Category Archives: Residential

Apartment Building, Residential

San Francisco, CA – Sprinkler system activates to help control arson fire at apartment

Burglar sets shoe on fire in cooking pot during SF break-in — The burglar caused damage to the apartment Thursday by setting a shoe on fire in a cooking pot and triggering the residence’s sprinkler system to go off, officials said Friday.  The break-in occurred just before 8 p.m. at an apartment in the 1100 block of Laguna Street in the Western Addition.

“They put the shoe in the pot and set it on fire,” said Officer Carlos Manfredi, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department.  The burglar entered the apartment through a back window, Manfredi said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Brattleboro, VT – Sprinkler system contains fire at nursing home to laundry area; No injuries reported

About 54 people were evacuated Wednesday from a nursing home in Brattleboro after a fire started in a commercial clothes dryer.  The Brattleboro Fire Department was called at 3:55 p.m. to the Thompson House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at 80 Maple St.

Authorities said the two-alarm fire started in a dryer, which set off the sprinkler system in the building. The water from the sprinkler system kept the fire contained to the laundry room.  Residents were taken next door to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital while the smoke cleared the building.

No injuries were reported.  The Brattleboro Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Keene, Guilford, Putney, Hinsdale and Chesterfield.

Apartment Building, Residential

Manitowoc, WI – Fire in utility closet at apartment building contained by sprinkler system

Officials say a Manitowoc apartment was damaged by fire on Tuesday night.  Crews were called to 2240 S. 42nd Street just before 6 p.m. Firefighters found that the sprinkler system was spraying water in a utility room. There was damage to the building’s main electrical feed and there was a natural gas leak.

Everyone inside the building got out safely. Firefighters eventually found a fire in a lower-unit apartment. The sprinkler system had contained it to the immediate area, and firefighters used a water extinguisher to put out the remaining fire. Crews were on the scene for about 90 minutes.

The apartment involved had fire and smoke damage, but there was no damage to other parts of the building. Firefighters say it appears that an electrical problem caused the fire, but the fire is still being investigated.

Apartment Building, Residential

Norfolk, VA – No injuries in high-rise apartment fire contained by sprinkler system

The fire happened in a kitchen inside The Law Building at Granby and Plume streets, according to emergency dispatchers. Residents outside the building, at 145 Granby St., said it happened on the third floor. Dispatchers confirmed the fire was controlled and that there were no injuries.

Residents heard the alarm around 7:30 p.m. and left the building, though they were not officially evacuated. The sprinkler system went off in some apartments, residents said.

Louis Pingotti said power was cut to the building because of the sprinkler system. “We can’t go back in until they fix it,” said the resident of six months.   “I just want to get my things and sleep. I got work in the morning.”  He lives on the fifth floor.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” said Dany Gomez, who has lived there for a year with her husband and child. Their sprinkler system did not go off, she said.

Apartment Building, Residential

West Richland, WA – Sprinkler system helps extinguish apartment patio fire

Firefighters from Benton Fire District 4 haul away charred items Monday morning from a second-floor patio at the Quail Springs Apartments on Dallas Road in West Richland.  A fire sprinkler on the patio helped extinguish the flames, said Fire Chief Bill Whealan.

Damage was limited to the outside of the unit that was empty at the time.  Investigators believe the fire started in a potted plant but are still investigating the cause.

Apartment Building, Residential

Haverhill, MA – Sprinkler system keeps outdoor fire from spreading into apartment building

A fire in an outdoor trash container Tuesday night on Washington Street displaced residents of two apartments when sprinklers activated.

Haverhill firefighters responded to a report of fire in a trash container about 7 p.m., outside a 12-unit apartment building at 217 Washington St., said Fire Chief William F. Laliberty. He said the fire damaged a wooden window frame on the first floor, activating sprinklers.

“The sprinkler did its job protecting occupants of the building,” Laliberty told WHAV. Residents of the two bottom apartments had not been able to return home as of Wednesday afternoon, he said.

City records describe the brick building as having been constructed about 1910.

The chief said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Leesburg, VA – Sprinkler system controls apartment fire caused by unattended candles

Two adults and two dogs were displaced from a fire in a Leesburg apartment building that started by unattended candles and spread to window treatments, according a Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company (LVFD) Facebook post.

On Wednesday evening, August 3, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Leesburg and surrounding fire companies were alerted for a structure fire at 654 Fort Evans Rd. NE.

Leesburg responded with two engine companies, one truck company, and the rescue company.

Units arrived to find a three-story garden apartment building with a small fire inside a ground floor apartment. The fire started by unattended candles and spread to some window treatments.

The majority of the fire was controlled by the sprinkler system prior to the LVFD’s arrival.

Crews ensured the fire was out and checked for extension while ventilating the smoke.

Two adults and two dogs were displaced and assisted by the American Red Cross.

One firefighter sustained an injury to the hand and was treated on scene, according to LVFD.

“The LVFC asks you to please remember – do not leave lit candles unattended!” LVFD posted on Facebook.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Scottsbluff, NE – Overnight fire in attic of senior care home extinguished by sprinkler system

Scottsbluff Fire Capt. Dan Hubbs said firefighters responded to an alarm the Golden Living Center at about 1:30 a.m. Occupants reported smelling smoke and staff evacuated the wing. A fire was found in the attic space above the chapel area at the fire. The sprinkler system had activated and the fire was extinguished quickly. The cause of the fire has been determined to be electrical in nature.

Residential, Single Family Home, Uncategorized

Rancho Cucamonga, CA – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Single sprinkler activates to extinguish residential fire

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ** On August 5, 2016 at 3:20 p.m. Rancho Cucamonga (CA) Medic Engine 174 and Medic Truck 174 were dispatched with automatic aid resources to a reported residential structure fire in a two story single family detached home. The first arriving unit reported that a small fire had been extinguished by the activation of a single residential sprinkler. The fire was confined to the contents originally ignited. Fire, smoke, and water damage was minimal. Medic Engine 174 and Investigator 2150 shut down the sprinkler system, replaced the activated head with a new head from the spare sprinkler box, and recharged the fire sprinkler system. The Fire Inspector for the area followed up with the residents and coordinated an inspection with the Building Inspector.

Apartment Building, Residential

Moline, IL – Fire at apartment complex controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries

Around 2:30 p.m., firefighters called to 4709 61st St. found nothing showing at a two-story multi-residential apartment complex. They made entry into the apartment to find smoke all the way to the floor and an activated building sprinkler, but no fire. Ventilation was performed and firefighters found a plastic ice cooler on an electric stove.  It was determined the cooler had melted and subsequently caught on fire.

The residents of the apartment were home at the time of the fire and called 911 before evacuating the apartment. Damage to the apartment included the cabinets above the stove with fire, smoke damage throughout and water damage to the kitchen and living room area from the sprinkler system.

No injuries to residents or firefighting personnel were reported. The Moline Fire Department was assisted by Moline Police, the apartment complex maintenance staff and the Red Cross.