IGA Grocery Store Fire - December 20, 1992

Compiled by Mike Legeros

Created November 25, 2013
Last updated August 23, 2017

Incident Summary

Introduction

Sectors are 1 (front), 2 (inside), 3 (rear), 4 (left), 5 (right), 6 (roof), 7 (staging).

First Alarm

IGA Grocery Store at 718 N. Person Street.
E3, E7, T1, R7, C52 dispatched at 11:34 p.m.
Engine 3 arriving.
Smoke showing from rear of store around room-mounted air-condition units upon arrival.
C52 records heavy smoke conditions throughout and all around building.
Engine 3 declares Code 3, results in automatic dispatch of second alarm, and other operational steps.

Second Alarm

E4, E11, T11, R6, C51 dispatched at 11:39 p.m.
Crews attempt to force door in rear of building.
Two crews (with two hand lines) enter front of store at approximately 11:55 p.m.
Engine 3 supplies hand lines to front door.
Engine 11 supplies hand lines to Sector 5 (right of building).
Attack crew notices ceiling tiles on floor indicating fire overheard.
Volume of fire grows and moves to front of store.
Two crews inside unable to extinguish fire.
Command changes to aerial operations using three aerials.
Fire begins showing [outside of building?] at approximately 11:53 p.m.
Truck 1 (snorkel) positions to Sector 4 (left of building), supplied by Engine 7, and operates master stream onto roof.

Third Alarm

E16, E6, T16 dispatched at 12:07 a.m.
Crews ordered to withdraw from building at approximately 12:10 a.m.
Additional truck companies establish master streams at front and right side of building.
Engine 6 supplies Truck 16 for about two hours, from hydrant at corner of Franklin and Blount streets.
Hand lines required to cool apparatus from radiant heat.
Mansard-style canopy on three sides of building becomes fully involved and collapses into parking lot.

Rescue

Rescue 7 arrives on first alarm, helps with fire suppression. Notes Rescue 6 set up rehab.
Rescue 6 arrives on second alarm. Assists with entry, suppression, overhaul, rehab.

Leaving the Scene

Relief Companies

Day After

Causalities, Units

Three firefighters are injured and treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.
E3, E7, T1, R7, C52, E4, E11, T11, R6, C51, E6, E16, T16, E1 relief, E14 relief, C1, C2, C3, C10.

Investigation

Investigation continues on second day after fire, December 22.
Engine 13 and Z. Overton from Station 1 assist Car 198, that morning and early afternoon.
Area of origin narrowed to ceiling space in rear of store.
Due to extensive damage, source not identified.
Arson ruled out.

Sources