NFPA Journal - Summer 2024 - 70

BRIAN VANDER BRUG/LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES
NFPA Research The Reports
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND
OTHER DETAILS
Arriving firefighters found smoke
showing from the fifth-floor windows.
The fire grew rapidly in intensity. As the
fire spread across the roof and interior,
firefighters were withdrawn to a defensive
attack. The building was not equipped
with alarms and installation of a sprinkler
system was not fully complete, allowing
the fire to grow before it was discovered.
This was the largest structure fire in the
city's history and burned for almost
three days.
$55 MILLION
Apartment building
under construction
Utah
OCTOBER, 11:06 P.M.
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS AND
OPERATING STATUS
This was an eight-story, 92,900square-foot
(8,631-square-meter), 193unit
apartment building of unprotected
wood-frame construction still under construction.
No one was on the site
at the time.
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
No information was reported on
detection or suppression equipment.
FIRE DEVELOPMENT
The fire is believed to have started in
a hallway on the sixth floor. The cause
was not reported.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND
OTHER DETAILS
Arriving firefighters found heavy
smoke from the upper floors of this
building under construction. Access
was hindered by narrow alleyways
and nearby structures.
$45 MILLION
Natural gas plant, Ohio
MAY, 10:34 P.M.
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS AND
OPERATING STATUS
This was a natural gas plant. No information
was reported on the size or
construction. The facility was in full operation
at the time.
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
No information was reported on detection
or suppression equipment.
FIRE DEVELOPMENT
Natural gas in a grain dryer was ignited by
an undetermined source, causing damage
to numerous structures in the area.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND
OTHER DETAILS
No addition information was reported.
70 | NFPA JOURNAL * SUMMER 2024
$45 MILLION
Processing facility
California
APRIL, 7 P.M.
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS AND
OPERATING STATUS
This was a one-story, 120,000-squarefoot
(11,148-square-meter) structure of
unprotected ordinary construction for
the processing and storage of loosebagged
vegetables. The facility was
partially operating at the time.
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
There were fire alarms that sounded. A
dry-pipe sprinkler system was present but
no information was reported on whether
it operated.
FIRE DEVELOPMENT
This fire broke out in a wall after
welding work. Foam insulation and wood
ignited, and the fire spread throughout
older construction.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND
OTHER DETAILS
The older construction contributed to
the fire's spread and intensity. A newly
remodeled area prevented more fire
spread. The fire caused a leak of liquid
ammonia during the incident. The loss
was estimated at $20 million to the structure
and $25 million to the contents.
$38 MILLION
Document storage warehouse
llinois
FEBRUARY, 9:43 A.M.
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS
AND OPERATING STATUS
This was a one-story, 100,000-squarefoot
(9,290-square-meter) document
storage warehouse of unprotected
ordinary construction. The facility was
partially operating at the time.
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
An alarm system operated. A wet-pipe
sprinkler system operated as designed
but was ineffective due to damage
caused by collapse within the building.
FIRE DEVELOPMENT
The fire broke out in the record storage
area. The cause was undetermined.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND
OTHER DETAILS
Arriving firefighters found workers outside
the building reporting a fire inside.
Firefighters found heavy smoke conditions
inside and started an interior attack
on the fire. Within 15 minutes, firefighters
were withdrawn from the building due to
partial collapse. The loss was estimated
at $22 million to the structure and $16
million to the contents.
REPORT SUMMARY
Firefighter
Fitness and
Reducing
Injuries
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
SUGGEST THAT
FITNESS PROGRAMS
CAN HELP REDUCE
FIREFIGHTER INJURIES
By Shelby Hall &
Tucker McGree
NFPA Journal - Summer 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Summer 2024
