Juveniles Start $1 Million Fire In Sprinklered Shopping Mall
Photo by Richard Hall, Jr.
A million-dollar fire in an unsprinklered Stockton, Calif., shopping complex began 10 minutes after property managers requested loitering juveniles to leave the area. Eight businesses suffered damages.
The manager of a flower shop within the complex noticed juveniles tearing pages from a phone book in a nearby phone booth. The torn pages were then rolled up and placed in the wooden framework of a portable gazebo (a freestanding roofed structure made of lath and open on all sides). The paper was then ignited by a match held by one of two juveniles, according to the flower shop manager. Upon ignition of the paper, the juveniles fled the area. The paper ignited the gazebo and, because of its construction, quickly spread to the exposed wood overhang of the shopping complex.
Combustible
The Venetian Plaza Shopping Complex was constructed of rough sawn cedar siding, exposed wood overhang and wood shingle roof with glass and fiberglass skylights placed around the entrance of the breezeway. The attic venting was typical of contemporary construction and extended around the perimeter of the overhanging roof. Once the heat and flame penetrated the wood siding and wood roof overhang, it engulfed the entire breezeway and attic area. Driven by a 12-mph north wind, the fire spread rapidly throughout the entire length of the breezeway, which was 80 feet in length, and nearby shops.
The initial fire call was dispatched at 8:35 a.m., when the calling party reported that the gazebo and boxes within the gazebo were on fire. The first-alarm assignment consisted of Engines 10 and 4, Truck 4, Medic 4 and Battalion Chief 2. At 8:38, Engine 10 arrived and reported a fully involved structure. At 8:41, Battalion Chief 2 requested a second alarm. This dispatched Engines 6 and 11, Truck 2, Medic 2 and Battalion Chief 1. Six minutes later, he requested a third alarm. This sent Engines 7 and 9 to the fire, which was fought by a total of 38 fire fighters.
Penetrated attic
The fire penetrated the attic area on the south wing of the building and fully involved the restaurant. Portions of the fiberglass skylight panels in the breezeway area were beginning to collapse.
Several 2½-inch hose lines were placed in operation to try to stem the fire threatening to engulf the entire exterior of the structure and to halt the fire within portions of the attic spaces. Shards of glass from the other skylights were falling to the ground and endangering the fire fighters who were making the fire attack within the breezeway.
Sections of the siding were cut away with a rescue saw in order to expose the attic area so fire suppression could be conducted. Ladders were placed into position on the roof areas of the structures. The type of roof construction consisted of tubular-type trusses. As soon as the heat and fire penetrated the attic area, the tubular truss supports began to fail. This made roof ventilation very dangerous to fire personnel. Under conditions of this type, a minimum of fire fighters (if any) should be allowed on the roof. Ventilation crews should only work from the safety of well-positioned roof ladders.
Ten minutes into the fire, all apparatus and manpower for a third-alarm response were on the scene and in position for complete fire extinguishment. Fortunately, exposures downwind of the plaza were limited due to a wide thoroughfare.
Quick control
Within 20 minutes of the initial alarm, the fire was under control, and within 40 minutes fire crews had extinguished all visible fire throughout the complex. Overhaul of all the involved businesses was being conducted and fire watches were set up to check for any possible rekindle.
Witnesses on the scene gave fire investigators good descriptions of the alleged suspects. With the help of local police and high school security officers, a 14-year-old high school student was apprehended and questioned 35 minutes after the incident. The suspect’s motive was spite, created by the business complex managers over the request to leave the area.
