All posts by viking210

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Buffalo Grove, IL – Warehouse fire controlled by sprinkler system

NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FD REPORTED:  At 01:41 the FD responded to an activated fire alarm at 1602 N. Barclay Blvd. Upon arrival, fire companies found an activated fire alarm with water flowing from the sprinkler system. After further investigation they discovered a fire in unit 1602. The fire was held in check by the sprinkler system followed by complete extinguishment with FD hose lines.

Key Fob business. Electrical in nature, three heads went off in small warehouse. Racks with neatly stacked product cardboard and lower level small plastic totes.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fairbanks, AK – Fire at Michaels craft store suppressed by sprinkler system

If you drove by the Michaels arts and crafts store in the Bentley Mall this (Tue) morning, not much looked out of the ordinary.  But if you tried to go in, you found the store closed, with a sign on the door saying there had been a fire in the business.

Fairbanks Firefighters got the call at 6-30 Monday evening, and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the building, and a fire at the end of one of the aisles.  The origin and cause of the fire are currently under investigation by the Fairbanks Fire Marshals.

Kyle Green, FFD Deputy Fire Marshal, told us “We arrived on scene to find the building full of smoke. The store and the mall were evacuated. Crews made entry and found a fire in the store that was being suppressed by the sprinkler system pretty well. We had to finish extinguishing it. We did so and then we spent quite a bit of time ejecting smoke from the building and mitigating further damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Michaels is busy right now getting in touch with their folks to come up and assess what we’re looking at for damage.”

 

Apartment Building, Residential

Old Orchard Beach, ME – Kitchen fire at apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler system

A fire at an apartment complex in Old Orchard Beach damaged two units Monday and caused $100,000 in damage, the fire chief said.  Alarms sounded about 10:30 a.m. after a kitchen stove fire triggered the building’s sprinkler system, said Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief Ed Dube.

Fire crews responded to find smoke coming from the building at 18 Smithwheel Road, but the flames were already extinguished by the sprinkler, Dube said. No one was injured.  Water damaged the third-floor unit where the fire began and damaged one below it.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Hillsborough, NJ – Sprinkler system helps put out fire at plastic container manufacturing facility

A plastic container manufacturing facility in Hillsborough Township was the scene of a two-alarm fire on Monday, which prompted a large response from multiple fire companies in the surrounding area.  According to fire officials on the scene at the Tri-Delta Plastics facility on Cougar Court, the incident was first reported at approximately 12:40 p.m.

Fire Marshal Chris Weniger said the fire originated from a piece of machinery. “One of the machines caught fire and the flames spread,” Mr. Weniger said. “The fire department arrived and put out the fire with the assistance of the sprinkler system.”  No injuries were reported at the scene and officials said the fire was under control by 1:19 p.m.

Tri-Delta Plastics, which was purchased by Pretium Packaging in 2014, produces plastic bottles, caps and other packaging products. Mr. Weniger said the piece of equipment that caused a fire was a blow-molding machine. Due to the spillage of chemicals and oils used in that process, the marshal said a hazmat unit was deployed to the scene.

“These machines contain cutting oil – different types of oils – and because we used water, the oil is all over the floor,” Mr. Weniger said.  Along with all four of the Hillsborough Township Fire companies, personnel from the Fire Marshal’s Office, the Hillsborough Rescue Squad, Millstone Valley Fire Department, the Finderne Fire Department in Bridgewater, the Elizabeth Avenue Fire Company in Somerset and the Manville Fire Department responded to the scene.

Though the site is less than a mile away from the scene of a massive fire that took place at Veterans Industrial Park back in February, Mr. Weniger said the response on Monday was no different than any other instance.

“With the size of the building and the fact that this happened at a time when our response is not as good – as well as the fact that our firefighters don’t last as long fighting fires in this heat – we ended up calling more people,” Mr. Weniger said.

An investigation into the exact cause of the fire is ongoing. 

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Nursing Home/Senior Living

Antioch, CA – Fire at senior memory care facility controlled by single sprinkler

Nearly 40 people were displaced after electrical smoke activated a fire sprinkler Tuesday afternoon at a senior living center.  A fire was reported around 2:57 p.m. at Hillcrest Memory Care Living at 825 East 18th Street, said Contra Costa County Fire Inspector Steve Aubert. No injuries have been reported.

An individual was working in a maintenance room when smoke from an electronic device activated the fire sprinklers in the building. The incident was under control around 3:30 p.m. The senior living center cares for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, said Contra Costa County Fire Marshal Robert Marshall. The small electrical fire was controlled by a single sprinkler head.

“If there was a bigger fire in there, we would have had a much bigger problem and possibly fatalities,” Marshall said.  Aubert said the water damage impacted 39 tenants.  They were “relocated to a different center because it’s going to take some time to clean up the area,” he said.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Oakville, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system knocks down fire at shopping mall caused by welding sparks

The Oakville Fire Department says no one was injured after fire broke out at the Oakville Place shopping mall earlier this morning (Tuesday). Fire crews were called to the mall at around 9 a.m.  Deputy Fire Chief George Birtig said the fire started at the building’s south side when sparks from welding, which was taking place on the roof in an area undergoing renovations, dropped down into a storage area on the second floor and ignited some products there.

“That set off the sprinkler system,” said Birtig.  “When we got there, there was still some flame left, but the sprinklers had knocked down the majority of the fire.”

Firefighters quickly extinguished what was left of the blaze.  Birtig said the mall was not open when the fire took place and so no shoppers were impacted.  Oakville Place staff said they were hopeful the mall could be reopened around noon.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Ocean City, MD – Restaurant fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Business reopens same day

A mid-morning fire was quickly extinguished thanks to fire sprinklers and a kitchen extinguishing system yesterday. Just before 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, the Ocean City Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at The Crab Bag Restaurant located on 130th Street.

Firefighters arrived and found the two story restaurant evacuated and the fire alarm system ringing. Upon entry into the building, firefighters discovered one single fire sprinkler actively flowing water near the propane oven. In the kitchen area and upstairs, crews found light smoke conditions and evidence of a fire that had been extinguished by the kitchen extinguishing hood and the fire sprinkler system.

“There is no doubt in my mind that fire protection systems saved lives and property at The Crab Bag,” said Fire Marshal David W. Hartley. “This is one example why the Office of The Fire Marshal maintains our Fire Protection Quality Assurance Program, to ensure all fire protection systems work as intended during an emergency.”

Because of the quick response of the fire sprinklers, employees of The Crab Bag, firefighters, and fire protection contractors, The Crab Bag was able to open for business the same day with an adjusted menu and is expected to be open for a full menu tomorrow.

The on-scene investigation by the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office revealed that the fire started as the result of a propane line being damaged with an ignition source in the area. The fire is classified as accidental.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Richland, WA – Kitchen fire at assisted living facility extinguished by sprinkler system

A stove fire broke out at a retirement and assisted living home in Richland on Wednesday but no residents were hurt.  Richland fire crews were alerted around noon to a fire at Riverton by Bonaventure on Bellerive Drive. A sprinkler system extinguished the small kitchen fire before crews arrived, said Battalion Chief Ron Duncan.

“Somebody left something on the stove and walked away from it,” he said.  Richland fire crews then received calls about an hour later because someone smelled smoke. It turned out to be smoke lingering from the previous fire, Duncan said.

Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/crime/article99156947.html#storylink=cpy
Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Revelstoke, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system helps contain electrical fire at timber mill

The sprinkler system at Downie Timber Mill was crucial in containing a fire that broke out at the business on Tuesday night, Aug. 30.

Revelstoke Fire and Rescue Services (RFRS) responded to the fire, following a 911 call, at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Fire chief Rob Girard reported that the fire was electrical, possibly sparked by one of the large air compressors.

With 17 personnel from the Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services responding to the fire, it was out in less than 30 minutes with no injuries.

“Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke  pouring from the rear of the compressor building and sprinklers activated,” Girard said. “We immediately ventilated and had an attack crew enter the structure for the fire attack.”

There were no occupants in the building at the time and dealing with the fire was made easier due to the installed sprinkler system.

“The sprinkler system in the mill did a great job containing the fire to the area of origin,” Girard said, “without sprinklers this fire would have been a completely different matter for us.”

“Our hats are off to the great staff and management at Downie Timber Ltd. who helped us when we first arrived right through to mop up,” Girard said. “We all realize how important this facility is to the community.”

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Bend, OR – No injuries as single sprinkler keeps mechanical fire in check at hospital

A fire broke out in a washer for surgical instruments at St. Charles Bend early Wednesday, causing about $200,000 damage, but a fire sprinkler kept the damage from being far more severe, officials said.

The blaze prompted closure of some areas of the hospital for a time, as well as the cancellation of all elective surgeries for the day.

Shortly before 6 a.m., Bend fire crews responded to the reported fire at the hospital on Northeast Neff Road, said Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering. They arrived to find light smoke coming from the lower level of the facility.

A machine used to clean surgical tools caught fire, said hospital spokeswoman Lisa Goodman.

A single sprinkler head activated in the area and held the fire in check until crews arrived, Kettering said. There was some smoke and water damage to the lower level of the facility, and fire crews helped clear remaining smoke from the building.

Investigators determined a heating element within the unit had overheated and failed, causing the fire, Kettering said.

As with any alarm at the hospital, numerous Bend firefighters responded to the scene, clearing the area of smoke and water by about 6:40 a.m. No one was injured, Goodman said.

As a result of the fire in the hospital’s central processing area, elective surgeries were canceled for the day, with only emergency procedures to be performed.

The hospital’s lower-level floor, including the in-patient pharmacy, was closed for a time but had reopened by 7:30 a.m. Goodman said the hospital had resumed normal operations and that all scheduled caregivers should report to work as usual.

Kettering said the fire was a clear example of the value of fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems,” which helped to isolate the fire area and quickly move to protect staff and patients. The sprinkler system minimized damage and will allow operations to resume in a timely manner.

“Without a properly maintained and operational fire sprinkler system, the damage from today’s fire would have undoubtedly been far more severe,” Kettering wrote in a news release.