Category Archives: Residential

Albany, NY – Early morning fire at University of Albany dorm controlled with help from sprinkler system

An unattended candle is being blamed for a dorm fire at the University at Albany. The fire broke out on the third floor of Oneida Hall just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday. The dorm is located on the Indian Quad of the campus.  The fire was contained to one room and was out within a half-hour.

One student had minor injuries and was taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment. The fire also activated the fire sprinkler system in that room, which caused water damage. Some of the rooms around it and below it also suffered water damage due to the amount of water that was used. Around 120 students were evacuated for a time.

League City, TX – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Single sprinkler helps firefighters extinguish apartment fire

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

On Tuesday, February 09, 2016, at 8:35 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at the Broadstone Walker Commons Apartments located at 1751 West Walker Street.

Before arriving on the location the Fire Department was notified of fire leaping out a third story balcony with heavy fire and smoke visible. Once on location, firefighters deployed an “Apartment Lay” up three flights of stairs and connected a 1 ¾ inch attack line to suppress the fire. During this time, the fire sprinkler system with one sidewall sprinkler head activated, which controlled and suppressed the majority of the fire.

The quick action from the firefighters completely stopped the advancement of the fire from entering into the attic and open spaces. A fast responding fire sprinkler system and aggressive team of firefighters absolutely save the complex from extensive fire damage and thousands of dollars of direct fire loss, not to mention the lives perhaps saved. The fire is currently under investigation by the League City Fire Marshal’s Office.

Pearland, TX – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Sprinkler system halts grease fire at apartment building

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ** The Pearland Fire Department responded to a report of a grease fire in a unit of a 3-story apartment complex located in the 2200 block of Business Center Dr. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Upon arriving, fire department officials discovered that the fire had been extinguished by a fire sprinkler system installed in the apartment unit where the fire began, extinguishing a fire in the kitchen of the unit.

Because the fire sprinkler system installed in the unit worked as it was designed, no property damage or loss of life occurred during this incident.

Manchester, NH – Apartment fire mostly extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

A sprinkler system quickly put out a fire in Manchester Sunday evening. Around 5:30 p.m., firefighters were called to a home on Harvell Street, where a second-floor apartment had caught on fire.  No one was home, but firefighters said the front door was unlocked.  The apartment’s sprinkler system put out most of the flames.

“The first company on scene [saw] smoke showing from the second floor, so we had an initial attack lined to the second floor and knocked the rest of the fire down,” said District Fire Chief Hank Martineau.

Firefighters don’t yet know how the fire started but said it appears to be accidental.

Chicago, IL – Fire on 50th floor of Trump Tower put out by sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at Chicago’s Trump Tower Thursday morning. Around 9 a.m., crews were dispatched to 401 N. Wabash in the city’s River North neighborhood after receiving a call on a still and box alarm fire in a trash compactor on the hotel’s 50th floor.

An EMS Plan one was called to the scene with multiple ambulances, officials said, but the small fire was quickly put out by the hotel’s sprinkler system. Chicago Fire Department District Chief Tim Sampey said the fire “was minor” but firefighters spent extra time going through the 98-floor high-rise to ensure the smoke did not build.  No injuries were reported. Fire officials said the hotel received minimal damage and moderate smoke damage from the incident.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Westport, CT – Kitchen fire in multi-family residence extinguished by sprinkler system

A sprinkler extinguished a kitchen fire at a multi-family residence at 1655 Post Road East before arrival of firefighters, said Assistant Chief Brian Meadows. All residents safely evacuated the residence, operated by the Westport Housing Authority. Cause of the fire was under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Temporary accommodations for residents displaced by the fire were arranged by the Westport Housing Authority and American Red Cross.

Charleston, SC – Sprinkler system contains high rise apartment fire to 10th floor apartment

An investigation by Charleston Fire officials revealed the fire that displaced about 152 Joseph Floyd Manor residents originated on a sofa in the living area of a 10th floor apartment. The specific cause of the fire is still unknown.  Crews helped residents move to hotel rooms Monday night after the fire broke out.

Three fire departments responded to the 10th floor of the Mount Pleasant Street apartment complex and found heavy smoke, said Ryan Kunitzer of the Charleston Fire Department.  Kunitzer said a fire sprinkler contained the fire in a 10th floor apartment. Emergency personnel assisted residents off the floor.   He said the city Building Official determined the structure was uninhabitable until a full assessment could be completed.

The Red Cross, the City Housing Authority and CARTA assisted emergency crews with moving the residents to local hotels after water used to control the fire affected multiple floors, Kunitzer said. Charleston, North Charleston and St. Andrews fire departments responded to the fire, in addition to the Charleston Police Department and Charleston County EMS.

Fire officials said that 93 of the estimated 152 Joseph Floyd residents were relocated to a nearby hotel. The other 58 residents went to stay with family or friends.   Officials also confirmed that one resident was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

The American Red Cross and Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority officials opened a shelter for the residents. The shelter, located at Grace on the Ashley Baptist Church, opened Tuesday afternoon. There, residents can get a safe place to stay, meals, and other services.

Kent, OH – Residence hall fire at Kent State University extinguished by sprinkler system

Someone set fire to a billboard Friday in a Kent State University residence hall, according to a bulletin sent out by the university. The Kent Fire Department responded to a second-floor hallway in Centennial Court A around 1:40 p.m. A sprinkler system had extinguished the fire. Water caused minimal damage to the building and none to residents’ rooms, the alert said. Students were evacuated for a short time, but were permitted to return to their rooms after the fire was out.

Grand Forks, ND – Fire at low-income senior apartment building controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

According to the GFPD there was a fire at Riverside Manor contained to one unit. Fire officials say the fire only took about 15 minutes to extinguish. The building’s sprinkler system played an important role in controlling the blaze.  No one was hurt as a result of the fire, but officials say safely evacuating everyone had its challenges.

“These are elderly people so getting those units evacuated in a timely matter with smoke on that floor, that’s a big deal,” said Btn. Chief Rick Aamot. Residents on the third and fourth floor were evacuated down the buildings lobby.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Champaign, IL – Early morning fire at University of Illinois residence hall extinguished by sprinkler system

Fire officials are investigating what caused a trash can fire in a University of Illinois dormitory early Thursday morning. At 2:13 a.m., the Urbana and Champaign fire departments responded to a report of a fire at Scott Hall, 202 East Peabody Drive, in Champaign.

When they arrived, the firefighters did not see anything from the outside, but on the second floor, they found smoke in the southwest hallway, said Urbana Fire Chief Brian Nightlinger. A fire had started in a trash can in a common area garbage closet, said Craig Grant, associate director of campus code compliance & fire safety.

A sprinkler in that closet extinguished the fire. Firefighters were able to turn the sprinkler off before it caused significant damage, Nightlinger said. “The sprinkler system did its job,” Nightlinger said.

The residence hall was evacuated until around 3 a.m. Students took shelter in Snyder Hall and the Student Dining and Residential Programs building, Grant said. Cleanup lasted into the early morning.  Anyone with information on what may have caused the fire can contact the Champaign Fire Department at 217-403- 7200.