Early Video - Dollar General Fire - Shenandoah, PA - 04/03/2023

Shenandoah firefighters were sent to the Dollar General in the Gold Star Plaza in the late afternoon of Monday, April 3, 2023. First arriving crews found smoke showing from the building. Conditions intensified at a rapid pace leading to a second alarm. Water woes required two alarms worth of tankers to respond to the scene. The bulk of the fire took over an hour to darken down.

[@davidwinn9465]

The building and contents were a total loss estimated to be around $37.99. A company spokesperson said, while this location will not be reopened, 2 additional locations approximately 1/4 mile away opened before this fire was declared under control. The community will continue to be served by the fine people at DG.

[@michelestrassburg9424]

Holy shit! Thanks for the laugh.

[@billdacitizan380]

oh yeah. one of their Super Stores if worth that much.

[@SittingWithDogs]

Lol

[@andyhamilton8940]

That’s a good one😂

[@nikfred4]

Some of the best sarcasm I’ve ever read-well played!

[@rd4660]

Great training film on how not to fight a commercial fire. Holy cow!

[@robsorensen111]

1:11 .... "Let's stand around here and have a latte"

[@northeastalabamafirebuff8198]

@@robsorensen111 " lets break all the windows in the store to give the fire oxygen" kinda like how fdny fight fires, 100 firefighters standing around watching the building burn to the ground while 5 others break all the glass

[@padseven]

Wrong, that is EXACTLY how you fight a commercial fire. The life hazard here was ZERO, incident stabilization had ZERO impact on the surrounding community. The only thing left is property conservation. Every ounce of property here was insured. This is EXACTLY how you fight a commercial fire. Leave your ego at the firehouse. Great job men

[@kristofersmith5476]

@@northeastalabamafirebuff8198 🤣🤣 cool story bro 🤦🏻‍♂️ Come ride one week with us on 66 Eng and ladder 61 Up in da Bronx and then maybe you’ll have a clue 🤣

[@firefighterpk2440]

​@@kristofersmith5476 I did a lot of riding and working with E31/S4 in Detroit, they used to talk about you guys rolling with full cabs and making a fire a spectator sport, they rolled 4 in a squad, and 3 in trucks and engines and got the job done. 😎

[@vipervenomv10]

This is what happens when we aimlessly break out all the windows. Modern fire behavior studies now show that the more windows we open up, the worse the fire gets. We are feeding the fire more oxygen. Ever since we changed our strategies on the fire ground, we've been able to contain fires more easily

[@gp3918]

I teach fire dynamics and spend a great deal of the class explaining the importance of this concept. The Governors Island and Austin study show how uncontrolled ventilation will always increase interior temps and can lead to rapid fire growth.

[@benwatters9255]

Nice to see you getting some great video of that fire it been a while keep them coming when you can thanks

[@gwendatiller6717]

I just watched this video and read some of the comments. I have been in the fire industry for a few years now. We don't know the circumstances of the fire because every fire is different. I'm just glad that none of my brothers and sisters were injured in the fire

[@scottdd2]

Masking up in the smoke, chiefs coughing in the smoke, not the best practice around.

[@SittingWithDogs]

I can’t believe such a modern building doesn’t have sprinklers

[@paulzawertany7908]

Not even enough water pressure for the fire department 😂.

[@sierracriesintheshower]

@@paulzawertany7908 this happened in Shenandoah PA. A very poverty stricken area. The building was far from being “modern”.

[@gregggoss2210]

Thanks for the post man. Haven't seen any in a while. Hope you been OK.

[@michaelzullo6527]

Lots of trucks, no water on the fire. Break out all the windows so that it gets plenty of oxygen.

[@RLTtizME]

Scram. You are stinking up the joint poser Fireboy.

[@JB91710]

@@RLTtizME Hey! There's the idiot that never has anything intelligent to offer.

[@phatboizbackyardkustomz9006]

Have worked a Dollar store fire in a strip mall with a large competent Fire Department with plenty of high flow hydrants, it was ugly lost half the strip mall. First due rolled in fire out the front deck gunned and mercury nozzled it with a water supply No Joy! 10 other units were right behind the first due 3 hours later it was knocked down. The fire load in those places are tremendous even with sprinklers.

[@daveolson6535]

I was listening to this call on the scanner. Nice communication and overcoming the water issue. The Dollar General by me went straight to the ground. Looked just like this except the building was old and had a few additions.

[@firefighterpk2440]

I listened to it as well, getting water supply ( 2 points) took a bit for sure

[@silvercoastcorks3806]

All those pretty fire trucks and gear…meanwhile no one is fighting fire.

[@19irving]

Love the green fire engine.

[@trvman1]

First thing I noticed too :)

[@tealtornado9361]

Best looking piece there!!

[@MelissaReadsitAll]

It’s not a. Pierce. I am a member there it’s a kme

[@fighterpilot5105]

Honestly surprised it didn't flash...

[@JB91710]

The inefficient combustion of the contents of the store were creating so much smoke that the little air coming in never reached the combusting material to allow it to burn better and increase the smoke temperature so it could ignite. Flashover requires a delicate balance of gasses and flow.

[@virgilhilts3924]

@@JB91710 Says the phony who's never worked a fire in his life 😆😅😂🤣

[@JB91710]

@@virgilhilts3924 Another opportunity to tell me Where and How I am wrong and you blew it.

[@igotJesus88]

Really good training video!! So many mistakes. We can learn a lot from this one. I will show this at my paid department.

[@9caplad]

When I walk in the DG by my house, I think of the fact you are not getting 3 feet in the front door. There is so much junk when you first walk in. With zero visibility you are only going in about a foot or 2. I saw another video of this fire yesterday and it looked like the lines that came in the back door was making progress then they lost it again. Not sure if they ran out of water or what happened.

[@slackjawedyokel1]

yep --kind of like organized hoarding

[@mariebelladonna437]

Exactly what I was thinking. And the aisles are narrow as hell to start with. Not to mention chronically disorganized. Then they make it worse, packing as much cheap, shitty product in as they possibly can. So much junk, piled all over the place, stacked over your head, spilling on the floor, blocking walkways and even fire exits. And that's at the BEST of times. It's a fire hazard just itching for a spark. Seems to me like a person would have to have a death wish, to fight a DG fire from the inside. It'd be like running blind into a claustrophobic maze made of burning tissue paper. Nah, fuck that. It's insured. Ain't nothin' in there worth more than $15, anyway. And it ain't like there's not 25 more DGs in a three-block radius. Losing one of them is nothing. Like throwing away a used kleenex-there's a hundred more just like it, where that one came from. It ain't worth putting anyone in danger to try to save it. Just protect the exposures, and let that bitch burn.

[@mikegallant811]

​@@mariebelladonna437Marie, on a similar subject, I wish that Walmart would stop putting stuff on pallets in the middle of the walkways of their store. They're lucky they've never gotten in hot water on that.

[@mariebelladonna437]

@@mikegallant811 ugh yes agreed!! Especially if you are pushing a cart (buggy)-as most people are-you have to walk almost the whole length of the store, just to find a place to get through! It's so annoying!! And now that you say that, it really is a fire hazard too!!

[@crippledbeast_U-toob]

It's been said, that when a Dollar gentral burns down, another grows back in it's place like a mushroom overnight.

[@XXxxcrisisxxXX]

no no its like hydra, burn down one and two more will return

[@Ryanb1998]

Thanks for the great video

[@jerrytomaschik1934]

SHENDO! 462 DA FUCK! Doin’ work!

[@jamesdillard3583]

Great job on this video and sure brings back memories when I was a volunteer firefighter for St.Helens Oregon.

[@timh6243]

great job??? I hope you're commending the videographer, because the firefighters shit the bed on this one,

[@LSVIDEOSFIRE]

great video, really enjoyed it!

[@ralphbove]

Always helpful when the white hats are coughing in the smoke screaming and yelling at no one in particular.

[@paulforman2280]

Apparently you are not familiar with the command tactic, the louder I scream and yell at no one in particular the fireground the faster everyone should move! For many years I worked under a fire chief that believed in this philosophy! And unfortunately for many years firefighters on our department followed this command philosophy!😂😂

[@RetLtFF43]

@@paulforman2280 So yelling and jumping through your ass is an effective IC?

[@WangBaiTe]

From the amount of smoke looks like fighting this fire had to be a no go because you'd only be risking the lives of all the firefighters that would have had to go in the building. So, unfortunately for the owner of this store, all that could be done was a controlled burn-down of the building. Still it amazes me how many of these people (from the looks of it all people in charge) did not wear masks this close to that very thick black smoke. In Europe everyone this close to that amount of smoke would have to don masks!

[@pauljames5914]

They don't yet realize how awful COPD is or lung cancer. All that awful plastic burning in there is poisoning the air with cyanide. Our poor planet...😢

[@aquadan005]

My only critique here is with that amount of fire load, why in the hell are they leading off with 1 3/4" ? Big fire = Big water. Yeah 2 1/2" are a pain for interior ops, but looked to me like they had ample manpower for it.

[@gordonjeffery2062]

Looking at the fire at fire, I would've lead off with a 1/34 line. I wouldn't have been dancing at the front door

[@NON_BIDENary]

This is like about the 20th fire I’ve seen or heard about in some sort of dollar store this month just kinda odd 3just in my hood in s.Diego

[@peacockgrandma]

This was one of the darkest smokiest fires i'd ever seen. Soo much black smoke for so long. Great coverage. Thank you.

[@beckytwister01]

That's what happens when all the products are made in China.

[@davidcenci2240]

Place has a ton of plastics and chemicals..plus cheap building materials.

[@rpierce62]

Um, why does it take sooooo long to charge the lines?

[@jimm8246]

Nice fireground footage. That fire was really smoky.

[@ffjsb]

It's telling when they have a ground ladder up to the building before anyone has a line deployed, and there's 3 trucks on scene... Maybe if the Chief screamed a little louder, the fire would go out.

[@RLTtizME]

Serial dick. You prove the point every day.

[@davidpulaski5628]

Excellent coverage including first arrival and attempts at an internal attack. Commendations to the brave firefighters and all their associates. God Bless the SFD and keep them safe. 👍👍👍🚑🚒

[@chrisasselin5244]

I wouldn’t want these guys as my city Firefighters- took them forever to get water on fire while 10 of them stood around watching the fire grow early on

[@kerrydavis2919]

I will have to say that flowing those aerials off of a shuttled water source is tough. Unless someone is trapped inside, the open bar trusses inside collapse too quickly to make an aggressive interior attack, especially with no water or with an uncertain supply.

[@ericweiler6571]

You don’t do an interior attack with master streams

[@jasonbennett6780]

Tough one! Lots of fire....thanks guys!

[@beardednomadvanlife6363]

shouldn't water be flowing to put out a fire ? things changed since I was a firefighter apparently .... we used to attack the fire when we broke windows instead of backing away and letting it turn into a surround and drown after letting it get out of control

[@CFD4c72]

I love all of the Chiefs that stand in front of the store in that smoke with no air paks on!!

[@andyhamilton8940]

Good job to get people out . Some angry smoke.

[@justincook8022]

So if a Dollar General burns down, does it sprout more Dollar Generals?

[@trichio]

Do they do anything other than scream and holler at each other?

[@fyrdawg533]

Items to ponder (NOT in order of Priority): LIFE SAFETY / SAR, RIT / Offensive - Defensive; Comms; Building type and construction, layout, contents; access to the bldg (front/rear/sides) and terrain; water supply available and needed; available resources (mutual aid, SCBA Mobile Air unit, volunteer response time; combination departments?); exposures?; time of day / traffic; wx conditions; response times for incoming units; staging area; ICS (Command and Control); fol-da-tanks and tanker dump area. Any "first-in Officer" knows... "I made the "best" decisions I could at the time of arrival based on what I saw, was told and had prior knowledge of".

[@LakesRegionEmergencyPhoto]

Guess they don't need the hiring banner anymore? Good footage!

[@6engineboss]

That's a Pennsylvania fire for you! So much apparatus. SO MUCH APPARATUS. Wanna flow two more sticks? Okay call 30 tankers and make it happen. Overall it seems like the fire was relatively small in the beginning and/or located to the back of the store. Seems like a search crew with TIC's could have located the seat while it was still possible to knock it down. Once the piles of cheap chinese plastic started burning, it was a done deal.

[@wbarr550]

"Like the wind" another great job!

[@Mark-em5zm]

Fires only go out two ways, either they are out out or they burn out. These guys were trying the latter. I would like to know how long the camera cut off in between those two splice points. Fellas, fire doubles in size every two min. The only way to stop that is to get water on it. We get paid to protect life and property in that order. Standing outside on a commercial fire will get you nowhere. This is why I hate departments that do not train for aggressive interior attacks and practice that in the residential fires. You can’t window wash this one.

[@The_Fennix]

Do you think they still hiring?

[@paulbaker2176]

What's that gas can with out front of the building all by itself out of parking lot

[@imhooks]

Interesting approach using the ladder gun at ground level...

[@gpmcd1044]

Layman here. I’ve never seen tankers filling pools of water before. What’s the purpose in hat?

[@robinbarrett6671]

Water shuttle operations for a water source when no hydrants or ponds are available.

[@BeAConservative]

Who was in charge here ?

[@jasonallison5121]

What's Shenadoah going to do now that they're down to just 3 dollar generals?

[@MelissaReadsitAll]

I live in Shenandoah well actually in Shenedoah Heights we are down to not what we don’t even have Dollar General anymore. It’s just family dollar and dollar tree tree

[@firefighterpk2440]

Listening to this on the scanner, it sounded like a DC ( warehouse) was going up, not just a store.

[@RollieFingers59]

I ain’t no expert but always thought they were supposed to put some sort of water on the fire

[@roger0929]

Was confused as to why they were tankering water and then I remembered it was Pennsylvania so no standpipe required.

[@calebbarnhardt9608]

I don’t have all the answers but two things that really could have helped with this fire…. 1) maybe put water on the fire faster 2) home skillet at 6:49 should leave his phone in his pocket and pay attention to what’s going on instead of sending a “sweet Snapchat” to his story 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@K7008B]

Whether a paid professional department or vollie, when encountering an occupancy like this - large open box construction - it's imperative to take those parade vehicles with the ladders on them and put at least one, maybe two members with power saws on the roof and effect vertical ventilation ASAP, This prevents the possibility of backdrafts, increases visibility on the inside for members advancing lines and diminishes the possibility of fire and heat mushrooming across the ceiling and contributing to fire spread. It's obvious by watching this - it was never considered, and definitely made a difference, negatively.

[@Lucyblacklab]

Why make an interior attack no need no employees inside and no cars in the lot it will be rebuilt in a few weeks

[@raywisniewski9774]

Volunteer Firemen the BEST!!!!

[@marklondon4785]

No water???

[@henrywolford3672]

water???

[@mandyomally4896]

Another example that volunteer Fire Departments do not know how to fight a commercial structure fire. They send new firefighters to training centers on a Saturday morning and have them straight stream the ceiling above some wood crats burning and turn them loose and then when they get to a "REAL" burner they have no clue what to do. I would take this film down, its embarrassing ! And the Fire instructors have no clue themselves !

[@thomaswyile5168]

Defensive operations from the initial arrival would have been my call…

[@JS-zb1vv]

Brought it all to the front didn’t they !!

[@JB91710]

When firefighter commenters say, "In my department, we are ready to go inside the moment we get off the truck.", I think of the hundreds of videos I have seen just like this. That's why it is mandatory to find the fire room windows from the exterior, break them out and apply tank water to the burning material within the first minute of arrival. In this case they obviously couldn't but this is a reality check on how long it takes to Get Inside while the fire extends and threatens victims and entering firefighters! 1:40 See that smoke? Everyone without a mask is breathing that whether they are fighting the fire or not. There is only ONE type of fire where Vertical Venting could be helpful to clear out interior conditions and this was it. Didn't see that happening so they just let it burn out due to a lack of access to the burning material. A big hole dead center would have allowed the smoke and heat to go out the roof while having all the doors open, especially on the upwind sides, would have reversed the flow of smoke so the firefighters could go in to find and extinguish the fire. Like I said, this is the only structure where that will work where you won't be causing more damage or taking unnecessary risks. A word to the videographer. Record the fire from the point of following the fight so we can see how they did it. I saw hardly any water application at all.

[@andyoxleyonhistravels]

Large commercial buildings are nearly always very difficult if you cannot get on top of them very early. Most are open plan ,most have a false ceiling which can hide rapid fire spread and because of the access troubles they normally get a very good hold on the building quickly and are often a total loss. One of the big problems we found where they have composite sandwhich panels is they de - laminate very quickly in the fire and the polyurethane inside the panel melts and causes secondary fires in other parts of the building making the fire spread inside the building even greater.

[@gregggoss2210]

Very well said sir. These Dollar General stores are a nightmare to fight a fire in. Did one a while ago and it wasn't pretty.

[@johncollins9111]

The green engine is bad ass

[@thowdcodger4060]

Still pushing the theory I see. I bet all 624 of yor subscribers 'wait with baited breath for your next post.

[@richduemig5399]

Jb Hole in the center of the roof? You mean a hole over the fire.

[@jmldreamer]

Dang that only leaves about 49,999 stores left !

[@ethanmcdowell9677]

Meh, it's a DG. The company will have another built in 24 hours to take its' place....

[@RetLtFF43]

I don’t Monday quarterback on these short videos, but can someone from this Fire Department, please why they withdrew right away? The smoke didn’t appear to be turbulent and maybe a quick knockdown would have worked? Also Why isn’t any water flowing from the Alpha Side, even thought there are charged hand lines ? Even at the 4 plus minute point still no water flowing.

[@gavincurtis]

Noooooo! Hundreds of dollars inventory lost!

[@Highland_Moo]

The green engine is pretty. Here in Scotland the service in Aberdeen have white engines and other than them, I’ve never seen one other than red.

[@MelissaReadsitAll]

That is a kme engine, Phoenix, fire company of Shenandoah PA I live in the town so

[@lemivey6532]

Did they cut a vent hole?

[@KRiiB78]

Honestly… there was no saving that store during the size up and the stack of members at the front door closed. Break windows, vent the roof if possible but go defensive should’ve been the only option before entry

[@cellocat-sm8lx]

All that smoke must have been so poisonous...I hope everyone is okay after all that. No matter the department, all these guys are putting their health and life at risk. Full respect and many prayers for America's firemen👍🚒🇺🇸

[@irishdrums4753]

Anyone not wearing their SCBA on this fire is unnecessarily placing themselves at risk…it’s 2023. Mask up!

[@edhauenstein1835]

Good job everyone. I can't imagine the fire load inside that store. No saving something like that.

[@mikegallant811]

Yeah that sucker's definitely going to be a write-off.

[@jjr897]

We just had a fire at our Dollar General about six months ago🧐

[@piushorning4869]

I guess we were lucky, we only had a drunk drive through the front door last at night

[@CSAFD]

That DG won’t be hiring anytime soon

[@CA2CAoutdoors]

Flow path……..

[@RLTtizME]

Prostate problems?

[@paulfox7899]

I can only imagine how toxic that crap is burning.

[@dave1135]

I've heard dollar general has some smoking hot deals, but this is ridiculous. Lol

[@helenevilleneuve4567]

Sad !!!😢🥺

[@Jacob-mm8xq]

Well, they were hiring...

[@ethang6735]

Its a dollar general let the damn thing burn... they started smashing those front windows before everyone was out (where we could see them I dont think they were very far in) and all I could think about was the charleston sofa super store fire. U really think DG cares if that place burns? hell no! long as its been evacuated just let it burn

[@jasonbennett9149]

what happened

[@garycooper8061]

How did you let that get away from you

[@robthetinmang1455]

The chiefs either need to mask up and join the fight or step back away from the smoke and command the scene!! When I first started in incident command for a disaster response team, I always wanted to get direct reports, but it will overwhelm you! It's why you have divisions. The other problem is here is 2 chiefs directing stuff when you have tohave one as incident commander and the other handling ops maybe on the Charlie side. Plus, you got the radios and you're trying to yell for charging the hose line. Use the radios or save the money for other stuff!!!

[@dalebuchanan4224]

Oh this is hard to watch with all those unprotected people standing around in toxic smoke

[@rapman5791]

Watch the West End firefighter at 2:41 he just gives the f-it wave as he walks by….he wants none of that shit. 😂😂😂😂

[@ThatFireguy965]

hmm "Conditions intensified at a rapid pace leading to a 2nd alarm" I WONDER WHY.

[@oldvarmit]

Wait till the place burns down, then put the fire out! WTH!!

[@jads9296]

No hydrants. They fought this with 100% tanked-in water.

[@mikerose6600]

Guess no safety officer? No SCBA......looks like mass confusion on scene:(

[@mikerose6600]

After action discussions so we do our jobs better next time.

[@calebnelsenmusic]

Mass slow cancer suicide... Scary and sad to see this kind of response

[@Accu53Mation]

Wish I( could chase fire Departments. Hard-to-do with a bicycle. Did capture some great video of a large local pet store fire. As for Dollar General...not sad to see one on fire. This corporation, has popped-up in every small town, village, and little city throughout America. And that hurts local mom & pop stores. And the store units tend to attract the most lowly people. And the interior tends to have a stench of marijuana & are not very clean, organized, nor stocked. Oh. The tiller truck is epic.

[@gordonjeffery2062]

It looks like a lost,why not take the aerial ladder and stick it right in the front door and aim tip to ceiling. Spray water and fight as a sprinkler system

[@davidglaum2538]

All the armchair firefighters just have to make a commitment about something they know nothing about. They have no idea what it’s like fighting a fire.

[@nikfred4]

Hmmm, pulling solitary handline to the front of a ventilation-limited fire in a commercial building. (An 1 3/4” at that, rather than multiple 2 1/2” lines) Then breaking all the windows to allow all the oxygen in the world into the building…I am literally sitting in an armchair inside MY fire station watching this fiasco…yep, I guess i don’t know what I’m taking about.

[@padseven]

@@nikfred4 2 1/2"? You guys still feeding your horses hay too!?!?!

[@KevX-ny7by]

Look at the people, they play fireman and talk big shit about what they think they did. This is the most incompetent volly bullshit ever

[@mg-id1rq]

dont they have water

[@Ruegemerfamily]

Our local dollar general also burned 🤔

[@photosbychristensen]

Dollar General ad next week Fire sale all items are 50% off

[@fleabitis]

Inadequate water supply in first attack phase? Nothing there that a D8 & insurance money can’t fix

[@glennhaskell8989]

As a 20+ year firefighter, I hate Monday morning quarterbacks. But this video was frustrating to watch. When are we going to learn to STOP breaking all the windows? It was moments after the storefront windows were broken that the smoke quickly changed from white to gray and then black. We have to control the air flow. Once they broke the windows...this structure was gone. Even if they had a good water source, they weren't going to save it. The open windows and the wind fed this fire more than enough oxygen for it to flash. Please guys...learn from this mistake...STOP BREAKING WINDOWS...and control the flow path.

[@marcopstal9584]

The moment this video starts it is allreaddy obvious this is a total loss. Trying to go interior is not smart and I have my doubts about the control on the fireground. The moment you open up there is more oxygen to fuel the fire, which was allready well nested. It looked like there were multiple (at least two) points of entry. I don't think that's a smart move. Honestly, prepare for master streams, get a good water supply, open up the front and flow the water. Try to have ony a minimum of people closeby where they need SCBA and get the others on a safe distance.

[@KPaul77]

And that’s what happens when you back out…

[@RLTtizME]

Stop talking dirty. Disgraceful.

[@ritirons2726]

Actually….. That is what happens when experienced firefighters recognize a losing battle early on and back everyone out BEFORE they become disoriented, low on air, in a large commercial occupancy with zero visibility conditions that hide the fire conditions burning overhead. Sound familiar?

[@KPaul77]

@@ritirons2726 oh

[@mattteixeira6077]

It going flash.

[@nathanbeal8577]

This was tough to watch. I wonder why the fire grew and grew? No attack at all, pretty good guess where the fire was when the video started but instead of going after it we break all the windows and give it more air...... Where is this taught in today's fire fighting tactics??

[@danshacreaw]

Anyone ever hear of door/ventilation control and flow paths?!? Ha apparently not. Wow.