Driven by the relentless demand for cloud computing and AI, the data center building boom is reshaping cities, suburbs, and everything in between. The massive buildings – some the size of entire neighborhoods – are creating jobs and economic opportunities, but also new challenges for emergency responders.
For fire fighters in North America, the growing presence of data centers requires specialized training, lots of planning and close cooperation with on-site security and engineering teams at these new sites.
And the first thing to know, according to IAFF experts who were interviewed for this story? You can’t respond to a datacenter fire like a typical structure fire.
Instead, the massive buildings have complex floor plans, ultra-secure perimeters, and high-value equipment that reacts poorly to water — all while housing backup power systems that include dangerous lithium-ion batteries.
Responding to a data center fire requires a completely different approach than a typical structure fire. Coordinating with building personnel, using the correct suppression agents, avoiding electrically charged equipment, radio operation challenges, and issues related to lithium-ion batteries are all things fire fighters need to consider as they respond to emergencies at these facilities.
Loudoun Career fire fighters Local 3756 member jasen Dodson
“Responding to a data center fire requires a completely different approach than a typical structure fire,” said Jasen Dodson, a Loudoun Career Fire Fighters Local 3756 member who was instrumental in developing a data center response manual for Northern Virginia, the largest concentration of data centers in North America, known as “Data Center Alley.”
“Coordinating with building personnel, using the correct suppression agents, avoiding electrically charged equipment, radio operation challenges, and issues related to lithium-ion batteries are all things fire fighters need to consider as they respond to emergencies at these facilities.”
As of last year, the United States had 5,381 data centers and Canada another 336, according to Cloudscene and Statistica, both are data-gathering services. The pace of construction continues to accelerate as tech giants make billions of dollars of investments in the space.
Fire prevention and suppression is a critical piece of protecting sensitive data stored and distributed out of data centers worldwide, IAFF experts said. Data center fires are rare, but they do happen. The rarity of such events is largely due to the stringent prevention and protection measures in place.
“Data centers typically use a pre-action sprinkler system designed to put out fires quickly and minimize water damage,” said Chris Ingram, president of Santa Clara County, CA Local 1165. Santa Clara County is home to many of Silicon Valley’s facilities. “These systems have high tech sensors that will not trigger water dispersal prematurely.”
The largest reported data center fire happened in Strasburg, France, in 2021, at OVHcloud, which housed sensitive data for multiple companies. The fire is believed to have started when a water leak caused an electrical arc in the power supply room. Despite the quick response of the local fire department, the building burned to the ground. Multiple companies lost all their data.
Most often, though, data center fires are ignited by short circuits, electric system overload, equipment overheating, lithium-ion battery malfunction, or employee/customer negligence.
Understanding the challenges
Fire response to data centers is unusually complex due to the complicating factors at these mega sites. First responders should expect to be met by heightened security due to the sensitive nature of the information being housed, complex building layouts, equipment that doesn’t react well to water, and lithium-ion batteries used as a backup power source.
Data centers are also required to install sprinkler systems or a gaseous fire extinguishing system stored below raised floors. They typically house clean agent extinguishers (halocarbon-based or carbon dioxide).
National Fire Protection Association standards 75 and 76 — as well as departments with existing response plans — offer good guidance as a starting point when planning for these new challenges.
One of those departments is in Northern Virginia, where over 70% of global internet traffic is estimated to pass through the region daily.
According to Loudoun County’s economic development department, it has more than 13 million square feet currently in operation.
Considering the magnitude, it wasn’t a matter of “if,” but “when” Northern Virginia’s fire fighters would be dispatched to an incident at a data center.
“Thankfully, we have not had any serious fires. When we do respond to data centers, they tend to be small electrical fires,” Dodson said. “They are a challenge and could get out of control without pre-planning.”
To stay ahead of the challenges, Dodson suggests:
- Coordinating with the data center security and engineering teams. These facilities are under heavy security, so fire fighters will be escorted and can help crews navigate the vastness of the facility.
- Finding out what fire suppression tools already exist on site and be prepared to bring in any tools that you might need. Fire fighters want to avoid going back to their fire trucks as that will take up a lot of time because the facilities are so large.
- Touring the facility to get familiar with the layout and size of the buildings.
- Exercising extreme caution around electrical equipment to avoid electrocution.
- Knowing if lithium-ion batteries are being used as a back-up source. If those malfunction, they can become explosive.
“Due to the size of these data centers, some may have thousands, or even millions, of these batteries on-site,” Dodson said. “Fire safety standards, building codes, and the safety of lithium-ion batteries are improving, but fire department responses to data center battery incidents are likely to increase in frequency until the hazards can be engineered out.”
The boom is spreading
New data centers are being built every day, and there’s no reason to expect a slowdown anytime soon.
Red Oak, Texas, just outside of Dallas, is one of those areas experiencing the boom.
Google, Databank, and Compass are projected to open their facilities in 2026, the first three large data centers in the area, according to Red Oak Local 4533 President Andrew Rieger.
What have they done to prepare for their new neighbors?
“Fire department management is not waiting until the centers open to start planning,” Rieger said. “They have designated a point person to ensure we are compliant with the NFPA standards and so that we address any concerns that are unique to us.”
One area that could be unique is the vastness of the response area. Each data center campus will include several two-story buildings and span across as many as 300 acres, which is about six times the size of the average data center campus, according to some industry publications.
Another point to consider is the proximity of data centers to residential areas in Red Oak — a concern more departments undoubtedly will face as the buildout of these facilities continues.
“Given that data center fires are a rare occurrence, the probability of a data center fire to reach a level to impact the nearby community is low,” Rieger said. “But we must consider all potential impacts as we develop a response plan.”
