All posts by viking210

Other - Retail, Retail

California, MD – Christmas day fire at Lowes store put out by sprinkler system

On Thursday, December 25, 2014, at approximately 12:45 p.m., firefighters from Bay District VFD, Hollywood VFD and the Naval District Patuxent River Fire Department were alerted to report of a commercial fire at 45075 Worth Avenue, in California.

Crews arrived on scene at Lowes Home Improvement to discover an audible fire alarm and heavy smoke inside the building. The firefighter’s made entry to the building and discovered the damage.

The accidental fire began in a trash container located in an aisle of the store. The fire extended to nearby foam sheets and plywood which resulted in the activation of the sprinkler system which quickly extinguished the fire.

There was no structural damage to the building and the damage was limited to approximately $10,000 worth of merchandise.  No injuries were reported. Maryland State Fire Marshall’s were called to the scene and continue to investigate.

Apartment Building, Residential

Herriman, UT – Mattress fire extinguished by sprinkler system at apartment complex

The fire happened at the Farm Gate Apartments just after 3 p.m. Friday.  Officials with the Unified Fire Authority say a mattress caught fire. The sprinkler system put out the fire but caused water damage to one or two units.  At least one family was forced out of their apartment and two people were being checked for smoke inhalation.

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Baltimore, MD – Fire at Maryland State Police data center contained by sprinklers

State troopers in barracks across Maryland were left without access to central crime databases on Friday morning temporarily after a small fire in a generator room at Maryland State Police headquarters caused a power outage and knocked the data center offline.

When the fire occurred, a sprinkler system turned on, the main generator stopped functioning and power was cut off, Russo said. The data center computers are housed in a separate building from the generators, and were not damaged, she said.  No foul play was expected.

 Individual barracks did not lose power and retained access to their own computer systems, said Elena Russo, a police spokeswoman. The state police website was not accessible for several hours. Power had been restored as of Friday afternoon.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Grand Junction, CO – Sprinkler system saves hospital services building from further fire damage

A fire alarm went off at the Omni Hospital Services building on 475 28 1/4 Road in Grand Junction just before 8:30 PM on Christmas night dispatching the Grand Junction Fire Department to the area.

According to the fire department, smoke was in the building setting off the sprinkler system.  (Blog Editor’s Note – Smoke cannot activate a sprinkler system.  Only the substantial heat from a significant fire)

When crews got to the building they extinguished the fire. A laundry bin in the structure is what is being looked at as the cause of the fire. Fire crews stayed to clean up and help the business get back in service.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Lincolnshire, IL – Christmas day fire at restaurant controlled by sprinkler system

No one was injured, but many Christmas dinner plans were altered by a small kitchen fire at Wildfire Steaks, Chops & Seafood restaurant in Lincolnshire around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Nemeth said the restaurant, at 235 Parkway Drive in Lincolnshire, will be back in business during its regular hours on Friday.

Batalian Chief Scott Knesley with the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District said the kitchen’s sprinkler systems put out most of the fire before fire crews arrived on the scene. He said firefighters had to take apart some of the duct system by the stove and oven to extinguish the rest of the blaze.

Knesley said everyone evacuated the building properly and no one was hurt.  “All of the employees did a great job,” Knesley said. Wildfire will be open from 11:15 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Amherst, NY – Sprinkler system quickly contains Christmas night fire at nursing home

Three people are recovering Friday morning after a small fire at a nursing home in Amherst Thursday night.  Catholic Health officials said an overheated motor on an electric wheelchair sparked a small fire.Fire crews arrived at Saint Francis nursing home in Amherst around 9 p.m. Thursday.  They said smoke started pouring from a wheelchair in a vacant room.  The sprinkler system kicked in, and the fire was quickly contained. Neighboring fire companies were called to help move the patients.  Medical personnel checked out 45 people. Two patients and one worker were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. “Most of the residents were not affected by the smoke, but the ones in that area were moved to another part of the building,” JoAnn Cavanaugh, Catholic Health Director of Public Relations. “We have other empty beds in the facility that they will spend the night until we can clear out the rooms from the water and the smoke.”

College/University (on campus), School / University

Piscataway, NJ – Arson fire at Rutgers University put out by sprinkler system

The investigation determined that a former student set fire to a 30-foot section of the hallway and the adjoining classroom on the second floor of the ARC Building at 1:03 p.m. on Dec. 20. 

The fire was extinguished by an overhead sprinkler, but damaged portions of the hallway and the classroom.  The flash fire also set off an alarm, forcing the evacuation of 210 students who were taking a final exam in a first-floor auditorium located beneath the burning hallway.  No one was injured.

 

Residential, Residential High Rise

Chicago, IL – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) High-rise condominium fire controlled by sprinklers

*** No Media Coverage – Contractor Reported ***   – A grease fire on an electric stove in an interior one-bedroom condo on the 23rd floor started on Saturday evening (12/20/14).  The owner attempted to extinguish it with a towel, but it didn’t work.  A sprinkler operated and controlled the fire. The building is located at 1629 S Prairie in downtown Chicago ( Adler Place, formerly called 1600 Museum Park)

Other - Retail, Retail

Richmond, VA – Christmas eve fire at clothing store extinguished by sprinkler system

Avenue, a women’s clothing store, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after Henrico Fire crews responded to a fire inside the store located at 9077 Staples Mill Road.  Henrico Fire Battalion Chief Eugene Gerald said it appeared the fire started at about 1:04 p.m. in the “main part” of the store.  The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

“Inside the Avenue clothing store fire crews found a small fire that had been extinguished by the stores sprinkler system,” Henrico Fire spokesman Danny Rosenbaum said.”  No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

“The fire is currently under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office,” Capt. Rosenbaum said.  Management at Avenue clothing store said they hoped to re-open the store on Friday.