I was speaking with NFPA member John Frank this morning about the problem of what I refer to as the Mega Warehouse fire: the ultra high, ultra modern, and immense rack storage warehouses that are proliferating across the country. This problem was discussed in NFPA Journal and Firehouse Magazine in recent months.
John suggested that perhaps there is a need for specialized firefighting crews, and drew an analogy to the firefighting teams that can be flown in to fight oil well and refinery fires. You may recall that back in January, 2009, we held a brainstorming session in Quincy to consider possible solutions to the mega warehouse problem, but such specialized fire attack crews were not on this list. Certainly John’s suggestion warrants consideration. As was seen at the 2007 Tupperware fire, sprinklers can control and contain the blaze for an extended period, certainly long enough for such a specialized crew to arrive. Food for thought.
That makes a lot of sense. Depending on the items stored inside a warehouse, a fire can get quickly out of control. It can be a big danger to the firefighters and any people trapped in the vicinity. Keeping the warehouse organized and having firewalls may help slow down and prevent the spread of damage.
Posted by: Duane Williams | February 11, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Storage can be an issue here. Improper organization of flammable materials, combined with the large area of a warehouse can be a formula for disaster. First and foremost, preventative measures should be done to lessen the risk of fire. Organization can also help slow down the damage in the event of a fire.
Posted by: Matilda Nelson | March 12, 2012 at 05:56 PM