Fighting Fires in Taxpayer Buildings Raises Cockloft, Back Draft Problems
There is a type of store building found in most cities and towns across the country which can present several serious fire fighting problems. In many places it is called a “taxpayer” for a reason which gives a slight clue to the basic cause of the problems.
The name derives from a custom in the real estate investment business. An investor buys a piece of vacant commercial land which he expects will increase considerably in value over a period of years. In order to get enough income to pay the taxes on the property during the interim—and perhaps gain some profit from rents—he puts up a row of stores. This building is not meant to last a long time, and the owner wants it built as cheaply as possible. As a result, it usually ends up with structural and design features which the fire department should understand and be able to cope with during a fire. Some taxpayer fires can be quite dangerous to personnel as well as difficult to extinguish.
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