Rockford, IL – Beauty supply store fire caused by unattended incense put out by sprinkler system

No one was injured this morning when a fire broke out inside a Rockford beauty supply store, a fire investigator said.

Rockford firefighters were called at 9:18 a.m. to the fire at State Beauty Supply, 4010 E. State St., according to the fire department.

Arson investigator Mike Schnaper said the fire began in the back of the shop. It was accidental, he said. Fire Division Chief Matt Knott said the fire was caused by incense left burning.

The fire was extinguished by the store’s sprinkler system and smoke and water damage is estimated at $10,000, according to the fire department.”

The damage was very well controlled by the sprinklers,” Schnaper said, but the shop isn’t usable at this time.

Oconomowoc, WI – Sprinkler system contains cooking fire at senior apartment building

Oconomowoc officials responded to a fire near 3rd and Main Street Thursday, December 29th.

Authorities say this was a cooking fire and it was out before firefighters arrived at the scene.

According to fire officials, 11 people have been displaced as a result of water damage from the sprinklers. Some will stay with family and others are being helped by the American Red Cross.

Two people suffered smoke inhalation but were not taken to the hospital.

Richfield, MN – Fire on 6th floor of condominium building held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries

Richfield firefighters responded to a kitchen fire on the 6th floor of the Gramercy Park Cooperative condominium complex around 2 p.m. December 18.  A sprinkler system in the complex, located across from Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, kept the fire in check until crews could arrive, according to Richfield Fire Chief Wayne Kewitsch, a staunch advocate of fire sprinkler systems in private residences.  The fire resulted in no injuries. The cause was ruled to accidental, according to Kewitsch.

 

Norfolk, VA – Fire at downtown high rise office building doused by sprinkler system

A floor buffer caused a cleaning solvent to catch fire Wednesday in the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Norfolk. Crews were called to the building, located at E. Charlotte Street and Monticello Avenue, for a fire alarm at 7:14 p.m. The call was later upgraded to a fire.  Fire officials say the fire was sparked as crews cleaned the building, when a buffer ignited a cleaning solvent. That activated the building’s sprinkler system. By the time firefighters got to the scene, there was no active fire.  The sprinkler system caused some water to collect in the building’s basement and in the elevator shaft.  Cleanup efforts are now underway.  The operator of the floor buffer was taken to a local hospital with some burns to his hands.  He’s expected to be OK.

Russell, KS – Grain dust fire at gluten plant extinguished with help from sprinkler system

A minor explosion and small fire occurred early Wednesday afternoon at White Energy’s gluten plant in Russell.  Russell City Firefighters responded to the fire at about 12:45 PM Wednesday. The Russell Police Department also responded for traffic control.  According to Fire Chief Shane Preston, the blaze was mostly extinguished by the facility’s sprinkler system, but firefighters had to put out a few hot embers.

Preston said the fire started when a piece of equipment in a grain bin overheated. It caught some grain on fire, the fire mixed with grain dust and caused a flash fire, which was the explosion.  The blaze was contained to the grain bin.  The incident is still under investigation.  There were no injuries.

Lexington, KY – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in apartment blaze; No injuries reported

The Lexington Fire Department was able to make quick work of a fire at an apartment complex on Larkin Road, that caused dozens of residents to evacuate. Firefighters say somewhere between 24 to 36 people were already coming out of the building by the time they arrived.  Investigators credit fire alarms and the sprinkler system for getting people out quickly and helping to keep the fire from spreading.  According to firefighters, the flames were contained in the originating apartment, with only about 4 units working with building management on finding alternative housing until they can get back into their apartments.  Other occupants were able to return to their homes.  No injuries were reported.

St. Charles, MD – Overnight fire at assisted living facility controlled with help from sprinkler system

Deputy State fire Marshals investigated an accidental fire that occurred at the Morningside House of St. Charles four-story assisted living facility at 70 Village Street in Waldorf, Charles County. The property is owned and operated by the Senior Lifestyle Corporation.  The 11:47 p.m. fire activated the smoke detection system and fire sprinkler system allowing occupants of forty apartments on the second and third floors to evacuate without injury. Occupants on the first and fourth floors were safely sheltered in place.  Nearly 50 firefighters from Charles and Prince George’s Counties assisted the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department at the scene.

The fire was contained to the malfunctioning wall mounted heating and air conditioning appliance inside apartment #214. The damage to the structure and contents was confined to fire and smoke damage to the apartment of origin and water throughout the second floor.  Occupants of the second floor are being temporarily relocated elsewhere in the facility during clean-up.  Damage estimates were limited to $40,000 to the structure and contents. 

Residential fire sprinklers are effectively proven to save lives and reduce the costs associated when an uncontrolled fire develops. Fires occurring in unprotected structures of this type often are the result of significant injuries or worse to occupants along with a high dollar value loss and extended lengths of time for restoration of the building.

Elysburg, PA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at packaging manufacturer

An Elysburg business was saved Tuesday morning thanks to a sprinkler system that worked to perfection, according to Elysburg Fire Chief Dennis Kroh. Polar Tech, which manufactures packaging materials, ice packs and shipping containers, was the scene of a Tuesday morning fire that saw more than 75 firefighters and emergency responders from 10 fire departments covering three counties rush to the structure located along Route 487 at around 7:05 a.m., Kroh said.  The fire began in a storage area behind the plant but the sprinkler system kicked it “just like it was supposed to,” Kroh said. “I truly believe without the system in place the fire would have continued to spread and it would have been a total loss.”

“The sprinkler system worked exactly as it was supposed to and gave us time to get there and get inside.” Kroh said the fire was tricky because it started in an area where there were several items stored which made it hard for firefighters to locate the exact spot in which the spark occurred.  Soon after 7 a.m., at least 30 employees were evacuated and were not allowed back into the structure for several hours.  The fire lasted about 45 minutes and Kroh said the blaze was contained to one area and that nothing was damaged inside the production area.  Kroh was thankful for the efforts of the firefighters and said Mother Nature also played a part in avoiding a disaster.

Temperatures on Tuesday morning were near 50 degrees. “It’s always better when it is not so cold out,” Kroh said. “We got lucky with the weather and everyone did a great job.”  Polar Tech purchased part of the former Fleetwood complex in Ralpho Township in 2011.  Kroh said he was unable to determine a dollar amount in damage and has ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined at this time.  Fire crews from Elysburg, Shamokin, Stonington, Coal Township, Kulpmont Mount Carmel and Atlas in Northumberland County, Catawissa from Columbia County and Danville and Mahoning Township of Montour County all assisted at the scene.

Waterville, ME – Factory fire controlled with help from sprinkler system

An early morning fire at the Huhtamaki factory resulted in an evacuation and partial road closure Monday morning. No one was injured in the fire.  Waterville Fire Department Capt. Shawn Esler said they received the call around 7:30 a.m. on Monday for a large fire at the mill on College Avenue, where they responded with the assistance of the Fairfield Fire Department. Upon arrival, he said they discovered a large fire on the dryers requiring firefighters to deploy on the mill’s roof. Esler said two ladder trucks were committed to reach the roof line, and a crew of about 20 firefighters responded.

“The fire was contained to that area,” Esler said. “We had a very, very quick knockdown.” The cause of the fire at this time is unknown, Esler said. Crews were at the mill for about four hours, and Esler said most of that time was spent ensuring there was no extension of the fire to other portions of the mill.  Esler said several Huhtamaki employees were in the building at the time of the fire and were evacuated. A portion of College Avenue was shut down to allow the ladder trucks enough room to get firefighters onto the roof of the building. Esler said the Waterville Police Department assisted by directing traffic. Two papermaking machines were damaged by the fire, and Esler estimated the machines would be repaired by the end of the day Monday. The employees were back in the building before noon.

The fire department responds to a number of calls annually to Huhtamaki, but Esler said this one was a little larger than most they respond to because it involved firefighters going onto the roof. However, outside of the damage to the papermakers, Esler said there was no structural damage and no injuries to either employees or firefighters. He said the building’s sprinkler system activated, which also “significantly reduced the fire load.” Esler commended everyone’s knowledge of the mill and safety precautions, saying the firefighters did a good job quickly responding to the fire.  “The guys did a great job,” Esler said. “I can’t say enough about them.”  Representatives from Huhtamaki were not available Monday for comment.

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