Union Township Firefighters Save TQL Building

UNION TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTS FIRE OUT AT TOTAL QUALITY LOGISTICS.

Total Quality Logistics (TQL), the nation's 6th largest freight brokerage firm had a fire break out on the 2nd floor of their corporate headquarters on the morning of Thursday, September 02, 2010. Thankfully no one was hurt and the Union Township Fire Department put the fire out within minutes of receiving the call.

Had it not been for the quick actions of the Union Township Fire Department damages caused by the sprinkler system (which was not activated because of the timely response), the fire, and the smoke could have resulted in excess of hundreds of thousands of dollars for the company. Thanks to the Union Township Fire Department TQL employees were able to enter the building at 8:30am that morning and care for the needs of their customers uninterrupted.

Security camera footage from the morning of the incident captures the fire starting from a desk fan at about 5:15am. The footage goes on to show the fire quickly growing with flames stretching several feet in the air. Within minutes, a series of pops and small explosions from the fan send the fire into more of a frenzy until visibility is almost nonexistent due to black smoke. About 20 minutes later through the thick smoke and fire alarm flashes one can begin to make out figures emerging into view. The figures are Union Township Firefighters putting out the fire and busting out windows to release toxic smoke from the building. The fire was out by 5:40am.

"Due to the heroic actions of these firefighters we were able to get out of this potentially catastrophic situation with only minimal damages. The Union Township Fire Department saved the day." -- says TQL President & CEO Ken Oaks.

By 8:30am Union Township Fire Chief, Stanley Deimling, determined the air quality was safe enough for employees to enter the building on the 1st, 3rd and 4th floors. Widmer's and ServPro were called in to assist with the cleanup of the 2nd floor.

Soot covered the entire building, but conditions on the 2nd floor were so bad that cleanup experts estimated it would take up to a week before employees could reenter the floor to work as normal. However, as result of TQL's dedicated employees pitching in wherever needed, some working throughout the day and night, the 2nd floor was ready for employees to reenter and work the very next morning almost as if the fire had never happened. This exceeded the expectations of many involved with the clean up process.

Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is the nation's 6th largest freight brokerage firm and is based out of Cincinnati, OH. For over 13 years, TQL has specialized in arranging the transportation of full truckload shipments for thousands of companies across the country.

TQL's more than 1,000 logistics professionals facilitate the movement of over 300,000 truckload shipments each year. In addition to our Cincinnati-based headquarters, we have satellite offices in Chicago, IL; Charlotte, NC; Charleston, SC; and Tampa, FL.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• TQL
• UT
• Firefighter
• Tribute
• total quality logistics

[haligan79]

I agree with your point. My point is simply this... we know sprinklers save lives (civilian and firefighter) and property. We also are in a national fight with home builders associations, code councils, etc to enact sprinkler mandates. Making a comment like that adds leverage to their fight and makes it sound like we are contradicting ourselves. I would exercise caution making those comments relative to the sprinkler system and water damage. It will be used out of context.

[FireMarshal03]

I appreciate your comments haligan79, but let me be sure I understand. If there is a situation where the fire alarm performs as designed and alerts the fire department in time to arrive as the fire is still incipient, then extinguishing the fire before the big water starts is bad? We all know that sprinklers are good, but we also know that water damage is expensive, too. Our pledge is to protect life and property and if we can beat the sprinklers, then we are doing an outstanding job.

[haligan79]

Good video, great idea, great stop! All except two parts. One is were the good Lt. Cabral says that had the sprinklers activated there would have been more damage! If the fire department was so fast they could have shut the system down with minimal damage. Don't say stuff like that and fuel the lobby's against sprinklers. And #2... why is there a firefighter walking about without a partner in an IDLH environment? We do things in pairs folks!

[davidscottc40]

Great Stop!

[boameister]

Wow, all we ever get are cakes and cookies for helping out. Much appreciated though! Super lucky office workers to have a quick responding crew and and exact location of the fire for them as they were arriving. Good job guys! I bet UT still likes cookies though. Hint, hint!

[chris99z71]

Nice stop Bros!

[gma19604]

What a cool way to fight the fire.. Way to go UT!!!!

[Sainterthom]

Very cool! Amazing how such a little thing grew, and neat to see.