Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Branson, MO – Balcony fire at condominium building contained by sprinkler system September 21, 2015 viking210 The Branson Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire last Friday morning. According to a press release, reports stated that heavy black smoke was coming from the back side of one of the Vineyard Condominiums located off Missouri 376. “Upon investigation we discovered a fire had started on the wood deck material and extended up the railing and exterior wall,” Fire Captain Scott Cizek said. “Our crews discovered one fire sprinkler head above the deck had contained the fire.” The fire sprinkler activated automatically, which initiated the fire alarm where occupants evacuated the building. The probable cause of the fire could have been due to cigarettes not being fully put out according to the press release. “Upon investigation it was discovered the fire had smoldered for quite some time causing deep charring on part of the wood deck and railing. We could not rule out cigarette smoking material as a possible cause,” Division Chief Randy Fogle said. The press release stated that “firefighters encourage those using cigarette materials to properly extinguish cigarettes and place them in fire-resistant containers.” According to Fire Chief Ted Martin, lit cigarette fires often occur on these types of properties. “Unfortunately in multi-family dwelling properties such as condos and apartments, we see a lot of cigarettes tossed over balcony railings to the ground level, accidentally dropped between the decking materials, or discarded inappropriately in containers as simple as plastic planter pots,” Martin said. The press release did not mention any injuries or people harmed.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Hagerstown, MD – Single sprinkler extinguishes residential kitchen fire August 3, 2015 viking210 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.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Tampa, FL – Condo fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Lightning strike possible cause May 26, 2015 viking210 A fire that may have been sparked by a lightning strike was quickly extinguished by a sprinkler system at a condominium complex at 4115 Chatham Oak Court, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said Sunday. Residents said they thought they smelled something burning after the lightning strike on the roof of the complex late Saturday, but they could not locate a fire, according to fire officials. But a small blaze smoldered in the roof before it burned through the ceiling of unit 222 some time later, fire officials said. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross helped families find temporary housing. Fire officials did not say how many families were affected nor provide the time of the blaze.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Grande Prairie, AB, Canada – Condominium fire confined to one suite by sprinkler system May 21, 2015 viking210 On Sunday, the Grande Prairie Fire Department (GPFD) responded to reports of a fire at Grande Plaza Condos on 92 Avenue, near Resources Road. Firefighters found the alarm system indicating a sprinkler activation on the first floor and then discovered a fire in one of the suites. Tony Lutzmann, the platoon chief on duty, said a heat-activated sprinkler in the suite went off and controlled the fire. “In this case, obviously, there was a large enough fire that there was enough heat to set a sprinkler head off,” he said. The fire was confined to one suite, which sustained smoke and water damage. “Basically, it’s what we call a room and contents fire,” said Lutzmann. “It didn’t spread beyond the suite of origin and that’s what exactly what a sprinkler system is designed to do, is to catch a fire in its early stages and prevent it spreading into a larger, more serious fire.”
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Woodbridge, VA – Sprinklers contain fire in townhouse occupied by two adults and five children May 19, 2015 viking210 Two adults and five children are safe after a townhouse fire Sunday evening in Woodbridge, Va., officials said. The fire happened around 7 p.m. in the 2700 block of Corbin Court, Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department said. Crews found a kitchen fire contained by the home’s sprinkler system when they got to the home. Residents inside of the home were safely evacuated, officials added. The Red Cross is helping two adults and five children who were all displaced by the fire. Damages as of now are estimated at $10,000. Officials said the reduction in damages is due to the quick activation of the sprinkler system inside of the home. The fire remains under investigation.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Branson, MO – Sprinkler system helps contain condominium fire May 11, 2015 viking210 A Branson-area condominium was evacuated Saturday afternoon after flames broke out in one unit. According to the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, crews were dispatched to the fire at 21 Stillwaters Trail in Indian Point just before 2:30 p.m. Officials say an Indian Point police officer who first arrived on scene and a maintenance worker extinguished the flames. Crews say someone left a plastic cooler on an electric stove, which started the blaze. “This could have been bad. This is a large building with numerous tourists. The fire sprinkler activated with audible alarms. The alarm company notified us and everyone is safe,” stated Fire Marshal Jim Harding. Nobody was in the unit when the fire broke out. Both the Indian Point officer and maintenance worker were evaluated on scene by Taney County Ambulance for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Hugo, MN – Sprinklers credited with containing fire to one room of townhome April 16, 2015 viking210 No one was injured after a fire broke out at a group of townhomes in Hugo on Thursday morning. The fire was reported at 4625 Victor Path when a woman awakened to the smell of smoke and called the fire department. Crews from Hugo, White Bear Lake and Forest Lake all responded. Firefighters say the fire started on the deck and moved into the unit. A sprinkler system is credited with confining the fire to one room of the house, which was the main living room. No other units were damaged. The woman was the only person home at the time and escaped uninjured.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Stillwater, MN – Townhouse fire controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported February 3, 2015 viking210 Just before 10 p.m. Jan. 30, firefighters were called to a townhouse fire in the 2800 block of Brewers Lane. When firefighters arrived, smoke was coming from the eight-unit townhouse complex. Crews entered the unoccupied townhome, and found a sprinkler-controlled fire on the first floor. Firefighters extinguished the fire and ventilated the building. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. “The fire sprinkler in this building prevented significant fire damage to the complex and allowed the residents of the attached units to escape without injury,” a post on the Stillwater Fire Department’s Facebook page reads.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Toms River, NJ – Fire sprinklers praised for effectiveness in condominium fire January 16, 2015 viking210 A fire at the North Point Hollow condominium complex Thursday night caused only minor heat, smoke and water damage, after the condominium’s sprinkler system was activated by the fire, said James Mercready, director of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. Smoke alarms alerted a neighbor, who called the fire in at 5:25 p.m., he said. The Pleasant Plains and Silverton fire companies responded and upon arrival, Pleasant Plains Fire Chief David George forced entry into the first-floor unit and found a heavy smoke condition, Mercready said. Upon further investigation, George found a single fire sprinkler activated and spraying water in a bedroom where it appears the fire originated, he said. “The effectiveness of fire sprinklers has once again been proven as there was only minor heat, smoke and water damage in the affected unit, with no structural damage occurring to the building,” Mercready said.
Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Lexington Park, MD – Townhouse fire caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials put out by sprinkler system December 29, 2014 viking210 What authorities are calling “carelessly discarded smoking materials” sparked a fire in a St. Mary’s County home early Sunday morning, Dec. 28. The home’s sprinkler system activated quickly and extinguished the fire. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the blaze occurred at a two-story, middle unit townhouse on F. Radford Lane in Lexington Park and was reported shortly after 7 a.m. “No one was home at the time of the fire,” stated Dfm. Caryn McMahon. “A neighbor smelled the odor of smoke and called 911. The fire originated in a small trashcan in the upstairs bedroom. The family has been temporarily displaced and is being assisted by the American Red Cross.” Fifteen firefighters from Bay District and Patuxent Naval Air Station were dispatched to the one-alarm blaze. No injuries were reported.
