Auto Dealership, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinklers limit damage in fire at auto repair shop; No injuries reported

Las Vegas firefighters battled an auto repair shop fire last Thursday night. Fire officials responded to the Decatur Automotive Center in the 1700 block of N. Decatur Boulevard at 8:31 p.m. after dispatchers received numerous calls that there was an explosion in one of the auto repair shops and smoke was coming from the garage doors.  Officials say the Decatur Automotive Center is a strip mall made up a several automotive repair centers and parts shops.

When fire crews arrived on the scene, they say heavy smoke coming out three bay doors of one of the auto repair shops. Firefighters were able to cut the steel doors and found the business full of smoke. Once the smoke was taken out, two autos were found damaged by the fire. Crews put out hot spots in the two autos, the bulk of the fire was held in check by automatic fire sprinklers.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  There were six vehicles in the shop during the fire and two autos were damaged.  The business itself was not damaged by the fire. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

There were no injuries during the incident. Fire officials say business was closed at the time. When the fire started, the fire sprinklers activated and held the fire from spreading until firefighters arrived and made sure it was out. If there were no sprinklers, fire investigators say it’s possible the fire would have spread to the other autos and significant damage would have occurred to the business.  It is estimated that several thousands of dollars of property was saved by the sprinklers and downed production time will be minimal to the business.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Bradenton, FL – Overnight fire at assisted living facility extinguished by sprinklers; No injuries reported

City of Bradenton Fire Department responded to a structure fire started by a dryer early Tuesday morning. Around 1:27 a.m., the fire department arrived to the scene of a multi-residential assisted living facility in the 1000 block of 7th Avenue E.  Heavy smoke was coming from the north wing and main hallways. Thankfully, a sprinkler head was controlling the dryer fire in the laundry room, according to firefighters.  By 1:37 a.m., the fire was extinguished.  Damage is estimated to be about $6,000 and no injuries were reported.  The Bradenton Fire Department is investigating the incident.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fort Worth, TX – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire at Wal-Mart; Damage limited to one aisle

A 36-year-old man lit a fire at a Wal-Mart in far north Fort Worth last week to create a diversion and steal money, but he “chickened out” and left the store empty-handed, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Gilberto Hernandez was charged with arson this week, accused in a fire at the Wal-Mart in the 2400 block of Avondale Haslet Road on July 3. The fire was contained to one aisle and was extinguished by the store’s sprinkler system.  Hernandez, in an interview with arson investigators, admitted setting the fire, according to an affidavit written by investigator M.B. Sims.

Hernandez said he had been “casing” the Wal-Mart for more than two months and had managed to steal a manager’s set of keys, the affidavit said. On July 3, he went to the store with his wife, who was unaware of his plans to set a fire. At the store, Hernandez grabbed a flammable product from the automotive department, spread it on merchandise in the drapes aisle and started a fire with a cigarette lighter.   At a cash register, he told an employee that he smelled smoke. “He said he made this comment so that someone would put the fire out,” the affidavit said. “He said he couldn’t go through with stealing the money after all.”

Investigators obtained surveillance video of Hernandez walking into the drapes aisle with a container of fuel additive, the affidavit said. Photographs and video of him leaving the store were released to news outlets last week and investigators received numerous tips identifying Hernandez as the suspect.  Fort Worth police initially arrested Hernandez at his home Thursday on an unrelated warrant out of Indiana. He remained in the Tarrant County Jail on Tuesday with bail set at $50,000.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Yuma, AZ – Restaurant kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

The Yuma Fire Department said Saturday at about 7:30 am an audible fire alarm was reported going off at the Yuma Palace restaurant, 350 East 32nd Street, by a Yuma Police officer patrolling in the area. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived and confirmed the alarm was signaling water flow to the fire suppression sprinkler system, they also found the smell of smoke coming from the building. The business had not opened for the day and there were no employees on the property.

Firefighters forced entry into the kitchen area finding a sprinkler head was flowing water over the stove area. The water flow was shut down and a fire investigator was called to the scene. It was found that a pot of water had been accidently left heating on the stove top when the business had closed. The water boiled away and the heat ignited material around the cooking surface. The heat from this fire triggered the sprinkler head over that cooking area, stopping the fire spread and extinguishing it.

Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex. Sprinkler systems save lives and protect property.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Hammond, LA – Arson fire at Walmart store contained by sprinkler system

A man is in custody and charged with arson in connection with two fires Saturday afternoon at Northshore Walmart stores. Louisiana State Fire Marshal Chief Butch Browning says 45-year-old Larry Paul Schouest Jr. started the fires at the Hammond and Amite Walmart stores as a distraction after stealing laptop computers from the stores.

Officials say the fires were set in the store’s pool chemical areas, but the sprinkler systems kept the fires from getting out of control. Fire crews evacuated the stores. No one was hurt. Fire marshal deputies say they also obtained a confession from Schouest that he set a fire on June 27 at the Ponchatoula Walmart, where he also stole laptops.  Browning says Schouest was charged with two counts of aggravated arson and six counts of felony theft. He was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish prison.

Other Business

New Bedford, MA – Fire officials credit sprinkler system in controlling fire at uniform and linen company

New Bedford Fire Department was called to a two-alarm commercial fire at 335 Church Street. The building, which houses “Clean Uniforms and More” went up in flames just after 5pm on Saturday. Officials say no one was in the building at the time of the fire. When crews arrived, there was heavy smoke and active sprinklers inside the facility.  The New Bedford Fire Chief on scene says the sprinklers made the difference.

New Bedford Engines 9 and 8 are both stationed about a mile away from the scene, but engine 9 didn’t respond. It wasn’t in service Saturday because of budget restrictions.  The city saves money with a rotating schedule for closing a station daily for a 24-hour period.

“I would have been happy to have four additional bodies on scene in order to deal with coverage and whatnot, but again I have to deal with the fiscal responsibilities that I’m given. The resources that I’m given I have to work with,” said New Bedford Fire Chief, Michael Gomes. Officials told NBC 10 because of the working sprinkler system Engine 9 not being in service wasn’t really a factor.  Investigators believe the fire started in the area of a sorting table and was mostly contained.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation but officials are not calling this fire suspicious.

Apartment Building, Residential

Reading, PA – Fire in apartment kitchen put out by sprinkler system

A kitchen fire Saturday in a third-floor unit forced the evacuation of Penns Crossing Apartments in Spring Township, officials reported. Fire crews responded at 12:35 p.m. to a report of smoke in an apartment at 1400 W. Wyomissing Court.  Troy Hatt, township deputy fire marshal, said a small kitchen fire was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

“The important thing,” Hatt said, “is that the sprinkler system worked.” Occupants of the complex, which has one- and two-bedroom units occupied by tenants 62 years or older, were allowed back into their apartments in late afternoon, Hatt said.  The sprinkler and alarm systems had to be reset before occupants could return to the building off Route 724 between Sinking Spring and Lincoln Park.  There was no significant fire damage, Hatt said, but some apartments sustained water damage. Construction crews were on site Saturday evening.  Township authorities were assisted by fire and rescue units from surrounding municipalities.

Apartment Building, Residential

Mercer Island, WA – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Shortly after noon on July 6, Mercer Island and Bellevue Fire Department units responded to the Mercer Apartments in downtown Mercer Island for a fire that started in one of the unit’s kitchens, and was ultimately extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

A fire started on a stove, activating the building’s fire alarm system and initiating the response. The fire extended into the cabinetry above, and produced a large amount of smoke that filled the unit and the adjacent hallway, on the fifth floor of the building. The activated sprinklers caused a heavy water flow into the hallway, adjacent units and through the ceiling of multiple units on the floor below.

Even though the fire was completely extinguished by the automatic sprinklers, a coordinated ventilation and salvage effort was still needed by the multiple fire units that responded. Occupants were displaced for more than two hours while the smoke and water was cleared. Nobody was allowed back into the affected areas of the building until the atmosphere was determined safe through the fire department’s air monitoring equipment. No injuries were reported, and investigations are ongoing.

 

Apartment Building, Residential

Richmond, TX (No Media Coverage) – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment cooking fire

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE*** On 06/27/2017 Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to respond to an apartment fire. The Richmond Fire Department was on scene.

Upon arrival we contacted the Incident Commander with Richmond Fire Department. He advised they respond for an fire alarm. Upon arrival they found one sprinkler head had activated in an apartment and had extinguished a kitchen fire on the stove. He also said there was no damage to the kitchen except for water damage. This fire occurred on the second floor.

The resident stated that he was cooking chicken with some cooking oil in a pan. He stated that he went to the bathroom while the chicken was cooking. He stated that while he was in the bathroom, he saw and smelled smoke. The sprinkler system went off and extinguished the fire.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Farmers Branch, TX (No Media Coverage) – Warehouse fire kept in check by sprinkler system

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE888 On June 25, 2017 at 12:08 pm, a fire occurred at 4263 Simonton Rd., Farmers Branch, TX 75244. The business occupying the warehouse is Friesing Investments. Fire originated at an overheated motor for an exhaust fan in the shop off the warehouse. Occupants sprayed with extinguisher and a sprinkler head activated and kept the fire from extending into the walls.

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