Another huge wood frame apartment building was destroyed recently by fire, this one in Gilbert, AZ, outside of Phoenix. The wood frame building, which was under construction, caused a 5-alarm inferno. One firefighter and three police officers were injured as they tried to contain the blaze. Over 60 people from surrounding apartments and homes had to be evacuated and are displaced because of the intensity of the fire and smoke.

 

 "The construction was in the wood frame stage," Gilbert Fire Department Captain Gary Hildebrandt told the Arizona Republic newspaper. "It’s going to be exposed wood, so it’s going to burn hotter and faster, and with the winds kicking up, we had a hard time containing it right away."  

NRMCA has developed a building promotion program to address the need for safer and non-combustible construction, and has extended its Concrete Design Center to offer free help to designers who might prefer concrete to wood but have little experience with concrete buildings. Visit www.buildwithstrength.com to learn more. NRMCA also has resources to help members and state affiliates advocate for concrete construction, including developing legislation, talking points, public relations and other key strategies.