Category Archives: Apartment Building

Youngstown, OH – Fire on 15th floor of residential high-rise extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire on the 15th floor of the International Towers in downtown Youngstown resulted in the building’s evacuation Friday. Youngstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Ron Russo said the department first became aware of the fire shortly after 6 p.m. Russo was dispatched alongside a pair of fire engines to the scene. There were no injuries from the fire and no external damage to the building. When the firefighters arrived, the fire was already extinguished thanks to the building’s sprinkler system. The firefighters remained to help mop up the water and investigate the fire source. Though the official cause of the fire was not determined at the time of this report, Russo suggested it likely began due to clothing or other items accidentally igniting after coming into contact with a heat source, such as a furnace. A small number of residents said they experienced some water damage to their property due to the sprinklers, but the majority of the individuals evacuated expressed relief that no one was hurt and that the fire did not spread to other parts of the tower.

Appleton, WI – Sprinkler system puts out apartment fire; Adult and child escape unharmed

An automated sprinkler system is being credited with containing a fire at a 25-unit apartment complex in Appleton.  Firefighters say they were called to Wire Works Apartments, 601 E. Hancock St., just after 9:30 a.m. Thursday. When they arrived, firefighters saw light smoke in the courtyard outside one of the units. When they went in, crews saw that the apartment’s living room was filled with smoke, and a sprinkler was running. Investigation showed that the water from the sprinkler had put the fire out. Firefighters shut down the sprinkler system and helped remove smoke and water from the apartment.  When the fire started, one adult and one child were in the apartment. They got out safely and called 911.  Firefighters determined the fire began when a heat lamp tipped over onto some boxes.

Calgary, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system stops high-rise balcony fire from entering building; No injuries reported

Several floors of a southwest Calgary apartment building were evacuated Saturday night after a fire broke out on an upper storey balcony. Around 9:30 p.m., the Calgary Fire Department responded to several calls regarding visible flames coming off a balcony at the London Tower building in the 8000 block of Horton Road S.W.  Calgary Fire Department Battalion Chief Alistair Tobin said residents in units two floors above and two floors below the fire were evacuated and placed onto city transit buses.

No one was injured and fire crews managed to contain the fire and smoke damage to just one unit. “The sprinkler system worked perfect so it stopped the fire from entering the building much. The patio or the balcony was quite heavily damaged but the suite was protected by the sprinkler system,” Tobin said.  Tobin said residents of six units were not allowed back into their homes last night. Everyone else who was evacuated was permitted to re-enter the building after the fire department completed its air quality monitoring.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Poughkeepsie, NY – Early morning apartment fire put out with help from sprinkler system; Fire started in closet

An early morning apartment fire that began inside a closet was quickly put out with the help of a sprinkler system Monday, according to City of Poughkeepsie Fire Chief Mark Johnson. An automatic fire alarm at 4:15 a.m., shortly followed by a phone call, alerted firefighters to the fire at 150 Hudson Ave., Johnson said.  Once on scene, firefighters discovered a fire in a first-floor apartment. Firefighters were met with heavy smoke, and heat from the fire had caused the sprinkler system to activate. The sprinkler system helped contain the fire, according to Johnson.  The occupant of the apartment was not home at the time, Johnson said. No civilians or firefighters were injured.  Firefighters from the Arlington Fire District and the Fairview Fire District assisted at the scene. All fire personnel had left the scene by 5:40 a.m., Johnson said. The fire is believed to have started “in a clothing closet,” he said, and its cause is under investigation by police and fire investigators.

Council Bluffs, IA – Apartment fire put out by sprinkler system

One person was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries suffered in a Friday morning fire at a Council Bluffs apartment complex. Crews were called to the Deerfield Apartments in the 900 block of Franklin Avenue shortly after 7 a.m.  Investigators say the fire started inside an apartment and was put out by the sprinkler system before they arrived on scene.  There were four people inside the unit at the time. One of them was taken for treatment.  Authorities say there is water damage to the apartment in which the fire originated and additional water damage to the unit below.  There was no immediate word on the cause.

Austin, TX – Sprinkler system helps limit spread of 3rd floor apartment fire

At least 2 people were displaced after an overnight fire at a southeast Austin apartment complex. Firefighters say the sprinkler system helped contain the fire to a 3rd-Floor apartment.  According to the fire department, an improperly discarded cigarette triggered the fire. Damage is estimated to be $18.000.  None was injured during the incident, according to AFD.

Bellevue, WA – Sprinkler system helps contain first floor apartment fire; No injuries

A fire at an apartment building in Bellevue displaced seven people on Wednesday night, including five children. Bellevue firefighters responded to the blaze at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The fire was located in the kitchen of one of the apartments. The fire department reported the fire at a building along the 1000 block of Southeast 6th Street, which is about two blocks west of Bellevue Way.  The fire department reported that the sprinkler system in the building helped contain the fire.  The seven people displaced included children ages 3 to 15, the fire department said.

Hamden, CT – Fire at university apartment complex contained with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Three Quinnipiac University students in three apartments were displaced due to water damage after a kitchen fire in a student housing complex Tuesday evening, officials said. There were no injuries reported in the fire at the Whitney Village Quinnipiac University student housing complex at 3075 Whitney Ave.  The Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to the kitchen fire at 6:24 p.m. after being notified by the Quinnipiac security office.  Engine 5 arrived on scene at 6:26 p.m. and said students were already evacuating the building into the parking area, according to a released from the fire department. Light smoke was showing in the interior hallways and stairwell leading to the second-floor apartment, the release said.

Capt. Ed Evers reported a sprinkler activation in the kitchen of apartment six. Hamden firefighters confirmed the fire had been extinguished and checked for extension into the walls and attic area. Salvage work to contain the damage from water run-off and ventilation of the building followed, according to the release. Quinnipiac security and maintenance personnel were on scene to assist students. All three displaced students were successfully relocated by the university, officials said.

Hamden Fire Marshal Brian Dolan determined the fire ignited as a student resident was cooking on the stove top. The student attempted to control the fire with a hand-held extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. The resident in apartment six notified the building resident assistant of the fire, who in-turn notified QU security and the fire department, and assisted with the safe evacuation of students, fire officials said.

“Residential sprinkler systems, such as the one in place at this location, are an effective means of fire control and help to minimize structural damage,” fire officials said in the release. “When combined with an audible and monitored alarm system, residents have timely notification of incipient fires and a greater chance of safe building evacuation.” The Hamden Fire Marshal’s office and the Quinnipiac Safety Department work together in an on-going basis to maintain and inspect these important systems, officials said.  “We are grateful that there were no injuries reported,” Quinnipiac spokesman John Morgan said. “That is due in large part to the swift action by the Hamden Fire Department and the university’s public safety and facilities departments to extinguish the fire and contain the damage to the building, which has a fully functional fire-protection system. The three students affected by the fire have been reassigned to new units while the damaged units are being repaired.”

Passaic, NJ – Sprinklers credited with saving apartments after fire spread from neighboring warehouse

More than a dozen families were forced out of their homes after a warehouse fire spread to nearby apartments in Passaic, New Jersey. Cell phone video of the blaze, which broke out just after 10 p.m. Monday, shows flames and smoke billowing from the warehouse on First Street as it burned for three hours.  Passaic Mayor Hector Lora arrived on scene and took to Facebook, warning residents to take precaution.  “Close your windows, make sure it’s not getting into your house,” he said. “The smoke is obviously right now one of the biggest challenges.”

Food products were being stored in the warehouse along with propane tanks, which posed a hazard to firefighters working to drown out the flames. As the fire spread, the roof of the warehouse collapsed and the flames traveled to a neighboring apartment building facing Market Street. All 13 units were evacuated.

“The five in the back of the building did have fire damage, those were the one right next to where the fire was coming out,” Fire Chief Joseph Cajzer said. “Those apartments are a little worse damage but again, the sprinklers did a good job of keeping the fire in check.” Resident Elder Antoine and his seven family members slept on cots inside of the Passaic senior center along with their neighbors.

“We grabbed everybody and left everything in the house,” Antoine said. “I went down the stairs and I looked and the house was covered in smoke.” Christian Manzanres lives in an apartment with 12 of his family members. They all ran out of the burning building. “I’m scared because I have a cat still in there I’m worried about him,” Manzanres said.

The fire was brought under control after about three hours, tenants in the neighboring apartment were rushed out with at least five units badly damaged. Two firefighters had minor injuries.  The Red Cross says it is helping 50 people with temporary lodging, food and clothing.  The surrounding five blocks in the neighborhood were without electricity.  The fire department said families who were displaced should be able to return thanks to the sprinkler system, but it will be a few days before they can do so.  The cause of the fire does not appear suspicious, but it is under investigation.

Halifax, NS, Canada – Suspicious fire in common area of 12-story apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

Police are investigating two suspicious fires in just 10 days in a common room of a Dartmouth apartment building. The first fire was reported on March 18 at 5:37 p.m. A Halifax Regional Police news release says someone lit something on fire in the common room at Alderney Manor on Alderney Drive. The sprinkler system was activated and the fire extinguished. On Tuesday, there was a second fire in the same common room around 12:44 p.m. Police say some residents of the building tried to put it out but couldn’t and had to call the fire department.  No one was injured in either case.  Police say investigators are looking into whether the fires are related and ask anyone with information about these incidents to call police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).