Category Archives: Other – Retail

Other - Retail, Retail

Methuen, MA – Sprinkler system activated for late night fire at retail store; No injuries reported

A late-night fire Sunday ignited in a store at The Loop, fire officials said. 

An electrical fire occurred near a register at Olympia in the retail center located at 90 Pleasant Valley St. 

The fire triggered the store’s sprinkler system, which worked exactly as it’s supposed to, officials said.

“The sprinklers knocked down the majority of it,” said Fire Chief Timothy Sheehy of the blaze. 

No injuries were reported. 

There was smoke and water damage to Olympia, another store nearby, The Loft, as well as a vacant storefront which was last used as an area to administer COVID-19 vaccine. 

Firefighters responded at 10:55 p.m. and there for about two hours. 

Lawrence and Salem, N.H., firefighters responded to Methuen as mutual aid coverage. 

Other - Retail, Retail

Coralville, IA – Sprinkler system activated for overnight fire at business

An overnight fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to a Coralville business.

According to a news release, the Coralville Fire Department was called to Theisen’s, 100 Westcor Dr., around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday. The fire department credits the store’s sprinkler system for suppressing the fire before crews arrived.

The business sustained a small amount of fire damage, as well as light smoke and water damage.

Firefighters remained on scene until 6 a.m. to help with water removal so the business could open on time, the fire department said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is believed to be accidental.

Other - Retail, Retail

Elkhart, IN – Fire at paint shop held in check by sprinkler system until fire crew arrived; No injuries reported

Elkhart Fire Department crews were called to a local paint shop after a motor home inside the shop caught fire.

The blaze was reported around 6:50 p.m. on Friday, March 19, in the 5300 block of Beck Drive.

While en-route multiple 911 callers reported the structure on fire.

A large plume of smoke from the roof was seen by crews arriving at the site.

Employees told crews the fire was actually a large diesel motor home inside a paint booth.  They said they tried to use fire extinguisher but were unsuccessful in putting out the fire.

It took about 90 minutes to douse the flames.

There was no significant structural damage to the building and no firefighter or civilian injuries reported. 

The building was equipped with a fire sprinkler system within the paint booth which held the blaze in check until fire crew arrived.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Sacramento, CA – Sprinklers activated for electrical fire at cigar and liquor store; No injuries reported

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Firefighters were busy in Downtown Sacramento Tuesday night with back-to-back fires.

Approximately 10 people were inside Rodney’s Cigar and Liquor Store at 10th and J streets when smoke filled the store. Investigators believe an electrical fire sparked in the back room.

Crews quickly contained the flames and no injuries were reported.

“The sprinklers went off first, then the alarm went off. I got everybody out of the store as fast as I could,” store clerk Bob said.

Bob says the store has been around since 1923.

Crews worked Tuesday night to repair the sprinkler head system and get it restored.

Earlier, firefighters responded to an apartment complex on C Street after reports of a stovetop fire. 

Other - Retail, Retail

Grand Forks, ND – Boiler room fire put out by fire sprinkler systems

An early morning run for members of the Grand Forks Fire Department. Five engine companies and a ladder truck rolled around 3:30 a.m. to the Wood Products building on South 46th Street.

When crews arrived they discovered smoke in a boiler room. Hot embers in a dust hopper used for fueling the boiler activated the sprinkler system which extinguished the flames. Firefighters working the scene also knocked down some small embers. No structural damage was reported. Crews were on the scene for about two hours monitoring for hot spots. The cause is under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Oxnard, CA – Fire at auto parts business helps stop fire; No injuries reported

The sprinkler system at an auto parts business was credited with assisting firefighters in saving a commercial structure in Oxnard on Monday morning.  

The Oxnard Fire Department responded to a sprinkler activation in the 200 block of south Oxnard Boulevard on Monday at 5:56 a.m.

Upon arrival, fire personnel observed smoke leaving a single-story commercial structure. The first engine company entered the building, found the fire and was able to extinguish the it within 15 minutes.

Although Oxnard battalion chief Steve Reyes added that the business’ sprinkler system played a big role in saving the business.

“I would say the sprinkler system assisted in keeping the fire in check,” said Reyes.

No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available, although two businesses sustained “major” water, smoke and fire damage, according to Reyes.

The fire remains under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Kapolei, HI – Fire sprinklers at clothing store help put out fire; No injuries reported

A fire broke out on the sales floor at the Ross Dress for Less store in Kapolei today, forcing shoppers and employees to evacuate.

Acting Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Carl Otsuka said four fire sprinkler heads activated to extinguish and prevent a further spread of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

HFD said tonight that the cause of the fire is incendiary and turned over the case to the Honolulu Police Department for further investigation. Damage was estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $75,000 to the contents.

Eight units with 24 firefighters responded to the business at the Kapolei Commons shopping center, 4450 Kapolei Parkway just after 11:50 a.m.

When the first unit arrived, firefighters observed items on fire.

In addition to the sprinkler system, firefighters used a fire extinguisher and brought the flames under control at about noon. The fire was extinguished a few minutes later.

Tamara, who declined to give her last name, said she was in the store at about 11:45 a.m. when she smelled smoke and then saw women’s clothing on fire.

Tamara headed to the front of the store to alert employees when she observed a large fire at the men’s clothing rack in another section of the store.

One of the employees used a fire extinguisher in an attempt to extinguish the blaze but “the flames were growing so fast,” she said. “We had to evacuate.”

Tamara called 911.

Other - Retail, Retail

Springfield, VA – Fire at auto shop contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services responded to a reported building fire in the 7600 block of Loisdale Road in the Springfield area of Fairfax County Oct. 6 at 11:51 a.m.

Crews arrived on the scene of a large, two-story auto dealership with smoke coming out of multiple garage bay doors. Crews quickly located fire in and below a vehicle that was being serviced and up on a lift. The fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire contained until it was able to be fully extinguished by firefighters. There were no civilian or fire fighter injuries reported.

Approximately 50 people were in the building when the fire occurred. The fire was discovered in the repair shop bay by the workers in that area.

Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and started in the service bay area. The fire was caused by the arcing of a battery-operated tool that had been doused in gasoline. The tool arced in the operator’s hands and caught fire. The operator dropped the burning tool and it landed in a pool of gasoline. The fire spread to the vehicle being worked on and surrounding combustibles.

No one was displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was not needed. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $51,254.

Other - Retail, Retail

Vancouver, WA – Car on top of auto shop lift caught fire, kept in check by fire sprinklers

A fire sprinkler system helped check the spread of a vehicle fire at a Vancouver-area auto repair shop on Monday, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.

The blaze was reported as a commercial structure fire shortly after 4 p.m. at 7105 N.E. 40th Ave. after a car on top of an auto lift caught fire, the fire department said. Workers tried to put the fire out themselves but were pushed out by smoke.

The shop’s fire sprinkler system activated, keeping the fire in check until it could be extinguished by arriving firefighters. the department said.

No firefighters were injured, but one occupant of the business suffered minor burns to one of his hands. He declined medical treatment.

The fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Other - Retail, Retail

Battle Creek, MI – Fire sprinkler system contained building fire at tile & carpet shop; No injuries reported

Around 1 p.m. today, the Battle Creek Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at Michigan Tile & Carpet at 99 E. Columbia Avenue.

While the building was partially occupied on arrival, occupants were able to exit the building, resulting in no injuries of fatalities.

Upon arrival, one of the rescue cars extended a handline to extinguish the contained fire in the warehouse area. The fire suppression system worked by containing the fire for crews to finish extinguishing.

Loss was minimized due to the multitude of units who arrived on scene. It is estimated by BCPD that Michigan Tile & Carpet experienced a loss of around $45,000 in property and contents damage combined.