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Fire Runs the Rack in Underground Parking Garage

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"Unbearable" Heat Hinders Firefighting Effort

A PARKED CAR CAUGHT FIRE SUNDAY NIGHT in an underground parking garage located in downtown Valence, France.

Welcome to the fire!
(all photos via Le Dauphine)

The fire started shortly after 10 pm and quickly spread through the entire level of the largest car park in the city.  More than 40 firefighters were on the scene and had a very difficult time gaining entry into the fire area because of the extremely high heat of the cars on fire in the low-ceilinged, concrete structure.

The fire was extinguished by 1:30 am this morning and at least 90 automobiles were destroyed or damaged including 17 that were completely charred.

One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation problems and the police have opened an investigation on the cause of the fire.  The parking garage is expected to remain closed for the rest of this week.

Le Dauphine has the STORY.

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Posted by on May 9, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fires • Tagged: , ,
  • LtFD

    I was just in Europe (including France) a few weeks ago, chaperoning a high school AP Hist trip. I kept commenting to my wife about the absence of fire sprinklers in a variety of different buildings and occupancies that we visited.

    Today in the Seattle paper, there was an article about a car fire in a below grade parking garage on Mercer Island, confined to one car by the fire sprinklers. Yes, it costs money to install the sprinkler system, but look at the difference in the two incidents- one vehicle destroyed during a relatively low risk incident, and no injuries vs. a high risk incident with 90 cars destroyed, and probably some structural damage.

    Fire sprinklers aren’t perfect, but they sure improve the odds for winning in certain situations.

  • Buzzlytyear

    100% correct LtFD…This would have been a non-story had there been sprinklers.