Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baxter, MN – Balcony fire at senior apartment complex controlled with help from sprinkler system

Passing motorists on Excelsior Road saw flames on a third-floor deck of a senior apartment complex Friday morning, alerting emergency responders to the Autumn Glenn complex in Baxter. The fire was reported about 7:20 a.m.  At the scene, Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted said residents on the third floor were evacuated as a precaution. Many had multiple questions as they were temporarily relocated. The 50-unit apartment building has about 16 units on each floor.

Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said the fire was contained to the deck but flames were climbing the wall and around the glass deck door, as well as a window when he arrived on scene. Holmes got the call when he just blocks away from the building. He said deck sprinkler played an important role in keeping the fire contained. The woman living in the apartment was also working to put the fire using a container or bowl filled with water when firefighters arrived. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

The deck remained secure to walk on, Holmes said. Siding was removed around the deck. The torn aqua-colored barrier wrap, formerly underneath the siding, flapped in the morning breeze. The area around the deck doors was charred black and holes were cut above the deck to access the attic. Holiday decorations hung from the deck rail, trailing down to lower floors.

The second floor resident’s deck just below the fire, complete with chairs and potted plant, appeared undisturbed. No injuries were reported. Karen Struthers, community manager for Autumn Glenn, said all the residents were fine. She said the apartment occupant was with family and the complex residents would now have conversation fodder for the weekend. It was too early to determine the extent of the damage in terms of a dollar amount, Struthers said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX (No Media Coverage) – Sprinkler system tackles apartment fire caused by unattended candle

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE***  The Farmers Branch Fire Department responded to a residential apartment fire on June 3, 2017 at 4030 Valley View, Building 10, Apt #245 at 3:55 pm. The fire started in a bedroom while the occupant stepped out for a few minutes. . A candle was left unattended and ignited some tapestries hanging from the ceiling. The tapestries burned along the ceiling. The sprinkler system activated (1 head) and suppressed the fire. The other roommate was in another bedroom sleeping and was awakened by the smoke alarm and waterflow alarm. When he stepped out of his bedroom, he noticed the sprinkler system spraying water on the burning tapestries. He exited without incident. Other roommate returned 10 minutes later when fire department was already on scene and realized he left the candle burning.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lake George, NY – Basement fire at Courtyard Marriott hotel extinguished with help from sprinkler system

One person was hurt and dozens of guests evacuated late Friday after a fire broke out in the basement of the new Courtyard Marriott hotel on Canada Street, officials said. At least 15 firetrucks from around the region responded to the hotel for the 8:40 p.m. call as smoke filled parts of the building.  The fire was out within minutes, and Lake George Fire Chief Jason Berry said guests were expected to be able to return to their rooms late Friday. But they had to wait for a few hours for the building to be ventilated and for sprinkler system heads that were activated to be replaced, the chief explained.

Warren County sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Geisler said one person was taken to Glens Falls Hospital after they were hurt during the evacuation, but the injuries were not considered serious The fire broke out in an industrial trash can in the southwest corner of the basement of the building, apparently from spontaneous combustion of construction materials in it, the chief said. That area is unfinished and construction has been ongoing.  Berry said firefighters arrived to find material on fire and smoke in the building, but the fire did not damage the structure itself. He said it was unclear what was in the trash container.

“The sprinkler system definitely did its job,” he said. Sprinklers went off only in the area where fire was detected, but sprinkler heads that activate have to be replaced before the building can be re-opened, Berry said.  Among the guests in the hotel were 30 or so members of the New York State Fire Districts Association, who took the situation in stride as they watched firefighters deal with the situation. They stood near the main entrance on the west side of the building, watching their brethren handle the situation. Some still had their bar drinks.

“We got up and got out in an orderly fashion,” said Kit Thompson of Baldwinsville. “We knew what we had to do.” Jerry DeLuca, a fire chief from Ravena and executive director of the state fire chiefs association, was among the hotel guests, and he said there was no smoke evident on the side of the building where he was as he evacuated.  He praised the local fire department response.  “You guys did a great job,” he told Chief Berry.  Two blocks of Canada Street were closed for several hours, as firetrucks from around the region lined up in front of the building. Mutual aid came from North Queensbury, Bolton, Warrensburg, Queensbury Central, Bay Ridge, Luzerne-Hadley and South Queensbury. Several tower trucks were among the apparatus called to the scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Maryville, TN – Grease fire in sixth floor apartment put out by sprinkler system

Residents of Maryville Towers said they were able to return to their apartments Friday night after being evacuated earlier in the evening because of a grease fire on the top floor.  The apartment complex, located at 220 McGhee St., Maryville, was partially evacuated around 6 p.m. after a grease fire started on the sixth floor.

Firefighters said they responded to the building at 5:46 p.m. While the sprinkler system extinguished the fire, the water continued to run until authorities were able to locate a valve to turn it off. That was done around 6:25 p.m.

Maryville Fire Capt. Mike Davis said about 63 apartments were evacuated. No injuries were reported.  Residents told The Daily Times on Saturday they were allowed back into their apartments Friday between 10:30 and 11 p.m. They said a Maryville Housing Authority maintenance crew had to clean up several flooded apartments.  Davis said apartments all the way to the ground floor sustained water damage.

Dianna McCullough was one of the ground floor residents who had flooding in her apartment. She said workers did a good job cleaning up. “It was flooded all the way to the bathroom,” McCullough said. “… They did a really good job coming in and helping.”

McCullough said there were at least four people mopping up her apartment.

Firefighters said the fire started in apartment 618. Residents said everyone, including the male occupant of 618, was able to return to their apartments.

Davis said 15 firefighters and seven trucks from the Maryville and Alcoa fire departments responded. The Maryville Police Department, American Medical Response ambulance service and Blount County Rescue Squad also responded.

Davis said firefighters remained on scene until around 8 p.m.

Other Business

Charleston, SC – Firefighters and sprinkler system help limit spread of intentionally set vehicle fire

The Charleston City Fire Department says a car fire in downtown Charleston Thursday evening was intentionally set. Emergency personnel from Charleston Fire Department were dispatched to the vehicle fire, with additional units dispatched from Charleston, North Charleston, and James Island Fire Departments responded to Archdale St and West Street just before midnight on June 1. Charleston County EMS and Charleston Police were on standby.

Crews reported seeing a car on fire at the loading dock area of the Majestic Square building. The building fire sprinkler system had activated to protect the building, generating the alarm, and slowed the fire spread. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and prevented further damage in the area. Members of the Fire Marshal Division responded to the scene and determined the fire was intentionally set. Fire Investigators from CFD and members of the Charleston Police Department are now investigating. Damage to the building was limited due to the activation of the fire sprinkler system and the quick response and suppression by responding personnel, officials say.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Delta, BC, Canada – Fire in gymnasium storage area at elementary school contained with help from sprinklers

An investigation is ongoing into what could have sparked an early Saturday morning fire at Delta Manor Education Centre in Ladner. Delta fire responded to the scene just before 3 a.m. Deputy chief Guy McKintuck said the fire was contained to a storage area behind the gymnasium. He said firefighters had the small blaze knocked down pretty quickly, which was also aided by an overhead sprinkler. There is water, smoke and fire damage, but no estimate on the costs for the restoration, he said. The former elementary school serves as a church and also offers adult basic education and ESL classes.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

North Catasauqua, PA – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling blaze at computer refurbishing business

fire at a computer refurbishing business in North Catasauqua prompted precautionary evacuations of nearby residents, but the blaze was brought under control quickly and no one was hurt, authorities said.  The fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. at Copitron at 1151 Front St. Flames were contained to a loading dock attached to the main building that is used for storage, said Deputy Chief Paul Santee of the North Catasauqua Fire Department.  Several dozen residents were evacuated from their homes by police and firefighters. Everyone was back in their homes by Thursday evening.

Cindy Berger said she was in her Front Street home when she smelled smoke and was concerned it was coming from her house. She said a police officer at her front door told her and her family they had to evacuate due to chemicals being stored at the warehouse.

Santee said the evacuations occurred because authorities initially were unsure of the situation. He said Copitron remanufactures printers and computers and sells them along with new merchandise. He said no hazardous materials were involved.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire was partially extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Santee said, and firefighters extinguished flames that were above the sprinkler system and checked the building to make sure the fire hadn’t spread.  Fire departments from North Catasauqua, Catasauqua, Northampton, Hokendauqua, Coplay, Allen Township, Whitehall Township and East Allen Township responded, Santee said.

Other Business

Branson, MO – Early morning fire at theater contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A Branson police officer heard popping sounds coming from the back of the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway overnight and when fire crews arrived, they found flames shooting out of the backstage area. Branson Fire Chief Ted Martin tells KTTS News the call came in around 2 a.m. and three fire departments responded.

He says the fire started stage left in a 12 by 12 area where there’s a lot of support equipment, including radios, battery chargers, power strips and extension cords. Martin says the sprinkler system kept the fire contained.

There’s smoke throughout the building, and crews have spent the morning trying to ventilate the smoke and they’ll be working with restoration companies to use dehumidifiers to get the moisture out of the stage props and the stage deck, and remove the smoke odor. Martin says the theatre should be able to re-open in a few days.   The fire is accidental, and Martin says they haven’t been able to rule out an electrical short.  No one was hurt.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Charleston, SC – Arson fire at charter school suppressed by sprinkler system

Authorities are investigating after someone intentionally started a fire at a Charleston school.   The fire happened just before 10 a.m. at the Charleston Charter School of Math and Science on King Street.  When firefighters arrived they found the school evacuation under way and were told of a fire in a bathroom on the second floor.

“Crews entered to find a single fire sprinkler head that was activated and contained the fire to the bathroom area,” CFD officials said.”Firefighters completed extinguishment and proceeded to control the water flow to the sprinkler system and evacuate smoke from the building.”

A report states members of the Fire Marshal Division responded to investigate the incident and determined the fire was intentionally set in the bathroom. Fire investigators along with the Charleston Police Department and the school administration are reviewing the incident.  “Once the smoke was removed from the building the majority of the school reoccupied, one area of the school remained closed as staff worked to clean smoke and water damage,” CFD officials said. 

No injuries were reported.  The Charleston Fire Department, North Charleston and Saint Andrews fire departments, Charleston County EMS, and the Charleston Police Department responded to the scene. 

Residential, Single Family Home

Asheville, NC – Fire in duplex extinguished by residential sprinkler system

A sprinkler system extinguished a structure fire Wednesday and helped the occupants escape safely, according to an Asheville Fire Department spokeswoman.  The Asheville Fire Department responded to a possible structure fire off Old Chunns Cove Road around 7 a.m. Wednesday, said department spokeswoman Kelley Klope. The duplex is east of downtown Asheville near Tunnel Road.

Light smoke was visible from one of the units in a duplex complex with four separate homes when firefighters arrived on scene, she said.  “When firefighters entered the building, they observed that the residential sprinkler system had activated and had extinguished the fire, minimizing fire damage and possibly saving lives,” she said.

Klope called this incident a success story. “Oftentimes stories like these, where there is no fire damage or injury, have little to report and therefore go unnoticed,” she said. “We cannot stress enough the importance of installing residential sprinkler systems in order to prevent death or injury and to minimize fire damage to personal belongings.”

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