Category Archives: Single Family Home

Napa, CA – Garage fire contained by sprinkler system

The residents of a Napa house escaped injury after a fire began in the garage before dawn Monday, according to Napa Fire.

Firefighting crews were dispatched at 4:37 a.m. to Lugo Lane near Saratoga Avenue, where they found smoke filling a garage that had been converted to living space, according to Napa Fire spokesperson Matt Colburn. A firefighter used a circular saw to cut a hole in the garage door, which was disabled and could not be rolled open.

A sprinkler system contained the flames to the garage, and firefighters stayed at the scene for about 2 ½ hours putting out remaining hot spots in walls, Colburn said.

A person in the garage area heard an alarm sound and notified other residents, and all were able to leave the home uninjured, according to Colburn.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Monday’s residential fire was the second in the city to be contained by sprinklers in less than 24 hours, according to Napa Fire. Shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday, a sprinkler system helped put out flames inside an apartment at a senior housing center in the 1400 block of Redwood Road, although the resulting water flow forced about 10 other units to be vacated.

Lexington Park, MD – Sprinkler system activated for residential fire; No injuries reported

On Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 4:34 a.m., firefighters from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department were alerted to 22278 Scott Circle in Lexington Park, for the residential fire alarm.

Dispatchers received a 911 call from the alarm company reporting a 1st floor smoke detector sounding. Less than 2 minutes later, the resident called 911 reporting the house was on fire.

The assignment was then upgraded to a structure fire, bringing firefighters from Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, and Hollywood to the scene.

Crews arrived on the scene to find a two-story residence with smoke showing.

Upon further investigation, firefighters located and extinguished a small fire in a closet.

Firefighters checked for extensions and searched the residence which yielded negative results.

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal responded to the scene to continue the investigation.

Preliminary investigation revealed the residents were alerted to the fire by the smoke detectors in the home, the resident discovered the fire and called 911.

Officials want to continue the importance of citizens replacing smoke detectors yearly and making sure they work properly. The smoke detectors and residential sprinkler system were both present and activated, with the sprinkler system controlling the fire until the arrival of fire department personnel.

The owner is identified as Ronald Flowers, with the estimated loss of structure and contents valued at $11,000.00

No injuries were reported.

The American Red Cross was requested for three adults and one child.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Southern Regional Office, at 443-550-6831.

Fort Myers Beach, FL – Sprinkler system activated for house fire; No injuries reported

An electrical hazard caused a small home fire on Dundee Road in Fort Myers Beach on Wednesday, officials said.

Crews responded to the home at 10:30 a.m. to respond to the hazard, which ended up being a fire, according to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department.

The home sustained minimal damage because of a Residential Fire Sprinkler System the owners installed during a home renovation a few years back, crews said.

No one was injured, and the homeowners’ pets were safely located.

Petaluma, CA – Sprinkler System activated for residential structure fire

Two adults including an elderly man were displaced by a residential fire in Petaluma on Sunday afternoon, Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Medeiros said.

The fire department received a report of a structure fire on the 1800 block of Fieldstone Lane at about 3:10 p.m. Sunday and dispatched the battalion chief, an engine, a ladder truck and an ambulance to the residence.

Upon arrival, firefighters saw that light smoke was coming from the front door of the home, Medeiros said. Firefighters quickly gained access, and they found a couch fire that had activated the overhead fire sprinkler and an elderly man who needed assistance to evacuate.

The man was evaluated for smoke inhalation and transported to Petaluma Valley Hospital for a further evaluation by a doctor, Medeiros said. A woman was outside when firefighters arrived on scene and was not injured.

An additional engine arrived to assist crews with salvage and overhaul to minimize further water damage from the sprinkler, Medeiros said.

The City of Petaluma Building Department and Fire Prevention responded to the scene. After an investigation, the residence was “red tagged,” due to the sprinkler system being activated, and the utilities shut off.

The preliminary fire investigation determined that the fire possibly started from an overloaded extension cord under the couch, but the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, Medeiros said.

“Had it not been for the activation of the sprinkler system this fire would have grown to become much larger,” Medeiros said. Smoke detectors also alerted the residents to the fire.

The displaced adults have family who can care for them until their home is safe again, Medeiros said. Smoke and water damage is estimated at $25,000.

Rancho Adobe Fire and Cal Fire were also on the scene.

Napa, CA – Residential fire sprinklers stop kitchen fire after family dog accidentially turned on stove burner; No injuries reported

When Napa Fire responded to a report of white smoke coming from a residence in central Napa Thursday morning, firefighters were greeted with two surprising sights.

First: An automatic sprinkler had already put out the kitchen fire.

Second: The fire had most likely started when one of the family’s German shepherds “counter-surfed,” accidentally turning on a stove burner underneath a bag of groceries, Capt. Steve Becker said.

This wasn’t an unprecedented cause, Becker said. “Dogs counter-surfing have caused more than one fire,” he said.

The fire, reported at 8:40 a.m., was located in a residence on the D Street Alley.

Because the home was equipped with automatic sprinklers, the kitchen sustained minor damage, Becker said. No one was injured, he said.

Castro Valley, CA – Fire that started in chimney stopped from spreading thanks to attic fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Fire crews quickly knocked down a one-alarm blaze that started in a chimney and spread to a home’s attic Saturday afternoon in Castro Valley, fire officials said.

The fire was reported about 1:20 p.m. at a home in the 25000 block of Palomares Road, according to the Alameda County Fire Department.

Sprinklers in the home’s attic assisted fire crews, who kept the blaze from spreading to the rest of the house, a fire department spokeswoman said.

No one was injured and the residents were not displaced.

American Canyon, CA – Residential fire sprinkler system instrumental in containing fire so residents could get out

Eight people escaped from a house fire Wednesday night, aided by a fire sprinkler system that helped with early suppression, the American Canyon Fire Protection District reported.

Firefighters responded at 2:05 a.m. to a reported structure fire in the 800 block of Spring Mountain Lane. Engine 11 and Engine 311 arrived to heavy black smoke coming from the residence and reports of a trapped resident, the district said in a news release.

After a complete search by firefighters and assisting agencies, all residents were accounted for.

Mutual aid was provided by Vallejo Fire Department, Napa County Fire Department and Napa City Fire Department.

Eight victims were transported to area hospitals for minor smoke inhalation, the district said.

A residential fire sprinkler system was instrumental in providing early suppression and egress for the residents, the district said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Big Springs, CO – Residential explosion suppressed by sprinkler system

On Friday, July 3, 2020, at 7 p.m., there was a small explosion within a residence in the 200 block of Alpine Drive. Specific cause of the explosion is unknown. The fire was suppressed by the sprinkler system of the home. One party was transported to the hospital with burns. Nederland is working with multiple agencies to secure a search warrant to complete a further investigation. At this time, the situation is stabilized and there is no immediate threat to the area. We will provide additional information as it comes available.

On Sunday, July 5, 2020, the Nederland Fire Department released an evening update. “The investigation and safety operations will be continuing tomorrow on the 200 block of Alpine Drive”.

On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Nederland Fire Department will see another full day of investigation, medical standby and fire suppression on the 200 block of Alpine Drive. Nederland Fire is supporting the various agencies involved by ensuring crew safety and support to operations. Firefighters have indicated that between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. there will be a controlled detention at the home on Alpine Drive. Neighboring homes have been notified if they need to evacuate. If you have not been notified, there is no need to evacuate but we strongly encourage that you remain in your homes during this time.

At 4:15 p.m. a new reverse 911 went out to the public stating that the detonations would continue throughout the night and into tomorrow. During this time the bomb squad is detonating small amounts of materials that are unstable and cannot be removed from the property. The Nederland Fire Department remains on scene to watch for fire and keep the area safe during the ongoing operation.

The Mountain-Ear will continue to share information about this story as it is made available to us.

Nolensville, TN – Residential sprinkler system stops kitchen fire from spreading

A sprinkler system saved a Nolensville home from potentially significant fire damage.

The Nolensville Volunteer Fire Department, Arrington Fire & Rescue and Williamson Fire-Rescue Station 18 were dispatched to the 4900 block of Maxwell Landing Drive for a reported residential structure fire.

An engine arrived on the scene within four minutes of dispatch to find a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by the residential fire sprinkler system, according to the Nolensville Volunteer Fire Department. Crews remained on scene from approximately 30 minutes to check for extension, ventilating the home and assisting the homeowner in removing water released by the sprinkler to reduce potential water damage.

Taneytown, MD – Fire sprinklers keep fire contained to garage after fire pit ashes are incorrectly discarded

A house fire caused by fire pit ashes displaced two Taneytown residents after their garage caught fire in the 200 block of Colbert Street on Sunday night, according to fire officials.

The homeowner was alone in the house when a smoke detector alerted him to the fire, according to Mike Glass, public information officer for Taneytown fire company. The other resident was away at the time, he said. The Office of the State Fire Marshal identified the owner as Alan Sadowski.

Six fire companies responded after the initial call went out at about 8:54 p.m., Glass said, and those first on scene said there was a large fire in the attached garage. A sprinkler system in the house kept the fire mostly contained to the garage, but flames spread to the second floor of the single-family home where the bedrooms are, he said. Fire apparatus returned from the scene at approximately 11 p.m.

Improperly discarded ashes were the cause of the accidental fire, according to a news release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.