All posts by viking210

Other - Retail, Retail

Portsmouth, NH – Sprinkler system limits damage in overnight fire at auto body shop

A radio likely sparked an early morning fire at an auto body shop that would have caused about $100,000 in damage, if not for a working sprinkler system, said Fire Chief Steve Achilles.  Firefighters responded to the Portsmouth Autobody Center at 4:36 a.m. Wednesday when an alarm sounded from the 700 Peverly Hill Road business, said the fire chief. When they arrived, it took firefighters about 15 minutes to locate the fire because it was in back of the main building, inside a separate 200-foot by 120-foot metal building, Achilles said.

Firefighters had to force their way into the locked and smoke-filled building and one firefighter injured his hand while making entry, according to Achilles. He was treated at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and released, the chief said.  Once inside, firefighters “used a line to knock down the remaining fire,” said Achilles. An investigation concluded with a theory that a radio, or a wire to a radio, started the fire inside a storage cabinet, Achilles said. No vehicles or people were in the building at the time, he said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Huntsville, AL – Sprinklers quickly extinguish fire at extended-stay hotel

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Huntsville fire officials evacuated an extended-stay hotel Sunday afternoon.  Crews were called to the InTown Suites on The Boardwalk around 2:30 p.m. after a report of a small fire.

The sprinkler system had deployed by the time firefighters arrived.  Hotel guests were evacuated and no injuries were reported.

Guests were allowed back inside around 7 p.m. to collect belongings; the hotel’s owners have arranged for alternate accommodations.

InTown Suites issued this statement Sunday night:

“A small fire occurred in a room this evening at our Huntsville, Alabama location. Thankfully, there were no injuries. The fire was quickly extinguished by sprinklers, but water from these systems entered the main electrical room of the hotel. Therefore, electrical power has been disconnected until we can inspect and repair any issues. We are working hard to restore service as quickly as possible, and are relocating guests to nearby hotels. We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the Huntsville Fire Department and the American Red Cross. The safety and security of our guests and employees is our primary concern and we are thankful the systems in place worked as intended.”

A cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Charlottetown, PE, Canada – Sprinkler system contains storage fire at building supplies business

A fire at the Kent Buildings Supplies in Charlottetown last night was the result of halogen bulbs overheating from the emergency lighting, said Charlottetown fire inspector Winston Bryan after the investigation was concluded this morning.

The Charlottetown Fire Department responded to the call at 10:50 p.m. yesterday to the building on 65 Marsh Rd.  Pallets of inventory and cardboard were ignited from the emergency lighting, which was powered by halogen bulbs.

The halogen bulbs produced enough heat to cause ignition of a box, which then spread to other boxes on the shelving unit.

The fire was contained in the warehouse area and shelving units, said Bryan.  What contained the fire was the sprinkler system, said Bryan.

All clear was given at around 2 a.m. today with no injuries sustained Though this doesn’t happen often, it tends to happen more so in warehouses with the stacking of goods up against lights.

“Over time they will ignite,” said Bryan.

It boils down to training within the businesses to install lighting at proper heights.  “Take it into consideration what you are actually storing in your warehouse… should be designed around that.”

“The sprinkler system basically contained the fire to one particular area of the building,” he said. “So having your sprinkler system maintained and inspected on a year to year base, as per code, assisted in the suppression of the fire.”

Hospital/Care Facility, Other - Hospital/Medical

Valdosta, GA – Laundry fire at health care facility suppressed by sprinkler system

Laundry which overheated in a commercial dryer caused a fire at Pruitt Health at Crestwood at 415 Pendleton Place on Sunday about 6:30. VFD Captain James Clinkscales said that fire personnel responded to a structure fire with sprinkler activation, and the small laundry room fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system. Fire crews assisted with the evacuation and water removal.

Fourteen firefighters responded to the scene and were able to control the incident quickly, and no one in the facility was displaced by this incident, and no injuries were reported. 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Huntington, WV – Sprinkler extinguishes overnight fire at Aldi grocery store

A sprinkler system likely saved a Huntington grocery store from sustaining more serious damage early morning Monday. Cabell County 911 received word of the fire at 4:39 a.m. at Aldi, a discount grocery store in the 400 block of Adams of Huntington. No injuries were reported.

Huntington Deputy Fire Chief Brian Grieco said crews believe boxes stacked against a light might have contributed to the small fire. A sprinkler activated and quickly extinguished the flames in a rear storage area.

Firefighters worked to clear smoke before leaving the store. Grieco said store officials were working with its alarm provider and another company to recharge the system and clean the store.

Department Store, Retail

Edina, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire to small area at H&M store

The H&M store at the Southdale Center in Edina is closed Friday after a fire on the second floor.  Edina officials say the fire was reported at 10:30 a.m. after a piece of clothing caught fire and caused the sprinkler system to activate.

Officials say the fire was contained to a small area of the store, but both the first and second floor have smoke and water damage. The store is closed as crews work to clean up.  No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Salt Lake City, UT – Suspected arson fire at University of Utah fraternity is contained by sprinkler system

Fires at two fraternity houses at University of Utah are being investigated as arson, Salt Lake City Fire officials said Friday morning.  At about 4:13 a.m., fire crews arrived on scene at the Pi Kappa Alpha house, 1431 E. 100 South, to find a fire on the third floor.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and kept it contained to one area of the house, which caused damage in the game room, according to a press release from SLC Fire.  Just 18 minutes later, SLC Fire crews responded to the Beta Theta Pi house, 70 S. Wolcott St., on a report of a fire in the basement laundry room.

When firefighters arrived, they found the sprinkler system had kept the small fire under control, the release indicated. Crews then quickly extinguished the remaining flames. Officials say the fires are likely connected. Both fires are currently under investigation. No injuries were reported at either incident.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential High Rise

Pikeville, KY – Fire at residential high-rise for elderly and disabled extinguished by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system quickly extinguished a fire at the Myers Towers apartments on the 700 block of Hambley Boulevard.  The fire started sometime around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the 9th floor of the apartment building.  When the Pikeville Fire Department arrived, they found a small fire in one of the apartments but the sprinkler system had knocked it down.

PFD and Pikeville Police evacuated the apartment building, which houses the elderly and disabled in 200 units, while crews searched for the fire.  There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation

Other-Government/Military

Yuma, AZ – Sprinklers knock down fire at Department of Transportation garage

On Wednesday, just after 8:30 pm, the smell of smoke was reported in the 2100 block of east Gila Ridge Road. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived in the area and began to search for the source. A short time later smoke was found to be coming from a garage in the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) yard at 2165 east Gila Ridge Road.

Firefighters gained access to the locked garage and found an ADOT utility truck on fire inside. The fire had mostly been knocked down by the fire suppression sprinkler system inside the garage. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire and confirmed it had not spread further. Damage was limited to the vehicle and to sections of the garage directly above the truck. Several other vehicles, as well as additional tools and equipment, were undamaged. Fire investigators believe the fire originated in some equipment on the utility truck. The fire is not considered to have been intentionally set.

Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to personal property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat (155 degrees for a residential sprinkler) activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Goodyear, AZ – Fire at Walgreens store put out by single sprinkler

Officials believe a photocopier is to blame for the fire that started at a Walgreens in Goodyear Wednesday morning, according to the Goodyear Fire Department.  Crews were dispatched to a fire at a Walgreens on Indian School and Litchfield roads at about 3:55 a.m. Wednesday, officials say. Firefighters originally reported smoke coming from an office in the back of the store, but a single sprinkler head from the automatic fire sprinkler system managed to put the fire out.

The fire did not extend to any part of the store and was under control by 4:09 a.m., according to officials.  Three employees and three customers were in the store when the fire broke out, but self evacuated after the building’s fire alarm warned them, according to Goodyear firefighters.

No one was hurt. Firefighters believe the fire originated from a photocopier in the office, but investigators are continuing the investigation at this time. Twenty-eight fire personnel responded to the incident, and crews remained on scene for about an hour to help with water and smoke removal, according to officials. It was not immediately clear when the store would reopen.