Category Archives: Other – Residential

Other - Residential, Residential

Victoria, BC, Canada – Fire at homeless shelter extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

Victoria Fire crews and police were on scene at the Central Care Home at 844 Johnson Street after a fire broke out late this afternoon.

The shelter, operated by the Portland Hotel Society, is home to many former residents of Victoria’s tent city.

Emergency crews responded to a report of smoke coming from a suite on the fourth floor just after 4 p.m.

Upon arrival, crews confirmed that the fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

But there is extensive water damage in parts of the building.

Fire officials say no one should be displaced because there are empty units that can be used to house those affected.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire and there were no reports of any injuries.

Other - Residential, Residential

Hastings, NE – Early morning fire at homeless shelter controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries

Those living in a Hastings homeless shelter were displaced overnight following a fire early Wednesday morning. The Hastings Fire Department says they were called to the Crossroads Rescue Center just after midnight. Smoke could be seen in the building as fire crews arrived.

Staff said all 87 people were out and uninjured when fire crews arrived. The fire was found in the north basement of the building. Hastings Fire Chief Kent Gilbert says the sprinkler system was able to keep the fire from spreading much before firefighters arrived.

Hastings Rural and Juniata Rural firefighters also responded. While crews were working on extinguishing the fire in the basement, others assisted with searching the other floors and reducing smoke damage with ventilation. Part of 14th Street was closed for more than two hours because of the fire.

Adams County Emergency Management was called to the scene to assist with relocating the residents displaced by the fire. The fire department says most were relocated to 20 rooms in the C3 Hotel.

A state fire marshal determined the fire was started accidentally when bedding came in contact with a heater. Wednesday, the shelter was cleaning up after returning to the building around 8 a.m.

“We have great guests here at Crossroads. Everybody pitched in, especially the men, just pitched in. We took up flooring. We cleaned up soot. We took out burnt items. Probably by noon we were mainly cleaned up,” said Crossroads Program Director Daniel Buller.

Buller said the damage is mostly contained to the basement laundry room where the fire started, but work continues to help prevent mold. He said insurance should cover the damage, but the need for things like food and toiletries at the shelter is ongoing.

The estimated cost of the damage is not yet known.

Other - Residential, Residential

Durham, NC – Fire at family shelter extinguished by sprinkler system

A grease fire at a family shelter in Durham caused the shelter and staff offices to be evacuated and displaced two families Friday morning, the development director at Families Moving Forward said.

Fire crews were called to the shelter located in the 300 block of North Queen Street just after 8 a.m. in response to a structure fire. Crews arriving on scene reported a two-story residential structure fire with no flames or smoke visible, officials said.

According to Durham fire officials, the fire occurred in the kitchen was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. Two of the shelter’s rooms suffered water damage and the families in those rooms were moved to new rooms, Shana Carignan with FMF said.

Families in the shelter will not have access to the kitchen for the time being and the electricity is off on that side of the building.

At least 12 families no longer have power for their refrigerators and Carignan asked the community to consider making grocery store gift card donations for the families impacted.

The organization said that RISE Biscuits and Donuts, Domino’s Pizza and Urban Ministries of Durham have all donated food to the shelter.  Carignan said they’re still learning the full extent of the damage.

Other - Residential, Residential

Adams, MA – No injuries reported as sprinkler system puts out fire at homeless shelter

Twelve Louison House residents were displaced after a small attic fire that was largely extinguished by the house’s sprinkler system.

Assistant Fire Chief John Pansecchi said the electrical fire broke out in the attic around 11:45 Sunday morning but was quickly snuffed out by the family support center’s sprinkler system.

“There were no injuries and minimal fire damage, and I can’t stress enough how much the sprinkler system probably saved that building,” Pansecchi said. “The sprinklers put the fire out in the area so basically we just investigated and tried to determine the cause.”

He said the water damage was caused by the sprinkler system and two families and four individuals were put up at a nearby hotel. The Louison House and the Red Cross provided this support.

It is unknown at this point when residents can move back into the house; the building inspector must make a ruling first.

Pansecchi said the Adams Police and Ambulance were present and Cheshire Fire covered the Adams Station.

Pansecchi said the knockdown was a great success and went smoothly.

“It was a success,” he said. “It was an hour and a half for us there compared to the four hours we spent on Park Street.”

Other - Residential

Waterville, ME – Fire at assisted living home suppressed by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Five people were displaced from a residential assisted living home on Pleasant Street Sunday morning when a small fire broke out in a bedroom. The fire, reported at 7:56 a.m., was mostly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, according to a news release from the Waterville Fire Department.

The home is operated by Motivational Services Inc., an Augusta-based organization that provides services and programs for individuals with mental illnesses, according to their website. The five residents who were displaced have been moved to other area programs run by the organization, Executive Director Michael Provencher said.

Firefighters arrived at the scene at 8:01 a.m. and completely extinguished the fire by 8:06 a.m. Firefighters worked quickly to ensure that the fire had not spread, which they determined by 8:17 a.m., according to Captain Shawn Esler. Since the home is a licensed health care facility, it is protocol for the fire department to call the state fire marshal’s office.

Investigators from the fire marshal’s office cleared the scene around 1:30 p.m. Sunday after completing safety inspections in the home. Ken MacMaster, an investigator with the fire marshal’s office, said the investigation is ongoing and could not comment on the cause of the fire, though he said it had been determined. He also could not say whether it was believed to be of suspicious origin.

No additional information will be available from the fire marshal’s office until Monday, MacMaster said. Provencher could not comment in regards to the individuals who lived in the home, stating their conditions are “confidential.” He said that once minor repairs and alarm checks were completed the individuals would be able to return to the home.

Twenty-one firefighters from the Waterville Fire Department responded to the call. Mutual aide from the Winslow Fire Department and the Fairfield Fire Department were dispatched to the scene but were released once the fire was under control, the news release said.

Other - Residential, Other / Not Specified, Other Business, Residential

Mount Prospect, IL – Two recent fires highlight importance of automatic fire sprinklers

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

October 24, 2015 at approximately 5:58 p.m., the Mount Prospect Fire Department responded to an activated fire alarm in the building at 1751 Linneman Road. As firefighters were investigating the activated fire alarm, they discovered an activated sprinkler was controlling a vehicle fire inside the building. Firefighters extinguished the fire, limiting fire damage to the vehicle.

On October 28, 2015 at approximately 3:43p.m., the Mount Prospect Fire Department responded to a report of an oven fire at 290 Westgate Road. As firefighters entered the dwelling unit they discovered that one activated fire sprinkler was controlling an oven fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire, limiting fire damage to the stove area.

No injuries were reported as a result of these fires. Without the automatic fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems, the loss to both of these buildings could have been much more significant. The estimated fire damage for both of these fires was $125,000 with a total property value saved in excess of five million dollars.

“The positive result of these fires represents the excellent work that our entire fire department does on a daily basis,” stated Interim Fire Chief Brian Lambel. “The fire suppression was extremely effective due to the training and professional operations of our firefighters. The automatic fire sprinkler systems performed as designed due to the inspections, code enforcement and the development review role our Fire Prevention Bureau performs. The outcome of these fires could have been much different if all of these components had not come together.”

Fire sprinklers work because they do not rely on human factors. Unlike the common myth that all sprinklers in the building activate at once, only the fire sprinkler above the actual fire activates. Automatic fire sprinklers operate in the area where a fire starts, preventing it from growing uncontrolled to a dangerous size while simultaneously sounding an alarm and notifying the fire department.

Because of the proven effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers and the enhanced life safety features they provide, the Village of Mount Prospect requires all new construction be protected by automatic fire sprinklers. This requirement includes new townhomes and single-family residences. For more information regarding automatic fire sprinklers, or the requirements for testing and maintenance of sprinkler and fire alarm systems, please contact the Mount Prospect Fire Prevention Bureau at (847) 818-5253.

 

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Other - Residential

South Williamsport, PA – Sprinkler system quickly suppresses fire at care home; No injuries reported

Insinger’s Personal Care Home, 6 E. Central Ave. in South Williamsport, was safely evacuated when a small fire broke out in a second-floor bedroom about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday. The home’s sprinkler system quickly extinguished the fire, which involved some linen, fire officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. The home’s estimated 30 residents were placed with relatives, friends or were spending the night at the First Ward Fire house because the electrical system has to be inspected before the home resumes operation, officials said.

Hotel / Motel, Other - Residential

Daytona Beach, FL – Mattress fire at residential building put out by sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to a mattress fire at the Three Oaks Inn at 331 S. Palmetto Ave. about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday. The fire is believed to have started because of someone smoking in bed, Daytona Beach fire spokeswoman Julie Maddux said. The building’s sprinkler system put the fire out. About 35 people were displaced. The displaced residents were assisted by the Red Cross.

Other - Residential, Residential

Terre Haute, IN – Fire at homeless shelter extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Officials are investigating an apparent arson after an early morning fire broke out at a Terre Haute homeless shelter. The fire started just before 6 a.m. at the Conners Center on 13th Street. The center, also known as Gary’s Place, is a shelter for women and children.

Kristina Stuff recalls waking up to billowing smoke and several women in the building who were shouting fire. “I thought it was the moment. I was petrified.”

The building is made up of three floors, and three floors up Stuff and her elderly mother were trapped by the overwhelming smoke. Stuff tried to get out but was unable to carry her mother through the smoke. “It didn’t matter what kind of evacuation plan we had it was just too much,” said Stuff as she describes trying to escape.

In that moment stuff recalls feeling helpless, “So I took us back in, soaked down towels and put it on her face, and prayed to God.” It wasn’t long before relief arrived. With the help of the Terre Haute Fire Department all of the residents inside the building got out safely. Stuff and her mother were rescued and treated for smoke inhalation, while the others escaped without injury.

“We don’t like what the future holds for us, but we are alive,” said Stuff.

Terre Haute Fire Chief, Jeff Fischer tells News 10 the fire started in the basement next to the soda machine. It appeared the sprinkler system aided in putting out the flames, but the black smoke continued to cause extensive damage to the second and third floors. “So that means cleaning everything, and taking care of that, and trying to get the smell out,” explained Rev. Timothy Fagg, CEO of the Lighthouse Mission.

The fire is being investigated as arson. Fire officials found evidence of poured gasoline close to the soda machine. “Every dollar we get goes to take care of the homeless here in the Wabash Valley, and when’s there’s something like this it’s difficult for us,” said Rev. Fagg.

All 14 residents are displaced while clean-up takes place. “This is it. This is all we got. We don’t have anywhere else to go,” said Stuff. Rev. Fagg said the residents will be offered a bed at the Lighthouse Mission until repairs are made. The shelter is looking for volunteers to help with cleaning and painting.

The Terre Haute Police Department is spending the day interviewing those at the shelter. The investigation into who started the fire is still on-going.

Other - Residential, Residential

Mount Clemens, MI – Fire at shelter for women and children extinguished with help from sprinkler system

*** To help Turning Point Shelter recover quickly from this fire, please consider donating at http://www.gofundme.com/y49hv48 ***
An accidental fire at the new Turning Point shelter in Mount Clemens on Sunday afternoon sent about 40 resident women and children scurrying outside for safety.  Nobody was hurt, as fire crews were able to quickly extinguish the blaze as the sprinkler system had activated.  

Residents will not be allowed back into the 52-bed facility for a couple of days, according to fire officials. “My main concern right now is getting these women and kids out of the heat and finding them some water so they don’t become dehydrated,” said Debbie McPeek, chief programming officer for the shelter. 

Fire crews were called to the three-story, 12,000-square-foot building about 2:30 p.m. after passers-by saw smoke coming from the roof.  Mount Clemens fire Capt. Joseph Stark said responding firefighters tracked the source of the smoke to a dryer fire in the laundry room. 

The interior had “minimal” water and smoke damage, which will take a few days to clean up before residents are allowed back in.  “We’ve notified the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross to try to find these people some temporary housing before they can get back in,” Stark said. 

Mount Clemens firefighters were assisted by crews from Clinton Township, Harrison Township and Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The $3 million shelter opened in 2013 for Turning Point, a Macomb County domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and protective housing facility. The facility typically aids hundreds of local women and children every year.

 McPeek and other shelter workers were busy identifying all of the residents as they sat in a rear parking lot until housing could be found for them. She hoped the damage would be cleaned up in a timely manner.  “It’s a relatively brand new building – go figure,” she said. “We want to get in there and see what happened and how we’re going to address it.”

Turning Point officials said anyone wanting to donate toiletries or other items to assist the women in their short-term stay out of the shelter could call 586-463-4430 or visit turningpointmacomb.org.