Category Archives: Apartment Building

Rockford, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire in historic apartment building; No injuries reported

Eight residents need temporary housing after a fire broke out in the historic Faust Landmark apartment building.

Firefighters received an alarm call from the building at 630 E. State St. around 9:20 p.m. Monday. Investigators in the fire department say the flames started in a 10th floor bedroom. The sprinkler system contained the flames until crews arrived to extinguish the rest.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. They estimate the damage at $5,000. No one was injured in this incident, and the Red Cross is helping the residents find a place to stay.

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system extinguishes kitchen fire at apartment complex

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to an apartment fire, only to find that a fire sprinkler head had extinguished the fire.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at approximately 6:17pm at Cielo Verde Apartments, near the Walmart on S. Avenue 8E.

After responding to a fire alarm, YFD confirmed that the fire sprinkler head had activated and put out the fire near the stove.

YFD also said that there were two people inside the apartment and both were able to safely evacuate the apartment. Additionally, they said that the cause of the fire started when a pan was left on the stove.

Fortunately, the fire damage was minimal due to the fire sprinkler head, according to YFD.

Naperville, IL – Sprinkler system activated for residential kitchen fire; No injuries reported

At 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday February 8th, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received an alarm on their board for an activated fire alarm in the 1800 block of North Naperville Road. Naperville 911(PSAP) dispatched a general alarm assignment consisting of 10 pieces of fire apparatus and 24 personnel including an Incident Commander and Incident Safety Officer to the reported address. 

At 1:45 a.m. the first vehicle arrived on scene and noted many of the occupants were in the process of evacuating. As the crews began investigating the alarm, they encountered light smoke and an activated sprinkler head in the kitchen. Fire companies located a trash can that was burning in the cooking area. The sprinkler system kept the fire in check until it could be fully extinguished by fire service personnel. At 1:52 a.m. the fire was fully extinguished. Crews remained on the scene another 30 minutes assisting the building management with the sprinkler system.  

The cause is fire was ruled accidental.  There were no injuries to any occupants or firefighters while operating on scene and the building was deemed to be habitable, however, the kitchen will remain closed until it can be inspected by county health department The fire is estimated to have caused less than $500 in damages.

College Station, TX – Sprinkler system activated for fire caused by electric skateboard battery

Several residents at a College Station apartment complex were temporarily displaced after a fire Monday night.

A resident at the Woodlands of College Station complex on Harvey Mitchell Parkway called 911 around 8:30 p.m. after he heard a pop in his bedroom, according to a College Station Fire Department spokesman.

A fire started to spread into a bedroom wall, but the sprinkler system kept the flames from spreading until firefighters arrived.

The College Station Fire Department said an electric skateboard battery caused the fire.

Clarkesville, GA – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire in apartment

Investigators say a cat is the cause of an apartment fire that occurred Sunday afternoon in Clarkesville.

Clarkesville Fire Department along with other emergency services was called to the Cameron Apartments at 3:10 p.m. for a fire alarm.

According to the release, when fire crews arrived they forced entry into the apartment and found smoke with one sprinkler turned on.

The sprinkler system was reportedly able to put out the fire in the kitchen area. Firefighters were able to contain the fire in the apartment. Officials say the fire did not spread throughout the building or to other apartments.

During the investigation, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire was caused by a cat that was inside the apartment.

The cat allegedly jumped on the refrigerator and knocked a bag off, onto the toaster.

Clarkesville Fire Chief Jason Poole said the cat in question had a history of jumping on the counter to get on top of the refrigerator.

The residents were not home at the time of the fire and all the pets in the apartment were saved by the firefighters.

Richland, WA – Sprinkler system activated for possible arson fire at senior citizen apartment complex

Richland Fire and Police were dispatched to the Tri-Cities Terrace Apartments around 2:30 a.m. on January 24 for a fire alarm.

Residents of the apartment complex for senior citizens reported seeing smoke and flames.

According to an RPD press release the sprinkler system in the building did its job and prevented the fire from spreading. Most of the damage from the incident was from the sprinklers rather than fire.

67 residents were either evacuated or sheltered-in-place. One resident was transported to the hospital for a medical evaluation according to today’s press release.

The Richland Fire Marshal Investigator and the RPD Arson Investigator are working to determine the cause of the fire. Multiple suspicious fires were reportedly lit in the building. There are currently no suspects.

Chesterfield, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

At least 10 people, possibly more, are looking for another place to sleep tonight after an apartment fire in Chesterfield.

Officials say at 6:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to the Colony Village Apartments. When they arrived, they found heavy smoke pouring out two third-floor windows. Crews say, luckily, the building’s sprinkler system was fully operational and put out most of the fire before they got there.

The fire was marked entirely under control just after 7 p.m.

10-12 people have been displaced, possibly more if water from the third floor trickles down to the other two levels.

There were no injuries whatsoever.

Gardiner, ME – Sprinkler system activated for fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

A small fire that started in a Maine Avenue apartment Monday shortly before 5 a.m. was put out by the building’s sprinkler system.

Gardiner Fire Chief Rick Sieberg said the tenant in the third-floor apartment apparently knocked into a stove, turning on a burner that ignited some nearby paper products and caused a small fire up the wall, which activated the sprinkler head.

The Maine Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.

“Having that sprinkler system is like having the fire department in your apartment 24/7,” Sieberg said. “The amount of property and lives that can be saved by that sprinkler system is enormous.”

Sieberg said the Gardiner firefighters who responded turned off the sprinkler.

This is the third time in the last decade the sprinkler system has extinguished a fire in that building, which is located several hundred feet from the site of a fire in July 2015 that destroyed 235 Water St. and damaged buildings on either side of it.

Sieberg said damage to the unit was minor, and no other unit was affected. No one was hurt.

Niagra Falls, NY – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building

On Dec. 30, at 6:23 p.m., the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office communications center received a fire alarm from the Wheatfield Towers Apartment Building. The fire alarm was followed by a water flow alarm from the same location.

The first arriving unit was Deputy Tighe from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, who confirmed a large amount of water coming from the second floor, and smoke in the building. Deputy Tighe made his way to the second floor and confirmed a fire in apartment 210. He immediately radioed for additional units and began evacuating residents.

Additional responding units arrived and assisted with the evacuation of the building’s residents. Responding fire companies arrived and continued with the evacuation and extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to apartment 210 – where it originated – due to the building’s sprinkler system.

The American Red Cross responded to assist with displaced residents.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing by the Niagara County Origin and Cause Team. There is no estimate on damages at this time.

Ann Arbor, MI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

Fire crews in Ann Arbor are crediting a sprinkler system preventing a fire from causing significant damage.

According to authorities, the fire happened Saturday night at an apartment complex on Lyndenglen Drive. The Ann Arbor Fire Department said the fire was caused by hot ashes being placed on a wood pile on an outside balcony.

The damage to the apartment complex is estimated to be $5,000. Authorities said without the sprinkler, the fire would have made it into the attic before fire crews arrived.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department said any ash removed from a fireplace should be placed in a steel container with a lid and cooled for at least 24 hours. The container should never be inside, on a wooden porch, deck or balcony and needs to be placed at least 10 feet away from any structure to cool.