U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Sprinklers Control

Arson Fires in

Rack-Storage Warehouse

Mt. Prospect, Illinois

USFA-TR-030/October 1988

Homeland

Security

U.S. Fire Administration Fire Investigations Program

T

he U.S. Fire Administration develops reports on selected major fires throughout the country. 

The fires usually involve multiple deaths or a large loss of property. But the primary criterion 

for deciding to do a report is whether it will result in significant “lessons learned.” In some 

cases these lessons bring to light new knowledge about fire--the effect of building construction or 

contents, human behavior in fire, etc. In other cases, the lessons are not new but are serious enough 

to highlight once again, with yet another fire tragedy report. In some cases, special reports are developed to discuss events, drills, or new technologies which are of interest to the fire service.

The reports are sent to fire magazines and are distributed at National and Regional fire meetings. The 

International Association of Fire Chiefs assists the USFA in disseminating the findings throughout the 

fire service. On a continuing basis the reports are available on request from the USFA; announcements of their availability are published widely in fire journals and newsletters.

This body of work provides detailed information on the nature of the fire problem for policymakers 

who must decide on allocations of resources between fire and other pressing problems, and within 

the fire service to improve codes and code enforcement, training, public fire education, building 

technology, and other related areas.

The Fire Administration, which has no regulatory authority, sends an experienced fire investigator 

into a community after a major incident only after having conferred with the local fire authorities 

to insure that the assistance and presence of the USFA would be supportive and would in no way 

interfere with any review of the incident they are themselves conducting. The intent is not to arrive 

during the event or even immediately after, but rather after the dust settles, so that a complete and 

objective review of all the important aspects of the incident can be made. Local authorities review 

the USFA’s report while it is in draft. The USFA investigator or team is available to local authorities 

should they wish to request technical assistance for their own investigation.

This report and its recommendations were developed by USFA staff and by TriData Corporation, 

Arlington, Virginia, its staff and consultants, who are under contract to assist the USFA in carrying 

out the Fire Reports Program.

The USFA appreciates the cooperation received from the Mt. Prospect, Illinois Fire Department and 

Business Services, Inc. Particular thanks go to Chief Edward A. Cavello, Deputy Chief Lonnie H. 

Jackson, Inspector Wallace Kueking, and Fire Protection Engineer R. Paul Valentine.

For additional copies of this report write to the U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 South Seton Avenue, 

Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727. The report is available on the Administration’s Web site at http://

www.usfa.dhs.gov/

Sprinklers Control Arson Fires

in Rack-Storage Warehouse

Mt. Prospect, Illinois

Investigated by: April Berkol

This is Report 030 of the Major Fires Investigation Project conducted 

by TriData Corporation under contract EMW-88-C-2649 to the United 

States Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Homeland

Security

Department of Homeland Security

United States Fire Administration

National Fire Data Center

U.S. Fire Administration

Mission Statement

As an entity of the Department of Homeland 

Security, the mission of the USFA is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire 

and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. 

We serve the Nation independently, in coordination with other Federal agencies, 

and in partnership with fire protection and 

emergency service communities. With a 

commitment to excellence, we provide public education, training, technology, and data 

initiatives.

Homeland

Security

Table of Contents

OVERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

STRUCTURE AND CODES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

THE FIRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

LESSONS LEARNED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

APPENDICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Appendix A: Floor Plan of Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Appendix B: Explanation of Storage Commodity Classifications per NFPA 231C. . . . . . . . . . . 9

Appendix C: Floor Plan of Structure, showing fire area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Appendix D: Mt. Prospect Fire Department Organizational Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Appendix E: Chicagoland Area Map locating Mt. Prospect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Appendix F: Mt. Prospect Fire Department Fire Incident Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Appendix G: List of Photographs and Slides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

1

Sprinklers Control Arson Fires

in Rack-Storage Warehouse

Mt. Prospect, Illinois

Local Contacts: Deputy Chief Lonnie H. Jackson

Wallace Kueking, Investigator

R. Paul Valentine, Fire Protection Engineer

Mt. Prospect Fire Department

Fire Prevention Bureau

1601 W. Golf Road

Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

Frank Springer

Vice President

Business Services, Inc.

902 Feehanville Drive

Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

OVERVIEW

Very early on the morning of October 16, 1988, a private fire alarm monitoring service received a 

smoke detector alarm from a Mt. Prospect warehouse. The private service then reported the alarm to 

the Northwest Central Fire Dispatch, which, in turn, alerted the Mt. Prospect Fire Department.

Upon arrival at the scene, the firefighters inspected the outside of the 49,000 square foot building. At 

first, the only indication of trouble was a sounding water motor gong. As they completed their walk 

around the building, they discovered water running out from under a door located at the southwest 

corner of the one story structure. At about the same time, a light trail of smoke was observed from 

the roof area of the southwest corner of the building.

The fire department then forced entry from the east side dock entrance. Upon entering the premises, 

they discovered that a fire had been contained by sprinkler operation to the southwest corner of the 

warehouse section of the business. (See Appendix A for Floor Plan.) The responding units then 

proceeded to extinguish the remaining fire, and remove and overhaul palletized paper products from 

the racks where they were stored. The fire was completely extinguished within 50 minutes of the 

Mt. Prospect Fire Department’s arrival on the scene. Overhaul and salvage activities were completed 

within approximately 12 hours from arrival on the scene.
2

SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES

Issues Comments

Cause of Fire Arson to cover a robbery.

Extinguishment of Fire Sprinkler system, with fire department overhaul, to extinguish smoldering fires.

Building and Contents Building is a Type 2C Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) non-combustible 

structural steel and concrete structure. The building consists of offices and a warehouse 

section. Storage is on open double steel racks and consists of Class III materials on wooden 

pallets; some pallets contain encapsulated materials.

Fire Protection Equipment Automatic sprinklers and smoke detectors and hand-held extinguishers were provided. A 

private service monitored the fire alarm and suppression system.

Damage Final loss to be determined. No casualties or business interruption occurred.

Investigation of the fire scene revealed that multiple fires had been by a person or persons unknown 

in effort to cover up a burglary at the business. Successful operation of the overhead sprinkler system 

and the quick response of the Mt. Prospect Fire Department helped prevent a large loss, and no business interruption was experienced as a result of the fire.

STRUCTURE AND CODES

The Business Services, Inc., building was a one story structure. It contained administrative offices at 

the northwest end, computer room, breakroom, and clerical/word processing room on the western 

side, and a warehouse section with open steel, double rack storage system with a receiving/shipping 

area in the remaining space. There were ten rows of racks. The building is 270 feet by up to 200 feet 

and is approximately 49,000 square feet overall.

The five-year-old building was located in a high-rent, modern, business park. The construction type 

was (BOCA) Type 2C, unprotected noncombustible. The facility was a noncombustible structure 

with metal roof deck on steel joists with pre-cast concrete wall panels on a structural steel frame. The 

warehouse section is separated from the administrative offices by fire rated construction. Fire rated 

gypsum wallboard partitions serve to separate the computer, break, and word processing rooms 

from the remainder of the warehouse. The building was accessible to fire department vehicles on 

three sides. A creek ran along the building’s northern end.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

The building was fully sprinklered. The system in the warehouse section consisted of 286 F heads 

at the ceiling, designed to deliver a density of 0.21 gpm/square feet over 2,000 square feet. There 

were no in-rack sprinklers at the time of the fire. A fire department siamese connection was provided 

at the southwest corner of the building. Two fire hydrants were located near the structure, one near 

the southeast corner and the other near the southwest corner. The structure was also equipped with 

a fully automatic proprietary fire alarm system. Smoke detection was provided in the warehouse 

area. Fire extinguishers were located on every other structural column within the warehouse space. 

Smoking was not permitted in this area.

Water supply for fire hydrants and the building sprinklers was on the Mt. Prospect village fire 

lines, which are, in turn, connected to Chicago’s lines. The system is deemed very good by the fire 

department.
USFA-TR-030/October 1988 3

FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING

Serving a population of approximately 56,000 village residents, the Mt. Prospect Fire Department 

employs 64 full-time firefighters and 20 paid-on-call firefighters. The department enjoys an Insurance 

Services Office overall rating as a Class 2 department.

The Mt. Prospect Fire Department prides itself on its on-going training program, which cover courses 

for State Certification, Apparatus Engineer, Hazardous Material (Hazmat), Special Rescue, Paramedic/

Emergency Medical Technician, and Underwater Recovery.

The department has three fire stations: #12, #13, and #14. Station #13 is the main station and 

has an engine, aerial truck, squad, ambulance (mobile intensive care unit, as are all department 

ambulances), a reserve pumper, and a command vehicle; it has seven staff members on-duty at all 

times, including the shift commander. Station #14 has an engine and an ambulance, with five staff 

members on-duty each shift. Station #12, which is also the location of the Fire Prevention Bureau, 

houses the “Fire Boss” twin agent unit (chemical and AFFF), a front-line engine, an ambulance, a 

reserve engine, a Hazmat van, an Emergency Service Disaster Response van, generator, and a boat 

for water rescues. Station #12 also has five staff members on-duty at all times. The Fire Prevention 

Bureau is staffed by a fire protection engineer, two inspectors, the deputy chief, and a secretary. The 

department is in the process of adding another inspector.

The Mt. Prospect Fire Department and the members of their Fire Prevention Bureau, headed by 

Deputy Chief Lonnie H. Jackson, provide public education programs presented to school children 

and senior citizens’ groups throughout the year. A door-to-door campaign over a three year period 

has achieved a 90 percent level of smoke detector usage in private residences. The department makes 

repeat visits to verify and re-educate residents on the use and care of smoke detectors in the home. 

The department has won the State Fire Prevention Award for 15 years running. The department is 

proud of its record of five years without a death due to fire.

THE FIRE

First indication of the fire occurred just prior to 0149 on October 16, 1988, when a smoke detector alarm was received by a private alarm monitoring service. This was called into the Northwest 

Central Fire Dispatch Office at 0149. The first units were out of the station at 0150 and arrived on 

the scene at 0154. The actual ignition is thought to have occurred between 1200 hours, when the 

last employees left the premises, and 0149, when the smoke detector alarm was recorded.

The first arriving units were from Stations #14 and #13, and consisted of two engines, an aerial 

truck, the shift commander, and an ambulance. Initially, the crews did not observe any signs of fire 

other than the ringing water motor gong, water was seen running out from under a door on the 

southwest corner, near the fire department siamese connection. A second alarm was called in at 

0204 summoning Fire Chief Cavello, another ambulance, and Reserve Squad 13. Mutual aid was 

received from two neighboring towns.

Forced entry was made from the loading dock service entrance on the east side of the building. 

Engine 13 laid in a 3-inch line from the loading dock side, while Engine 14 gained entry on the 

west side, laying in a 1-1/2-inch line. Engine 14 also connected to the fire department connection 

to charge the sprinkler system. Ventilation was provided from the roof by Aerial Truck 13.

The first entering firefighters encountered large amounts of smoke. Once the firefighters were able 

to open the overhead doors to the loading dock, they laid in attack lines. The fire was completely 
4

extinguished by 0244 when overhaul activities began. Salvage and overhaul was completed at 1453. 

A total of 26 personnel, four engines, one aerial truck, and six other vehicles responded to this fire.

Once the fire was brought under control, it was determined that multiple fires had been deliberately 

set in the southwest corner of the warehouse section. The fire department investigator and the Fire 

Marshal’s investigator were called to the scene. Further investigation of the scene revealed that a 

secure area had been breached and items appeared to be missing from this area. Also, a dollar-billchanging machine in the breakroom was found to have been broken into. The Mt. Prospect Police 

Department was called to the scene upon discovery of the apparent burglary.

The fires had been intentionally set in paper goods stored on wooden pallets lying in the second aisle 

between the first row of double racks from the southern end of the building. The fire then spread 

to packed goods on the lower level of the nearest double rack. In all, approximately five bays of the 

southern-most double rack, and about three bays of the single width rack system on the southern 

wall of the building were affected. These bays were damaged due to the heat developed by the fire.

Although the building did not suffer any structural damage, a skylight located above the fire area 

failed prior to extinguishment. This failure is thought to have occurred soon after the time the first 

responding units arrived on the scene. This is based on the fact that no outward signs of fire were 

observed upon arrival, but once the fire department completed its walk around the building, smoke 

was simultaneously observed from the loading dock area and the roof at the southwestern end of 

the structure.

Promotional fliers, pamphlets, and brochures used for marketing purposes were stored in the racks. 

Business Services, Inc., was a marketing services company engaged in mass mailings of promotional 

material. Good are packed in paper-wrapped bundles or cartons, grouped on wooden pallets, and 

occasionally encapsulated (covered on both top and sides by plastic sheeting). The storage scheme 

consists of double racks with storage on four levels up to approximately 20 feet. The goods are 

reconsidered a Class III commodity by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 231C, Rack Storage 

of Materials. (For an explanation of commodity classification, see Appendix B.)

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

Damage from the incident was primarily due to water. A total of 20 heads eventually fused as the 

sprinkler system operated to contain the fires. Upon entering the premises, the fire department 

noted ankle-deep water throughout. Sprinkler operation and fire department operations were limited to the southwestern sections of the building.

It is interesting to note that the sprinkler system design required by NFPA 231C for this type of commodity and storage configuration calls for 286 F heads at the ceiling, with a higher design density, 

and one level of in-rack sprinklers.

Summary of Sprinkler Protection Issues – Actual versus Required

ACTUAL REQUIRED

1 286 F sprinkler heads at the ceiling 1 286 F sprinkler heads at the ceiling

2 No in-rack sprinkler heads 2 One level of in-rack sprinkler heads rated at 165 F 

3 A design density of 0.21 gpm/square feet over most 

remote 2,000 square feet

3 A design density of 0.28 gpm/square feet over most 

remote 2,000 square feet
USFA-TR-030/October 1988 5

Although the system as actually designed and installed contained this fire, it is likely that fewer heads 

would have operated and the fire might have been contained by in-rack sprinklers if they had been 

present. This would predictably have limited the degree of water damage. Although a final dollar 

value was unavailable at the time of this report, the fire loss estimates place it at over one million 

dollars.

Successful operation of the sprinkler system, and the efficient manner in which the fire department 

attacked the fire, prevented it from spreading into the adjacent data processing rooms. These areas 

were found with several inches of water on the floor; however, no damage was suffered by any of 

the equipment.

LESSONS LEARNED

1. A well organized monitoring and alarm reporting system enables fires to be responded to 

earlier in their progress.

The smooth interaction of the private monitoring system with the Northwest Central Fire 

Dispatch Center, which actually coordinates all fire departments in the surrounding villages, 

was instrumental in the outcome of this incident.

2. Even though the sprinkler system was not designed to handle the commodity type and storage configuration employed, it contained the fire.

An excessive number of heads fused as the system attempted to cope with the set fires. The 

combination of a prompt alarm and effective fire department response produced a favorable 

outcome in this incident. The lack of in-rack sprinklers and the lower design density might have 

been ineffective in confining the fire under different circumstances.

3. There may be a need for providing some means of protecting sprinkler system valves from 

vandals.

An interesting outcome of this fire is that though the fires were set to hide a burglary, the perpetrator could have caused considerably more damage if he/she had shut down the sprinkler 

system. The fires were set within 20 feet of the easily accessible sprinkler valve.

4. Business owners need to be educated about the value of good fire prevention practices as 

well as sprinkler system and fire department operations.

One of the positive results of the incident has been the heightened awareness of the business owner with regard to fire department operations. Previously, the owner assumed that fire 

department personnel, in their attack and overhaul, would cause increased levels of loss and 

damage. This fire and the fire department’s subsequent actions to aid in the clean-up of the 

scene proved that to be untrue.

This fire brought Business Services, Inc., and the fire department closer. The incident also dispelled the owner’s false belief that, in a fire, all heads of a sprinkler system would operate simultaneously. The business owner admits to a heightened awareness and concern for codes and 

standards, to whit, maintaining clear aisle widths between racks, clearing of combustible debris, 

and, in general, conforming to recommend storage practices. As the owner stated, before the 

fire, the objective was to maximize the use of the high rent storage space at the expense of good 

fire prevention practices.
6

5. When a business depends heavily on its data processing capabilities, an increased level of 

protection for its computers and related equipment is good business sense.

The fire increased the owners’ general awareness of fire safety. Also, the business owner asserted 

that they were fortunate not have lost any of their data processing capabilities in this incident 

and were now considering a Halon system for this sensitive area.
7

APPENDICES

A. Floor Plan of Structure; shows locations from which Berkol photos were taken.

B. Explanation of Storage Commodity Classifications per NFPA 231C.

C. Floor Plan of Structure, showing fire area.

D. Mt. Prospect Fire Department Organizational Chart.

E. Chicagoland Area Map locating Mt. Prospect.

F. Mt. Prospect Fire Department Fire Incident Report.

G. List of Slides and Photographs, followed by selected reproductions. (Slides and photographs 

are included with the master report at the USFA.)
8

Appendix A

Appendix A 
9

Appendix B

Explanation of Storage Commodity Classifications per NFPA 231C

Class I commodities are essentially non-combustible items, i.e., metal products, glass, foods and 

the like.

Class II commodities are Class I commodities in slatted wooden crates, solid wooden boxes, and 

the like on wood pallets, i.e., light bulbs, beer, wine, thinly coated fine wire and the like.

Class III commodities are ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, natural fiber cloth, and Group 

C plastics such (PVC, urea formaldehyde, etc.) on wooden pallets.

The commodity type in this storage space consisted of pamphlets, brochures, and similar promotional paper products, packed cartons, stacked on wooden pallets of which some were partially 

encapsulated in plastic sheet.

This information is included for informational purposes only. Complete information of sprinkler 

requirements for rack storage can be found in NFPA 231C, Rack Storage of Materials.
10

Appendix C

Appendix C 

BUSINESS SERVICES WAREHOUSE 

MT. PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 

Outline of building showing fire area 

1688-6-21-89-1
11

Appendix D
12

Appendix E

Appendix E 
13

Appendix F
14 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix F continued
15

Appendix G

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND SLIDES

Slides and photographs are included with the master report at the USFA. The pictures on the following pages were made from the items asterisked below.

Provided by Wally Keuking, Mt. Prospect Fire Department

1. Looking due south from first double rack at single rack on south wall. Shows southwest 

end of single rack and start of locked storage area to its right.

*2. Looking due southwest from the second aisle. The main sprinkler riser is visible just above 

the firefighter’s right hand.

3. Shows damage to goods stored.

4. Shows breakroom with burglarized change machine.

*5. Looking up aisle three, damage to rear of racks is evident at far end.

6. Main entrance to building.

*7. Typical damage to goods on upper level of racks

8. Looking due south at door leading to warehouse section. Shows extent of water penetration due to fire

9. Data processing room, showing water accumulation on floor

10. Data processing room. Shows extent of water penetration. No damage to equipment

11-14. From aisle two showing fire damage to first double rack and single rack at southwest end 

of warehouse

15. Looking upwards from aisle two at area of metal deck roof where fire impinged on ceiling

16. Wood processing room. Shows extent of water penetration. No fire damage

17. From aisle two showing fire damage to storage racks

*18. Typical fire damage to goods on rack in aisle two

19. From aisle two, showing fire damage to storage racks

*20. Failed skylight above aisle one. Note sprinkler piping

21-30. Shots taken west and due east from aisle two showing extent of fire damage to goods 

and rack

*28. Overall view of fire area showing damage to racks
16 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Taken by A. L. Berkol

31. Looking down aisle two between first two double racks; looking from west to east. 

Shows new double racks

32. Looking down aisle two from the southwestern corner of second row of double racks. 

Shows location of one of the set fires

33. Looking towards southwestern corner of building from southwestern corner of second 

double rack. Shows location of sprinkler valve

34. Looking upwards from mid-section of new portion of first row of double racks. Shows 

effects of fire on metal roof deck to left of failed skylight

35. Looking upwards from second row of double racks at roof area affected by fire. Shows 

effects of fire on metal roof deck

36. Looking down aisle one to the eastern end of building. Shows new bays of single rack on 

southern wall of building

37. Looking due west from aisle one at western wall with locked storage area to left and 

sprinkler valve dead ahead. Shows sprinkler valve location.

38. Looking due west at southwestern exterior corner of building. Shows location of water 

gong and fire department connection

*39. Northeast view of exterior of warehouse section showing fire department connection and 

door used to gain entry on west side of building

40. Looking due east from exterior western corner. Shows precast concrete panel walls of 

structure.

*41. Looking north along southwestern corner of building. The main entrance is visible at far 

end of building

42. Looking due northwest from parking lot towards main entrance. Shows main entrance to 

building as well as part of the administrative section office windows

43. Looking due northeast towards main entrance. Shows main entrance to building

44. Looking due northeast at northwestern corner of building. Shows northwest corner of 

building and the creek which runs east to west at northern end of building.
USFA-TR-030/October 1988 17

2

best available image 

5
18 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

7

best available image 

9
USFA-TR-030/October 1988 19

18

best available image 

20

best available image 
20 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

28

best available image 
USFA-TR-030/October 1988 21 39
22 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

41