City of Corona Fire Department
PRELIMINARY FIRE INVESTIGATION
Incident # CF2400403
1 === FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY ===
These findings are preliminary intended solely for internal CFD use. Findings are subject to change as additional information and analysis is available. The investigation is ongoing and not all questions have been answered.
Questions or information
regarding this fire investigation
should be directed to:
Name Title Date & Time
Boan Fire Investigator 1/9/24 @ 1931 hours
NFIRS INCIDENT TYPE 132 – Road freight/transport vehicle fire INCIDENT LOCATION 1802 Pomona (Recycling E-Scrap West)
FIRST ARRIVING UNIT Corona Engine 3 & Battalion 2
INCIDENT SUMMARY Fire in a Conex shipping container
SYNOPSIS
I was requested to respond as the on-call fire investigator. I arrived on scene to find suppression personnel still actively engaging in suppression efforts. I made contact with BC2 who informed me on the incident particulars.
After performing a site safety assessment, I began an origin and cause fire investigation. I conducted photographic documentation of the scene, working systematically, from the areas with the least amount of damage, to the areas with the most amount of damage.
I observed a large Conex shipping container on a trailer of the driveway at the business with smoke coming from it. The contents of the container appeared to be miscellaneous electronics and batteries.
Video surveillance footage shows the owner of the business loading pallets of product into the trailer at approximately 1900 hours. At approximately 1925 hours, light smoke can be seen coming from the top of the products located in the trailer. At 1925 hours, fire can be seen in the trailer.
I hypothesize an unknown electrical and/or battery failure occurred within one of the products in the container, spreading to nearby combustible products.
During the investigation, multiple fire code/life safety issues were identified on the property and within the building. A follow-up inspection of the business will take place.
Based on my education, training, experience, and fire scene examination, the fire cause will be listed as accidental.
CIVILIAN/FIRE SERVICE CASUALTIES N/A
DOLLAR LOSS / DAMAGE $25000.00
OCCUPANCY TYPE Parking lot of a B/S-1 occupancy
AREA OF ORIGIN Within a 6’ x 6’ area on the right-hand side of the container as you enter it COMPETENT IGNITION (HEAT) SOURCE Lithium-ion battery and/or the electrical components on the products City of Corona Fire Department
PRELIMINARY FIRE INVESTIGATION
Incident # CF2400403
2 MATERIAL /ITEM FIRST IGNITED Electrical components and/or the packaging containing the products
IGNITION SEQUENCE / EVENT
I hypothesize an unknown electrical and/or battery failure occurred within one of the products in the container, spreading to nearby combustible products, resulting in fire.
CAUSE / CLASSIFICATION Accidental
EQUIPMENT INVOLVED Electronics and batteries
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION N/A
HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO
IGNITION
N/A
FIRE SUPPRESSION FACTORS N/A
SMOKE ALARM N/A
SMOKE ALARM EFFECTIVENESS N/A
AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS N/A
AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM
EFFECTIVENESS
N/A
NOTES N/A
ANY USE OF THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY INVESTIGATION’S CHIEF City of Corona Fire Department
PRELIMINARY FIRE INVESTIGATION
Incident # CF2400403
3 The involved Conex shipping container
City of Corona Fire Department
PRELIMINARY FIRE INVESTIGATION
Incident # CF2400403
4 Fire inside the shipping container
City of Corona Fire Department
PRELIMINARY FIRE INVESTIGATION
Incident # CF2400403
5 Video surveillance footage shows the start of the fire in the shipping container City of Corona Fire Department
PRELIMINARY FIRE INVESTIGATION
Incident # CF2400403
6 Within the area of origin was a melted mass of various electronics and batteries