HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/06/2009 07 Yakima Resource Mill Fire - After Action Executive Summary BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
• YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT 7
Item No.
For Meeting of October 6, 2009
ITEM TITLE: Yakima Resource Mill Fire - After Action Executive Summary
SUBMITTED BY: Charlie Hines, Fire Chief
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Charlie Hines, 575 -6060
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
A summary report regarding the Yakima Resource Mill site fire incident.
Resolution Ordinance Other (Specify)
Contract Mail to (name and address):
Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: i "'2 City Manager.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION:
• After Action Report
Executive Summary
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Yakima Resource Mill Fire
September 26, 2009
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& Education - 4 : 401 North Front Street, Yakima; WA 98901 (509) 575 -6060
Training Fax (509) 576 -6356
Communications
'fill __wet. www.yakimafire.com
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On September 26, 2009 at 15:13 hours, the Yakima Emergency Communications
Center received numerous reports of a fire at the Yakima Resources Mill property (a
224 acre wood processing facility), located at 611 N. 8 Street. Note: None of these
reports originated from Yakima Resources.
YFD units arrived four minutes after being dispatched. First units reported fire in a
wood debris pile. Based on their experience of combating previous fires at this location,
wind conditions and the potential for rapid spread, additional resources were requested.
Moments later the fire spread to an additional sawdust pile. Within seconds, the wind
carried burning embers onto the adjacent wood piles ( "decks "), quickly igniting them.
Within 30 minutes, a major fire situation had developed with the potential for multiple
casualties and extensive property destruction extending beyond the property.
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Firefighters were faced with several complex challenges:
• Delayed notification
• Extremely heavy fire Toad (number of Togs)
• 20 MPH winds
• Insufficient number of firefighters
• Radiant heat (several sections of fire hose was burned and rendered useless)
• Reduced water volume
• Accessibility
• Embers flying downwind — starting additional fires
• Electrical power lines arching, threatening to fall
The incident command system (ICS) was instituted and a unified command was
established consisting of Yakima Fire Department, Union Gap Fire Department and
East Valley Fire Department. Due to the rate of spread and lack of resources, initial
control objectives were defensive and centered on protecting exposures.
Unified command established the following goals:
• Contain the fire to the Yakima Resource property
• Protect citizens and structures downwind (City's infrastructure)
• Maintain fire services (protection) within the upper valley
III • Backfill empty fire stations
• Callback of all off-duty personnel
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S c ' quickly escalated to a 4 alarm, stripping virtual) every fire agency in the
This incident qu c y pp g y ry g y
upper valley. At the height of the fire, over 200 emergency workers were assigned to
eight divisions. There were several extended periods of time when the City and
neighboring communities were completely void of fire protection resources.
Because of the tremendous fire Toad, fire history and an insufficient number of on -duty
firefighters, YFD recognized the potential for disaster (see attached letter to Council
dated August 7, 2009). If the fire had started on the decks located at the north end or
even in the middle of the facility, instead of the south end, the outcome would have
been much worse. The additional fuel would have produced a thermal column that .
would have carried burning embers 1 — 2 miles downwind, starting dozens of roof fires.
Approximately six decks suffered various degrees of damage. Several brush fires
occurred downwind. No structures (on or off the property) suffered fire damage.
However, electrical power was lost to a large portion of the City and the State Fair.
Three key elements occurred that were critical to the success of this incident:
• Aggressive /coordinated firefighting
• Wind velocity decreased
• Lack of additional fuel (decks) downwind
0 Property dollar savings for the City is estimated at $1.1 billion.
Preliminary results of our investigation indicate probable cause to be "spontaneous
combustion" originating in a wood debris pile. The potential remains for another
catastrophic fire posing a threat to public safety and creating a considerable economic
impact. As such, I concur with the decision to cease operations until significant steps
have been taken to reduce fire hazards at this site.
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Charlie Hines .
Fire Chief
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