Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Fire sprinkler system extinguished midday fire at hospital (Philadelphia, PA)

No one was injured as a result of a fire that broke out at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. HUP also continued to see patients while the situation was ongoing. The fire began at around 12 p.m. in the basement of the Founders Building, when construction workers were removing medical equipment from one of the rooms. When the fire broke out, the fire sprinklers were able to quickly put it out, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. The basement room in the Founders Building where the fire originated suffered “minimal damages,” according to Rush.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire controlled by sprinklers at apartment (Prescott, AZ)

Firefighters were called to a fire in an apartment unit on Saturday, October 12 when a pot of unattended cooking oil was left unattended on a hot stove. A fire ignited, and the fire sprinkler system activated, saving the structure.

Fire investigator Len DeJoria said, “The fire could have been a significant event. If the sprinkler had not had fire sprinklers, the building would have been a total loss.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinklers prove effectiveness in apartment fire (Charleston, SC)

Fire crews were alerted to a fire at a downtown Charleston apartment the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9. When they arrived, they found that the fire had been controlled by two sprinkler heads, and firefighters only had to use less than five gallons of water to douse the remaining flames thanks to the fire sprinkler system.

“Fire sprinklers are an invaluable tool to improve life safety and have the potential to reduce property damage,” said Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh. “These systems are designed to control the fire or reduce the growth of the fire until the fire department can intervene. The sprinkler system in this case preserved the building and limited damages.”

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in fraternity house fire (Medford, MA)

A fire began on the third floor of a college fraternity house on Wednesday, October 9, and fire crews are crediting the home’s fire sprinkler system with saving the building.

Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said, “It’s a very old house, and without the fire sprinkler system, the fire would likely have spread to the roof.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but early reports indicate that it was an electrical fire. There were no injuries reported.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Sprinklers make the difference in a condo fire on the 17th floor (Grand Rapids, MI)

Fire sprinkler system quickly extinguished a cooking fire on the 17th floor of the River House Condos on Tuesday. A grease fire on the stovetop spread to kitchen cabinets in a condo about 4:30 pm. The sprinkler system put out the flames. Firefighters had to reach the 17th floor to shut off the water, said Grand Rapids Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Sehlmeyer.

***Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by MLive, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Other - School / University, School / University

Fire sprinklers prove worth in college apartment fire (Nashville, TN)

A fire which began in the kitchen of one of Vanderbilt University’s apartment units was quickly extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system on the afternoon of Saturday, October 6. The suspected cause of the fire was an unattended pan on a heated stove which then ignited. All of the resident’s were able to evacuate the apartment safely, and no one was injured.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Fire sprinkler douses dryer fire in group home (Las Vegas, NV)

Las Vegas and North Las Vegas firefighters responded to the adult assisted care group home after clothes in a dryer caught fire. The clothes dryer was in a laundry room with an automatic fire sprinkler in it. When the dryer caught fire, the sprinkler activated and kept the fire confined to the dryer. The eight elderly residents were able to escape without injury.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Shopping mall reopens quickly after fire, thanks to sprinkler system (Fort Wayne, IN)

A fire in a storage area at Glenbrook Square set off sprinklers and alarms Saturday, forcing shoppers and employees to evacuate the north-side mall, which was able to reopen several hours later.  At 3:32 p.m., Fort Wayne fire crews were dispatched to the mall at 4201 Coldwater Road, near East Coliseum Boulevard. Sprinklers contained the flames until crews arrived at 3:37 p.m., said Stacey Fleming, a fire department spokeswoman.