NFPA Journal - Summer 2024 - 68

NFPA Research The Reports
An explosion and fire at a gas
plant in Kansas resulted in losses
of more $200 million, making it
the costliest fire of 2022.
properties were equipped with suppression
systems, seven of which operated as
intended. It was also reported that three
systems did not operate because they were
not yet completed. Additionally, three had
unknown or unreported information on
their operation.
Complete information on the presence
of both detection and suppression
equipment was reported for 15 of the 32
structure and vehicle fires. Ten had both
detection and suppression equipment,
three were equipped with just fire or a
smoke detection system, one had only a
suppression system, and one had neither.
of $88.5 million. Additionally, a wildland/
urban interface (WUI) fire with an incendiary
cause resulted in a loss of $200
million, and an equipment fire resulted
in $75 million in losses.
Fire cause was undetermined, unknown,
or not reported in 21 fires. These fires
resulted in combined losses of $674.5 million.
In several cases, the destruction was
so extensive that investigators could not
determine a definitive cause or could not
rule out several possibilities, while other
fires are still under investigation.
The operating status was reported for
35 of the 36 fires, with 25 properties open
or operating to some extent or having
workers on site. Ten were closed or
unoccupied properties. Nine fires broke
out between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. All 25 of
the open and operating incidents were
structures and together accounted for
property losses of $163.4 million.
Due to a lack of confirmed dollar
loss, several 2022 fires that might have
resulted in property loss greater than $10
68 | NFPA JOURNAL * SUMMER 2024
million were not included. Among these
were fires in a barn with food storage,
a marina, two department stores, and a
large online retail warehouse. There were
several major WUI fires in 2022 where no
losses were reported.
Smoke detection
and automatic
suppression equipment
Information about automatic fire or
smoke detection equipment was reported
for 15 of the 32 large-loss fires involving
structures and vehicles; all 15 had detection
equipment present. The systems
operated as designed in 13 of the properties
and none reported that systems
failed to operate.
It was reported that automatic detection
equipment was not installed in three
properties. Twelve incidents had no information
on detection equipment reported.
Information on automatic suppression
equipment was reported for 20 of the 32
structure and vehicle fires. Of the 20, 13
What we can learn
Adhering to the fire protection principles
reflected in NFPA codes and standards is
essential if we want to reduce the occurrence
of large-loss fires and explosions
in the U.S. Proper construction, proper
use of equipment, and proper procedures
for chemical processes, storage, and
housekeeping can help make fires and
explosions less likely to occur and help
limit fire spread if one occurs.
The proper design, maintenance, and
operation of fire protection systems and
features can help limit fire loss. In the
case of large-loss wildfires, NFPA has
called on policymakers at all levels of
government to act to end these disasters.
The tenets of Outthink Wildfire®
encourage
adherence to NFPA wildfire safety
standards in new building and rebuilding
projects and for at-risk neighborhoods
to work together using the guidance
provided in the NFPA Firewise USA®
recognition
program. These standards and
guides can help reduce the risk of wildfire
to structures and their surroundings
and can help limit fire spread and the
resulting destruction.
NFPA thanks the U.S. fire service for its
contribution of data, without which this
report would not be possible.
STEPHEN G. BADGER, a fire data assistant
with NFPA Research, is retired from the
Quincy (Massachusetts) Fire Department.
TRAVIS HEYING/THE WICHITA EAGLE VIA AP
NFPA Journal - Summer 2024

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