Big Box (Warehouse) fire training resources

[Pannell, Donald]

Below is some information shared recently regarding Big Box or Mega Warehouse fires by Chief Billy Goldfeder through www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com. These types of occupancies are prevalent throughout Tennessee. If you don’t have one in your community, there is probably one closer than you think. The links to videos and related information below are great resources for training on these types of occupancies.

 

"When the Sky Turned Black" is an excellent new documentary from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Plainfield (Indiana) Fire Territory, telling the story of the March 16, 2022, mega-warehouse fire at the Walmart fulfillment center in Plainfield, Indiana, one of the largest warehouse fires in U.S. history. Featuring firsthand accounts, footage, and hard-earned lessons from the fireground, the film provides the facts, challenges, and courage of those Firefighters, Fire Officers & Chiefs operating at that incident.

 

Big box fires are not a "bread & butter" single-family dwelling fires, "only bigger"... they are highly complex incidents requiring initial planning, training and ongoing training (from the newest firefighter to the IC) well before "the" fire. We have a chance to learn from those who were there in this excellent documentary, and the below resources.

 

WATCH "WHEN THE SKY TURNED BLACK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqOG2uEXA8s

 

 

RELATED RESOURCES FOR BIG BOX FIRES:

 

--1.3 Million Square Foot Distribution Center Fire:

https://bshifter.com/podcasts/command-lessons-from-three-1-3m-sq-ft-distribution-center-fires/

 

--Big Box Fires w/Chief Shane Ray (Excellent Training)

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcUP1spcDrQ

 

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POtytJJdvH4

 

 

--Big Box Fires w/Captain Mike Dugan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgOwtcl9ENc

 

 

--Big Box Commercial Simulation "What's Your Department's Plan?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KN9LtjLD5g

 

 

--WHAT IS a Big Box Building?

https://www.sfpe.org/publications/fpemagazine/fpearchives/2006q1/2006q15

 

--NFPA 13 E, Recommended Practice for Fire Department Operations in Properties Protected by Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems

https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-13e-standard-development/13e

 

These resources could be easily integrated into a training session for awareness and to plan for incidents at structures like the ones referenced here.

 

In service,

 

Donald Pannell, M.S., EFO
Fire Management Consultant
UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service

7777 Walnut Grove Road, Suite 3, Box 14
Memphis, Tennessee 38120

donald....@tennessee.edu
(901) 233-1434 Mobile | (865) 974-0411 Office
mtas.tennessee.edu