NFPA Journal - November/December 2012 - (Page 64)
2011 U.S. LARGE-LOSS
An explosion in a cooking oil heating unit ignited a natural gas supply. No information was reported on factors contributing to the spread. Contributing Factors and Other Details The fire spread beyond the building of origin and did a reported $5 million damage to the building and $5 million in damage to its contents. INDUSTRY PROPERTIES (OUTSIDE OF STRUCTURE) CALIFORNIA Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss February, 8:59 a.m., $40 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status This was an outside crop growing area, with cultivated grains. Climate The temperature was 43oF (6oC), winds were from southeast at 15 miles (24 kilometers) per hour, and it was drizzling and misty. Fire Development The fire was caused by spontaneous heating of grain, spread to about 1 acre (0.4 hectares). It was not reported if this was stored or growing grains. Contributing Factors and Other Details Property damage was listed at $5 million and damage to its contents at $35 million. CALIFORNIA Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss January, 2:16 p.m., $20 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status This was a three-story, 10,000-square-foot (929-square-meter) power generation plant of unreported construction type. The plant was operating at the time. Fire Protection Systems An unknown type of smoke detection system was present, but its coverage and operation was not reported. A wet-pipe sprinkler system was present, but it did not operate because the fire was too small and was confined to a generator. Fire Development The fire broke out in, and was confined to, a large generator. Contributing Factors and Other Details None reported. INDUSTRY PROPERTIES COLORADO Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss July, 1 a.m., $12 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status This was a one-story, 9,600-square-foot (892-square-meter) laboratory and research building of unprotected wood-frame construction. The lab was closed at the time of the fire. Fire Protection Systems No automatic detection or automatic suppression equipment was present. Fire Development The fire broke out in the ceiling when Class A combustibles placed too close to a recessed light fixture ignited, and the fire spread through the attic to the remainder of the building. Contributing Factors and Other Details One firefighter was injured. The structural loss was estimated at $6 million. Damage to the contents was estimated at $6 million. CALIFORNIA Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss
February, 9:22 p.m., $11.1 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status This was a one-story, 10,000-square-foot (929-square-meter) optical laboratory building. The type of construction and operating status were not reported. Fire Protection Systems Investigators could not determine whether automatic detection equipment was present. There was no automatic suppression equipment. Fire Development The cause and origin of this fire was undetermined and is under investigation. Contributing Factors and Other Details This was one of five buildings in a compound that burned. Structure loss was estimated at $100,000. Damage to its contents was estimated at $11 million. STORES AND OFFICES NEBRASKA Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss May, 11:05 p.m., $20 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status This was a one-story, 170,000-square-foot (15,794-square-meter) office building of protected noncombustible construction. The building was closed for the night, but one employee was inside when the fire broke out. Fire Protection Systems There was no detection or automatic suppression system. Fire Development This incendiary fire was started in a cubicle using paper and a lighter. Contributing Factors and Other Details During their interior attack, firefighters faced heavy fire and smoke. The structural integrity of the building was compromised by cracks in the wall, forcing firefighters to evacuate the building. Soon afterwards, the fire breached the roof, and a collapse zone was formed. NORTH CAROLINA Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss July, 12:28 p.m., $20 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status This was a six-story, 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-meter) medical office and treatment building of protected noncombustible construction. The offices were open and operating. Fire Protection Systems A complete coverage system of smoke alarms operated. A partialcoverage wet-pipe sprinkler system was also present, but not in the area of the fire. Firefighters used a standpipe system. Fire Development This incendiary fire was set in an unoccupied office using a flammable liquid and an open flame. A return air plenum in the ceiling was missing dampers, allowing the fire to spread above the walls. Contributing Factors and Other Details The fire department reported that locked doors, extreme heat, and low visibility all contributed to a delay in attacking the fire. A firefighter who ran out of air during the fire and was trying to leave the building died, and nine others were injured. After a mayday was called, the downed firefighters were found and removed. All firefighters were then withdrawn from the building. TEXAS Date, Time of Alarm, Dollar Loss October, 12:11 p.m., $15 million Property Characteristics and Operating Status
64
NFPA JOURNAL NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - November/December 2012
NFPA Journal - November/December 2012
Contents
First Word
In a Flash
Perspectives
Firewatch
Research
Heads Up
Structural Ops
In Compliance
Buzzwords
Outreach
Electrical Safety
Wildfire Watch
Past + Present
Easy Being Green?
Pressure Points
2011 Large-Loss Fires
2011 Firefighter Injuries
Section Spotlight
What’s Hot
Looking Back
NFPA Journal - November/December 2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201610_sprinkler
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120304
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com