DENTAL COMPLEX FIRE RESULTS IN LARGE LOSS
FIRE REPORTS
A fire of undetermined origin spread quickly through a three-story dental office and laboratory complex last Aug. 12 in Champaign, III. Before the incident was terminated, Illinois would have its largest fire loss for 1982.
The Park Circle dental complex is a round building housing approximately 30 dentists and their supporting laboratories. The steel and masonry structure, built in 1965, had undergone a number of interior remodelings. The interior finishes consisted of wood paneling, carpeting and vinyl wall coverings on noncombustible surfaces. Furnishings were largely upholstered chairs and tables common to office waiting rooms. Additionally, the composition of much of the specialized dental furniture and equipment included combustible plastic materials.
A dentist and patient were in a treatment room adjacent to the room of fire origin at approximately 7:20 a. m. When an air conditioning system was activated by the heat of the fire, it quickly filled the treatment room with smoke, causing the occupants to flee and seek assistance. Other building occupants were alerted by the persons leaving the fire area.
A futile attempt was made by building occupants to extinguish the fire which had, by this time, involved the entire room of origin.
The Champaign Fire Department received a telephone report of the fire from a building occupant at 7:29 a. m. A normal commercial first-alarm assignment consisting of three engines, one ladder and a shift commander was dispatched to the scene. First-alarm companies arriving two minutes later found fire issuing from two windows on the third floor. After an initial search had verified that the occupants were safe, an aggressive interior attack was engaged by advancing 1 ½-inch and 2 ½inch hose streams up the south interior stairway. Roof ventilation was being accomplished simultaneously.
Second and third alarms were struck by the fireground commander shortly after his arrival, bringing an additional three engines and two ladders from Champaign, Urbana, and the University of Illinois Fire Departments.
The interior attack was sustained for 30 minutes with only marginal success. Personnel were becoming quickly disoriented in the round structure with zero visibility. The fire was spreading quickly in the concealed spaces and office cubicles. A decision to apply master streams and assume an exterior, defensive posture for a short time was made by the fireground commander. Seven master streams were applied through windows for approximately 10 minutes until significant knockdown had been achieved.
—photo by Barry Wagner, Champaign. III., F.D. photographer.
A second interior attack was attempted for another 30 minutes. However, in consultation with the Champaign Fire Department’s retained structural engineer, the fireground commander determined that the open steel truss roof, laden with air handling units, was unsafe. Both interior and exterior attacks were being seriously hampered by the multiple cubicle environment that provided many concealed spaces and partitions to deflect streams.
The fire was finally extinguished by using 4500 gpm through master streams for a period of one hour. Overhaul and salvage operations continued for several hours.
Direct fire loss was appreciable. Much of the expensive equipment required by modern dentistry was destroyed or seriously damaged by smoke and water. The fire damage was confined to the third floor, roof and exterior. However, the adjusted loss figure has been set at $4.5 million. Additionally, the indirect loss due to business interruption, forced relocations and the loss of employment is expected to exceed the direct loss.
The fire started in the laboratory on the third floor. The exact cause is undetermined. However, testing laboratories are closely examining the electrical equipment remains from the room of origin.
In a critique of the fireground operation, several factors were found to be noteworthy:
- Round buildings are extremely disorienting, especially to fire fighters working in zero visibility environments.
- Medical/dental offices represent small cubicle configurations that make the application of fire streams very difficult.
- As is the case with most of our built environment, medical/dental office complexes include a large quantity of synthetic materials as part of furnishings and equipment. These synthetic materials are perceived to add to the toxicity and the intensity of the fire environment.
- The installation of heavy air handling equipment on open truss, steel decked roofs continues to represent a serious safety problem for fire fighters.
- Medical/dental offices represent a significant loss potential due to the incredible expense of equipment and furnishings.
Fortunately, this fire did not result in the loss of any lives or serious injuries. It will, however, have a lasting impact on the dental profession and the Champaign community in general.
