All posts by viking210

Residential, Single Family Home

Westminster, CO – Home fire sprinkler system extinguishes fire in three-story residence

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Westminster fire crews are giving to warning to all home owners after a three story home was saved by an in home fire sprinkler system. The fire department say a family heard their smoke alarm go off as well as ‘pop’ sound Friday evening. That pop was from their home sprinkler system being activated. The residents went to the garage to find a fire in a trash can. Before fire crews arrived, the sprinkler system has contained and extinguished the flames. 

Fire crews says this is a valuable demonstration on the effectiveness of home fire sprinkler systems. They say according to the National Fire Protection Association, in-home fire sprinklers can cut the risk of death in a fire by 80 percent. The risk of death in a home fire is cut in third with the use of a working smoke alarm. 

 “Because fire sprinklers react so quickly, they can dramatically reduce the heat, flames, and smoke produced in a fire,” says the NFPA. “Properly installed and maintained fire sprinklers help save lives.”  With home fire sprinkler systems only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly onto the fire.  The system may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take for the fire department to arrive to the scene. 

NFPA has listed facts about home fire sprinklers at http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/fire-and-life-safety-equipment/home-fire-sprinklers.

Apartment Building, Residential

North Stafford, VA – Apartment complex fire held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire in a North Stafford apartment complex Friday afternoon damaged three apartments, but no one was injured.  Stafford County firefighters responded to an apartment building on Minuteman Circle shortly before 2:45 p.m. and found a fire on the patio of a ground-floor unit that had spread into the apartment and to the balconies of the two units directly above, according to a news release from Stafford Fire and Rescue.  The building’s sprinkler system held the fire in check until firefighters could extinguish it.

 The three damaged units at Stonegate Apartments were deemed uninhabitable, displacing 10 adults and five children who were relocated to other facilities.    The fire caused an estimated $75,000 in property damage and $10,000 in damage to building contents.

The sprinkler system and a quick attack by firefighters is credited for saving $1.9 million in property and contents.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Weaverville, NC – Warehouse fire contained by quick response of sprinkler system; firefighters

Fire officials are trying to determine what caused a fire to break out at the Thermo Fisher warehouse near Weaverville.  Crews were dispatched to the scene around 1 p.m. Wednesday.  The chief credits the warehouse’s sprinkler system and fire crew’s quick response for the minimal damage to the building.  However, he said there is extensive damage to products that were inside. There were no reported injuries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Medford, OR – Fire at commercial laundry business contained with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters battled both fire and ice Thursday night in northwest Medford when they responded at 8:50 to a blaze at Alsco Inc., 980 Ellen Ave. The building, a commercial laundry facility, sustained “moderate smoke damage,” with no visible damage to the structure, according to an agency Facebook post. An investigation showed the fire ignited in a large dryer that had been filled with mop heads and other textiles. The materials were left in the dryer by accident, fire officials said, likely leading them to smolder, ignite, then spread to some nearby linen bags. Alarms in the building began to sound and the facility’s sprinkler system kicked on.  Fire crews initially responded to the scene with four engines, but quickly upgraded the response to a second alarm because of the amount of smoke and the fire’s location deep in the building.

“Second alarm is actually used for resource improvement,” said Medford Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Erin Sawall. “It could be for any myriad of needs.” Six engines from Medford Fire-Rescue and Jackson County Fire District No. 3 responded, tangling with ice outside while they fought the fire inside. Thursday night’s low temperature in Medford dipped to 18 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, turning the roads outside into a skating rink for firefighters while they prepared hoses.  “It was a very icy scene,” Sawall said. “Crews operated in a pretty dangerous atmosphere.”  Crews deployed salt to help. One firefighter did slip, Sawall said, but he wasn’t seriously injured. No other injuries were reported. Firefighters had the flames extinguished within a half hour, but spent almost three more hours on scene venting the buildup of smoke.  Fire officials said the building’s sprinkler system was a big help in snuffing the flames.  “It had some serious potential,” Sawall said. “Under these conditions, that’s the best we can hope for.”

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Galesburg, IL – Restaurant fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Galesburg firefighters responded to the report of a structure fire late Thursday morning at Crazy Buffet, 463 Grant Ave., in the Seminary Square retail development. No flames were visible upon arrival, however firefighters found light smoke coming from the roof. Dispatch received a call from the alarm company followed immediately by at least a half dozen calls from passersby saying a large volume of smoke was coming from the roof. Galesburg firefighters responded at 11:24 a.m.  “Fire units found the kitchen full of smoke,” Fire Chief Tom Simkins said in a news release. “Fire had started in wok in the grill area. The manager attempted to extinguish the fire with three hand fire extinguishers. The hood system functioned properly and knocked the fire down on the grill. However, fire had extended outside the grill and was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system which had a single head flowing on our arrival.

“Fire also extended upward into the hood duct system. It appeared the filters had not been cleaned in some time as they were packed with grease, fueling the fire. This caused extension to the roof. The aerial ladder was deployed and a hose line stretched onto the roof. ​A hydrant was needed for additional water for extinguishment.” The Knox County Health Department was notified and the business was closed pending direction from KCHD officials.   No injuries were reported. A call-back crew of five off-duty personnel handled at least three calls during the fire. Simkins said an alarm at the Pizza Ranch “most assuredly” activated due to the drop in incoming pressure in the sprinkler system due to the use of the hydrant across the street.  The fire cause is listed as accidental. The fire department reported the scene under control at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, although fire officials remained on scene to investigate.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Brampton, ON, Canada – Shopping mall fire held in check by sprinkler system; Fire started in clothes dryer

Two burnt towels in a clothes dryer started a fire that forced the evacuation of a Brampton shopping mall on Thursday morning (Jan. 5), according to Brampton Fire and Emergency Services officials. A sprinkler kept the fire in check at Royal Crest Mall, at 50 Kennedy Rd. S., according to firefighters; but a significant amount of smoke was generated.  Firefighters were called at 10:20 a.m., with reports of smoke coming from the mall at Clarence Street.  Five trucks and a district chief initially responded, but the first alarm was quickly upgraded to a second alarm in response to the heavy smoke. Three more trucks and a platoon chief responded.  The mall was evacuated, and a Brampton Transit bus kept evacuees out of the cold. Tenants and shoppers were allowed to return after the smoke was cleared.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ocean City, MD – Fire Marshal credits sprinkler system for saving resident’s life in apartment fire

The Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office is crediting fire sprinklers for saving the life of an Ocean City woman who just barely escaped a kitchen fire on New Year’s Eve.  Just before 7:30 p.m., firemen were called to the area of 25th Street and Baltimore Avenue, for a building fire.   The woman had been cooking when grease spilled over onto the stove burners, starting a fire that quickly spread.

A single sprinkler head in the kitchen activated and extinguished the fire prior to the arrival of fireman.  The unit suffered limited fire and smoke damage in the kitchen. The adjoining staircase and first floor restaurant area also experienced water damage.  The cause of the fire is classified as accidental.

Apartment Building, Residential

Bremerton, WA – Apartment fire caused by cigarette extinguished with help from sprinkler system

A cigarette likely is the cause of a small fire that evacuated the Firs apartment complex Tuesday night, according to Bremerton firefighters. Crews were called to the 60-unit complex, at 183 Russell Road, about 8:45 p.m. and found the fire already mostly out. The building has a fire sprinkler system, which, with the help of a resident with an extinguisher, snuffed the flames.  No injuries were reported. Residents took shelter in surrounding housing complexes as well as within Kitsap Transit buses called in to assist.  The Bremerton Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the fire, but it appears a cigarette in one room lit a bag, which ignited a couch, firefighters said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Omaha, NE – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling apartment fire

Authorities are investigating a fire at an apartment complex. It broke out around 10 o’clock Wednesday morning. It happened at the Park West Apartments near 108th and Jaynes Plaza, near Fort Street.  There were no reports of injuries but utility service was partly interrupted on a frigid morning.  Firefighters initially responded to an automatic fire alarm system. They arrived to find a small fire in a coat closet in a third floor apartment.   The fire was quickly brought under control but it triggered the sprinkler system resulting in damage to the first, second and third floor apartments.  Residents were allowed back into the building shortly before noon.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

South Lake Tahoe, CA – Fire in attic mechanical room at Target store contained by sprinkler system

A fire broke out in a furnace room at the South Lake Tahoe TJ Maxx store just before 7:00 p.m. Monday night, resulting in the store filling up with smoke and water.  South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue personnel responded, and found the store’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire from spreading and it was contained to the one room.  The furnace was located above the store’s dressing rooms. With all of the water used to put out the fire, the ceiling collapsed and created quite a mess in that portion of the store.  “Much of the floor is very wet,” said SLTFR Battalion Chief Tim Spencer. “There was light smoke inside so there may be some smokey clothing.”

With the freezing temperatures in South Lake Tahoe, Spencer said they had concern about frozen water. As of 8:45 p.m., they are in clean-up mode and making sure the scene is safe. “We are ready to turn the store back to manager,” said Spencer. “It’s now up to the insurance and restoration companies.”  Firefighters from Lake Valley Fire also responded to the store which is located at the Y.