Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Petaluma, CA – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Elderly couple and daughter escape without injury

A small kitchen fire Friday displaced a Petaluma couple from their apartment at a senior living complex, fire officials said. An oiled pan heating on the stovetop was left unattended and caught fire about 12:15 p.m. at the Vintage Chateau Senior Apartments on North McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Schach said.  The fire triggered the sprinkler system in the second-floor apartment. The water extinguished the fire and caused some flooding in the unit and ceiling damage to the first-floor apartment below.   Three people were home at the time of the fire, an elderly couple and their daughter, but no one was injured, Schach said. The unit sustained water damage and the residents would be displaced for several days, Schach said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hagerstown, MD – Sprinkler system activates in overnight apartment fire giving residents opportunity to escape

A Monday morning fire that displaced 46 residents at Cortland Apartments in the North End of Hagerstown started on the balcony of one of the apartments, according to Hagerstown Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven. DeHaven said in a news release Tuesday afternoon that the fire traveled up the exterior of the the building and into an attic area.  Although fire walls in the attic and between the apartments contained most of the damage to one corner of the building, the blaze caused significant damage to apartments Nos. 2, 6 and 10, he said.

An investigation determined that the building had functional sprinkler, fire-alarm and smoke-alarm systems, the release said. The sprinkler system was activated when balcony windows cracked from the heat, allowing the fire to extend into the apartments, DeHaven said.  But the activation of the sprinkler system, along with the fire alarm, gave residents enough time to escape, he said.

Bob Rhodes, the complex’s manager, said that three of the 12 units in the building sustained heavy damage. It is too early to determine whether the structure will be razed or rebuilt because fire and insurance inspectors were still assessing the damage, he said.  All 61 of the residents and pets who were displaced by the fire at the apartments at 12911 Little Elliott Drive have been given places to stay until they find more permanent accommodations.  Korri Faria, disaster program manager for the Red Cross of Western Maryland, said the 46 residents who were displaced by the fire are staying in hotels, or with family or friends.  “We were on scene to make sure everyone has a place to stay for a few days,” she said.

Faria said all of the hotel rooms are being paid for by the Red Cross, which also provided the victims with cards to buy food, clothing and other essentials they might need. The Red Cross also helped to replace medications that were destroyed in the fire, which was reported shortly after 5 a.m.  In addition to the residents, the two-alarm blaze displaced 15 pets.  Crystal Mowery, field service director for the Humane Society of Washington County, said a majority of the pets stayed with their owners, but one cat and one dog were taken to the humane society shortly after the fire.  Another dog was taken there later that day.  “We are housing the animals at no charge until (the victims) find a place for them,” she said.  To her knowledge, Mowery said none of the pets perished in the fire. A single cat escaped, but it has not been accounted found.

Apartment Building, Residential

St. George, UT – Nighttime fire at apartment complex put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

Residents of an apartment complex in St. George were evacuated after a fire ignited in a single unoccupied unit Sunday night. St. George Fire Department responded to the fire just before 11 p.m. when an alarm system sounded in an apartment complex at Red Rock Ridge, 344 S. 1990 East.  Officers from St. George Police Department who arrived initially found the smoke coming from the unit and its sprinkler system activated, Fire Battalion Chief Ken Guard said.

“Sprinkler system put the fire out,” Guard said. The unit is unrented and no one was occupying it at the time of the fire.  Residents were evacuated from surrounding units as a precaution. No one was injured.  Gold Cross Ambulance also responded as a precaution.

“At this time we’re investigating the cause of the fire,” Guard said. Several police officers were on hand helping with the investigation and taking statements from residents.  Though surrounding units were temporarily evacuated, Guard said he expects none would be displaced.  Water permeated the unit where the fire started, with some of it reaching two other surrounding units.  Firefighters shut off and reset the sprinkler system then performed some minor cleanup of the water damage.

Guard estimated that the damage would run approximately $2,000 at the time this report was taken, noting that it could be higher depending on how quickly the damage is addressed. “We vacated as much as the water as we possibly could, and it’s just a matter of how quickly they get a restoration company on top of it,” Guard said. “As far as I see right now, a couple thousand dollars.”  This report is based on preliminary information provided by emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baxter, MN – Balcony fire at senior apartment complex controlled with help from sprinkler system

Passing motorists on Excelsior Road saw flames on a third-floor deck of a senior apartment complex Friday morning, alerting emergency responders to the Autumn Glenn complex in Baxter. The fire was reported about 7:20 a.m.  At the scene, Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted said residents on the third floor were evacuated as a precaution. Many had multiple questions as they were temporarily relocated. The 50-unit apartment building has about 16 units on each floor.

Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said the fire was contained to the deck but flames were climbing the wall and around the glass deck door, as well as a window when he arrived on scene. Holmes got the call when he just blocks away from the building. He said deck sprinkler played an important role in keeping the fire contained. The woman living in the apartment was also working to put the fire using a container or bowl filled with water when firefighters arrived. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

The deck remained secure to walk on, Holmes said. Siding was removed around the deck. The torn aqua-colored barrier wrap, formerly underneath the siding, flapped in the morning breeze. The area around the deck doors was charred black and holes were cut above the deck to access the attic. Holiday decorations hung from the deck rail, trailing down to lower floors.

The second floor resident’s deck just below the fire, complete with chairs and potted plant, appeared undisturbed. No injuries were reported. Karen Struthers, community manager for Autumn Glenn, said all the residents were fine. She said the apartment occupant was with family and the complex residents would now have conversation fodder for the weekend. It was too early to determine the extent of the damage in terms of a dollar amount, Struthers said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX (No Media Coverage) – Sprinkler system tackles apartment fire caused by unattended candle

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE***  The Farmers Branch Fire Department responded to a residential apartment fire on June 3, 2017 at 4030 Valley View, Building 10, Apt #245 at 3:55 pm. The fire started in a bedroom while the occupant stepped out for a few minutes. . A candle was left unattended and ignited some tapestries hanging from the ceiling. The tapestries burned along the ceiling. The sprinkler system activated (1 head) and suppressed the fire. The other roommate was in another bedroom sleeping and was awakened by the smoke alarm and waterflow alarm. When he stepped out of his bedroom, he noticed the sprinkler system spraying water on the burning tapestries. He exited without incident. Other roommate returned 10 minutes later when fire department was already on scene and realized he left the candle burning.

Apartment Building, Residential

Maryville, TN – Grease fire in sixth floor apartment put out by sprinkler system

Residents of Maryville Towers said they were able to return to their apartments Friday night after being evacuated earlier in the evening because of a grease fire on the top floor.  The apartment complex, located at 220 McGhee St., Maryville, was partially evacuated around 6 p.m. after a grease fire started on the sixth floor.

Firefighters said they responded to the building at 5:46 p.m. While the sprinkler system extinguished the fire, the water continued to run until authorities were able to locate a valve to turn it off. That was done around 6:25 p.m.

Maryville Fire Capt. Mike Davis said about 63 apartments were evacuated. No injuries were reported.  Residents told The Daily Times on Saturday they were allowed back into their apartments Friday between 10:30 and 11 p.m. They said a Maryville Housing Authority maintenance crew had to clean up several flooded apartments.  Davis said apartments all the way to the ground floor sustained water damage.

Dianna McCullough was one of the ground floor residents who had flooding in her apartment. She said workers did a good job cleaning up. “It was flooded all the way to the bathroom,” McCullough said. “… They did a really good job coming in and helping.”

McCullough said there were at least four people mopping up her apartment.

Firefighters said the fire started in apartment 618. Residents said everyone, including the male occupant of 618, was able to return to their apartments.

Davis said 15 firefighters and seven trucks from the Maryville and Alcoa fire departments responded. The Maryville Police Department, American Medical Response ambulance service and Blount County Rescue Squad also responded.

Davis said firefighters remained on scene until around 8 p.m.

Apartment Building, Residential

Orange, TX – Sprinkler system helps extinguish apartment fire after resident falls asleep while cooking

On Tuesday night, May 23, 2017 shortly after 9 p.m., the City of Orange Fire Department responded to 1010 State Highway 87 for a report of a apartment fire. Upon fire fighters arrival the fire was out in the single apartment. It appears the lady in the apartment was cooking and fell asleep. She managed to get the fire out along with the sprinkler system that was activated due to the smoke. The victim was treated at the scene by Acadian Ambulance Personnel and suffered minor injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

Oklahoma City, OK – Firefighters say sprinkler system helped halt apartment fire; woman and child safely evacuated

Firefighters say a sprinkler system at an apartment complex helped put out a potentially dangerous fire.

Fire crews were called to the scene around 3 a.m. near I-240 and Penn.

Officials say a woman called saying her door was on fire and that her and her daughter were trapped inside.

OKCFD crews say the sprinkler system put out that fire and crews were able to rescue the woman and the child.

Multiple apartments in the complex were evacuated. There were no injuries to report.

Right now, the fire is considered suspicious and arson investigators were on-scene.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Hinton, WV – No injuries in senior apartment fire controlled with help from sprinkler system

Fire departments in Summers County responded to a fire Monday afternoon at Hinton House Apartments on Stokes Drive.  Steve Pack, Assistant Fire Chief of Hinton Fire Department, said the fire erupted in a kitchen on the fifth floor of the building, and is believed to have started because of an issue with an electric stove. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is still investigating. 

When the sprinkler system kicked on and put out the fire, it caused flooding to the lower floors along with residents’ carpet, ceilings and several other areas throughout the building.  Many residents were able to be housed with friends and family, but the local senior citizen center has been housing residents as well.

Red Cross has been providing those affected by the fire with blankets, food and cots.  Stephanie Elkins, property manager for the Hinton House, said they are hoping to open up the half of the building that was not damaged, but inspections are still being completed.   “I wish I could bring all of these people home tomorrow, but sadly I am still unsure of when I will be able to do that,” said Elkins.   Officials are working on reopening Hinton House, but it may be a substantial amount of time before the whole residence opens up its doors again.  A time frame is still unknown. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Arlington, VA – Apartment fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Arlington County firefighters are on scene of an apartment fire in the Long Bridge Creek neighborhood.  The fire was reported in the bedroom of an apartment on the 2600 block of S. Veitch Street around 8:45 a.m. It was extinguished within 10 minutes of firefighters arriving on scene, before it could spread to other apartments. No injuries were reported. Scanner traffic suggests the building’s sprinkler system was activated by the fire.  The fire marshal’s office is now investigating the cause of the blaze.