Category Archives: Department Store

Department Store, Retail

Sprinklers control fire at retail store (Prescott, AZ)

A fire began in a retail store at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 10 when the glass spheres that were in the window display acted as a magnifying glass when the sun shone through them. The heat that ensued caused the fire, and the fire sprinkler system helped to contain the flames until fire crews arrived.

Fire officials from the Prescott Fire Department stated, “The activated sprinkler kept the extension of the fire to a minimum, saving several adjacent businesses.”

No one was injured in the incident

Department Store, Retail

Macy’s flagship Manhattan store saved with help from sprinkler system (New York City, NY)

The fire broke out at the iconic Macy’s store a little after eight and the store was filled with shoppers. Everyone got out without injury and folks were let back in to collect their personal belongings once the fire was extinguished. The blaze was in the basement and the store’s sprinkler system kept the blaze from spreading onto the upper floors of the store. It was the store’s sprinklers that actually saved the store because it stopped the fire from spreading.

Department Store, Retail

Fire sprinkler system aids firefighters in suspected arson fire (Amherst, NY)

A fire that broke out in a department store on the afternoon of August 15 is now being ruled as “suspicious” by the Amherst Police Department. A stack of men’s shorts spontaneously caught on fire, and the store was evacuated while the store’s fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading. There were no reported injuries from the incident, and the store was slated to open the following day.

*** Blog Editor’s Note: Tell us what you think of the coverage by WKBW News and Megan Erbacher. Only the substantial heat from potentially deadly and damaging fire will operate a fire sprinkler, not smoke. Also, the sprinkler saved the store from experiencing a much larger fire, where the damage would have been much worse, and could have possibly caused injury or loss of life. ***

Department Store, Retail

Fire sprinklers suppress arson fire at retail store (Fort Pierce, FL)

Fire officials are ruling the cause of a fire that started in the early afternoon at a retail store as arson. The fire started in the paper products aisle, and the fire sprinkler kicked on to keep the fire in control until fire crews arrived. 

“The fire sprinklers did exactly what they were supposed to do. If it wasn’t for the fire sprinklers, there would have been more extensive damage,” Fire District Captain Derek Foxx said.