An early morning fire on December 16, 1994 destroyed approximately 20 percent of the Logan Valley Mall, a Regional shopping complex.  An effective attack by 59 fire companies successfully controlled the fire although an additional 40 percent of the complex suffered severe smoke and water damage.  The fire, which was reported at 2:29 a.m., completely destroyed 15 stores and 9 sales kiosks.  The direct loss is estimated at $50 million, with total economic impact of more than $75 million.

The mall, which is located just outside Altoona, Pennsylvania, was built in several stages. It was partially protected by automatic sprinkler systems and partially by a 17-zone heat detection system. The portion that was destroyed did not have automatic sprinklers but the owners were planning to retrofit them. The first fire report came from a central alarm service indicating a fire alarm from the mall. The type and zone of alarm was not transmitted to the central station but was displayed on annunciator panels located outside the complex.

The successful control of this fire can be attributed to the large fire suppression force response and effective pre-incident planning. In the planning process the risk of a large fire in the unsprinklered parts of the complex was recognized; effective tactical approaches were incorporated in the plan. The availability of a strong water supply to support the numerous hose streams and master streams, as well as the automatic sprinkler systems, was also a significant factor.