Category Archives: Residential

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Pennsville Twp, NJ – Sprinklers credited with preventing spread of fire at independent living facility

A fire authorities say was caused by unattended cooking prompted the evacuation of residents from an age 55-plus high-rise Saturday morning.

The fire at the five story Kent Avenue Apartments at 11 Kent Ave. was reported around 11 a.m.

Deepwater Fire Chief Joe Hogan said the fire was sparked by unattended cooking. He said there was no one in the apartment where the blaze started when firefighters entered.

The fire was located in Apartment 507 in the east wing of the building — on the top floor.

No one — residents or firefighters — were hurt in the incident, Hogan said.

Approximately six to seven apartments were damaged from fire, smoke and water, Hogan said.

There was also reported water throughout various parts of the building.

Hogan credited the building’s sprinkler system with helping to quickly help douse the fire and prevent its spread.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Hagerstown, MD – Single sprinkler extinguishes residential kitchen fire

No one was injured during a minor kitchen fire Thursday afternoon on Hagerstown’s North End, according to City Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven.

The fire was reported at 1:30 p.m. in the 17600 block of Potter Bell Way in the Hager’s Crossing development, DeHaven said in a news release.

 He said a single sprinkler head from the home’s quick-response sprinkler system extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters ventilated smoke from the home, and all of the units were cleared by 2:30 p.m., DeHaven said.

Hospital/Care Facility, Residential

New Brighton, PA – Sprinkler system douses fire at residential facility for the physically and developmentally challenged

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About 50 residents were evacuated from their rooms Monday night after an electrical fire in a residence wing of McGuire Memorial Home. The fire broke out around 11 p.m. in a laundry room at the home, 2119 Mercer Road, Daugherty Township, according to Daugherty Township Fire Chief Brad Stone. An electrical short in a window fan sparked the fire, which Stone said was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system before firefighters arrived.

Because of smoke in the area, residents of one apartment wing were evacuated to another part of the building but returned to their homes about an hour later. No one was injured. Firefighters from Daugherty, Pulaski and North Sewickley townships and New Brighton responded to the fire call.

McGuire Memorial is a ministry of the Felician Sisters of North America and the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese. It provides services for people with mental and physical disabilities and for their families and caregivers.

Apartment Building, Residential

Richland, WA – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire started by improperly discarded cigarettes

A pair of apartment fires in Richland were likely started by smoldering cigarettes put in flower pots. Fire officials are warning people not to put cigarettes out in flower pots following the fires on Buena Court and Queensgate Drive. 

The Buena Court fire broke out July 25 about 1:30 p.m. and the Queensgate blaze started Monday about 2:15 a.m., fire officials said. A sprinkler system helped put out the second fire. No injures were reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire at senior assisted living center contained to point of origin by sprinkler system

Many residents at a senior living center in Baton Rouge were forced to evacuate after a dryer unit caught fire before 7 p.m. Monday.  St. George Fire officials said none of the 93 residents at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center on Siegen Lane were hurt.  One staff member suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated on site by EMS. 

“The fire began and was limited to the laundry area,” said Eldon Ledoux, spokesman for the St. George Fire Department.  The call came in around 6:49 p.m., and crews arrived on scene within 5 minutes. The fire was under control in less than half an hour, leaving little damage. 

“The sprinkler system really knocked the fire down and stopped it from spreading beyond that point of origin. This is where sprinkler systems save lives,” said Ledoux.  Many seniors were evacuated from the building. Others stayed inside behind fire doors with fire crew supervision. 

Residential, Residential High Rise

St. Petersburg, FL – Sprinkler system saves residents of high-rise residential tower after ninth floor kitchen fire

(Blog Editor’s Note – Smoke does not cause sprinklers to activate – Only the substantial heat from a significant fire).

A small kitchen fire set off the sprinkler system and forced evacuation of the Burlington Towers in downtown St. Petersburg on Monday night, sending dry residents into the evening showers.

The fire in a unit on the 9th floor was put out quickly, but the smoke had activated the alarm system and set off the sprinkler system, officials said. At one point there were two inches of water in the hall of the 9th floor, and water had cascaded down to the seventh floor hall.

Some of the responding firefighters, who normally would haul hoses, were instead told to bring squeegees. There were no reports of injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

Foster City, CA – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading in attic of apartment building

Firefighters responded at 10:46 a.m. last Thursday to an apartment building at 720 Bounty Drive in Foster City and found smoke coming from the attic of a three-story building. Neither firefighters nor civilians were injured, but police and firefighters assisted an occupant with medical needs, fire officials said.

Firefighters said they believe the fire started accidentally in the wall of a second floor unit where plumbing repairs were underway. Firefighters said the fire was burning above two third-floor apartments and damaged at least six of the building’s ten apartments. The fire spread up the wall to the attic where a sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading until firefighters extinguished it, fire officials said.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Pittsburgh, PA – Residence hall fire at Duquesne University extinguished by sprinkler system

A small kitchen fire at a dormitory at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University was quickly extinguished and hurt no one. City firefighters were called to Brottier Hall just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, but the fire was put out by the sprinkler system before they arrived. 

University spokeswoman Bridget Fare says 500 students live in the building, but most are on vacation or not living there during the summer. Still, 30 apartments were affected by water damage from the building’s sprinkler system. Fare says 15 students who live in those units were temporarily staying elsewhere. The university found alternate housing for 11 students, while four opted to stay with friends. 

Some apartments were expected to be repaired by Thursday, while others might take a week to fix.

Apartment Building, Residential

Rockford, IL – Electrical fire at apartment complex limited by sprinkler system

An electrical fire damaged a Northwest Rockford apartment complex.  It started shortly after 4pm Thursday afternoon at the Riverside Apartments in the 3700 block of Trilling Avenue.

Investigators say that an electrical problem sparked a mattress that set fire in a lower level unit. According to the District Chief the apartment had a working sprinkler system that kept the fire from spreading. No one was hurt but one person has been displaced.