Category Archives: Residential

Olympia, WA – Sprinkler system knocks down fire at apartment complex

One family was displaced from an apartment at 1309 Fern St. SE in west Olympia late Friday after a fire, according to the Olympia Fire Department. Firefighters responded to reports of a kitchen fire and found that the sprinkler system had activated by the time they arrived. One resident sustained cuts to the hand after breaking open a glass door to access a fire extinguisher. No other injuries were reported.

Damage to the apartment was estimated at about $5,000. The fire likely was an electrical fire. The family is being assisted by the American Red Cross. The rest of the apartment complex was undamaged. The Olympia Fire Department responded to the fire with four engines, one ladder truck, two medic units and a command unit

La Mesa, CA – Car fire at apartment complex controlled with help from sprinkler system

A car fire at a La Mesa apartment complex was knocked down by a sprinkler system and quick work by firefighters before it could do any structural damage, Heartland fire officials said Saturday.

Firefighters from La Mesa, El Cajon and Cal Fire responded to the blaze shortly after 8 p.m. Friday at the Alterra Apartments in the 8700 block of Fletcher Parkway, according to Heartland Fire spokesman Sonny Saghera.

The fire sprinkler system was already activated when firefighters arrived within four minutes of being dispatched, Saghera said.

It took fire crews less than 10 minutes to get the car fire out and the sprinkler system off before any damage was done to the apartment units above the garage. There were no injuries, evacuations or water damage, and no damage to other vehicles. The cause and damage amount were not released by Heartland Fire.

Evanston, IL – No injuries in high-rise apartment fire extinguished by single sprinkler

A fire in a high-rise building can be one of the most frightening and dangerous incidents for any resident and one of the most challenging and complex operations for any fire department. Firefighters must contend with numerous factors like location of the fire beyond the reach of ground ladders, wind driven fires, tremendous manpower and resources needs, as well as the evacuation of residents.

On March 12, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Evanston Fire Department responded to 1900 Sherman Ave. for the fire alarm activation. Upon arrival they were informed of a kitchen fire on the 11th floor with water flowing in the stairwell and smoke showing on the 11th floor.

The fire investigation team found that a kitchen fire in an 11th floor unit had been extinguished by a sprinkler head activation, allowing an invalid resident and guest of the unit to escape to safety into the hallway to await assistance. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation and transported to the local hospital for follow-up care. The Red Cross assisted three residents, who were displaced for two days.

It was just last November that the Cook County Housing Authority, under the direction of the Evanston Fire Prevention Bureau retrofitted 1900 Sherman Avenue with sprinklers throughout the building, including the residential units. “There is no doubt in my mind that the upgrade to the suppression system saved the day for us, but more importantly, the lives of the residents and limited the damage to this property,” stated Fire Chief Klaiber.

Evanston Fire had no report of injury to personnel.

Moncton, NB, Canada – Sprinklers keep overnight kitchen fire from spreading at high-rise apartment building; No injuries

About 100 people were displaced from their apartments in a Moncton building overnight after a relatively minor fire in the kitchen area of one unit on Tuesday at around midnight. The fire in one unit of six-storey building triggered the sprinkler system in the building to go off and smoke spread to other units.

“There was a small grease fire on the stovetop on one of the apartment units on the third floor,” said fire prevention officer Steve Richardson. “There was minimal damage from the fire and smoke but the heat activated three sprinkler heads. So there was heavy water damage to the apartment and the two floors below the fire floor.

“It extinguished the fire really quickly but until the crews were able to get there and plug those sprinkler heads, there was a lot of water that ran through the building and the floors below from where the fire was.” Michael R. LeBlanc, who lives in the building, said the events were “a little foggy for me.”

“I have health issues, so it takes a while to get going. It took me a while to put warm clothes on.” LeBlanc said he saw water on some floors, but none on his, so he went back to bed. At 4 a.m he was awakened by a firefighter in his bedroom. “I was quite startled by that. He told that you have to pack up,” he said.

Red Cross found lodging, food for 60 people The 50-unit Belmar Plaza building at 460 Mountain Rd. is owned by Killam Properties, which was able to provide furnished apartments in some of its other Moncton properties for the tenants of five units.

The Canadian Red Cross arranged for hotel lodging and food for 51 adults and nine children from 23 units. Five of the apartments in the building were vacant at the time of the fire. All other tenants made their own arrangements for temporary places to stay.

Most residents were able to retrieve clothing and personal items before leaving. All residents were allowed back into their apartments on Wednesday, with the exception of those living in the unit where the fire happened. There were no injuries reported.

Lexington, KY – Fire at off-campus apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler system

A fire above a stove in the University Village Apartments on Simpson Avenue in Lexington Tuesday night was extinguished by the sprinkler system, which kept the fire from spreading, according to fire investigators. The fire was out before firefighters arrived. Investigators say there was minimal smoke and fire damage to the apartment and no smoke damage. All of the occupants evacuated as a precaution. The people who live in the apartment will be able to stay there, according to investigators. No one was hurt, according to firefighters. In addition to the effective sprinkler system, all of the smoke detectors also functioned properly, according to investigators.

Erie, PA – Apartment fire caused by unattended candle is put out by sprinkler system

Erie firefighters were dispatched to the Alex W. Thompson apartment complex, 441 W. Third St., on a report of a fire Monday at 1:49 p.m. The fire broke out in an apartment and was caused by a candle placed next to a plastic ornamental plant, Erie Fire Inspector John Widomski said. The fire set off the building’s sprinkler system, which put out the fire, Widomski said. Widomski said there was minimal fire damage.

Aliquippa, PA – Sprinkler system activates to help control overnight apartment fire

A fire inside an Aliquippa apartment building early Saturday morning displaced 40 residents. The Aliquippa Fire Department said the fire broke out inside the Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments on Sheffield Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. Officials said the fire started inside a kitchen on the eighth floor. Fire officials said there were no injuries, but 40 people were displaced because of water damage caused by the sprinkler system. The Red Cross said it is providing lodging for 23 of the building’s residents.

Napa, CA – Residential sprinkler system suppresses garage fire; No injuries reported

Kelowna, BC, Canada – Sprinklers help knock down flames in early morning townhouse fire

An early morning structure fire in Kelowna has caused damage to at least one suite in a three storey townhouse.

The Kelowna Fire Department received a call about the fire around 6:28 a.m. on Friday. When crews arrived on scene they spotted a fire on the roof of a townhouse on Ambrosi Road. Firefighters managed to knock the fire down quickly and the building sprinkler system helped to extinguish the flames.

There were no reported injuries as a result of the fire but one suite was affected and an adjoining suite suffered water damage as well. Emergency Support Services is now assisting the residents with any support services they may require. The cause of the fire has not been released.

Middletown, NJ – Sprinkler system contains residential fire to single room; No injuries

At 3:05 PM on Wednesday March 16, 2016, the Middletown Township Fire Department was dispatched to a “fire alarm” at Building 2, Unit 210 Wedgewood Circle in the Belford section of the Township.  Approximately 25 firefighters from 3 companies of the Middletown Township Fire Department (Belford Engine, Belford Independent and Community Fire Companies), under the command of Department Deputy Chief Anthony Citaralla, responded to the scene. 

The first arriving units on the scene encountered a smoke condition in the 2 story multiple unit residential structure. The firefighters quickly located a fire in a first floor bedroom. The unit was unoccupied at the time of the incident. The residents in the adjacent units were alerted by the fire alarm system and evacuated the structure. The building’s fire sprinkler system automatically activated and contained the blaze to the single room.

Fire crews ensured that the fire was fully extinguished and used thermal imaging cameras to confirm that the fire had not extended beyond the bedrooms.

The bedroom sustained fire damage and there was smoke and water damage throughout the unit.

The Fire was declared under control by 3:30 PM. The last units cleared the scene by 5:50 PM.

There were no reported injuries during the incident. 

The fire is being investigated by the Middletown Township Fire Prevention office.