Tactics for the Known and Unknowns at Warehouse Fires – Brian Gettemeier

Peter Matthews talks with Brian Gettemeier, a captain with the Cottleville Fire Protection District in St. Charles County, MO, about fires in warehouses, including sprawling ecommerce facilities that are being built in communities large and small. 

Gettemeier began instructing and writing on the topic of the dangers and challenges on warehouse fires after seeing several fires in such facilities that caused multi-million dollar loses and smaller fires that were contained by sprinklers as fires break out in rural and urban areas. 

They talk about the dangers revolving around rack storage, the heavy fire loads and types of products that are being stored, worker and firefighter life safety and accountability and other tactical considerations, including initial and long-term resources, apparatus placement and the need for a strong water supply. 

Gettemeier also looks at the role of the initial incident commander, the need for a 360-degree size-up and establishing an in-depth incident command post if the scope of the incident requires it. In order to prepare for such incidents, the departments need to begin preplanning and walk-throughs as soon as possible. 

He also touches on the need understanding a department’s liability when these facilities come to you community, which often begins with the fire chief or fire marshal starting the discussions from the early stages related to building and life safety codes. 

Resources 

Brian Gettemeier’s Firehouse bio page & articles  

FM Global Firefighter Training  

FM Global Fireground Checklist  

FireFusion