NFPA Journal - November/December 2020 - 47

For 11 of the 26 large-loss fires last year, the
cause of the fire was undetermined, unknown, or
was not reported. In several cases, the destruction was so extensive that investigators could not
determine a definitive cause or could not rule out
several possibilities. Other fires are still under
investigation or their causes have not yet been
reported.
A cause was reported for 10 of the 18 structure
fires. Five of the reported causes involved part
failures or leaks, while other causes included
an unspecified short circuit, an unreported type
of electrical failure, supplies stored too close to
a furnace that was in use, a lightning strike to
flammable/combustible liquids at an oil field,
and a gas meter turned on in a vacant restaurant
(though it was not reported if it had been turned
on deliberately or accidentally). Of the causes
involving part failures or leaks, two were leaks
from natural gas mains with undetermined ignition sources, including one that resulted when
workers damaged a pipe, and one that was the

operational.
Fire Development
The cause and origin are listed as
undetermined.
Contributing Factors and Other
Details
The loss was estimated at $15
million to the structure and
$500,000 to the contents.
Florida
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
July, 11:30 a.m., $10,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This explosion with no subsequent fire occurred in a vacant
restaurant in a one-story strip
mall of protected, noncombustible construction. Other
businesses were operating at the
time.
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported.
Fire Development
Media reports indicated that the
state investigator's report stated
a gas meter was turned on in
the vacant restaurant. It was
unknown if it was deliberate or by
accident. The ignition source was
not determined, and the reason
the meter was on was unknown.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
There were 23 civilian injuries
caused by the explosion.
STORAGE
Oklahoma
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
October, time not reported,
$14,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a two-story warehouse/
fulfillment center of protected,
noncombustible construction
that was in operation at the time
of the fire. The floor area was not
reported.
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported.
Fire Development
No information was reported.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
No information was reported.
Florida
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
April, time not reported,
$11,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
No information was reported on
this warehouse fire.
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported.
Fire Development
No information was reported.
Contributing Factors and Other
Details
No information was reported.
Texas
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss

February, 4:21 p.m., $10,100,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a 95,245-square-foot
(8,849-square-meter) warehouse.
The construction type and operating status were not reported.
Fire Protection Systems
Neither automatic detection
nor suppression equipment was
present.
Fire Development
An unspecified short circuit
ignited multiple forms and types
of materials.
Contributing Factors and
Other Details
The loss was estimated at
$100,000 to the structure and
$10 million to the contents.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
California
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
June, 5:33 p.m., $36,000,000
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This fire began in a sushi bar
of protected, noncombustible
construction in a row of onestory businesses. The bar had an
area of 11,250 square feet (1,045
square meters).
Fire Protection Systems
No information was reported.
Fire Development
The cause and origin were not
reported.
Contributing Factors and Other
Details
Arriving firefighters proceeded
with an offensive attack but withdrew to a defensive attack due to
the fire spread overhead. Seven
additional businesses were damaged in the fire.
North Carolina
Month, Time of Alarm, Dollar
Loss
April, 9:37 a.m., $20,023,301
Property Characteristics and
Operating Status
This was a gas explosion that occurred in a
two-story, 1,500-square-foot
(139-square-meter) coffee shop
of unprotected, ordinary construction. The coffee shop was
open for business. The shop had
been evacuated by firefighters
prior to the explosion, but the
owner remained inside.
Fire Protection Systems
There was an alarm system present, but the type of detection,
coverage, and operation was not
reported. There was a sprinkler
system present, but its coverage
and type were not reported. The
system did not operate due to
explosion damage.
Fire Development
Workers outside the shop drilling
through the sidewalk accidentally
drilled a hole through a plastic
gas main going into the coffee
shop. The gas flowed for an hour,
allowing the natural gas to build
up in the shop. The gas was

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 47

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NFPA Journal - November/December 2020

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