of these picking up some parts. Was Damn creepy looking for sure. It gave me the if I broke down, no one would ever see me again feeling for some reason.
 
The Fire Marshall hasn't given a statement yet, that I am aware. Rumor is some kids set the fire, but it hasn't been confirmed.

I am not sure how many folks actually spend the night at this type campground. Normally the "tents" have "living rooms" and bathrooms in them.

For most of them, the power is only turned on to them a month or so out of the yr.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
The Fire Marshall hasn't given a statement yet, that I am aware. Rumor is some kids set the fire, but it hasn't been confirmed.

I am not sure how many folks actually spend the night at this type campground. Normally the "tents" have "living rooms" and bathrooms in them.

For most of them, the power is only turned on to them a month or so out of the yr.
Click to expand...
As I came by the Denver one today, I got to thinking. They probably called them Tents, because maybe they started that way. And, as Tents, I wondered if they would have Power & Bathrooms? Seems you answered those questions. I can see the electricity, but Plumbing, that started back, say 150 years? And numerous as they are? That's a Crap load of "It runs downhill"! Wonder how they divvy up the Utility bills?
 
rodney eppes said:
As I came by the Denver one today, I got to thinking. They probably called them Tents, because maybe they started that way. And, as Tents, I wondered if they would have Power & Bathrooms? Seems you answered those questions. I can see the electricity, but Plumbing, that started back, say 150 years? And numerous as they are? That's a Crap load of "It runs downhill"! Wonder how they divvy up the Utility bills?
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Apparently not all have bathrooms.

According to owners, each of them get a bill. Some of the original ones have their power paid by the campground.

Apparently they are required to "pull the fuses" after camp season is over, even though power gets cut off. If that tells you the age of the electric in them.
 
the camps are incorporated and governed as towns. soo.... fire code would be county or self regulated?
 
and thridly....

anyone ever been to the renaisance fair in huntersville. its essentially the same thing.

You pay $10,000 to buy your lot then you erect a structure that conforms to the look of the surrounding structures.... not really sure about actual codes and compliance.
 
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