By Robert Callahan
For most fire departments, the response to a fire in a small or medium-sized retail box store may be as close as the next dispatch; and many departments, especially in smaller communities, are likely to be operating with limited staffing, apparatus, and experience at working incidents in these types of structures.
Just about every small community in this country has at least one small or medium-sized box store; some communities may have several. In this article, small retail stores less than 9,000 square feet in size are considered small box stores. Stores from 9,000 square feet to 18,000 to 20,000 square feet in size are considered medium-sized box stores. These occupancies may include general merchandise stores such as national chains like Dollar General or Family Dollar and locally owned or national chain hardware, clothing, furniture, second-hand, rent-to-own, tire, and auto parts stores.
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