Structure fire

A structure fire is a fire involving the structural components of various types of residential, commercial or industrial <a href="/facts/Building/edSjKXje">buildings</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Barn_fire/EQV3gkyy">barn fires</a>. Residential buildings range from <a href="/facts/Single-family_detached_home/c3Hlc0Ip">single-family detached homes</a> and <a href="/facts/Townhouse/c4PXgQky">townhouses</a> to <a href="/facts/Apartment/AnqWV09E">apartments</a> and <a href="/facts/Tower_block/dfTrBY0s">tower blocks</a>, or various <a href="/facts/Commercial_building/Q2Aysw7o">commercial buildings</a> ranging from <a href="/facts/Office/uUPmgVFb">offices</a> to <a href="/facts/Shopping_mall/nlNx4ts6">shopping malls</a>. This is in contrast to "room and contents" fires, <a href="/facts/Chimney_fire/4AnKbN4p">chimney fires</a>, <a href="/facts/Vehicle_fire/L96VA0Sh">vehicle fires</a>, <a href="/facts/Wildfire/LU3797A0">wildfires</a> or other outdoor fires.
Structure fires typically have a similar response from the <a href="/facts/Fire_department/4N6R8YdV">fire department</a> that include <a href="/facts/Fire_apparatus/zxWgsqVk">engines</a>, ladder trucks, <a href="/facts/Rescue_squad/vko0n2oR">rescue squads</a>, chief officers, and an <a href="/facts/Emergency_medical_services/K1uGpEH0">EMS</a> unit, each of which will have specific initial assignments. The actual response and assignments will vary between fire departments.
It is not unusual for some fire departments to have a predetermined mobilization plan for when a fire incident is reported in certain structures in their area. This plan may include mobilizing the nearest aerial firefighting vehicle to a tower block, or a <a href="/facts/Fire_fighting_foam/fnhESF0V">foam</a>-carrying vehicle to structures known to contain certain <a href="/facts/Dangerous_goods/mfe6Yv43">hazardous chemicals</a>.

Structure fire open-in-new

Structure fire