Government/Military, Prison / Jail Brenham, TX – Sprinklers activate to help contain fire that started in jail laundry; No injuries July 22, 2015 viking210 An overnight fire in the laundry room at the Washington County Jail set off the alarms and the sprinkler system, according to Chief Deputy Jay Petrash . The jail staff discovered the fire around early Tuesday morning. Brenham Fire Department personnel arrived within minutes extinguishing the flames. Fire personnel used high pressured fans to remove heavy smoke from the area, while jail work crews cleaned the charred clothing from the machines and removed water from the room and hallway. Chief Petrash said that none of the 100 housed inmates or jail personnel had to be evacuated, and no one was injured. The fire is believed to have started due to a build- up of lent in one of the dryer’s filter, however, the cause is still being investigated by the Brenham Fire Marshall’s Office. Sheriff’s Office personnel are still assessing the damage and will be awaiting review by insurance as it relates to replacement of equipment and costs.
Residential, Single Family Home Owings Mills, MD – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire after domestic dispute July 22, 2015 viking210 A teacher’s aide from Washington, D.C., has been charged with throwing gasoline on her boyfriend and setting his home on fire, Baltimore County Police said Tuesday. Officers were called to the home in the 10800 block of Sherwood Road in Owings Mills just before 5 p.m. Sunday for a report of a domestic situation. While en route, they learned that the home was on fire. The victim told police that his girlfriend, 29-year-old Lisa Lashell Finley had assaulted him that morning while she was intoxicated, according to court documents. When she went back to his home, he told her he wanted to end their relationship of about two years and told her she could gather her things while he waited in the basement. He smelled gas and went upstairs to find the stove on but no fire. Finley then threw gasoline on him, according to court documents. Holding a lighter and a can of hairspray, she allegedly threatened to kill him. Police say the man left the home. But when he returned, he found a fire burning inside. A sprinkler system extinguished the fire. Finley later turned herself in at the Franklin Precinct Monday afternoon. She has been charged with attempted first degree murder, first degree arson and first degree assault. Finley is an educational aide at Anacostia High School, an official with D.C. Public Schools confirmed. She was hired in Oct. 2013. Her current employment status is not known at this time.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant New Orleans, LA – Sprinklers put out fire at French Quarter restaurant July 22, 2015 viking210 The New Orleans Fire Department responded to a one-alarm fire Monday (July 20) at the Gazebo Café in the French Quarter. Firefighter Michael Williams said the police department called the fire department around 7 p.m. to report smoke coming from the Decatur Street restaurant. It was closed at the time, he said, and firefighters had to force entry into the building. They had the scene under control in 10 minutes, he said. Williams said the fire appears to have been caused by a commercial refrigerator that failed. The fire was contained to the Gazebo Cafe, he said, and the restaurant’s sprinkler system put the fire out. The New Orleans Fire Department responded to a one-alarm fire Monday (July 20) at the Gazebo Cafe in the French Quarter. The restaurant sustained mostly smoke damage, he said. In total, Williams said eight units and 22 firefighters responded. No injuries were reported.
Apartment Building, Residential DeKalb, IL – Sprinkler system keeps flames from spreading in apartment fire July 20, 2015 viking210 The DeKalb Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 832 Ridge Drive in DeKalb at 11:09 a.m. Saturday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said Jeff McMaster, deputy fire chief, later that afternoon. “When firefighters got there, there was a light smoke coming from the bathroom,” McMaster said. “When they got in, the sprinklers were on.” The sprinkler system had kept the flames contained and the firefighters were able to put the rest out upon arrival, McMaster said. No one was home at the time, McMaster said. A neighbor had seen the smoke, heard the apartment’s fire alarm and made the call. There were no injuries, McMaster said. He estimated the damage at about $5,000.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Eden Prairie, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire at business with hydrofluoric acid July 20, 2015 viking210 Six firefighters were taken to a hospital after they were exposed to hydrofluoric acid on Wednesday, July 15, during a business fire call in Eden Prairie. Eden Prairie Fire Chief George Esbensen said the call of a commercial building fire at SVT Associates, 7620 Executive Drive, came in around 4:37 p.m. and the first arriving engine and chiefs got there in less than five minutes. The fire was in one room of an office space occupied by the company. “The fire sprinkler system was holding the fire in check and fire crews were able to make short work of the remaining fire. After the fire was knocked down and as overhaul was beginning several firefighters began to experience symptoms consistent with a chemical exposure,” he said. “Five firefighters from EP and one from Bloomington were transported to Methodist Hospital where it was determined they had been exposed through their skin with hydrofluoric acid.” Esbensen said the acid is commonly used in metal etching and stripping. All six firefighters were treated and released by 11:30 p.m. the same day. They have since returned to duty. There was some loss of equipment as a result of the chemical exposure. Turnout gear that was exposed to the chemical will not be able to be cleaned and there are 13 sets that need to be replaced. Additionally the department is waiting to hear what parts of the self contained breathing apparatus can be cleaned as well as other tools. The department doesn’t have exact replacement costs yet on the gear, but the estimate is around $50,000, Esbensen said. “There are other items that were impacted but we haven’t determined the best course of action on those yet,” he said.
Apartment Building, Residential Cookeville, TN – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in extinguishing apartment kitchen fire July 19, 2015 viking210 1 Comment On Wednesday, July 15 around 6:30, the Cookeville fire department responded to a kitchen fire at an apartment complex on West Broad Street. “We were on scene there for a little over an hour,” Capt. Blair said. A working sprinkler system installed at the complex helped to contain the fire in the unit where it originated and prevented it from spreading to other units. “That sprinkler system likely saved the apartment complex. It certainly helped contain the fire to the unit where it started, and it made it easier for us to extinguish the blaze after we arrived on the scene. Because of the sprinkler system, we had the fire out in no time,” Capt. Blair said. “We can’t stress enough the importance of sprinkler systems in saving lives,” he said. As a precaution, the department evacuated several buildings at the complex while fire fighters worked to put out the blaze. A total of 19 fire fighters responded to that call.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Oxford, ME – Sprinklers suppress fire at factory that builds manufactured homes July 19, 2015 viking210 Oxford’s fire chief said a sprinkler system and quick reaction by firefighters kept a blaze at a manufactured homes factory from spreading significantly Friday night. Chief Wayne Jones said the fire started in a stack of plywood in a corner of the Keiser Homes plant at 56 Mechanic Falls Road. He said the cause is unknown and the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire. Jones said the fire spread about 20 feet or so into the building. The sprinkler system kept the flames in check initially, he said, and firefighters were able to get water hoses set up quickly and started to spray down the building within minutes of arriving. The fire was reported about 4:45 p.m., when most of the workers had finished for the day and only one employee was in the plant, he said. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion, Jones said, and another was treated at the scene for what he said was a minor injury. No one else was hurt, the chief said. Jones said even though firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading, it still took about five hours to get the fire fully under control. He said an Oxford fire crew was expected to spend most of the night at the site to make sure there weren’t any hot spots remaining that could cause the fire to flare up. More than a half-dozen nearby towns sent crews to help with the fire or to cover Oxford fire stations during the evening, Jones said. Route 121, which is Mechanic Falls Road in Oxford, was shut down part of Friday evening but had reopened by about 10 p.m.
Apartment Building, Residential Tualatin, OR – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire to one unit July 17, 2015 viking210 Seven people had to find a temporary place to stay Thursday after a fire broke out in a Sherwood apartment complex, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue reported. Crews were sent to the 20000 block of S.W Roy Rogers Road just before 6 p.m. after receiving multiple calls about a fire in a third-floor unit. The building’s commercial sprinkler system was activated and stopped the fire from spreading. Although the fire was contained to one unit, four units were considered uninhabitable because power had to be cut off, firefighters said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Virginia Beach, VA – Sprinkler system contains HazMat fire at business July 17, 2015 viking210 The Virginia Beach Fire Department HazMat teams responded to three separate HazMat incidents Thursday. Around 2 p.m., fire crews were dispatched to a reported commercial fire at a business in the 2700 Block of Sonic Drive. Crews found smoke showing from the warehouse area of the business that contained cleaning chemicals. The fire progressed to the ceiling, and sprinkler heads in the building activated to contain the fire. The fire involved cleaning solvents (mineral spirit) and floor wax. HazMat crews monitored the business and surrounding area to ensure the water run-off and atmosphere was not hazardous. Fire officials said the building suffered minor to moderate fire damage. There are no hazards to area businesses and no one was injured. The fire was ruled accidental and unintentional.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Nashville, TN – Sprinklers activate to help control arson fire at high school July 16, 2015 viking210 Stratford High School suffered damage after a propane torch was used to set fire to an administrative office. Officials with Metro Police said the incident happened Sunday at the school located on Stratford Avenue in Nashville. Investigators said Trevarious Carney used a portable fire extinguisher and broke into the school during the evening hours. The 20-year-old was allegedly seen on security video inside the building. According to police, he first set a fire to the carpet inside an administrative office. He fled the scene after the fire alarm began sounding. The building’s sprinkler system went off, keeping the fire contained to the office area. Carney was identified as a suspect and charged with attempted arson. No additional details were known.
