U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Logan Valley Mall Fire

Altoona, Pennsylvania

USFA-TR-085/December 1994

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.

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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 Varley-Campbell & 

Associates, Inc. Miami and Chicago, its staff and consultants, who are under contract to assist the Fire 

Administration in carrying out the Fire Reports Program.

The U.S. Fire Administration greatly appreciates the cooperation received from Chief Thomas Sral, 

Lakemont Fire Company; Joseph L. Lynch, Police Department Coordinator, Fire Coordinator, and Fire 

Marshal, Logan Township, Pennsylvania; and Trooper Jame J. Behe, Fire Investigator, Pennsylvania 

State Police, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

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/

Logan Valley Mall Fire

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Investigated by: Thomas H. Miller, P.E.

This is Report 085 of the Major Fires Investigation Project conducted 

by Varley-Campbell and Associates, Inc./TriData Corporation under 

contract EMW-94-4423 to the United States Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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.

TAbLe oF ConTenTS

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

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

BUILDING HISTORY AND OCCUPANCY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Roof Deck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Interior Separations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

THE FIRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

FIRE SPREAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

CODES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

LESSONS LEARNED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

APPENDIX A: Protection, Damage, and Areas of Mall Stores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

APPENDIX B: Floor Plans of Mall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

APPENDIX C: Water Test History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

APPENDIX D: Units Dispatched. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

APPENDIX E: Photographs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

1

Logan Valley Mall Fire

Altoona, Pennsylvania

December 16, 1994

Plank Road and Goods Lane

Logan Township, blair County

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Local Contact: Thomas Sral, Chief

Lakemont Fire Company

309 Orchard Avenue

Altoona, PA16602-4046

Joseph L. Lynch

Police Dept. Coordinator, Fire Coordinator

And Fire Marshal

Logan Township

800 39th Street

Altoona, PA16602

Trooper Jame J. Behe

Fire Investigator

Pennsylvania State Police

PO Box 403

North Juniata Street

Hollidaysburg, PA16648

O

An early morning fire on December 16, 1994 destroyed approximately 20 percent of the Logan Valley 

Mall, a Regional shopping complex. An effective attack by 59 fire companies successfully controlled 

the fire although an additional 40 percent of the complex suffered severe smoke and water damage. 

The fire, which was reported at 2:29 a.m., completely destroyed 15 stores and 9 sales kiosks. The 

direct loss is estimated at $50 million, with total economic impact of more than $75 million.

The mall, which is located just outside Altoona, Pennsylvania, was built in several stages. It was 

partially protected by automatic sprinkler systems and partially by a 17-zone heat detection system. 

The portion that was destroyed did not have automatic sprinklers but the owners were planning to 

retrofit them. The first fire report came from a central alarm service indicating a fire alarm from the 

mall. The type and zone of alarm was not transmitted to the central station but was displayed on 

annunciator panels located outside the complex.
2 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

The successful control of this fire can be attributed to the large fire suppression force response and 

effective pre-incident planning. In the planning process the risk of a large fire in the unsprinklered 

parts of the complex was recognized; effective tactical approaches were incorporated in the plan. The 

availability of a strong water supply to support the numerous hose streams and master streams, as 

well as the automatic sprinkler systems, was also a significant factor.

SUMMARY oF KeY ISSUeS

Issues Comments

Fire Origin Fire began in or near the rear of the largest store in the non-sprinklered part of the Mall.

Fire Spread Combustible roof coverings over a corrugated metal deck contributed to rapid fire spread.

Replacement of original combustible roof coverings did not eliminate the hazard.

Building Fire Protection Partial sprinkler protection assisted in limiting fire spread.Heat detectors installed in the store of 

origin operated but did not prevent a large loss fire.

Pre-Incident Planning Logan Township fire companies planned for a fire through the fourth alarm level and held 

multi-company drills.Drills included advancing lines and deluge sets into the covered mall area.

Standardized training of firefighters helped companies who had never met or drilled together 

work effectively to overcome this major fire with minimal injuries.However, a concealed structural 

hazard, which was not a factor in this incident, was identified only after the fire.

Water Supply A large fire requires a strong water supply.Public water mains, private mains, and a drafting 

source were adequate for the large volume of water used.

Large Diameter Hose Firefighters made use of large diameter hose to supply elevated streams, deluge sets inside the 

building and fireground companies.This improved water delivery to the fire and reduced the time 

for doing so.

Multiple Alarms With smoke showing on arrival, the Incident Commander requested additional alarms in accordance with pre-incident planning.This action allowed fire companies to arrive in time to mount 

a plan to defend at J. C. Penney and to cutoff the fire in the unsprinklered common mall as it 

traveled toward Sears.The fire rapidly involved fire companies beyond the scope of the preincident planning and this taxed radio communication with the dispatch center on the primary fire 

frequency.Use of the police radio frequency and later a cellular phone overcame this problem.

Covered Mall Separations Stores with windows, glass doors, walls or other solid separations to the covered mall had less 

water and smoke damage than stores with open security grills or bars.

B

The Logan Valley Mall is located in Logan Township, south of the city of Altoona in a commercial area 

that stretches north along Plank Road. It is near the intersection of Plank Road and limited access 

highway Route 220.There were no immediate exposures adjacent to the complex.

The Logan Valley Mall is a combination one-and two-story structure containing slightly more than 

800,000 total square feet. The overall exterior dimensions were approximately 1,600 feet (east-west 

direction) by 450 feet (north-south direction). At the time of the fire, it housed two anchor store 

tenants with the third anchor store vacant and over 100 additional tenants. For discussion purposes, 

the complex is divided into the East, Center and West Sections (See Appendix B, Figure 1).The fire 

started in and caused the most damage to the one story portion of the Center Section.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 3

The original parts of the Mall were constructed as a shopping center around 1962.Various additions 

and renovations were constructed over the years. The common, covered mall between the original 

stores was added at a later date along with an addition containing stores around a common mall. 

The largest retail store tenant after the three anchor stores was the 37,000 square foot G. C. Murphy 

Store, which sold general merchandise. The Cinema IV, Thrift Drug, Crocodile Alley, and Wall to Wall 

Sound and Video were the next largest areas within the Mall; they ranged in size from 9,300 to 

13,600 square feet. (See Appendix A for the complete list of tenants, area occupied, fire protection 

and fire damage.)

The parts of the East and Center Sections not protected by automatic sprinklers did have a central station monitored heat detection system. It was this system that activated and sounded the alarm which 

was relayed to the Logan Township Dispatch Center by ADT. Historically, the heat detection system 

generated a number of false or unwanted alarms. Companies were familiar with these alarms from 

the Mall and when the second alarm was requested, the Logan County Dispatch Center rebroadcast 

the alert to the first-due fire companies.

At the time of the fire, plans were being developed for another addition and a renovation which 

included plans for protecting the original sections with automatic sprinklers. The G. C. Murphy Store, 

where the fire started, was one of the stores due to be protected with sprinklers.

At the time of the fire, automatic sprinklers protected the two active anchor stores (Sears at the east 

and J. C. Penney at the center). A third anchor store (Hess) located at the Mall’s far west end, was 

also protected but had been recently vacated. All of the stores and the covered mall area in the West 

Section were also protected by automatic sprinklers. Automatic sprinklers were also provided in 

selected areas in the East Section. Besides Sears, these areas included the food court and other stores 

occupying an area that had previously been a grocery store. Sprinkler heads on this system adjacent 

to the stores’ entrance to the common mall operated during the fire.

The Logan Valley Mall is owned by Crown American Properties, L. P. with headquarters in Johnstown, 

Pennsylvania.The owner’s property insurance is provided through the Factory Mutual System. Regular 

loss prevention inspections were provided by Factory Mutual Engineering who had made recommendations for providing automatic sprinklers throughout the complex. The Mall appeared to be 

well maintained and housekeeping was reportedly not a problem. Due to the time of year, storage 

and stock rooms were heavily loaded.

B

The east half of the Logan Valley Mall was a one-story, noncombustible building and the west half 

is a two-story, noncombustible building. Roof construction was lightweight corrugated metal deck 

supported by steel bar joists resting on either unprotected steel beams and columns or on load bearing concrete block (typically 8 inch) walls. Depth of steel bar joists varied from 16 to 24 inches. The 

floor to roof deck heights varied between sections of the complex, and between the covered mall and 

the tenant stores. The most common height within the tenant stores was approximately 18 feet and 

the covered mall roof was 6 to 8 feet higher.

Various styles and types of typically noncombustible suspended ceilings were provided below the 

roof bar joists. Most of the ceilings were either a 2 by 2 or 2 by 4 noncombustible tile in a metal grid. 

Some suspended ceilings were constructed of gypsum board using both metal and wood supports. 
4 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Distances between these suspended ceilings and the roof deck varied from store to store in the range 

of 4 to 8 feet. Similar ceiling types and distances below bar joists were also employed within the 

covered mall space. Minimal combustible construction materials were observed in the interstitial spaces 

above the ceiling and below the roof deck.

Many of the stock and storage rooms in the individual stores, as well as the common utility and 

mall operations rooms, did not have ceilings. These spaces opened directly to the bottom of the corrugated steel roof deck, with storage using the full building height. Some stores constructed solid 

floor mezzanines in this space for improved access to storage. Where this arrangement was found, 

heat detectors were located both above and below the mezzanine. The walls between storage rooms 

and retail areas stopped slightly above the suspended ceiling level, allowing the storage areas to communicate directly into the space between the roof deck and the suspended ceiling.

The two-story west half had concrete floors poured over metal floor deck supported by unprotected 

steel bar joists resting on either unprotected steel beams and columns or on load bearing concrete 

block walls. In store sales areas, typically, a noncombustible suspended ceiling was provided. Light 

fixtures, HVAC diffusers, and other penetrations were usually not arranged to provide a fire resistance 

rated floor-ceiling construction.

Roof Deck

The roof covering over the metal roof deck in the area of the fire and adjacent to it contributed to 

the spread of the fire and the structural collapse. The Center Section was initially provided with a 

combustible built-up insulated roof covering which consisted of hot-mopped asphalt applied to the 

metal deck with a fiberglass-asphalt impregnated vapor barrier set into the hot asphalt. A second 

mopping of hot asphalt attached the fiberglass insulation board to the top of the vapor barrier. An 

asphalt based built-up roof with a gravel topping covered the insulation board.

Recent re-roofings involved tearing off the combustible roof materials and replacing them with a 

Class I roofing system1 with mechanical fasteners for the insulation board. However, the complete 

removal of the combustible asphalt from the metal deck is difficult to accomplish.

Therefore, even where a Class I roofing system had been installed, fuel supplies for a fire immediately 

under the metal deck remained. (See Lessons Learned for more on this type of fire.)

Interior Separations

The partition walls between the tenant stores and between the common mall and individual stores 

varied in their construction type and ability to resist fire, heat, and smoke spread. These partition 

walls in the stores remaining to the east included hollow concrete block (HCB), HCB with brick facing, and gypsum board on metal studs. Most walls were sealed to the roof deck above the suspended 

ceiling to minimize the spread of fire and smoke from store to store. Some of these walls were not 

adequately sealed to the roof deck or contained “poke through” holes which resulted in some additional damage in some stores.

Due to the destruction and cleanup operations in and adjacent to the area of origin, the store separation wall construction in the Mall’s Center Section could not be completely evaluated. The east wall 

1

 A Class I roofing system is a Factory Mutual System approved assembly with limited potential for contributing to fire 

spread during an interior fire.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 5

of the G. C. Murphy store was constructed of 8-inch HCB which was continuous from the concrete 

floor to the bottom of an unprotected steel beam that supported the roof. This wall, combined with 

fire department support, stopped the fire’s spread into the adjacent store. In the Center Section, 

south of the G. C. Murphy Store, the separation walls between stores that helped stop the fire’s eastward travel had been removed by the cleanup operation. The separation walls at the south and west 

extremes of fire travel in the Center Section were constructed of a combination of HCB and brick. 

See the analysis of fire spread for additional information about these walls.

The separation between stores and the common covered mall also varied throughout the East and 

Center Sections. It was not possible to identify all separation construction in the Center Section due to 

the destruction and cleanup operation. However, the G. C. Murphy store did have an open security grill 

and glass display windows with minor amounts of gypsum wall board over metal studs facing into the 

common covered mall. Some of the stores used sliding glass door or swinging doors in place of open 

security grills on their entrances. The heat and smoke damage in stores with doors was less than in 

stores that used open grills. Above the mall ceiling, the separations generally consisted of gypsum board 

attached to wood or metal studs. In most instances, both sides of the studs were covered with gypsum 

board; a few stores were found with only the mall side covered by gypsum board.

B

The Logan Valley Mall’s unsprinklered areas were protected in 1969 by an ADT Teletherm B 4205 

System originally employing only ADT thermopile type heat detectors.Parts of the original system 

had this style heat detector replaced with UL listed combination 135 degrees fahrenheit fixed temperature and rate-of-rise detectors in recent years.It was reported that the different types of heat 

detectors were not mixed on the same zone.The heat detection system was divided into 17 zones but 

it did not identify the specific heat detector in alarm either at the panel or at the device.The system 

was maintained, tested, and monitored by a central station fire alarm company.The system had a 

history of false or unwanted alarm activations.It is not known if the point of origin had thermopile 

heat detectors or the combination fixed temperature and rate-of-rise detectors.

Partial automatic sprinkler protection was installed and plans were in process to complete this protection for the entire complex.The area of fire origin and the adjacent stores and common covered 

mall were not protected.Six automatic sprinkler heads were observed to have fused as a result of 

the fire.The fused automatic sprinkler heads were located in the first branch line at the separation 

between the sprinkler protected store and the unprotected covered mall area.The sprinkler heads 

were located below the noncombustible suspended ceiling and did not cover the space between the 

roof deck and the ceiling.The sprinkler systems were supported by fire department apparatus during 

the fire and all operated satisfactorily.

Around the mall was an eight-inch looped water main supplying fire hydrants and the various automatic sprinkler systems.The loop is supplied by 12-inch water mains in both Plank Road and Goods 

Lane with a 24-inch feeder main nearby.Flow test records for the complex indicate that more than 

2,500 gmp at 20 psi was available on the water main loop.(See Appendix B, Figure 3 and Appendix 

C for additional information.)Chief Sral indicated that water was not a problem during the fire 

although the local water authority is seeking a means to charge someone for the water used.

Mill Run Creek at the edge of the complex was also used as a water supply source.Four engine companies drafted from this source and supplied units on the north side of the fireground.
6 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

THe FIRe

The fire alarm activation was received by the central station at 2:29 a.m. on Friday, December 16, 

1994.At that time, the Logan Valley Mall was occupied by a single cleaning/maintenance worker 

who was in the west half of the mall which starts at the J. C. Penney Store. Earlier, he had been working in the east half of the mall where the fire started. Prior to hearing the fire alarm, he indicated that 

no other signs of fire were observed during his shift. The stores had closed at 10 p.m. that evening 

with no reports of unusual conditions.

The Logan Township Dispatch Center recorded the alarm time as 2:32 a.m. with the dispatch of four 

Logan Township fire companies to a general fire alarm. The initial box alarm assignment consisted 

of four township fire companies with four pumpers, one tanker, a squad, a ladder truck and chief 

officers. (See Appendix D for the dispatcher’s log.)

The Lakemont Fire Company, located approximately one-half mile away, is first-due and has the 

Logan Valley Mall within its boundaries. Lakemont Chief Tom Sral (radio signature 15 Chief in the 

log) reported on the scene at 2:37 a.m. He responded directly to the north side of the complex 

where the fire alarm system zone annunciator panels are located on the exterior wall.This area is very 

near the rear of the G. C. Murphy store where the fire is believed to have started.

Chief Sral observed smoke at the roof line of the G. C. Murphy store and requested a second alarm 

plus the City of Altoona’s ladder truck. He entered the covered mall area through doors on the north 

side near the Crocodile Alley store and proceeded south to the east-west covered mall segment which 

passes in front of the Murphy store. There he observed heavy black smoke pouring through Murphy’s 

security gate into the mall and moving into other stores to the south. No flames were observed. He 

returned to the exterior and directed the first-in engine company to advance a 2-1/2 inch handline 

with four firefighters through the same mall entrance. A five-inch supply line was stretched from this 

engine to a nearby loop hydrant.

The first-in engine company had advanced into the structure a short distance when the suspended 

ceiling tiles began to drop on them. They then backed out to the entrance. About 10 minutes after 

their arrival, a section of the roof at the rear of the G. C. Murphy store collapsed, venting the fire.

About this time Chief Sral requested an “all call” for assistance through the Logan Township Dispatch 

Center.First with all township companies, the Blair County companies, and then through surrounding county emergency centers.

Pre-incident planning and drills had been conducted at the Logan Valley Mall through the fourth 

alarm level.Chief Sral indicated the fire almost immediately exceeded these needs. However, the preincident work, which included practice advancing handlines and deluge sets with large diameter 

hoselines into specific points in the mall, allowed for an aggressive combined exterior and interior 

attack which effectively cut off the fire at strategic locations. The standardized training firefighters 

received is credited for the fireground efficiency and safety which all of the fire companies exhibited during this incident. Many firefighters had never met before this fire yet they worked as if they 

routinely drilled together.

Chief Sral became the overall Incident Commander and was assisted by Logan Township Fire Marshal, 

Joseph Lynch. An informal but workable incident command system was established. Arriving chief 

officers of other township fire companies were assigned to geographic sectors such as the food court, 

front of Cinema IV, J.C. Penney rear, and rear corner.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 7

Early in the fire, communications became a struggle between the scene and the Logan Township 

Dispatch Center. The primary radio frequency, which is used throughout Blair County for the alerting and dispatch of all the volunteer fire companies, is also the primary communications channel 

between the Incident Commander and the dispatch center. The traffic on this frequency was nearly 

continuous between alerting, dispatching, and responding companies. Fortunately, Fire Marshal 

Lynch was able to reach the Logan Dispatch Center on the police radio frequency in his unit. his contact was later supplemented by a cellular phone provided by the county emergency services office.

Fireground communication was facilitated by the use of a second fireground frequency which is common to Blair County companies and officers’ radios. While companies from other counties has different primary frequencies, their multiple channel often contained Blair County’s primary frequency and 

sometimes the fireground frequency. There was not a common regional emergency radio frequency.

Deluge sets with solid stream nozzles, mostly supplied by large diameter hoselines, were advanced 

into the covered mall as planned. Handlines were also advanced into the stores as planned to supplement and support the physical separation of the common mall area from the stores. Elevated master 

streams were positioned at the rear (north side of the mall) of the G. C. Murphy store and J. C. Penney 

store to work on the main body of fire and support the separation walls. Additional elevated streams 

were positioned at the front (south side of the Mall) of the J. C. Penney store and at the Cinema IV 

for the same purposes.

Four deluge sets were placed inside the J. C. Penney store, two on each floor, to support the separation wall and the glass covered openings into the covered mall. These deluge sets were not called 

upon to operate and the glass did not fail. Lines were also connected to the sprinkler Siamese connections at J. C. Penney, Sears, and for the food court and adjacent stores.

At least 8 elevated master streams, 7 deluge sets, and numerous handlines operated during the fire 

attack. In addition to the hydrants supplied by the Altoona Water Authority, four pumpers of 1,000 

gpm or greater were drafting from the Mill Run Creek running on the north and west sides of the 

mall. These units supplied large diameter hoselines to engine and truck companies operating at the 

rear of the fire. Reportedly some of the water was recycled as the runoff entered the stream and the 

drafting apparatus sent it back out to the fire again.

Approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour after arrival, a major roof collapse occurred over the G. C. 

Murphy store and the adjacent stores to the south and west. The signs of impending collapse were 

identified shortly before it occurred and firefighters were ordered out of the building. Although not 

previously agreed upon by SOPs, all apparatus on the scene sounded their air horns after hearing 

the evacuation command on the radio. Following the collapse, interior operations were carefully 

resumed at the perimeter of the fire. Companies reported that interior visibility improved following 

the roof collapse due to improved ventilation.

Eventually responding to the fire were 359 firefighters from 59 companies/departments located in 

five Pennsylvania counties. Some companies traveled over 30 miles to reach the fire. All but one of 

the fire companies were volunteer. Two minor firefighter injuries occurred: a cut finger and debris 

in an eye. Neither required hospital treatment. The complete details on the response produced by 

the Logan Township Dispatch Center are attached as Appendix E. Although companies started to be 

released at about 8:30 a.m., about 100 firefighters and emergency personnel reportedly remained on 

the scene through the following Tuesday. Food and refreshments were generously donated by local 

businesses, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
8 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

FIRe SPReAD

The fire was stopped at the J. C. Penney store on the west, the Cinema IV on the south, and the 

parking lot to the north. It was stopped at the east wall of the G. C. Murphy store which was a nonloadbearing, 8-inch HCB wall. A partial wall collapse occurred at the north end of this wall in the 

Mall’s utility garage area; however, the store to the east received only smoke and water damage.

The fire and heat spread for a considerable distance in the covered mall area from in front of the G. 

C. Murphy store east to the food court. The covered mall’s roof collapsed for about 60 feet to the 

east of the G. C. Murphy store. Further to the east, a roof section approximately 80 feet long was 

left standing but showed signs of burning on the underside of the deck. A kiosk below this section 

suffered only smoke and water damage. East of the standing section, another part of the roof collapsed in a lean-to fashion for a distance of approximately 60 feet. This collapse was due to the roof 

support beam on the south side rolling over. A candle kiosk under this collapse was not burned and 

the visible candles were not melted. One basket of candles was covered with melted tar, likely from 

the roof. (See Appendix F)

The fire damage and collapse of the covered mall roof was attributed to fire spreading under the 

metal deck roof. The fuel for this fire was the melted and vaporized asphalt from the adhesive and 

vapor barrier above the metal deck and under the roof insulation. This flammable vapor leaked into 

the building through the seams in the metal deck where it ignited. This combustion melted and 

vaporized more asphalt, creating a self-sustaining fire under the roof deck. The undamaged combustible kiosks at floor level further support this observation and also document the effectiveness of 

firefighter tactics and operations in this area.

The food court had a long skylight covering approximately 20 percent of the roof area. Panels in 

the skylight were broken during the fire, which relieved the heat and smoke in the immediate area 

but also drew heat and smoke from the fire in the G. C. Murphy store down the covered mall into 

the food court. Visible heat damage to a steel beam and bar joists at the northwest corner of the 

food court’s roof indicates a hot gas flow pattern into the skylight. Other evidence of the flow is the 

steel roof support beam that rolled over and caused a roof collapse directly north of the food court. 

Areas directly between roof vents and the fire will usually suffer greater damage than other adjacent 

spaces.

To the south of the G. C. Murphy store, the fire was stopped at the separation wall between The 

Limited store and B. Moss, another clothing store. (The construction characteristics of this wall could 

not be identified because it had been removed by cleanup operations. )Neither store was protected 

by automatic sprinklers. The contents of the B. Moss store received only smoke and water damage 

even though the roof to the north and west had collapsed.

The Cinema IV was essentially a separate building at the south end of the fire area even though the 

structure formed part of a covered corridor with the stores to the north. This single story building 

had HCB and brick exterior walls and was of noncombustible construction. he common wall with 

the mall was HCB and contained a single double metal swinging door opening. Fire resistance ratings 

on the doors were not determined and evidence indicates that they did not receive a significant fire 

exposure. Damage to the Cinema IV was reported to be from water and smoke.

The J. C. Penney Store’s separation from the covered mall consisted of a brick-faced 8-inch HCB wall 

and three large unprotected glass covered openings. Two of these were for show window openings 

and the third was for the store entrance which was closed at the time of the fire.Due to aggressive 
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 9

fire department actions, the tempered glass covering these openings did not fail during the fire. 

While not a rated fire wall due to the three openings, this wall was a significant factor in stopping 

the westward fire travel. The J. C. Penney side of the wall had automatic sprinklers spaced along the 

openings and the wall. All head spacings were on an ordinary hazard basis. The fire did not cause any 

heads to operate. No sprinkler heads protected the mall side of the wall and wall openings.

With one exception, the separations, combined with aggressive firefighter support, stopped the fire 

and heat spread from the covered mall into the stores. Smoke and water damage was significant even 

where the heat and fire was halted. The one separation failure observed occurred at the wall between 

the covered mall and the food court. It is believed that the large skylight, broken out during the fire, 

drew the heat into this area resulting in failure of a main steel roof support beam. There may have 

been a similar failure at G. C. Murphy to the covered mall separation but due to the destruction this 

could not be determined.

CoDeS

The Logan Valley Mall is outside the limits of the City of Altoona in Logan Township, Blair County. 

According to Township Fire Marshal Lynch, the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code was adopted 

several years ago. However, no building code has been adopted in the township. The State of 

Pennsylvania has a labor code that governs exits from structures. Local authorities believed the complex was generally in compliance with the code.

The Lakemont Fire Company and other Logan Township fire companies have conducted pre-incident 

planning and drills at Logan Valley Mall. Periodic inspections have been conducted and the owner 

has generally been cooperative.

The application of the 1994 edition of The Life Safety Code® NFPA Standard 101, would have required 

the entire complex to be protected by automatic sprinklers. In addition, the covered mall area would 

have likely caused the installation of a smoke control system because of exit travel distance limits.

These requirements apply to both new and existing covered shopping malls.

The Logan Valley Mall owner, Crown American Properties, L. P., was in the process of preparing plans 

to complete the automatic sprinkler protection throughout the complex. Additional improvements, 

such as smoke control, were not identified during the investigation. A new roof covering that was 

installed the previous summer was specified to be Class I construction. It was applied after the old 

roof covering had been removed down to the steel roof deck.

LeSSonS LeARneD

1. Combustible roof coverings attached to a corrugated metal deck roof can contribute to 

rapid fire spread through otherwise essentially noncombustible spaces. 

This hazard was first published following the 1953 fire in Livonia, Michigan and has reoccurred 

several times since. An exposure fire heating the corrugated metal roof deck melts and vaporizes the asphalt material commonly used as both the adhesive and part of the vapor barrier. The 

insulation board, laid into and on top of these layers, and the layers of felt and additional asphalt 

on top of the insulation do not allow the vapors to escape upwards. As a result, these flammable 

vapors are forced through the seams in the metal deck panels into the building. The fire inside 

the building ignites these vapors which continue the process of generating fuel and fire under 

the metal deck.The heavy black smoke produced often obscures the flames in such a fire. Large 
10 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

caliber hose streams are needed to cool the metal roof deck and supporting structures.Water 

must reach the deck; steam does not provide the required cooling. Where ceilings are installed, 

they need to be removed to provide access for cooling hose streams.

2. Removing combustible roof covering and replacement with Class I or noncombustible coverings does not completely eliminate the hazard.

Parts of the complex had new roof coverings which were specified to meet Factory Mutual 

requirements for a Class I roof covering. Inspections by FM Engineering report that the roofing 

contractor was following proper procedure for installing a Class I covering. Mechanical fasteners, used with such roof installations, were found in some metal roof deck panels after the fire. 

The problem is that asphalt remains attached to the metal deck and in the corrugation valleys 

even when the old roof covering is torn off. This melts and vaporizes, providing the fuel for a 

fire under the deck. The age and history of the structure’s roofing need to be included in preincident planning.

3. Pre-incident planning and multiple company drills in the structure contributed to cutting 

off the fire’s spread and containment.

The Logan Township fire companies were well prepared for a fire within the complex. The planning included drills where portable deluge sets and their supply lines were actually advanced 

and placed. The officers and firefighters who had participated in these efforts were not only able 

to carry them out but they also provided the leadership for mutual aid companies who had not 

drilled inside the complex. In operations of this magnitude, it is not practical or desirable for 

the Incident Commander to direct individual company operations. Sector commanders have to 

be relied upon to both undertake their tasks and keep the Incident Commander an adjacent sectors informed of actions, progress and failures. In addition, companies must have knowledge of 

and confidence in the sector commanders. Pre-incident planning and multiple company drills 

develop skills and this confidence.

4. A strong water supply is required to support aggressive attack on a fire of this magnitude.

The evaluation, analysis and maintenance of available water supplies is a critical element in 

successful fire suppression. Large undivided areas containing “ordinary hazard” combustible 

contents will develop into a large fire if not protected by automatic sprinklers. There are several 

formulas available for estimating water supply needs in these circumstances. These should be 

used to develop water supply estimates. Flow tests must be conducted to evaluate the quantity 

of water available and the condition of the delivery means. Where static or mobile water sources 

employed, drills must be held and sustained long enough to realistically evaluate delivery rates. 

The information must be updated periodically to accommodate changes in water demands such 

as from new construction and industry.

5. Large diameter hose made possible the movement of the water volumes needed to supply 

the aggressive fire attack in this incident.

Large diameter hose supplied engine companies at the fire, elevated streams on the exterior 

and portable deluge sets placed inside the covered mall. The large diameter hoselines could be 

quickly located and placed into service to deliver deluging amounts of water. Their use eliminated the need for multiple hoselines and stretches to deliver at or near engine company pumping capacity.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 11

6. Planning for large properties should include an analysis of the anticipated radio traffic and 

available frequencies for fireground operations, dispatching, and direction of incoming 

units.

In this incident, the primary radio frequency was used for tone activated dispatching, and for 

communication between the Township Dispatch Center, responding units and the Incident 

Commander. During the early stages of the incident, radio traffic on this frequency was nearly 

continuous. Fortunately, Logan Township Fire Marshal Lynch had the ability to reach the Dispatch 

Center on the township police frequency. This allowed Incident Command to request additional 

resources even while the primary fire frequency was in use. A portable cellular phone was 

also placed into service at the command post to provide another communications path. Logan 

Township and Blair County companies have a separate fireground frequency which assisted with 

command and control. Many of the mutual aid companies from other counties had the Logan 

Township primary fire frequency in their radios.

One problem did arise because of the duration of the fire. Portable hand-held radio batteries 

became depleted and there were problems obtaining enough spare, charged batteries at the 

scene. Planning must also anticipate the possible duration of an incident and the resources 

required to sustain operations.

7. Automatic fire detection has no effect on fire growth and does not prevent large fires from 

occurring.

The area of the complex where the fire is believed to have started was provided with heat 

detectors. According to officials, the system was installed in compliance with the equipment’s 

Underwriters Laboratories listing and was tested and maintained on a regular basis. The type of 

heat detection device, a thermopile, is considered to respond relatively quickly to flaming fires. 

However, once at the flaming stage, fires in large spaces grow geometrically with time until 

either fuel or air supplies limit the growth rate. Fire growth must be controlled in order to stop 

a fire from becoming large. Heat detectors, and other types of fire detectors in general, may 

sound an alarm and summon the fire department, but they do not have any capability to control 

the fire’s growth. The major benefit of automatic sprinklers is their ability to control many fires 

while still small.

8. Compartmentation is also important in large occupancies.

Those stores with solid type (windows, glass doors, walls) separations from the covered mall 

suffered less damage than stores with open grill separations.

Open grill security separations allowed the free passage of smoke and heat into stores from the 

common, covered mall. This contributed to smoke and water damage to the stores contents. 

Additionally, the forcible entry through these separations was more difficult and time consuming than for stores with solid separations. Smoke damage in a retail store is often as costly as 

direct fire damage. Controlling smoke travel is an important element in limiting damage. Rated 

fire resistance in the separation is not as important as a solid separation with minimal unprotected penetrations. NFPA101, Life Safety Code, does not require separation between the covered 

mall and the tenant stores, but does require automatic sprinklers and a “smoke control system” 

within the covered mall. These systems were not present in this incident.
12 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

9. Pre-incident planning should incorporate visits to buildings during construction, major 

remodeling and expansion projects. Elements affecting the building’s structural stability 

can be altered or concealed during this time.

During the survey of the damage to the structure, a previously unidentified, concealed, potential 

hazard was discovered. Near the front of two stores damaged by the fire was a 50-foot long brick 

faced HCB wall supported by an unprotected steel beam lintel. The wall was 12 to 14-inches 

thick and 5 to 6 feet high in the ceiling space. This wall was above the suspended ceiling in 

these stores. Building additions and renovations can result in unexpected structural changes. 

Some may not present a hazard during normal building operations but can result in dangerous 

surprises during fires. Construction visits and inspections combined with pre-incident plans can 

assist in noting such hazards for the future.

Stores with windows, glass doors, walls or other solid separations to the covered mall had less 

water and smoke damage than stores with open security grills or bars.
13

APPenDIX A

Protection, Damage, and Areas of Mall Stores

Logan Valley Mall / Logan Township / Altoona, Pennsylvania

Number Tenant Name Area – sq. ft. Protection* Damage**

EAST SECTION

130 Sears (anchor store) 135,464 S S

114 Thrift Drug 10,020 H W

116 Hello Shop 2,500 H W

118 National Record Mart 2,150 H W

120 General Nutrition Center (G.N.C.) 1,591 H W

122 Champs 3,728 H S

126 Centre Film Lab 1,400 H S

128 Central Bank 3,000 H S

400 Vacant 2,499 H S

401 Drs. Grossman & Howells 1,374 H S

402 Bavarian Pretzel 360 H W

406 Coldwell Banker Town & Country Real Estate 363 H W

410 Flower Shop Lottery 49 N W

412 The Loving Touch 333 H W

470 Kranich Jewelers 900 S W

472 McCarthey’s 2,105 S W

474 Rave 2,043 S W

The following are kiosk tenants in the covered mall

424 Things Remembered 200 N W

426 Earring Palace 180 N D

427 The Golden Chain Gang 192 N W

428 Piercing Pagoda 192 N D

507 Vacant 180 N D

 *Protection: S = Automatic Sprinklers; H = Heat Detector; N = Neither
14 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix A (continued)

Number Tenant Name Area – sq. ft. Protection* Damage**

TK1 AK International 216 N D

TK2 Hickory Farms 200 N D

TK3 ICM 100 N D

TK4 Dage 216 N D

TK5 Fiore Auto 144 N W

TK6 Piercing Pagota 70 N W

TK8 Brackeny Leather 192 N W

TK9 Krunich Jewelry 192 N W

TK10 J&M Candle 160 N D

TK11 World Shop 160 N D

TK12 Kool Foam 168 N W

TK13 Kool Deans Food 80 N W

The following are tenants in the food court:

- Common Seating and Walkway Area 8,385 S W

442 Vacant 936 S W

444 Arthur Treacher’s 576 S W

446 Dino’s Pizza 840 S W

448 Long Island Deli 726 S W

450 Vacant 782 S W

454 Skooters 590 S W

456 Vacant 1,328 S W

460 Vacant 964 S W

462 Wong’s Wok 734 S W

464 Dogs Etc. 533 S W

466 Fries Etc. 539 S W

CENTER SECTION

101 J. C. Penney (Anchor store) 162,993 S S

102 Payless Shoe Source 4,000 H D

103 Mall Barber Shop 765 H D

104 The Finish Line 3,375 H D

105 Mall Shoe Repair 1,115 H D
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 15

Appendix A (continued)

Number Tenant Name Area – sq. ft. Protection* Damage**

106 G. C. Murphy 37,000 H D

107 Vacant 440 H D

108 Lane Bryant 5,160 H W

109 Kay Jewelers 1,884 H D

110 Foot Locker 2,450 H D

111 Kinney Shoe 4,293 H D

112 Shoe Department 4,919 H W

113 Casual Corner 3,680 H D

115 American Outfitters 3,680 H D

119 B. Dalton Bookseller 2,453 H D

121 Limited 4,292 H D

123 B. Moss (formerly Brooks Fashion) 2,858 H W

125 Ormond Shop 8,211 H W

139 Your Hair Connection 1,102 H D

204 Crocodile Alley 9,306 H D

600 Cinemas IV 13,634 H W

606 Convention & Visitor Bureau of Blair County 2,042 H S

WEST SECTION

800 Hess’s (vacant anchor store) 105,323 S M

700 Meyer Jonasson 2,846 S M

702 Card Factory 1,599 S M

703 Non-lease Storage 627 S M

704 Lady Footlocker 1,600 S M

706 The Kitchen Works 1,882 S M

712 Victoria’s Secret 3,979 S M

710 Freshens Yogurt 748 S M

714 Lamens Furniture 1,892 S M

715 Central Bank 2,122 S M

716 Shirley’s Shoes 1,840 S M

 *Protection: S = Automatic Sprinklers; H = Heat Detector; N = Neither
16 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix A (continued)

Number Tenant Name Area – sq. ft. Protection* Damage**

718 Naturalizer 1,002 S M

720 Vacant 6,640 S M

724 Gordon Jewelry 1,050 S M

726 Where On Earth 1,250 S M

728 Claire’s Boutique 748 S M

734 Kay Bee Toy & Hobby Store 3,488 S M

736 The GAP 4,732 S M

740 Payless Shoe Source 2,977 S M

742 Pearle Vision Express 2,977 S M

744 Thom McAn 2,654 S M

746 Jean Nicole 5,954 S M

750 Fines 3,572 S M

731 Kids I.D. & Specialty Shop 540 S M

732 Gardner Candies Store 1,224 S M

752 Musselman’s 1,775 S M

753 Non-lease storage 412 S M

754 Topkapi 748 S M

758 DEB 7,273 S M

762 County Seat 3,800 S M

763 Management Operations unknown S M

The following are second floor tenants:

900 Panache Hair Studio 1,186 S M

901 Vacant 1,165 S M

902 The Photo Factory 1,382 S M

903 TNT Shirts 742 S M

904 Vacant 1,173 S M

906 Pirates Clubhouse Store 1,186 S M

908 Vacant 1,977 S M

909 Vacant 365 S M

910 Hickory Farms 2,012 S M

914 Vacant 3,891 S M
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 17

Appendix A (continued)

Number Tenant Name Area – sq. ft. Protection* Damage**

916 Vacant 3,333 S M

918 Vacant 2,002 S M

920 Dino’s Pizza 1,000 S M

922 Blair County Resource Center 3,663 S M

924 Orange Julius 799 S M

926 Vacant 804 S M

928 Vacant 1,200 S M

- Non-lease storage 2,042 S M

930 Only $1.00 2,530 S M

932 Vacant 2,346 S M

934 Waldenbooks 2,602 S M

938 Ye Olde Hobby Shop 5,204 S M

940 Radio Shack 2,394 S M

942 Pet World 1,977 S M

944 Matthew’s Hallmark 3,227 S M

945 Wall to Wall Video Storage 584 S M

946 Spencer Gifts 2,706 S M

948 Xpressions Unlimited 1,800 S M

950 The Wall 10,455 S M

956 Holiday Hair Fashion 1,050 S M

958 Spectacles 1,050 S M

The following are kiosks in the covered mall:

TK14 Mountain Magic 192 S M

TK15 Keyboard World 240 S M

TK16 Ross Enterprize 100 S M

TK17 All American Sweats 192 S M

In addition to the above, there is approximately 115,600 square feet of covered mall, service corridors, mechanical rooms, public (restroom) facilities and operations area.

 *Protection: S = Automatic Sprinklers; H = Heat Detector; N = Neither

**Damage: D = Destroyed; W = Water and Smoke to Contents; S = Smoke to Contents; M = Minimal Damage
18

APPenDIX b

Floor Plans of Mall
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 19

Appendix b (continued)
20 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix b (continued)
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 21

Appendix b (continued)
22

APPenDIX C

Water Test History

Water flow test information:

Factory Mutual Engineering, April 1990 for hydrants at both the east and west end of the complex:

115 psi Static

195 psi Residual

0.8 Hydrant discharge coefficient

850 gpm Water flow with one hydrant outlet

Altoona Water Authority, April 1989 for hydrants at about the same locations above:

120 psi Static

54 psi Residual

2,000 gpm Water flow

No information was available regarding hydrant discharge characteristics. 
23

APPenDIX D

Units Dispatched

Response from Blair County; Logan Township:

Company Number Company Name Number of Firefighters

11 Juniata Gap 13

12 Newburg 10

13 Mill Run 10

14 Kittnaing Trail 17

15 Lakemont 17

16 Greenwood 19

17 Grandview 16

18 Aerial Truck #18 2

24 Sinking Valley 11

Total Firefighters: 115

Response from Blair County; Hollidaysburg 9-1-1:

Company Number Company Name

1 Hollidaysburg

2 Duncansville

3 Geeseytown

4 East Freedom

5 Allegheny Township

6 Roaring Spring

8 Martinsburg

9 Williamsburg

21 Tipton

22 Bellwood

23 Pinecroft

32, 33, 34 Tyrone (Hookies, Neptune, Citizens)

Approximately 100 Firefighters
24 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix D (continued)

Response from Blair County: City of Altoona:

The City of Altoona responded with their 100 foot aerial truck, Chief Santone, and Deputy Chief 

Weimer with the Hazmat Command/Communications Vehicle.

Blair County Emergency Management Agency was notified, activated the Emergency Operations 

Center, and responded to the scene.

Response from Bedford County:

Company Number Company Name Number of Firefighters

31 Bedford 4

34 Hyman 2

36 Six Mile Run 3

37 Shawnee 4

38 Alum Bank 3

41 Southern Cove 3

42 Imler 4

45 Cumberland Valley 2

55 New Baltimore 1

Total Firefighters: 26

Response from Huntingdon County:

Huntingdon County paged the entire county and had a response from approximately twenty fire 

departments that included 75 firefighters.

Response from Centre County:

Centre County dispatched the aerial truck from Alpha Fire Department to the Tyrone area for coverage of the northern section of Blair County.

Response from Cambria County:

Tower 707 from Cresson

Snorkel 223 from Dauntless

Utility 225 from Dauntless

5-Engines

4-Rescues

4-Squads

Total Estimated Firefighters: 130
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 25

Appendix D (continued)

EMS Response

AMED 

Hollidaysburg Ambulance 

Duncansville Ambulance 

Hollidaysburg 9-1-1

Altoona

PSP-Hollidaysburg

Bedford County 9-1-1

Cambria County 9-1-1

Centre County 9-1-1

Huntingdon County Dispatch

Police Response

Logan Township

Altoona

Pennsylvania State Police-Hollidaysburg

Allegheny Township

Martinsburg Boro

Blair County Sheriff

Bedford County Sheriff

Special Response:

Blair County Fire Police

American Red Cross (Altoona)

AMTRAN

Salvation Army

Blair County A.R.E.S.

Dispatch Centers:

Logan Township

The following is a list of businesses that supplied food, services, materials, etc. throughout the 

disaster at the Logan Valley Mall.

McDonalds; Plank Road & Station Mall Dominoes Pizza

BILO Ramada

Sam’s Club Roudabush Bakery – Claysburg

WalMart Super 8

Eat & Park Red Lobster

Ultimate Bagel Frantello’s – Hollidaysburg

Taco Bell Pizza Hut

Sheetz Mrs. Groves

Kentucky Fried Chicken – Plank Road Al’s Doughnuts

TGI Friday
26

APPenDIX e 

Photographs

Photo 1. East wall of the J. C. Penney Store where the westerly fire travel was stopped. 

Roof line of covered mall is identified by the dark black horizontal line.

Glass entrance and show windows are behind the chipboard 

and wood studs.

Photograph 1.

East wall of the J.C Penney Store where the westerly fire travel was stopped. Roof line of covered

mall is identified by the dark black horizontal line. Glass entrance and show windows are behind

the chipboard and wood studs.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 27

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 2. Covered mall to the east of the Murphy store and some of the stores adjacent to the 

covered mall. The three different roof heights and construction features 

are illustrated. The tenant separation wall for the right hand store 

has been removed.

Photograph 2.

Covered mall to the east of the Murphy store and some of the stores adjacent to the covered mall.

The three different roof heights and construction features are illustrated. The tenant separation wall

for the right hand store has been removed.
28 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 3. Looking east into the covered mall from about where the forklift is located in 

Photograph 2. The ceiling tiles were removed during the fire and the 

floor debris was removed before the photograph was taken.

Note the partial roof collapse in the background.

Photograph 3.

Looking east into the covered mall from about where the forklift is located in Photograph 2. The

ceiling tiles were removed during the fire and the floor debris was removed before the photograph

was taken. Note the partial roof collapse in the background
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 29

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 4. Store on the south side of the covered mall.Typical of the forcible entry work 

performed on the security grill and the damage to goods.

This store had automatic sprinklers and the sprinkler heads 

at the front entrance operated.

Photograph 4.

Store on the south side of the covered mall. Typical of the forcible entry work performed on the

security grill and the damage to goods. This store had automatic sprinklers and the sprinkler heads

at the front entrance operated.
30 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 5. Open sprinkler head inside the store in Photograph 4.The ceiling tiles and grid 

around the head were removed before the picture. Typical concrete block 

tenant separation wall and metal deck roof construction in the older section.

Interior tenant construction has used wood studs for the metal ones.

Photograph 5.

Open sprinkler head inside the store in Photograph 4. The ceiling tiles and grid around the head

were removed before the picture. Typical concrete block tenant separation wall and metal deck roof

construction in the older section. Interior tenant construction has used wood studs for the metal

ones.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 31

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 6. Moving further east in the covered mall, the counters in the foreground are

 also in Photograph 3.This area is where the metal roof began a partial 

collapse. The goods in the kiosks were either stored before 

the fire or removed prior to the picture.

Photograph 6. Moving further east in the covered mall, the counters in the foreground are also in

Photograph 3. This area is where the metal roof began a partial collapse. The goods in the kiosks

were either stored before the fire or removed prior to the picture.
32 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 7. A candle kiosk under the roof collapse area shown in Photograph 6. Note that the 

candles, wicker baskets and table skirting are not melted or burned. 

Yet, the metal bar joist is severely deformed.

Photograph 7.

A candle kiosk under the roof collapse area shown in Photograph 6. Note that the candles, wicker

baskets and table skirting are not melted or burned. Yet, the metal bar joist is severely deformed.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 33

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 8. A front view of the partial roof collapse over the Things Remembered kiosk. Photograph 8.

A front view of the partial roof collapse over the Things Remembered kiosk.
34 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 9. The top of the metal deck roof illustrating the insulation board, the vapor barrier 

under the board, the seam in the deck and the deformed condition 

of the metal. This section is in the partial roof collapse area 

shown in previous photographs.

Photograph 9.

The top of the metal deck roof illustrating the insulation board, the vapor barrier under the board,

the seam in the deck and the deformed condition of the metal. This section is in the partial roof

collapse area shown in previous photographs.
USFA-TR-085/December 1994 35

Appendix E (continued)

Photo 10. The underside of the metal deck roof above one of the stores adjacent to the covered 

mall. Note the tar dripping through the seam in the valley between metal 

deck sections. You can also see three mechanical fasteners poking 

through ridges in the deck. Such fasteners are usually found 

when less combustible roofing methods are employed.

Photograph 10.

The underside of the metal deck roof above one of the stores adjacent to the covered mall. Note

the tar dripping through the seam in the valley between metal deck sections. You can also see

three mechanical fasteners poking through ridges in the deck. Such fasteners are usually found

when less combustible roofing methods are employed.
36 U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series

Appendix e (continued)

Photo 11. Example of the hidden structural condition found above the suspended ceiling in 

one of the stores adjacent to the covered mall.This is a brick faced hollow 

concrete block wall supported on a 16-inch wide unprotected steel 

lintel that spanned the full width of the store.

Photograph 11.

Example of the hidden structural condition found above the suspended ceiling in one of the

stores adjacent to the covered mall. This is a brick faced hollow concrete block wall supported

on a 16-inch wide unprotected steel lintel that spanned the full width of the store.