Apartment Building, Residential New Haven, CT – Fire in basement of apartment building knocked down by sprinkler system January 16, 2017 viking210 City firefighters quickly knocked down a basement fire Wednesday afternoon at the Bella Vista Apartments in eastern New Haven. Crews arrived at Building E of the complex to find a minor fire in the basement there at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Battalion Chief William Gould said at the scene. Much of the fire had been knocked down by the building’s sprinkler system by the time firefighters arrived but they called in a full assignment of trucks because of the number of people who live in the building. “The fire extended somewhat in the (chute) but not up to upper floors so they were able to extinguish it in the area of origin,” Gould said. Firefighters were able to put out the rest of the fire within minutes. No one was hurt in the fire, Gould confirmed. “The sprinklers do their jobs, they save lives, keeping the fire in check,” he said.
Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise Pleasantville, NJ – Sprinklers help extinguish mattress fire at high-rise apartment building; No injuries reported January 16, 2017 viking210 City firefighters extinguished a mattress fire Tuesday evening in one of the city’s new downtown high-rise buildings. No injuries were reported in the fire, which was reported 7:23 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at apartment 514 in the Main at City Center, 49 S. Main St. Water damage was reported in the unit and in the apartments below, according to police Capt. Matt Hartman. Pleasantville firefighters brought the fire under control at 7:35 p.m., Hartman said. They found heavy smoke on the fifth floor when they arrived, and Pleasantville Police Department Squad 2 evacuated the building’s occupants. Their efforts included carrying disabled residents down stairwells. Pleasantville Fire Department Shift 1, under the direction of Battalion Chief Ken Crawford, extinguished the fire with the help of the building’s sprinkler system.
Apartment Building, Residential Harrisonburg, VA – Fire department credits sprinkler system for extinguishing grease fire at apartment building January 15, 2017 viking210 According to a release by the Harrisonburg Fire Department, a residential sprinkler system is to thank for saving a city apartment complex. Around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9th, firefighters responded to the 100 block of Chestnut Ridge Drive. Once crews arrived, they discovered a grease fire, which started on the stove, was already extinguished by a residential sprinkler system. Although the sprinkler system uses water, that’s not how they recommend you put out a grease fire. They say the best method is to put a lid on the pan to smother the grease or to use a fire extinguisher. Captain Mike Armstrong, deputy fire marshal with the Harrisonburg Fire Department, said you never want to pour water on a grease fire yourself. “The amount of water that is being put out far exceeds what you or I would put on that pan, so the system will suppress the fire,” added Armstrong. While sprinkler systems aren’t common in homes and aren’t required by state code, they can help save money in an emergency. “In the case of residential sprinkler systems, fire damage and cost, is reduced one tenth to one twentieth, so you’re talking ten to 20 times less damage and cost in the end,” explained Armstrong. Capt. Armstrong also recommends keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen area, but not right next to your stove because of its accessibility if there are flames.
Apartment Building, Residential Springfield, IL – No injuries in apartment arson fire controlled with help from sprinkler system January 15, 2017 viking210 Four apartments in the Near North Village building at Fourth and Madison streets sustained water damage Tuesday night after a fire was started in a hallway. Springfield Fire Chief Barry Helmerichs said someone apparently set a blanket on fire in a fifth-floor hallway about 6:10 p.m. The fire activated the building’s sprinkler system, and firefighters who responded spent most of their time getting the sprinklers shut off. Water from the sprinklers damaged one apartment on the fourth floor, two on the third floor and one on the second floor, Helmerichs said. No one was injured. The fire is under investigation.
Residential, Single Family Home Idaho Falls, ID – Home fire sprinkler system assists firefighters in extinguishing fire at residence January 15, 2017 viking210 A fire at an Idaho Falls home on Wednesday is estimated to have caused $30,000 in damages. The blaze was reported at approximately 11:17 a.m. Firefighters with the Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to the residence at 3612 Summit Run Trail, where they found smoke coming from the basement. The fire was eventually extinguished and salvage and overhaul activities were then completed. There were no injuries reported. The residents were able to exit the home after being alerted of the fire by smoke detectors. The fire was also held in check by an in-home fire sprinkler system.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Derry, NH – Sprinkler system contains fire at pizzeria, protects neighboring businessses January 14, 2017 viking210 A small fire forced the evacuation of several businesses on the Londonnderry/Derry town line Monday afternoon. A fire broke out in a back closet of Juliano’s Italian Pizzeria at 12:33 p.m., triggering the sprinkler system and sounding an alarm among all the businesses in the strip mall, including TNT Fireworks next door, said Londonderry Fire Battalion Chief Mike McQuillen.” They had a storage closet which caught fire,” McQuillen said. “Looks like a light overheated.” The fire was contained to the closet, and the only casualties were some rags, boxes and a shelving unit.” The sprinkler system activated and did its job,” McQuillen added. “When we arrived we were able to extinguish the fire.”The responding fire companies were able to clear the scene exactly one hour after they left the station, at 1:33 p.m.
Other Business, Place of Worship Bartlett, IL – Sprinkler system holds fire in check, protecting suburban landmark BAPS Cultural Center January 14, 2017 viking210 A fire that started in a large commercial dryer at the BAPS Cultural Center in Bartlett last week was held in place by a sprinkler until fire crews arrived, preventing the possible loss of a suburban landmark, authorities say. Occupants of the building at 1851 S. Route 59 were quickly notified to evacuate by the fire alarm system at 9:39 p.m. Jan. 3, Damage was limited to the dryer and smoke damage to the immediate area around it.” The building where the fire occurred is very large and unique,” Bartlett Fire Protection District Fire Chief Michael Falese said. “Without a fire sprinkler system, this could have been a very significant fire with millions of dollars of damage and a loss of a landmark facility.”
Apartment Building, Residential Fayetteville, NC – Arson fire at apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler system January 13, 2017 viking210 Residents of a building in West Park Apartments in Fayetteville were evacuated about 9 a.m. Sunday after one of their neighbors threatened to kill himself by setting his apartment on fire, authorities said. The Fayetteville Fire Department said a small fire was set but quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system. The Police Department said the man was taken into emergency custody for a mental evaluation. The Police Department had no record that a fire was set. West Park Apartments is off Raeford Road on Laneridge Way and Fountain Grove Loop in western Fayetteville.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Redmond, OR – Downed power line causes fire at wood products business; Sprinklers contain blaze January 13, 2017 viking210 A downed power line fell onto a roof at Redmond’s Bright Wood Corp., sparking a fire in an electrical box Sunday morning, officials said. A sprinkler system contained the blaze until power was shut off, but damage and expected repair costs still totaled an estimated $400,000. Redmond fire crews were called out around 10:20 a.m. to the Bright Wood mill at 630 Southeast First Street, said Fire Marshal Traci Cooper. Firefighters arrived to find the downed power lines and a fire in an electrical box in a mill building, Cooper said. The sprinkler system activated and contained the fire until Pacific Power could shut off electricity to the area, she added. Fire crews then ventilated the building to remove smoke and ensure the blaze was extinguished. The fire marshal said the cause of the downed power line was not known, though freezing rain had been reported in the area.
Office Building, Retail Las Vegas, NV – Restroom fire at mixed-use retail and office center extinguished by sprinkler system January 12, 2017 viking210 An automatic fire sprinkler put out a small fire in a restroom this afternoon at Tivoli Village, according to a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue news release. Firefighters were called to the complex at 302 S. Rampart Boulevard near Alta Drive just before 5:15 p.m. When they arrived, smoke was coming out an outside restroom. Firefighters found where the fire occurred and confirmed it was already extinguished by the fire sprinkler. Firefighters assisted with shutting the water off and cleaning up the area. The only item that burned was the motorized paper towel dispenser. Damage was estimated at $250. The restroom is outside near an outside playground area. The incident remains under investigation by Las Vegas Arson Investigators. There were no reported injuries during the incident.
