Summary: High-rise commercial fires shouldn't be underestimated just because they happen after hours. Many of these buildings have 24-hour occupancy, and assuming they’re empty can lead to missed searches and delayed rescues. According to Tim Walsh of the Burbank (IL) Fire Department, the key is arriving with enough manpower and treating every fire as if someone’s still inside.
In a recent reel, veteran firefighter Tim Walsh breaks down a critical mistake departments often make on high-rise commercial fires: assuming the building is unoccupied. With decades of experience on the Chicago Fire Department and now with Burbank (IL) Fire Department, Walsh knows how misleading that assumption can be.
“Even commercial buildings had 24-hour occupancy,” Walsh explains. “People were working late into the night or early in the morning.” That includes overnight cleaning crews, maintenance staff, and sometimes even tenants burning the midnight oil. Just because it’s a high-rise and the lights are off doesn’t mean the floors are empty.
Walsh emphasizes that departments need to respond with the right manpower from the start. That means upgrading the alarm when there’s a confirmed fire, not after the first crew arrives and realizes they’re outnumbered.
“If you’re not upgrading your alarm on the initial aspect of a confirmed report of a fire, you’re going to be chasing that fire,” he says. That delay can be costly, not just in terms of fire growth, but in the time it takes to stretch lines and begin searches several floors above grade.
It’s not just about getting people on scene. It’s about how long it takes to get them into position. Crews in a high-rise have to move equipment, stretch hose, and perform searches often dozens of floors up. That eats time. If you’re short-staffed because the initial response was too light, your ability to suppress the fire and search for victims suffers.
Tim Walsh doesn’t speak from theory. His advice comes from years on the job, making calls in some of the most demanding urban environments. His message is simple: don’t assume a high-rise is empty just because it’s late. Upgrade early. Respond like there are people still inside, because there often are.
If your department treats late-night commercial fires as routine, it may be time to rethink that mindset. High-rise calls aren’t just another box alarm. They require the right approach from the start. And that starts with expecting the unexpected.
Want to learn about the other phases of Tim Walsh's high-rise philosophy? Watch the full interview by clicking the button below!