Category Archives: Retail

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.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fire sprinklers eliminate automotive repair shop fire (Hoover, AL)

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Fire crews arrived to an early afternoon fire that began in a paint booth of an automotive repair shop. The shop’s fire sprinkler system doused the flames, and no injuries were reported. 

“This is a good example of what sprinklers do,” Hoover fire Executive Officer Rusty Lowe said. “These prevented a fire from becoming a lot larger and causing more damage and perhaps even injuries.”

Apartment Building, Dry Cleaner, Residential, Retail

Two structural fires are controlled by fire sprinklers (McKinney, TX)

Two fires that occurred recently had two items in common — fire sprinklers were in place and minimal structural damage occurred. The first fire, which took place in an apartment kitchen, was contained by a single fire sprinkler. A dry cleaning store sustained the other fire after business hours, and two fire sprinklers helped to control the fire until fire crews came. Fire Marshall Andrew Barr further emphasized fire sprinklers value when he said, “These two successful sprinkler saves demonstrate the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in two very different environments – an apartment complex and a commercial building. Had a sprinkler system, or automatic fire suppression system, not been present in either building, the outcome may have been very different.”

Retail, Shopping Mall

Fire sprinkler credited with saving ten businesses from fire destruction (Bremerton, WA)

A fire that started in the kitchen of a restaurant activated the unit’s alarm as well as its fire sprinklers. The sprinkler system extinguished most of the fire, which was contained to the kitchen, before fire crews arrived.

In 1998 in the same location, a different restaurant had a fire break out in their kitchen. However the outcome of that fire was quite different – that restaurant, which did not have fire sprinklers, sustained an estimated $1.2 million loss. Comparatively, the restaurant fire that was protected with a fire sprinkler system sustained an estimated $5,000 in property loss.
 
According to Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue spokesperson Ileana LiMarzi, “The fire was significant enough that three sprinkler heads were activated. Without the activation of the sprinkler system this fire would have quickly spread throughout the structure and potentially destroyed the nine other businesses housed in the building.”

No injuries were reported due to the fire.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fire at sporting goods showroom extinguished by sprinkler system (Hood River, OR)

Fire crews were called to investigate a fire. Upon arrival, fire crews found a fire fully extinguished by a single fire sprinkler in the Dakine showroom. The fire was confined to a small portion of one wall, with minor smoke damage to the remaining products in the show room. They said an electrical failure of one of the heating elements caused a shower of sparks and molten aluminum to fall down onto the backpacks and garments on the showroom walls below, starting the fire. “Fire sprinklers saved this building,” Fire Chief Devon Wells said. “The fire was quickly put out and fire damage was kept to a minimum.”

Other - Retail, Retail

Fire at thrift store was contained thanks to sprinkler system (Portsmouth, VA)

The owner said he stayed at his store because he closed late. At around 5:00 a.m. he heard a loud pop at the front of the store and then saw the cash register and front counter area in flames. Battalion Chief Danny Miller said the store’s sprinklers activated, which kept the fire from spreading. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fire contained by sprinkler system at local business (Buford, GA)

Firefighters responded to a Pak Mail after a passerby reported seeing smoke coming from the door of the business. According to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Capt. Tommy Rutledge, crews found a fire smoldering in the back room. The sprinkler system had activated. “The sprinkler system kept the fire at bay and prevented the flames from spreading past the room of origin,” Rutledge explained. “This is a prime example of the effectiveness of fire sprinklers to prevent destruction of an entire building from fire.”