Category Archives: Residential

Fire at apartment unit put out by sprinkler system (San Diego, CA)

An overnight fire that began in a third story apartment unit began when an oven in that unit burst into flames. The fire sprinkler in the unit activated and eliminated the flames; no injuries were reported.

** Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by reporter ABC 10 News, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system**

Sprinklers extinguish fire at two-story multi-family residence (Riverside, CA)

A fire which broke out at a two-story apartment building was put out by the residence’s fire sprinkler system on November 30. The afternoon fire began in a second-floor unit, and firefighters who responded to the scene found the sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the blaze. No one was reported injured in the incident.

** Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by reporter Martin Henderson and the Palm Desert Patch, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system**

Sprinkler system controls arson fire at senior apartment building (Lancaster, PA)

City firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire, which was reported at 10:25 a.m. in the three-story Apartments at Mulberry Corners building. When firefighters arrived, the door to the woman’s third-floor apartment felt hot, said Chief Tim Gregg. The woman, whose identity was not available, was alone in the apartment, Gregg said. Firefighters helped her to exit and she was taken to the hospital, to be checked for injuries. The marshal ruled the fire was “incendiary” in nature, Gregg said. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system in the apartment building, he said. The apartment did not have extensive damage.Gregg praised the sprinkler system, saying it’s the “best fire safety device there is.” One sprinkler head was able to contain the entire fire, he noted. The Apartments at Mulberry Corners is a Housing Development Corporation building that contains 25 apartments for seniors ages 62 and older.

Fire sprinklers again prove their worth in fire at assisted living center (South Bend, IN)

A microwave caught fire Friday morning, sending smoke billowing out of Wood Ridge Assisted Living. Fire officials are thanking a working sprinkler system for saving lives. “Without a sprinkler system a fire doubles in size every thirty seconds, so without a sprinkler system it could have been a lot worse,” Battalion Chief Robert Wood said. All of the residents living there were safely evacuated Friday morning without any major issues.

Home fire put out by residential sprinkler system (Portsmouth, NH)

A Thanksgiving Eve fire at an Osprey Drive home was sparked by a lamp and displaced the residents, but sprinklers “saved the house,” said Deputy Fire Chief Carl Roediger. Firefighters were called to the home at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, when one of the residents said he just returned home and found his couch on fire, Roediger said. The fire had been “pretty much put out” by the residential sprinkler system and firefighters removed the smouldering couch from the home, according to the deputy chief.

Senior assisted living center saved with help from fire sprinklers (New Orleans, LA)

A small heating unit may be to blame for a fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon at an assisted living complex in Marrero. Jefferson Parish firefighters responded, and the sprinkler system helped to quickly put out the fire at the Wynhoven Apartments. The 50 elderly residents who live in the building were evacuated. They have since been allowed to return to their apartments. No one was hurt.

Fire at senior apartment building contained by sprinkler system (Portsmouth, VA)

The sprinkler system kept a blaze in check inside a residential building for senior citizens until firefighters could arrive on Tuesday night. No injuries were reported in the fire, said Deputy Fire Chief Jim Hoffler. Over the years, though, the facility has had at least two fatal fires that have caused major damage, Hoffler said. The sprinkler system may have saved lives, he added.

The blaze was reported shortly after 10 p.m. on the top floor of the four-story building. The fire was contained by the sprinklers in one room of the apartment where it began. Hoffler said he did not yet know the cause.

Sprinkler holds fire at bay at apartment complex (Annapolis, MD)

A sprinkler contained a fire inside an apartment complex laundry room preventing anyone from being injured or displaced Monday night, a city fire department spokeswoman said. Firefighters responded to the Admiral Oaks apartment complex shortly after 9 p.m. for reports of smoke coming from a laundry room, fire department spokeswoman Capt. Janet Kiefler said. The sprinkler contained the fire until firefighters could arrive and quickly extinguish it, Kiefler said. The fire was determined to be caused by a malfunctioning dryer.

Residential complex fire put out with help from fire sprinkler system (Winooski, VT)

Fire contained in apartment building thanks to fire sprinklers (Waterloo, IA)

The fire sprinkler system kept a fire from spreading further than the second floor unit in which the fire began on Sunday afternoon. The fire began on a couch in the apartment, and no one was occupying the residence at the time of ignition. The rest of the apartment building safely evacuated the premises.

Battalion Chief Michael Moore said of the incident, “The sprinkler did its job. If the sprinkler system wasn’t in there, it would have been a ripping and roaring fire.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.