NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 45

Compared to the past 10 years, the 26 incidents
in 2019 is tied with three other years for the
second-highest number of large-loss fires or explosions, the highest being 2018 with 37 incidents.
Over the past 10 years, 25 fires have occurred that
each resulted in a loss of more than $100 million,
with two of them in 2019. Of these largest-loss fire
events, 17 were wildland/urban interface (WUI)
fires, seven were structure fires, and one involved
a U.S. Navy submarine. These fires resulted in
combined losses of over $34.9 billion.
According to the summary of the 2019 U.S. fire
loss report, published in the September/October
issue of NFPA Journal, U.S. fire departments
responded to an estimated 1,291,500 fires last
year, which resulted in an estimated loss of $14.8
billion. Many of these fires were small or resulted
in little or no reported property damage. Although
the 26 large-loss fires accounted for 0.002 percent
of the estimated number of fires in 2019, they
accounted for 12.7 percent of the total estimated
dollar loss. In human terms, these fires accounted
for five deaths and at least 60 injuries.
In 2019, there were 11 fewer large-loss fires
than in 2018, with a decrease of more than $11
billion in losses. The difference was due to major
wildfires in 2018 that accounted for losses of
$12.3 billion. In 2019, there were 22 fewer largeloss structure fires than in 2018, but the property
loss associated with those fires was $783 million
higher than the year before, due in part to the
Texas incident. The number of non-structure fire
incidents was the same in 2019 as in 2018, but the
losses associated with those fires last year was $11
billion less.

Where the fires occurred and how
In the second quarter of 2020, when much of the
data gathering for this study occurred, the U.S.,
along with the rest of the world, was hit with
the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding that
fire departments had their hands full with emergencies, we did not make additional follow-up
requests and phone calls to fire departments. As a
result, less detailed information was available for
the 2019 large-loss study.
Of the 26 large-loss fires in 2019, 18 involved
structures and resulted in a total property loss of
$1.4 billion, or 73 percent of the combined losses
for all large-loss fires. The non-structural fires
included four wildland/urban interface fires and
four vehicle fires that resulted in combined losses
of $511 million, or almost 27 percent of the losses
in all the large-loss fires.
Of the 18 structure fires, five occurred in
manufacturing properties, four in industrial
properties, three in restaurants (one was vacant),
three in warehouses, one in an office property,
one in a hotel under construction, and one on an
oil and gas field.

Large-Loss Fires in the
United States in 2019
MANUFACTURING
Texas
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
November, 1:02 a.m., $1.1 billion
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a one-story,
840,000-square-foot
(78,039-square-meter) petrochemical manufacturing plant.
The plant was in operation.
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported
on detection equipment. There
was a wet-pipe sprinkler system
present, but no information
was reported on coverage or
operation.
Fire Development
No cause or origin was reported.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
There were two major explosions
during this incident and several
smaller explosions. Large area
evacuations were performed.
One firefighter and two civilians
were injured. The loss was estimated at $800 million to the
structure and infrastructure and
$300 million to the contents.
Tennessee
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
September, 10:11 a.m.,
$20,450,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a one-story,
15,720-square-foot
(1,460-square-meter) metal
refining plant of protected combustible construction.
Fire Protection Systems
There was no automatic detection or suppression equipment
present.
Fire Development
The fire started when supplies
were left too close to an incinerator that was in use at the time.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
The loss was estimated at
$450,000 to the structure and
$20 million to the contents.
Massachusetts
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
March, 3:01 p.m., $20,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a one- and two-story
casket manufacturing plant of
mixed construction. The plant
was in operation at the time.
The ground floor area was not
reported.
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported.
Fire Development
No information was reported.

Contributing Factors and Other
Details
This wind-driven fire broke out in
an area of the building at the end
of a water main system with low
flow and low pressure. Firefighters supplemented the supply and
pressure for the main. Three firefighters and two police officers
were injured.
Georgia
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
September, 1:20 a.m.,
$12,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a two- and three-story
adhesives manufacturing plant
of mixed construction. The floor
area was not reported. The business was operating at the time
with 10 workers in the building.
Fire Protection Systems
There was no information
reported.
Fire Development
Media reports indicated that
the fire department believed an
equipment failure caused the
fire, though the type and kind of
equipment were not reported.
An explosion occurred during
the fire.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
Arriving firefighters found the
structure fully involved with fire.
The local area was evacuated
due to burning chemicals. One
worker was injured.
Texas
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
June, 4:54 p.m., $10,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a two-story vehicle
assembly plant of unprotected,
noncombustible construction.
The ground floor area was
196,755 square-feet (18,279
square-meters). The fire
involved a 1,000-square-foot
(93-square-meter) test cell.
Fire Protection Systems
There was an unknown type of
detection system present that
operated. The coverage was not
reported. There was a wet-pipe
sprinkler system present, but its
coverage and activation were
not reported. Several spent CO2
extinguishers were found at the
fire location.
Fire Development
A part failure (of unreported
nature) in a turbine engine in a
test cell ignited nearby flammable/combustibles materials.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
The loss was estimated at $5

N F PA . O R G / J O U R N A L * NFPA JOURNAL

Large Loss Nov Dec 2020 DCS _AA_FINAL 10.29.20.indd 45

| 45

10/29/20 6:51 PM


http://nfpa.org/journal

NFPA Journal - November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - November/December 2020

Contents
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 1
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 2
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 3
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - Contents
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 5
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 6
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 7
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 8
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 9
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 10
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 11
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 12
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 13
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 14
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 15
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 16
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 17
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 18
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 19
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 20
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 21
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 22
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 23
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 24
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 25
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 26
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 27
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 28
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 29
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 30
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 31
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 32
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 33
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 34
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 35
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 36
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 37
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 38
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 39
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 40
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 41
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 42
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 43
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 44
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 45
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 46
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 47
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 48
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 49
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 50
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 51
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 52
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 53
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 54
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 55
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 56
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 57
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 58
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 59
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 60
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 61
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 62
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 63
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 64
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 65
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 66
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 67
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 68
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 69
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 70
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 71
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 72
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 73
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 74
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 75
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 76
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 77
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 78
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 79
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 80
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - Cover3
NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2025spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024summer
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