A second-alarm fire broke out as a result, but was knocked down.
Has anyone heard the verb “knocked down” used like that before? Is it a regional thing? I’m used to fires being “put out”.
It’s more of a firefighting specific term, used like a boxing analogy to indicate the fire is “knocked down to the mat, but possibly only temporarily, not necessarily completely out of the fight yet”. In my experience it’s less commonly used in reporting to the general public because a) it indicates some level of uncertainty that reporters like to avoid and b) it is not as widely understood, and I think in such a situation it would more typically be reported as either being “brought under control” or “put out” even when those terms might be inaccurate, as the actual nuance in between is generally lost on people who aren’t firefighters.
Yes, it’s very common.
Wow! This is the first time in my entire life of over 3 decades that I’ve ever heard this.
I should add, knocked down is not put out. Once a fire is knocked down, firefighters go in and overhaul the building, making sure there are no remaining smoldering hotspots that could re-ignite.
Apparently they saw it coming and got out in time, wild I never look outside
