September 26th, 2022
A commercial warehouse fire in Boyle Heights California, burned five businesses Monday, September 5. More than 180 firefighters were called from two Fire Departments. The warehouse contained separate businesses side-by-side. This allowed the fire to easily spread into and damage multiple businesses.
The Fire Departments were called at 2:12 PM and firefighters arrived to find intense flames. The fire quickly burned through the roof of the building and sent a large column of thick black smoke into the air. Firefighters attacked the fire on the ground and from atop multiple aerial ladders. Emergency crews evacuated a nearby store as a precaution.
Defensive firefighting operations continued for 2 hours until the fire was extinguished at 4:12 PM. While fighting the fire, four firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries (one struck by falling debris, three encountered an electrical hazard) and were sent to a local hospital. All four were released later in the day and remained on duty for their shift. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation.
In July 2022, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported:
- U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated average of 1,450 structure fires in warehouse properties per year
- These fires caused an annual average of $283 million in direct property damage.
- Electrical distribution or lighting equipment caused 18 percent of the warehouse fires and was responsible for 31 percent of the direct property damage.
- The number of structure fires in US warehouses has shown a slight increase in recent years.
The NFPA Warehouse Safety Fact Sheet stresses the importance of inspection, testing, and maintenance. Contact Risk Logic Inc. to partner with your organization in helping to prevent a fire at your warehouse.