Comments on: Major Fire Rips Through Large Produce Warehouse

By: Russell Gilbert

Russell Gilbert — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:23:17 +0000

Based on the size of the facility the roof was either hot tar (built up) of modified bitumen (mod bit). Both use a tar for binding the sheeting material to the insulation. Both use sheeting that is tar based and burn extremely hot. The bulk of the smoke was probably from the 4-8 inches of foam insulation sandwiched between the roof deck and the sheeting. The combination creates an intense fire that tends to resist water and creates lots of smoke just like a tire fire. Glad injuries were minimal. Thanks to the FD for all they do, its’ not just a job!

By: wm

wm — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:11:10 +0000

Produce warehouse probably means refrigeration is present. If the refrigeration equipment is ammonia-based, a release of ammonia gas would be possible. Ammonia gas is very toxic and a release or potential for release would involve evacuation around the facility — possibly for several blocks downwind…

By: Henry Coe

Henry Coe — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:40:23 +0000

It stunk. I used Rawlson and Brent Ln to get to Airport Blvd and while sitting at that light odorous fumes were making me think the fire had something to do with that Rail Road yard that sits back there.
I had forgotten about the produce place.
It seemed like a lot of black toxic type smoke. I don’t recall hearing an explosion, but my ears don’t work all that well so I might not have heard it well enough to think about it during the time I was leaving Southern Scrap and going to the Grocery Outlet.. The sirens, many many sirens, started while I was shopping.