Category Archives: Hotel / Restaurant

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Wichita, KS – Cooking fire at high-rise hotel extinguished by sprinkler system

The Wichita Fire Department was busy early Tuesday evening. Fire crews were called out to a high-rise building fire at the Value Place Hotel in the 3400 hundred block of N. Great Plains, near K-96 and Oliver around 6:45 p.m.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Troy, MI – Fire at Korean barbecue restaurant stopped by single sprinkler head

A fire inside the Korean BBQ Dae Jang Keum at 2947 E. Big Beaver demonstrated the importance of commercial sprinkler systems.  According to Assistant Fire Chief Chuck Riesterer the fire was reported at 9:21 pm.

“Upon arrival, firefighters reported that the fire sprinkler system was active, all occupants were out of the building and that the fire had been extinguished. The fire was located in the Korean BBQ restaurant at the west end of this large, one-story strip mall,” Riesterer said.  “Firefighters turned off the water flowing from the sprinkler system. The fire sprinkler system contained the fire damage to the immediate area.  No extension was found in the adjoining spaces. Damage was located in a small dining area in the restaurant. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Damage estimates are incomplete at this time.”

Sprinklers are not required in all restaurants, but because Dae Jang Keum was located in a large strip mall it was necessary.

“The requirement for sprinklers comes from the Michigan Building Code, which is based upon the International Code Council’s Building Code,” Riesterer said.  Factors include height and area limitations, type of materials in the building and the ease of occupant egress.

“The fire was contained to the one space, and only one sprinkler head was used to contain the fire. Had the fire sprinkler system not been in place, patrons may have been injured, and a more severe impact to the community would have been felt with the possible loss of several businesses.  As it is, with a small amount of clean up, Dae Jang Keum should be open for business this week, if not already.”

The benefits of sprinkler systems have been well-documented, including by demonstrations in Rochester Hills and Ferndale.

Watch video of a side by side burn demo with a sprinkler system at http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/11/22/burn-demo-shows-value-of-residential-sprinklers-video/.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Madison, WI – Overnight restaurant fire contained by sprinkler system; Business reopens next day

An automatic sprinkler system saved a Downtown restaurant from significant damage after a kitchen fire early Wednesday. Aichan Weng, who goes by “Wendy,” said she should have her restaurant, Dragon I, 422 State St., back open by 2 p.m. Thursday after meeting with her insurance adjuster and the city health department. 

Her insurance agent Brad Dillman of Dillman Insurance said Weng just needs to replace a sprinkler head and clean up a bit.   A passerby noticed a fire inside Dragon I just after 12:30 a.m. and called 911, said fire department spokesperson Cynthia Schuster. The caller said the fire was in the back kitchen and that the sprinkler system had already been activated.

Upon arrival, firefighters saw the fire and broke a glass door to enter the restaurant, Schuster said in a release.  In the kitchen, they found a large pot with something burning inside and around it. They believe what was burning was a plastic cutting board laid on top of the pot while the stove burner was still set on “low,” she said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, and turned off the burner and the automatic sprinklers. “Fire damage had been well contained thanks to the automatic sprinkler,” Schuster said, adding that there was no water damage to the restaurant because of a floor drain under the activated sprinkler head.

Weng, who also owns Ichiban on Park Street, bought Dragon I in 2014 from Ray Sze, who also used to own Nam’s Noodle restaurant on Regent Street.  She said she couldn’t yet put a price tag on any damage to the restaurant. “It’s no big deal,” she said. “It’s so lucky there are no big problems.”

The 4-year-old Dragon I serves all types of Southeast Asian cuisine: Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian. It also offers some Korean, Japanese and Chinese selections. 

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.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system extinguishes kitchen fire at Aria Hotel

One person suffered smoke inhalation after a fire Wednesday night on the second floor of the Aria Hotel.

Crews were notified around 10:05 p.m. about the alert at the hotel on 3750 Las Vegas Blvd. South, according to a Clark County Fire Department news release. The response included five engines, two truck companies, four rescue units and two battalion chiefs.

The fire was located in a second-floor kitchen. Crews reported the sprinkler system had activated and that the fire was out. Further investigation revealed the fire had been in large dishwashing machine.

The fire was contained to the machine, and there was no extension or damage to the structure itself.

A damage estimate has not been made.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Las Vegas, NV – Restaurant kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

An automatic fire sprinkler system doused a stove fire in a Centennial Hills restaurant Sunday morning. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue said damage was kept to a minimum and there were no reported injuries.

Fire dispatchers received several 911 calls at 10:35 a.m. Sunday that flames and smoke were showing from the roof of the Fire Rock restaurant at 5990 Centennial Center Blvd., near U.S. 95. On arrival, only a haze was showing on the inside of the one-story building. Firefighters discovered there was a fire on the stove, flames and smoke extended up the exhaust pipe from the vent hood over the stove to the roof.

The fire on the stove was extinguished by automatic fire sprinklers. The flames went up the vent pipe to the roof and damaged an air conditioner and some of the roof decking. The restaurant is closed and will remain closed until repairs are made and an inspection is completed by the health department.

A damage estimate was not immediately available.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Unalaska, AK – Laundry fire at Grand Aleutian Hotel extinguished with help from sprinkler system

The Unalaska Department of Public Safety responded to a fire in the laundry room of the Grand Aleutian Hotel yesterday evening. The 911 call was received shortly before 5 o’clock, and a fire truck was on the scene within 6 minutes.

Deputy Chief Jennifer Shockley said responders found an active fire and black smoke. The building’s sprinkler system had been activated.  “They were able to get in there, determine that the source of the fire was a large commercial dryer, and get the fire put out,” she said. “I want to say the fire was extinguished in less than 10 minutes after they arrived.”

The fire was contained to the laundry room and did not spread anywhere else in the building. Shockley says that water and smoke damage appear to be limited to the laundry room and the surrounding area.

A staff member trained in arson investigation has inspected the scene, and Shockley says there is no reason to believe the fire was anything but an accident.

Hotel guests and staff were already being evacuated when responders arrived, and the emergency response was quick and effective. “It was a rapid response on our part,” Shockley said. “The fire got extinguished rapidly. The hotel had done the things that they needed to do in terms of getting the evacuation started. That’s great, it says really good things about the Grand Aleutian staff and dealing with a fire alarm.”

Of the eight fire and EMS responders at the scene, Shockley especially thanked the six who were volunteers from the community.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Salisbury, MD – Sprinklers contain overnight fire at LaQuinta Inn & Suites; No injuries reported

An early Thursday morning fire at the LaQuinta Inn & Suites in Salisbury forced the evacuation of hundreds of people, authorities said.  According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire broke out at around 1 a.m. in the kitchen storage area of the hotel, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd.

An automatic fire alarm went off and a fire sprinkler activated, according to investigators. It took 20 firefighters from the Salisbury Fire Department approximately half an hour to get the blaze under control. However, authorities said the sprinkler activation contained the fire to the area of origin.

There were no reported injuries. The fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damage to the structure and another $500 in damage to its contents.  Authorities ruled the fire accidental and said it was caused by the spontaneous combustion of dish towels. 

The hotel was at full capacity at the time of the fire with several hundred occupants, according to Salisbury Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Records. Records also mentioned that many of the people at the hotel were there because of the USSSA softball tournament happening in Salisbury this week. Just about everyone evacuated the hotel on their own without any incidents, but Records said firefighters doing a sweep from room to room had to escort a handful of people, and a few dogs, out of the hotel.

Everyone was let back inside the hotel by around 2:30 a.m. Records added that the hotel would not be serving its usual continental breakfast Thursday morning as the kitchen would remain closed until the Health Department could come to expect it.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Harwich, MA – Fire at Cape Cod resort doused by sprinkler system

Shortly before 2 p.m., Harwich Fire-Rescue responded to a fire alarm from The Wequassett Resort & Golf Club on Route 28. While enroute, additional information was received of a possible kitchen fire at The Twenty Eight Atlantic Restaurant located at the Resort, which upgraded the alarm to a line box including apparatus and firefighters from Chatham and Brewster Fire. Upon arrival Harwich Firefighters found the fire in the kitchen had been contained by sprinklers, thus averting a potentially serious situation, and downgraded the response to a first alarm assignment, canceling the incoming additional towns.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it appeared that aerosol cans stored too close to a heat source ignited which activated the sprinkler and alarm system. Firefighters stretched a single hand-line as a precaution and removed the box of aerosol cans and a commercial oven to the outside of the structure. The fire scene was secured and turned back to the Resort with all units clearing within the hour.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Spartanburg, SC – Sprinkler system activates after explosion at Sleep Inn motel

Several fire department were called to a motel Saturday night after reports of an explosion that came from one of the rooms,the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said.

County dispatchers said crews were called out to the Sleep Inn on South Blackstock Road in Spartanburg County just after 6 p.m.

Deputies said the motel was evacuated and the house sprinkler system was activated.

The cause of the explosion is unknown at this time, and deputies said there is no indication it was a result of a meth lab, officials said.

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation.