NFPA Journal - November/December 2019 - 54

A firefighter douses hot spots at the site of a large
fire at a manufacturing facility in Oregon.
CHRIS PIETSCH/THE REGISTER-GUARD VIA AP

manufacturing plants, a saw mill, an
electric products manufacturer, and a
printing plant.
Four fires each occurred in public
assembly, special, and storage properties. The public assembly property fires
included two restaurants, a church, and
a library, with a property loss of $114
million. The special properties included
two motels under renovation, a boiler/
mechanical room under construction,

and a 180-unit apartment building
under construction, with a total property loss of $96.2 million. The storage
properties included two warehouses,
a public works garage, and a lumber
yard, with a combined total loss of
$51.2 million.
Two fires occurred in stores and office
properties: one in a greenhouse and the
other in an automobile dealership, with
a combined loss of $25 million.

One fire occurred on an industrial
property-a hog farm-with a property
loss of $20 million.
In 21 of the 36 large-loss fires last
year, the cause and origin of the fires
were undetermined, unknown, or were
not reported. In several cases, the
destruction was so extensive that investigators could not make a definitive
cause determination or could not rule
out several possibilities. Other fires are
still under investigation or causes have
not yet been reported.
The cause was reported for 12 of
the 28 structure fires. Three of the
fires were incendiary: two in occupied
apartment buildings, and one in the
apartment building that was under
construction. Three fires were caused
by hot work too close to combustibles:
sweating pipes in an occupied apartment building, roof work on a church,
and cutting close to a wall assembly
in a storage building. Two fires were
caused by careless disposal of smoking
materials: one in a flower pot on the
balcony of an apartment building, and

Large-Loss Fires in the United States in 2018 (continued)
July, 12:20 a.m., $21,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a one-story,
100,000-square-foot
(9,290-square-meter) printing
company of protected noncombustible construction that was
open and operating at the time.
Fire Protection Systems
There was no detection or automatic suppression system in the
part of the structure affected by
fire.
Fire Development
The fire/explosion of undetermined cause broke out in
operating mechanical equipment
in a compressor room containing
three large compressors, exhaust
fans, and air dryers.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
The compressor room was
located in a warehouse section of
the building. While responding,
firefighters were notified that
employees were evacuating the
building but not all workers were
accounted for. Upon arrival, firefighters searched and found no
workers and were then notified
that all were accounted for.
A defensive attack was initiated due to heavy fire conditions.
Water supply at the fire scene

was a problem, as the city water
system did not have enough
volume. An alternative water
supply was found and flow was
sufficient for the fire attack. One
firefighter was injured.
There were three large printers
inside the facility that were damaged by smoke and water during
the fire. The loss was estimated
at $1 million to the structure and
$20 million to the contents.
California
Month, Time of Alarm,
Dollar Loss
August, 10:45 P.M., $20,030,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a wood product manufacturing plant that produced
lumber and millwork. No information was reported on the size or
operating status of the plant.
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported on
detection equipment. There was
a sprinkler system present but it
was not reported if it activated.
Fire Development
No information was reported on
the cause and origin.
Contributing Factors and Other
Detail
Materials within the building,
including wood chips and

54 | NFPA JOURNAL * N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9

sawdust, contributed to the fire
spread. The loss was estimated at
$30,000 to the structure and $20
million to the contents.
Texas
Month, Time of Alarm,
Dollar Loss
July, 2 a.m., $15,100,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a one-story,
61,500-square-foot
(5,714-square-meter) digital
technology company. The construction type and operating
status were not reported.
Fire Protection Systems
There was a combination heat
and smoke detection system
present that operated. There was
no automatic suppression system
present.
Fire Development
An electrical malfunction of an
unreported type ignited a structural member.
Contributing Factors and
Other Detail
One firefighter was injured fighting the fire.
South Carolina
Month, Time of Alarm,
Dollar Loss
February, 9 a.m., $15,000,000

Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a 75-foot-high,
150,000-square-foot
(13,935-square-meter) wood
product manufacturing plant
that produced particle board and
laminates. No information was
reported on its operating status.
Fire Protection Systems
No details were reported.
Fire Development
The fire of undetermined cause
began in a press pit, believed
to be where particle board is
pressed. No other details were
reported.
Contributing Factors and
Other Detail
No information was reported
Oregon
Month, Time of Alarm,
Dollar Loss
May, 7:30 p.m., $15,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a sawmill. No additional
details were reported.
Fire Protection Systems
No details were reported.
Fire Development
No details were reported.
Contributing Factors and Other
Detail
No details were reported.
NFPA Journal - November/December 2019

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