Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Sterling, VA – Sprinkler system limits spread of fire that started in paint booth

The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that the Jan. 26 fire at a Sterling commercial facility was accidental.

Just before 7:30 p.m., the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a structure fire in a commercial building in the 45000 block of Elmwood Court in Sterling.

The initial caller reported a fire in an interior paint booth which was followed by a call from the fire alarm company reporting a water flow alarm inside the structure. Fire and rescue crews from Kincora, Sterling, Cascades, Ashburn, Lansdowne, Moorefield, and Fairfax County responded to the incident, Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Laura Rinehart said.

Upon arrival, firefighters found active fire and smoke conditions coming from the two-story commercial occupancy. Fire crews deployed hoselines to initiate an attack on the fire. The building’s sprinkler system had activated, limiting the fire spread to other portions of the building. One occupant, the initial caller, was located safely outside of the structure upon arrival of fire and rescue units, Rinehart said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire with assistance from the sprinkler system, containing the fire to the area or origin, preventing extension into adjoining areas of the structure.

The Fire Marshal’s investigation determined the fire to be accidental in nature with $25,000 damage to the structure and $75,000 to the contents. There were no injuries to civilians, though one firefighter on the scene was transported to a local area hospital for evaluation after a medical emergency, Rinehart said.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

DeKalb, IL – Sprinkler system activates to help contain recycling center fire

Recycling materials inside Waste Management’s DeKalb facility caught fire recently and caused an estimated $150,000 in damage to the building, according to a DeKalb Fire Department news release. The department responded at 10:17 a.m. Saturday to a reported fire in the facility at 115 Simonds Ave.  DeKalb Fire Chief Eric Hicks said the fire started in the recycling sorting area inside the building. The cause of the fire is not yet known.  The fire was deeply seated in the recycling materials, which take up one-third of the building, according to the release.

“It’s a recycling center, so anything you can think of that’s recyclable is in there, paper, cardboard,” Hicks said. The building’s sprinklers were activated when firefighters arrived, but piles of the recycling materials had to be taken apart and wet down with a hose line for the fire to be extinguished, according to the release.  A special fan from Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 8 was used to remove the dense smoke from the building.  Hicks said the department does not have to use the ventilation fans often, but they are available to departments around the state for warehouse-type fires in larger buildings.  The fire was under control within five hours, and no one was injured. Sycamore, Cortland, Malta, Hinckley, Maple Park, Waterman and Genoa-Kingston fire departments assisted.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Kiln, MS – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at middle school; Classes canceled two days

Hancock Middle School will resume class as normal Wednesday morning, Assistant Superintendent Donnie Gholston said. School officials had canceled classes because a fire Monday morning set off sprinklers and flooded classrooms.  Maintenance company ServPro and the school’s custodial staff worked Monday and Tuesday to mop up the water and sanitize the school.  Hancock County Emergency Management Director Brian Adam, who is the county’s fire marshal, is leading the investigation into the origin of the fire.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire in mechanical closet of Towne Place Suites hotel put out by sprinkler system

The St. George Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Towne Place Suites, located at 8735 Summa Ave. around 5 p.m. Monday evening.  Firefighters observed dense smoke coming from a downstairs maintenance closet.  The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system.  St. George firefighters conducted a thorough inspection to assure the fire had not spread into walls, attic spaces, or voids between floors of the three-story hotel. No additional fire was discovered.  No injuries were reported in this incident as hotel staff evacuated guests and employees from the building.  The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Santa Barbara, CA – Sprinkler system keeps restaurant fire from spreading

A working sprinkler system prevented a fire from spreading at a Santa Barbara restaurant early Monday morning. Santa Barbara City Fire officials said three fire engines were sent to the first block of East Anapamu Street at 5:39 a.m. for a report of smoke inside the building. Smoke was seen from outside the restaurant. Once firefighters forced their way into the building, they found the source of the fire to be in the kitchen.  Food accidentally left on the stove is believed to be the cause of the fire.  The sprinkler system activated and left two inches of water on the floor. Firefighters worked to get the water out of the restaurant.   Officials said the smoke and water damage is estimated at $10,000.  No injuries were reported. 

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Greenville, NC – Afternoon fire at boat manufacturer extinguished by sprinkler system

Multiple fire and rescue units responded to a fire at Grady-White Boats on Martin Luther King Jr. Highway in Pitt County Monday afternoon.  The call came in around 3:45 p.m. for reports of heavy smoke coming from the building, and the staff was forced to evacuate.  Greenville Fire and Rescue, along with the Staton House Fire Department, responded to the scene, but the sprinkler system had already put out the fire.

“We had a small fire in our small parts area,” said Mark Doggett, who works at Grady-White.  “It was contained very quickly by our sprinkler system. We evacuated all of our people because there is some smoke. Everyone is accounted for. Everybody is safe. Now, we just need to get the smoke out of the plant, get things cleaned up tonight, and get back to work tomorrow.”  Minimal damage is expected but the staff has not been able to return inside because of the smoke.  Staff are expected to be allowed back inside Tuesday at 7 a.m.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

West Des Moines, IA – Officials credit sprinkler system with controlling moving company warehouse fire

Fire crews were called to a fire in an industrial area of West Des Moines just before noon Monday.  Fire broke out at 523 S 18th Street in West Des Moines at Mayflower Transit.  The building holds furniture held for later moving.   Fire officials said a sprinkler system inside the building likely saved the structure.  The cause of the fire is not known and a damage estimate was not yet available.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Auburn, WA – Hallway fire at casino doused by sprinkler system

Between Jan. 9 and 15, the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 291 requests for service, among them the following:  Hallway fire: 5:05 p.m., (south Auburn). Having responded to a report of smoke curling out of a room at the Muckleshoot Casino, crews found in a hallway a small fire that had already been drowned by the automatic sprinkler system. Subsequent investigation determined that the fire had been an accident.

 

Residential, Residential High Rise

Shreveport, LA – Sprinkler system puts out fire on 10th floor of apartment building

Residents of the Highland View Apartments were evacuated last night after firefighters responded to an apartment fire around 10:50 PM. It happened on the 10th floor of the apartment building in the 1800 block of Fairfield Avenue and thankfully no one was hurt.  Officials tell us the sprinkler system actually put out the fire before fire crews arrived.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  

Apartment Building, Residential

Fort Dodge, IA – Sprinkler system credited with extinguishing apartment blaze

A sprinkler system put out a fire in a Fort Dodge apartment building Wednesday night and no one was injured.  The incident at Evergreen Estates, 1543 27th Ave. N., was reported at 10:27 p.m.  Fire Department Capt. Paul Neeson said a fire ignited on the stove in a first floor apartment in the three-story building. He said the heat from the fire caused a sprinkler head to activate and douse the flames.  “It did its job,” he said of the sprinkler.

The fire was out when firefighters arrived.  Neeson said most of the building’s residents evacuated it by themselves.  The damaged apartment can’t be occupied, Neeson said Wednesday night, but all the other residents of the building were able to return their apartments.  Neeson said the fire was caused by something being left unattended on the hot stove.  Fort Dodge firefighters and police were on the scene until after 11 p.m.

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