All posts by viking210

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Pasadena, CA – Fire at plastics plant extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

A small fire broke out at a high-tech plastics company Tuesday evening, prompting a hazardous materials investigation. No one was injured. The building’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire within about 10 minutes.

Around 6:20 p.m., a small explosion at the Materia facility located at 89 N. San Gabriel Blvd. caused the fire, which was contained to a heating device in the building, said Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. The device is used to heat plastic materials, Derderian said. “There was a light odor for a small amount of time but our specialists determined there was no hazard,” she said. Fire officials remained on scene until about 7:50 p.m. to restore the system. Twelve employees were inside the building when the fire started and safely evacuated, Derderian said. Fire officials did not have a damage estimate Tuesday night.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

North East, MD – Overnight fire at high school contained to mechanical room by sprinkler system

**NO MEDIA COVERAGE – State Fire Marshal Report** — On March 18, 2015 around 2:48 am, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested for a fire at Rising Sun High School. Rising Sun High is a two story, brick educational facility located at 100 Tiger Drive in Rising Sun of Cecil County.  Approximately 30 firefighters from Rising Sun, Northeast and Oxford (PA) responded and extinguished the fire within 20 minutes. Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire to have originated in the mechanical room of the school due to an electrical malfunction. The high school was protected by a working fire alarm which alerted the local fire departments quickly. The sprinkler system was also activated, which contained the fire to the mechanical room. There was no structure damage due to the fire.

Other - Retail, Retail

Tampa, FL – Fire at pawn shop controlled with help from sprinkler systems

Tampa fire rescue responded to an automatic fire alarm at 4910 East Busch Blvd, Value Pawn and Jewelry. Upon arrival firefighter saw heavy smoke coming from the roof of the single story commercial building. Firefighters entered the building with a hose line and found the automatic sprinkler system working.

The fire was under control at 4:25. The fire initially appears to have originated in the attic area of the building.  Fire Marshal’s Investigators are on scene to determine the cause and source of the fire. There were no injuries.

Other-Government/Military

Agawam, MA – Sprinklers help put out fire at Department of Public Works garage

A fire broke out Saturday morning at the Department of Public Works building on Suffield Street.  Agawam Fire Chief Alan Sirois told WGGB that one of the trucks caught fire, but firefighters extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes.  Sirois said damage to the building at 1000 Suffield Street was minimal.

Sirois told the news station that the building’s sprinkler system averted what could have amounted to millions of dollars in damage. The truck was a total loss, he added.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation but the building will be open on Monday morning.

Office Building, Other Business

North Hollywood, CA – Fire on ninth floor of high-rise office building extinguished by sprinkler system

A small fire on the ninth floor of an office building in the North Hollywood area last Wednesday was quickly extinguished by sprinklers,  authorities said.  The fire in the 4600 block of Lankershim Boulevard was reported about 7:30 a.m. and was already out when firefighters arrived, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

Other - Retail, Retail

Atwater, CA – Sprinklers protect neighboring businesses, help limit damage in fire at candle store

Flames were reported around 7:15 a.m. last Sunday at the business in the 1100 block of Bellevue Road, Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn said. Rahn said the fire apparently ignited when at least one candle was left burning overnight at the store. 

Fire-suppression sprinklers managed to keep the fire at bay, Rahn said, allowing firefighters to prevent it from spreading to neighboring businesses in the strip mall. Rahn said the suppression system helped save about $750,000 in property threatened by the fire in the complex. “It’s a good example of how those sprinklers can help,” Rahn said. 

Fourteen firefighters responded to the scene and were at the store for several hours. No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Romeo, MI – Fire at Ford engine plant contained with help from sprinkler system

The Ford Engine Plant in Romeo was evacuated Friday afternoon due to a fire that drew firefighters from seven local departments.  Capt. David Faulker of the Bruce-Romeo Fire Department said firefighters extinguished a blaze that started on machinery and spread to the ventilation system in a section of the plant.  Firefighters used fire hoses to spray water on flames from inside and the plant’s sprinkler system also activated.  There were no injuries. 

The fire was declared under control about 3:45 p.m.  Faulker said he could not speculate on the cause or amount of damage.  “It’s under investigation,” he said.  Ford officials could not be located to comment on whether production was scheduled to resume later in the night.

Apartment Building, Residential

Vancouver, WA – Mattress fire at new apartment complex contained by sprinkler system

A fire that started when a candle set a mattress ablaze damaged a Hazel Dell apartment Monday afternoon. The fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. at the ArdenWood Station Apartments, a new complex at 9517 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from two sides of a second-floor apartment in the middle floor of a three-story block of six units, said Sarah Walton, a spokeswoman for Clark County Fire District 6.

ArdenWood Station opened last year and is equipped with modern fire sprinklers and alarms. Both systems were triggered, limiting damage and alerting the neighbors, Walton said. The fire was quickly extinguished, but there was some smoke and water damage.

Four people live in the apartment but were not at home when the fire started, Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Susan Anderson said. The occupants have a dog, which was out running errands with them. A pet tarantula in the house was not harmed.  The Vancouver Fire Department assisted Fire District 6. In all, four engines responded.  Anderson determined that a lit candle set the mattress on fire.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Merrimack, NH – Fire at century-old mill building controlled by sprinkler system

On Friday, March 13, 2015, at 4:52 p.m. the Merrimack Fire Department was dispatched to 33 Elm St.  The crew found a fire in an area of the building being used as a furniture repair and refinishing shop.  The building sprinkler was keeping the fire from spreading but suppression crews were needed to fully extinguish the blaze as the sprinklers were being blocked by furnishings.

The building is an approximately 135,000 square foot three story mill building built in 1900. The building now houses multiple tenants including warehouse, retail store and light industrial uses.

The fire was declared under control at 5:49 p.m. and an extensive overhaul and ventilation of the building was begun. Damage to the building was moderate, with fire damage to a wall and contents of the shop as well as water damage to several areas. Crews ensured that all fire was extinguished and debris cleared from the area, and an investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted by the Fire Marshal. The building was turned back over to the owner and all fire personnel cleared at 8:02 p.m.

The fire cause was determined to be electrical, due to overloaded circuits and improper use of extension cords.  Mutual aid was received from a Nashua Fire Department Engine and Ladder, who assisted at the fire scene and a Manchester Fire Department Engine who covered Station 1. 

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Mansfield, MA – Sprinklers contain fire that started in tool room at lumber warehouse

The blaze was reported about 9 p.m. Saturday at National Lumber at 245 Oakland St., tying up local and area town firefighters for several hours. “The sprinkler system held the fire from spreading,” Deputy Fire Chief James Puleo said. That sprinkler system had to be shut off and the lumberyard hired a “fire watch” overnight.

“The cause is still under investigation, but we are leaning toward accidental,” Chief Puleo said, adding the town’s electrical inspector has ruled out an electrical cause. The fire was confined to a tool room inside the warehouse, Puleo said. The deputy fire chief estimated damage at a minimum of $20,000.