Category Archives: Residential

Apartment Building, Residential

Berkeley, CA – Sprinkler extinguishes kitchen fire in fourth floor apartment; No injuries

The Berkeley Fire Department responded Monday to an apartment fire on University Avenue.  Interim Berkeley Fire Chief Avery Webb said the fire department received a report just before 10:40 a.m. of a water-flow alarm from the fire suppression system at 1122 University, just east of San Pablo Avenue.

The city dispatched a single-alarm assignment for a possible structure fire.

When firefighters got to the 5-story building — four stories of residential over ground-floor commercial — they found light smoke on the fourth floor, and water flowing from under an apartment door. 

Webb said firefighters used forcible entry to get into the apartment. They encountered heavy smoke inside the apartment and an activated fire sprinkler head.

The fire had occurred on the kitchen stove, Webb said, but was extinguished by the activated sprinkler.

The fire was confined to the stove top, and smoke affected a small portion of the building. But water from the fire sprinkler affected the fourth floor and all floors below it, causing the majority of the building damage, Webb said.

Webb said damage was estimated to be approximately $100,000. No injuries were reported.

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Philadelphia, PA – Early morning fire at Psi Upsilon fraternity contained by sprinklers; Arson is possible cause

A “possible arson” was reported at the Psi Upsilon — also known as Castle — fraternity house at 4:04 a.m. on Friday, Division of Public Safety Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Eugene Janda said. Upon arrival, evidence of an active fire was found, along with indications that the built-in sprinkler system had managed to contain the blaze. The Philadelphia Fire Department said that by the time firemen arrived, the fire had been put out. Janda said they believe an open flame met with combustibles caused the fire to spread.

The house — located at 250 S. 36th St. just off Locust Walk — had its alarm system go off. The Philadelphia Fire Department, Penn Police Departmentand Penn Fire and Emergency Services were all alerted immediately, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. The Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s office was notified along with the Philadelphia Police Department. Alongside DPS, both departments will be working on an ongoing investigation into what was described by Janda as a “possible arson.”

Castle President and Wharton senior Michael Pozzuoli declined to comment on the fire.  Janda was quick to point out the effectiveness of both the alert and sprinkler systems in this instance, mentioning that without the systems, this could have been a “totally different story.”

Just a few weeks ago, on Sept. 24, Phi Gamma Delta’s off-campus house experienced a fire when a dryer went in flames while a resident was doing laundry.

Implementation of the sprinkler systems in Greek houses began in the 1960s and 1970s. The systems were so effective that by the early 2000s, Penn had spent at least $32 million ensuring that all 14 residential buildings on Penn’s campus had them in place. “Everyone has a sprinkler over their heads at night,” Janda said.

Janda emphasized safety measures that can be taken to avoid potential disasters. “Get up, get out, and account,” is the main thing to remember in case of a fire, he said. “Account” refers to checking on the status of fellow residents and reporting any missing persons to responding emergency personnel. Greek houses in particular are encouraged to have a coherent, established plan in case of emergency. Though this may not be the most exciting topic to bring up at the next chapter, Janda knows it very well might save a life.

Apartment Building, Residential

Athens, GA – Sprinkler system contains arson fire in apartment following domestic dispute

Felton Wendel Teasley Jr., 25, was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged arson fire the day before at the home he formerly shared with his girlfriend at Oak Hill apartments, Athens-Clarke County police said.

According to the girlfriend, she wanted to end her relationship with Teasley and told him to move out Saturday, when he allegedly lit some clothes on fire in a closet, police said. The fire set off the apartment’s sprinkler system and caused the building’s occupants to be evacuated. Police said they put out the fire with an extinguisher.

Water from the sprinkler system caused an estimated $10,000 in damages to the woman’s apartment and the one directly below, according to police. Teasley fled the scene but was located and arrested the next day, police said. He was charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org/.

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

North Adams, MA – Cooking fire in 7th floor apartment quickly put out by sprinkler system

Firefighters evacuated some residents from the high rise on Friday afternoon after a small cooking fire broke out on the 7th floor. Fire Director Stephen Meranti said the fire was quickly put out by the sprinkler system.

“Right now we are evacuating because of smoke and water. We do have water all the way from the seventh floor all the way down,” Meranti said. “We are checking apartments as we go down through, but the sprinkler system did its job.”  Meranti said no one was injured.

The Fire Department was alerted to the situation at about 12:30 p.m., when an alarm was activated in a unit at the Ashland Park Apartments. Scanner reports indicated water was “pouring down the hallways” in the Housing Authority building.

Residents clustered in the community room on the ground floor until being allowed back into their homes. Executive Director Jennifer Hohn said a few units below the seventh-floor apartment were affected.

“A significant amount of water from the sprinklers has entered the units directly below on all floors,” she said. “As a result of water seeping into electrical panels, power to these affected units has been shut off.”

Hohn said the Holiday Inn was gracious to offer accommodations and a meal for those residents affected by the fire and its containment.

 

“There is a chance the power will not be restored by the evening so I have reserved a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn for anybody needing accommodations,” she said. “I will update the board when a further assessment of the damage is concluded.

 

“The important thing is nobody was injured.”

 

Police and North Adams Ambulance Service also responded; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Police assisted with traffic control as Ashland Street was restricted to one lane.

 

The incident is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Florence, SC – Early morning apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system

An apartment fire in Florence was contained early Saturday morning when the built-in sprinkler system activated and extinguished the flames. According to a release from Florence Fire Department Battalion Chief Ken Carr, the fire occurred around 6 a.m. Saturday morning at 2802 Kinloch Court in Somersett Acres.

The fire also activated the apartment building’s fire alarm system, alerting its residents, who evacuated the building. When FFD firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire had already been put out. After removing some water from the apartment, firefighters were able to leave the scene.

There was no fire damage and very little smoke damage to the apartment, as well as no reported injuries. The fire was caused by unattended cooking.

Apartment Building, Residential

Rockford, IL – Sprinklers knock down apartment kitchen fire; No injuries and only minor damage reported

Sprinklers knocked down and contained a kitchen fire that broke out in an apartment located in the 10-unit Riverside Apartments building at 3701 Trilling Ave. A resident in a first-floor apartment fell asleep while cooking. Food caught fire on the stove, activating smoke detectors and a sprinkler system, Rockford Fire Department District Chief Charles Barnes said.

“The sprinklers stopped it fast,” Barnes said. Heavy smoke, fire and the sprinkler apparently forced the resident to climb out his window which overlooks the parking lot of the apartment building.

No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported, Barnes said. “There was minor damage,” Barnes said. “The water damage from the sprinkler head, the sprinkler took out the fire so we didn’t have any fire extension. The maintenance people here are going to get it all back in service.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Sunset Beach, NC – Fire Chief credits sprinkler system for extinguishing overnight apartment fire

The cause of a fire that broke out early last Saturday at a Calabash apartment complex is still under investigation. Firefighters were called to the 7136 building at The Tides at Calabash on Town Center Road off Old Georgetown Road at 2:35 a.m. Oct. 17.

Damage was confirmed to a third-floor breezeway wall and ceiling, according to apartment management. Calabash Fire Chief Randy Bork lauded the complex’s external sprinkler system for quickly extinguishing the fire and preventing it from spreading.

Apartment Building, Residential

Westford, MA – Sprinkler system puts out apartment fire before it can spread

A fire was reported at a three-story apartment building on 3000 Princeton Way in Westford at 11:46 a.m. on Oct. 20. “Our investigators are there, but there isn’t a cause yet,” said Westford Fire Department Shift Captain David O’Keefe.

The fire occurred in a second floor single bedroom, but the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire before it spread. The Westford Fire Department had to call for mutual aid from surrounding towns because the department’s ladder truck is out of service, according to O’Keefe.

“Unfortunately, our ladder truck is out for servicing, so we had to call the Chelmsford ladder truck,” O’Keefe said. However, the Chelmsford ladder truck was not needed before it even arrived. “At that point, the fire was already knocked down,” O’Keefe said. “The sprinklers put it out.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Johnson City, TN – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire before crews arrive

Early Sunday morning the Johnson City Fire Department responded to the report of a cooking fire at an apartment complex on Plymouth Road. When fire crews arrived they found the fire had activated the sprinkler system, ultimately extinguishing the flames.

Crews on scene say water and smoke had to be removed from four apartments. No injuries were reported.  The American Red Cross was there to assist a family displaced by this fire.

The Johnson City Fire Department says this fire reiterates how important it is to have working smoke detectors and functions sprinkler systems in your home.

Apartment Building, Residential

Pasadena, TX – Apartment cooking fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Potentially devastating fire averted

(Fire Department Reported – NO MEDIA COVERAGE. Courtesy of City of Pasadena (Texas) Fire Marshal’s Office)

On Sunday, October 11, 2015, at approximately 1815 hours, the Pasadena Fire Department was dispatched to 2907 Red Bluff Road, #309 for reports of a structure fire. This location is known as Palm Bluff Apartments. A small cooking fire was ignited on the stove top while the occupants were cooking French fries. The fire sprinkler head located in the kitchen above the stove top was subsequently activated due to the fire. The fire was promptly extinguished by the single operating fire sprinkler. Fire damage was contained to the stove top, cooking pan and vent hood above the cooking range. No injuries were reported. The fire sprinkler and alarm system functioned as designed notifying the occupants of the building who evacuated without any reported injuries.

This incident shows the importance of an automatic fire sprinkler system and demonstrates that if the building did not have an automatic sprinkler system, the outcome could have been completely different.

Furthermore there is no doubt whatsoever that at the very least the presence of a sprinkler system saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and property loss to the building owners and potentially prevented citizens and firefighters from being injured or killed.

Automatic fire sprinkler systems have over 100 years of proven performance in protecting life and property.

For further information contact: Chief David Brannon, Fire Marshal 713-475-5556.