Pasadena, CA – Overnight fire at commercial medical building extinguished by sprinkler system

Pasadena firefighters responded to a fire alarm at 39 Congress Street early Wednesday at a multi-story commercial medical building. The sprinkler system activated in response to the fire authorities that believed was caused by an electric cup warmer left plugged in, and placed in a wooden box with coffee break items, according to the Pasadena Fire Department. During the course of the night, heat from the device warmed surrounding materials enough to ignite a fire that burned the box and cabinet above, the report said. When firefighters on Engine 31 arrived at about 1:37 a.m., they found water from the sprinkler had put out the fire.

The fire crews helped clean up the water damage on the third and second floors, and reset the fire alarm to normal operations, before releasing control of the scene at about 3:46 a.m. The Pasadena Fire Department also issued a reminder that small accessories, such as the cup warmer in this case, can lead to bigger fires, activated sprinklers, and water damage.

One thought on “Pasadena, CA – Overnight fire at commercial medical building extinguished by sprinkler system”

  1. “Water damage” is fire damage. If the sprinkler had not activated, there would have been far greater fire damage, and responding firefighters would have used FAR MORE water to suppress that far larger fire. Please stop referring to water damage in these reports. That water was discharged is a GOOD THING, not part of the problem.

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