Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse Chattanooga, TN – Fire in cotton bales at ADM plant contained with help from sprinkler system July 24, 2016 viking210 Chattanooga firefighters battled a fire in South Chattanooga at ADM Southern Cellulose Products at 103 W. 45th Street on Thursday. Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner says though there was only light smoke visible from the outside, once inside the large building, they could see dozens of cotton bales that were on fire. CFD says the company had recently repaired the sprinkler system in the building and it activated properly, which helped to keep the fire contained. A total of 13 fire companies responded to this fire. The fire was brought under control in 15 to 20 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire will be ruled accidental. Company executives told firefighters that the bales are held together by wire, and they believe a wire on one of the bales might have created a spark against the concrete while being moved by a forklift. When the spark hit the cotton, a fire broke out. About 200 bales of cotton were involved in the fire. The dollar loss was estimated at $30,000. The building itself was not damaged and company executives said the fire will have minimal impact on its operation.
Government Office, Government/Military Media, PA – Sprinklers activate to help control car fire in courthouse’s underground parking garage July 22, 2016 viking210 The county courthouse and government center was closed Tuesday morning after a car fire in a below-ground parking garage flooded the building with smoke. “They tried to fight it with fire extinguishers, but it just got ahead of them,” said Delaware County Council Chairman Mario Civera. “The sprinklers went off and the fire department was called in.” Civera said the fire broke out about 8:20 a.m. and was brought under control within 20 minutes. The car was in a corner of the B-level of the parking garage directly underneath the government center. The building does not open to the public until 8:30 a.m., but Civera said some employees and cafeteria staff were already inside. Park Police attempted to use fire extinguishers and hoses before the sprinklers kicked in, he said. “Everybody was evacuated, everybody came out safe,” Civera said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Civera said there were about 75 or 100 cars already in the garage at the time the fire broke out and that employees would be able to retrieve their vehicles Tuesday morning. Employees and citizens crowded the surrounding sidewalks Tuesday morning as they waited for word on the building. Civera made the call to close the buildings for the day at about 10 a.m., but said the building would re-open Wednesday. “We want to make sure all the numbers are right, the carbon monoxide level is where it’s supposed to be, the sprinkler systems is intact, so it can accept the public and the employees (Wednesday),” he said. “We just want to make it’s a safe place for tomorrow for the residents and for the employees.” Upper Darby Mayor Tom Miccozie, who also serves as the county’s director of risk management, said the county does a lot of planning and drills twice a year for just such an emergency. He praised the park police for employing extinguishers as they were trained to do and employees who “acted 100-percent the way they should.” Micozzie said there was no need to open windows in the complex, which has carbon monoxide detectors installed. “The fire company is checking now for carbon monoxide levels throughout the whole complex,” he said. “Cleanup companies are already on scene, they’ll do their work with some aromatic sprays, make sure that all our buildings are safe and then we’ll reopen tomorrow morning. Responding crews included Media, Rose Tree, Springfield, Aston and emergency medical services. Eddystone also lent a hovercraft to the effort, which was backed up to the garage exit with its fan active in an attempt to clear out smoke. Civera praised the first responders for their quick and professional response to the alarm. “They were here right on the money,” he said. “Thank God nobody got hurt.” This is a breaking story, return for more updates later in the day.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Charlotte, NC – Sprinklers quickly extinguish fire in warehouse containing hazardous materials July 22, 2016 viking210 Firefighters responded to the scene of a 2-alarm hazmat situation Tuesday evening at the Seacon Corporation on John Crosland Junior Way near Wilkinson Boulevard. Firefighters said there were hazardous materials inside the warehouse, so they had to work around those while fighting the fire. Additional firefighters were called in to help because of the heat. There was also a mass casualty bus to keep first responders safe in the heat. Firefighters worked in intervals to make sure there were no issues with the heat. No firefighters were injured. Mecklenburg EMS said one person was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for minor injuries. Charlotte Fire Department said the company was mixing chemicals and there was a little fire and smoke. The sprinkler system quickly put the fire out, but the smoke was a concern.
Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic Orlando, FL – Sprinklers activate to help stop fire at Lake Nona VA Medical Center; No injuries July 21, 2016 viking210 A fire struck the fourth floor of a domiciliary at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lake Nona Wednesday, according to the Orlando Fire Department, and residents are likely to be moved from the center to another yet-to-be opened facility at Lake Baldwin. Just before 11:30 a.m., firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at the residential facility at 13800 Veterans Way, according to the fire department. It is on the same campus as the newly opened VA hospital center, but is in a separate building. Fire sprinkler alarms were activated in the fire that struck the patient intake processing area of the facility, VA medical center spokesman Mike Strickler and the OFD said. Once firefighters arrived on the scene, they extinguished the flames by 11:40 a.m., according to the OFD. There were no injuries reported in the fire, Strickler said.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Flat Rock, MI – Storage fire at auto assembly plant controlled with help from single sprinkler July 21, 2016 viking210 A fire that started in storage racks damaged the north side of the Flat Rock Auto Assembly Plant Tuesday night, causing hundreds of workers to be evacuated from the building. Firefighters from Flat Rock, Rockwood and Woodhaven responded to the plant at Gibraltar Rd. and I-75 about 7 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters could see smoke billowing from the plant at the Flat Rock station, Chief William Vack said. “When we arrived, it was going pretty good, and you could see smoke about 100 feet in the air,” Chief Vack said afterward. “Once we got our water supplies established, we had it knocked down in about a half hour.” Where the fire started was only about 100 feet from Vreeland Rd., he said. Heat from the fire penetrated an exterior wall on the north side of the plant, activating a single sprinkler in a newer section of the building, he said. The sprinkler helped quell any fire inside. “Most of the plant was unaffected,” Chief Vack said. “The fire was near the truck docks. … There was no smoke in the building.” He said it was standard procedure to evacuate the plant when a fire alarm is activated. The amount of damage was unknown but was not believed to be extensive. Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Mount Vernon, KY – Fire at Renfro Valley entertainment center controlled by sprinkler system July 20, 2016 viking210 In the early evening hours of July 16th the Mount Vernon Fire Dept. was dispatched to a reported building on fire in the Village at Renfro Valley. Upon arrival, fire units observed a large amount of smoke coming from the replica fire station building in the village, across from the gristmill. Once crews made entry, it was determined that the fire was actually a golf cart on fire inside and not the building itself. The building’s sprinkler system activated and kept the fire contained. It was quickly extinguished, with only smoke and water damage to the building and its contents. Brindle Ridge Fire Department responded automatic aid while Brodhead Fire Department responded mutual aid.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Amarillo, TX – Sprinkler system keeps vehicle fire from spreading at wrecker service business July 20, 2016 viking210 A wrecked car inside a storage facility was destroyed by fire at T-Miller Wrecker Service in Amarillo on Saturday morning. Amarillo Fire Department responded to 1201 S. Johnson St. at 2:07 a.m. and found a light haze surrounding the large single-story metal storage building. Fire crews entered and found a single car in the building on fire. The sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading to dozens of other vehicles, fire officials said. The fire was under control by 2:38 p.m. A representative from the wrecker service said the vehicle that caught fire was involved in a wreck earlier and was the last one brought inside before the business closed at 6 p.m. Friday. No injuries were reported. Fire damage was contained to the car. Minor heat damage was sustained to the ceiling above.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University London, ON, Canada – Possible arson fire at school activates fire sprinkler system July 20, 2016 viking210 London police and fire inspectors are investigating a case of arson at a northwest London elementary school Tuesday morning. Firefighters were called to Wilfrid Jury Public School at 950 Lawson Road at around 5:06 a.m. after alarm bells sounded. Upon arrival, smoke was visible inside the building and sprinklers were activated. Fire officials say there was a broken window at the back of the building, along with signs of forced entry inside. There was fire set inside a classroom, which was extinguished by the sprinkler system. An early estimate pegs the damage at around $20,000. There are currently no suspects in custody, or suspect descriptions at this time. The Thames Valley District School Board says all summer programs and childcare will be open, with some classroom adjustments.
College/University (on campus), School / University Dallas, TX – Fire at university high-rise building suppressed by sprinkler system July 19, 2016 viking210 A firefighter was overcome by heat after crews put out a possible electrical fire Friday night at a high-rise in Stemmons Corridor. The firefighter was taken to a hospital for observation and is expected to be OK after working the fire at West Coast University, 8435 North Stemmons Freeway, about 8 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said. The college offers degrees in the healthcare field. The first crews saw smoke on the sixth floor and found the fire in a break room. The cause hasn’t officially been determined, but it appears to have started near a microwave and be electrical in nature, according to fire investigators. The fire triggered the automatic sprinkler system, which contained it to a small area, Evans said. Fire crews finished putting it out upon arrival. There was minimal fire damage. Additional crews ventilated the building because smoke could be smelled throughout. The fire itself didn’t cause any injuries.
Residential, Residential High Rise San Jose, CA – Early morning fire in high-rise apartment building held in check by sprinkler system July 19, 2016 viking210 Roughly 40 to 60 residents in a 12-story high-rise apartment building in downtown San Jose are without a home for at least a week after a Sunday morning fire, San Jose fire officials said. A faulty light fixture sparked the blaze at 4:22 a.m., immediately activating the building’s sprinkler system, San Jose Fire Department Captain Mitch Matlow said. “The sprinkler system did it’s job,” Matlow said. The fire, which was reported at Sixth and East Santa Clara streets, was extinguished quickly, but cleaning up the water damage will keep residents out of the building for at least a week, according to Matlow. “The people were sheltered in a VTA bus for a while, then they had to go back in and get their belongings because it’s going to be about a week before these people can come back to their homes,” Matlow said. “They have to dry the building out and make sure all the electrical is working before they can reoccupy the building.” The American Red Cross will temporarily house and feed the displaced residents, according to Demetrious McCarthy from the Red Cross. That shelter is up and running at Burnett Middle School in San Jose, the Red Cross said.
