Vacant Brooklyn Factory Fire

(1) The fire in the vacant factory has quickly taken hold of the building and is showing through the roof. Firefighting operations inside the building had been earlier abandoned because of fire conditions and interior fire spread. (Photos by Allen Epstein-FirstOnScenePhotos.)
(1) The fire in the vacant factory has quickly taken hold of the building and is showing through the roof. Firefighting operations inside the building had been earlier abandoned because of fire conditions and interior fire spread. (Photos by Allen Epstein-FirstOnScenePhotos.)

By Michael M. Dugan

A report was received at the Borough Communications Office for a fire in a vacant factory in Brooklyn, New York. The initial units on the alarm thought they had a vehicle on fire in an abandoned warehouse. The warehouse was a massive two-story 150- × 300-square-foot vacant building that had nine interconnected structures and was an entire block long; it was the former home of Blue Ridge Farms. There was a vehicle fire inside the building, and the fire was spreading to the surrounding structure. The first-in engine was a relocated company that was filling in for the normally assigned first-in engine. Crews did a great job at the fire, but a covering or different unit responding to a fire in a building sometimes does not have the knowledge of the local companies whose members have drilled and preplanned for this building many times. Local companies know which gate is open, where the entrances to the building are, and what to expect at this site. The relocated company might have to depend on other units assigned on the initial alarm for relevant information.

(2) The tower ladders are being set up and supplied with water. The incident commander had placed the apparatus out of the collapse zone and tried to get them out of the smoke as much as possible. The number of calls for smoke can be significant.
(2) The tower ladders are being set up and supplied with water. The incident commander had placed the apparatus out of the collapse zone and tried to get them out of the smoke as much as possible. The number of calls for smoke can be significant.

The first-in chief arrived and sized up the building and the fire conditions and decided that the fire had had enough headway: This operation was going defensive. This decision meant that more resources were going to be needed, especially tower ladders and engines to supply them with water. Rapid intervention teams (RIT) had to stage on both sides of the building because of the building’s size-if an incident required a RIT, it would take too much time to get to the other side of the building.

(3) As tower ladders operate, you can see the overhead power lines near the building. The utility company is going to need to be on scene with a representative at the command post to de-energize these lines.
(3) As tower ladders operate, you can see the overhead power lines near the building. The utility company is going to need to be on scene with a representative at the command post to de-energize these lines.

Fires in vacant or unoccupied but in-use warehouses have the potential to go from good to bad quickly (think of the Worcester cold storage warehouse and other “named” fires). There can be large risks, and most of the time those who die are firefighters and officers. The buildings are abandoned, and people may be using them for illicit and illegal activities. The last thing the “inhabitants” want is to see someone in uniform, and they don’t care what type of uniform. They are doing drugs, stripping cars, or stripping the building of metals. They do not want to be caught. Therefore, if something goes wrong, they do not call for help; they just leave.

Another reason for a fire in such a structure is that someone wants the building gone. That person might be the owner, neighbors, or locals who are tired of putting up with the activity that goes on in and around the building. For whatever reason the building is in use and on fire, it is not a good place for us.

(4) A tower ladder operates above the roof line; you can see the size of some of the equipment that was placed on the roof-adding to the load.
(4) A tower ladder operates above the roof line; you can see the size of some of the equipment that was placed on the roof-adding to the load.

Another major issue is that no one on scene is making a call to the fire department until the fire gains enough headway and the fire or smoke is visible outside of the building. By the time we get the call for fire in a vacant factory or smoke in the vicinity, the fire has had time to make sizeable headway and might already be affecting the building’s structural stability. Stability might already be compromised from weather or a lack of maintenance.

Be aware that if a building has been used for food preparation and storage, a refrigeration unit may be on the roof. Such a unit is heavy and adds to the load above our heads.

(5) The fire has control of the structure. Smoke is showing from every crack in the structure.
(5) The fire has control of the structure. Smoke is showing from every crack in the structure.

This building was formerly used as a processing center for a food company and had many interior issues. Nine attached and interconnected buildings with many openings and passageways throughout might be opened or blocked at any given time. You don’t know what to expect on the inside of this building. You may have inspected it yesterday and vagrants may have been in the building last night and taken a door, opened holes in the floor, or blocked any areas of refuge for them to hide.

Inside this building, the prior occupant had left large nitrogen tanks, which had to be taken into consideration. The incident commander had the Hazardous Material Unit respond to provide information and insight as to the potential risks and what could be done at the scene to mitigate the hazards.

(6) Members not operating the tower ladder master stream are standing fast outside the collapse area. Fire has control of the entire loading dock area.
(6) Members not operating the tower ladder master stream are standing fast outside the collapse area. Fire has control of the entire loading dock area.

Because of the need for resources and the time of year (a hot August afternoon), rehab and rotation of units were necessary. Dispatchers will need to move units and responders all over the area. Dispatchers also will receive numerous calls for smoke. The length of the operation (it took 16 hours to bring the fire under control, and units were on scene for more than 24 hours) necessitates that units respond from all over the area. A good dispatcher will reach out to responding units and give them a heads-up call. This call makes sure units are ready to go to the fire.

Remember, a vacant building has numerous issues and problems inside and outside of the structure. Once the fire gains control of any portion of the building, prepare for an extended exterior operation with tower ladders and master streams. We want a fire that goes out and for our members to go home safe-not another “named” fire.

MICHAEL M. DUGAN is a 27-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, where he served as captain of Ladder Company 123 before retiring in 2012. As a lieutenant, he served in Ladder Company 42 and was a firefighter in Ladder Company 43. He has been involved with the fire service for 39 years.

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