Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Apartment Building, Residential

Jefferson City, MO – Apartment fire suppressed by sprinkler system; No injuries and damage limited

No injuries were reported in a structure fire in the 200 block of North Ventura Avenue early Thursday afternoon. The Jefferson City Fire Department responded to the fire at 12:28 p.m., arriving to find smoke from a single apartment in the 18-unit apartment building, according to a JCFD news release.  Fire crews found the fire controlled by sprinkler activation. The sprinkler system controlled the fire’s spread and limited damage to the apartment’s kitchen area.  Personnel from the Jefferson City Police Department, Cole County Emergency Medical Services and the American Red Cross also assisted.  Four residents were displaced from the apartment. The structural damage was estimated at approximately $15,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

New Haven, CT – Fire in basement of apartment building knocked down by sprinkler system

City firefighters quickly knocked down a basement fire Wednesday afternoon at the Bella Vista Apartments in eastern New Haven. Crews arrived at Building E of the complex to find a minor fire in the basement there at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Battalion Chief William Gould said at the scene.  Much of the fire had been knocked down by the building’s sprinkler system by the time firefighters arrived but they called in a full assignment of trucks because of the number of people who live in the building.   “The fire extended somewhat in the (chute) but not up to upper floors so they were able to extinguish it in the area of origin,” Gould said.  Firefighters were able to put out the rest of the fire within minutes.   No one was hurt in the fire, Gould confirmed.   “The sprinklers do their jobs, they save lives, keeping the fire in check,” he said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Harrisonburg, VA – Fire department credits sprinkler system for extinguishing grease fire at apartment building

According to a release by the Harrisonburg Fire Department, a residential sprinkler system is to thank for saving a city apartment complex.  Around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9th, firefighters responded to the 100 block of Chestnut Ridge Drive. Once crews arrived, they discovered a grease fire, which started on the stove, was already extinguished by a residential sprinkler system.   Although the sprinkler system uses water, that’s not how they recommend you put out a grease fire. They say the best method is to put a lid on the pan to smother the grease or to use a fire extinguisher.

Captain Mike Armstrong, deputy fire marshal with the Harrisonburg Fire Department, said you never want to pour water on a grease fire yourself.  “The amount of water that is being put out far exceeds what you or I would put on that pan, so the system will suppress the fire,” added Armstrong.   While sprinkler systems aren’t common in homes and aren’t required by state code, they can help save money in an emergency.  “In the case of residential sprinkler systems, fire damage and cost, is reduced one tenth to one twentieth, so you’re talking ten to 20 times less damage and cost in the end,” explained Armstrong.   Capt. Armstrong also recommends keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen area, but not right next to your stove because of its accessibility if there are flames.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Derry, NH – Sprinkler system contains fire at pizzeria, protects neighboring businessses

A small fire forced the evacuation of several businesses on the Londonnderry/Derry town line Monday afternoon.

A fire broke out in a back closet of Juliano’s Italian Pizzeria at 12:33 p.m., triggering the sprinkler system and sounding an alarm among all the businesses in the strip mall, including TNT Fireworks next door, said Londonderry Fire Battalion Chief Mike McQuillen.”

They had a storage closet which caught fire,” McQuillen said. “Looks like a light overheated.”

The fire was contained to the closet, and the only casualties were some rags, boxes and a shelving unit.”

The sprinkler system activated and did its job,” McQuillen added. “When we arrived we were able to extinguish the fire.”The responding fire companies were able to clear the scene exactly one hour after they left the station, at 1:33 p.m. 

Office Building, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Restroom fire at mixed-use retail and office center extinguished by sprinkler system

An automatic fire sprinkler put out a small fire in a restroom this afternoon at Tivoli Village, according to a Las Vegas Fire & Rescue news release. Firefighters were called to the complex at 302 S. Rampart Boulevard near Alta Drive just before 5:15 p.m. When they arrived, smoke was coming out an outside restroom. Firefighters found where the fire occurred and confirmed it was already extinguished by the fire sprinkler.  Firefighters assisted with shutting the water off and cleaning up the area.  The only item that burned was the motorized paper towel dispenser. Damage was estimated at $250. The restroom is outside near an outside playground area.  The incident remains under investigation by Las Vegas Arson Investigators. There were no reported injuries during the incident.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

New Haven, CT – Electrical fire at Marriott near Yale University knocked down by sprinkler system

New Haven Fire Department is on the scene of a fire at the Marriott on Whalley Ave. New Haven Fire Department sent out tweets around 2:00 p.m. Saturday saying there was a reported fire at the Courtyard New Haven at Yale on the 5th floor.  According to officials, the fire was an electrical fire with heavy smoke.  They say it was knocked down by a sprinkler and contained quickly.  New Haven Fire Officials are on the scene conducting an investigation.  Officials at the hotel say there was a brief evacuation, but guests are being allowed back into the hotel.

Apartment Building, Residential

North Stafford, VA – Apartment complex fire held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire in a North Stafford apartment complex Friday afternoon damaged three apartments, but no one was injured.  Stafford County firefighters responded to an apartment building on Minuteman Circle shortly before 2:45 p.m. and found a fire on the patio of a ground-floor unit that had spread into the apartment and to the balconies of the two units directly above, according to a news release from Stafford Fire and Rescue.  The building’s sprinkler system held the fire in check until firefighters could extinguish it.

 The three damaged units at Stonegate Apartments were deemed uninhabitable, displacing 10 adults and five children who were relocated to other facilities.    The fire caused an estimated $75,000 in property damage and $10,000 in damage to building contents.

The sprinkler system and a quick attack by firefighters is credited for saving $1.9 million in property and contents.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Weaverville, NC – Warehouse fire contained by quick response of sprinkler system; firefighters

Fire officials are trying to determine what caused a fire to break out at the Thermo Fisher warehouse near Weaverville.  Crews were dispatched to the scene around 1 p.m. Wednesday.  The chief credits the warehouse’s sprinkler system and fire crew’s quick response for the minimal damage to the building.  However, he said there is extensive damage to products that were inside. There were no reported injuries.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Assonet, MA – Sprinkler systems help keep fire at distribution center from spreading

A late afternoon tractor trailer fire at the Stop & Shop Distribution Center Sunday temporarily ceased operations, but no injuries were reported, officials said. At about 3:53 p.m., the Freetown Fire Department was notified of an automatic fire alarm activation at the Stop & Shop Distribution Center at 136 South Main St. in Assonet, said Lt. Brent L’Heureux, a spokesman for the Freetown Fire Department.  Upon arrival to the scene, Freetown Fire personnel found a refrigerated trailer on fire, and the blaze extended through the loading dock and into the warehouse. The building’s sprinkler system activated and prevented the fire from spreading further, L’Heureux said in a news release.  Only a few employees were in the building at the time of the fire due to the holiday and they quickly evacuated when the fire alarm went off. The fire was under control in an hour and firefighters remained on scene for several hours to remove smoke from the warehouse, L’Heureux said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Cooking fire at apartment building put out by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

About 5:30 p.m., Peoria firefighters responded to a report of a fire that was prompting occupants to flee Apartment 8208 of 1808 W. Cherry Bud Drive. Firefighters arrived to the fire already out.  The occupants had overheated cooking oil, which burst into flames and activated the unit’s sprinkler system, said Battalion Chief Aldo Scott.  The sprinkler extinguished the fire.  No injuries were reported.  The apartment complex was going to provide housing for affected residents, Scott said.