Walmart Plainfield fire: Company says fire department response made blaze worse

[sl8]

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2022/09/23/walmart-response-to-plainfield-distribution-fire-made-blaze-worse/69514755007/

Walmart Plainfield fire: Company says fire department response made blaze worse

Sarah Nelson
Indianapolis Star
Sept. 22, 2022

Walmart representatives have sent tort claim notices to area fire departments and city officials seeking millions in damages after the massive fire at the retail giant’s former fulfillment center in Plainfield.

In a notice sent to Plainfield Fire Territory, attorneys claim the department's orders to shut down the sprinkler system during the mammoth blaze made the fire worse. The attorneys further said the facility’s doors were opened before the fire was extinguished, ushering in oxygen that fed the flames.

"We are taking steps as required under Indiana law to preserve our rights during the ongoing investigation," said Randy Hargrove, a Walmart spokesman.

Damage from the fire on March 16 forced the 1.2-million square foot facility to permanently shut down. The blaze from the warehouse, at 9590 Allpoints Parkway, sent plumes of smoke so high satellite imagery detected it. One firefighter who suffered minor injuries while assisting in the response was treated and released at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

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[Historic NY]

1. WOW

Walmart's insurance company will go for the juggler to avoid full liability . Who the hell turn off the system designed to suppress and control fire spread.

[3Hotdogs]

2. Insurance company would have some liability since the fire started before the fire company arrived.

But if it was one of the fire companies that turned off the sprinkle system, What da fuck?

[RAB910]

3. I am generally not a huge fan of fire fighters, but in this case I can see they are in the right

Based on what I was seeing on the video, at least parts of the roof collapsed. That means broken sprinkler pipes. No doubt they shut down the sprinklers after that to increase water pressure and volume available to the firefighters. Sprinklers are intended to suppress a blaze, it's surprising that a fully sprinkled facility would get that bad in the first place.

As for the doors, with huge holes in the roof (that's how all that smoke is getting out) the doors would be meaningless.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. I would def. think that the doors being open is even more dangerous when the roof has collapsed

Versus when it has not.

[Xoan]

5. Watched too much Chicago Fire?

[AngryOldDem]

6. Tort claim was filed four days before the 180-day deadline.

Walmart is making sure it has a right to sue should any negligence be proven. If it had not filed, it wouldn’t have been able to sue.

What’s concerning is, with the number of warehouse facilities being built, are fire departments adequately trained to fight fires in them? This kind of tells me no, at least in Plainfield.