Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Residential, Single Family Home

Brentwood, CA – Residential sprinkler system contains garage fire at house

Fire crews were called to the 1300 block of Castello Ranch Road around 1:45 p.m. Monday and found a fence on fire between two houses, Battalion Chief Jeff Burris of the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said in a statement. The fire also extended into garage of one of the houses.

Crews extinguished the fire on the fence, while the fire in the garage activated a residential sprinkler system that limited the damage to the exterior of the left side of the garage wall, Burris said. Investigators determined that ashes from a barbecue that were thrown into a plastic garbage bag stored next to the fence likely started the fire.

The fence between the homes was destroyed. Investigators said the financial damages to the fence and garage were approximately $50,000.  Nobody was injured.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Santa Ana, CA – Sprinkler system helps minimize damage in fire at aluminum manufacturer; No injuries

Fire crews extinguished a fire inside an aluminum manufacturing business Thursday in Santa Ana, authorities said.   Fire Authority officials were called at 2 p.m. to a fire at Aluminum Precision Products in the 2600 block of South Susan Street, said Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority.

The company makes die aluminum forgings for the aerospace industry.  Twenty employees were near a forging press machine when it caught fire. The blaze quickly spread to the roof where a sprinkler system was activated.

“An oily residue kept igniting the fire on the ceiling,” Concialdi said.   The fire was under control by 2:40 p.m.  A Fire Authority hazmat crew contained the runoff mixture of water and chemicals.

Fifty employees were inside the building when the fire broke out, but were able to exit safety. No one was reported injured.  Around 55 firefighters with OCFA and the Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Huntington Beach fire departments responded to the building.

The cause of the fire was an unknown failure of the forging press machine. Damages were at least $50,000, Concialdi said.  It was not clear if the business would reopen Thursday. More to come.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Richland, WA – Fire in university laboratory is put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

Several students and staff had to be evacuated Monday at WSU Tri-Cities after a small explosion and fire. It happened just before two in the afternoon inside the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory.

The school says there was a minor fire after a cylinder of compressed gas exploded unexpectedly. The Director of Marketing and Communications at the school says the building’s sprinkler system put the fire out and no one got hurt.

Students were evacuated from the east and west buildings but were allowed back in shortly after. Firefighters say they’re now looking into what happened.

Richland Fire Department Chief Tom Huntington said, “the sprinkler system activated, alarm system activated everybody was able to get out safe. Our initial response and activity were here was to make sure the buildings were clear and everybody was out. Right now what they’re working on then is to make sure there is no secondary spills chemical spills things like that associated with the explosion make sure the building is secure then we will start the investigation and figure out what happened.”

Staff at the school says the BSEL labs are now canceled until further notice, and students should log on to Blackboard to check if lectures have been moved to a new location.

Other - Residential, Other / Not Specified, Other Business, Residential

Mount Prospect, IL – Two recent fires highlight importance of automatic fire sprinklers

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

October 24, 2015 at approximately 5:58 p.m., the Mount Prospect Fire Department responded to an activated fire alarm in the building at 1751 Linneman Road. As firefighters were investigating the activated fire alarm, they discovered an activated sprinkler was controlling a vehicle fire inside the building. Firefighters extinguished the fire, limiting fire damage to the vehicle.

On October 28, 2015 at approximately 3:43p.m., the Mount Prospect Fire Department responded to a report of an oven fire at 290 Westgate Road. As firefighters entered the dwelling unit they discovered that one activated fire sprinkler was controlling an oven fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire, limiting fire damage to the stove area.

No injuries were reported as a result of these fires. Without the automatic fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems, the loss to both of these buildings could have been much more significant. The estimated fire damage for both of these fires was $125,000 with a total property value saved in excess of five million dollars.

“The positive result of these fires represents the excellent work that our entire fire department does on a daily basis,” stated Interim Fire Chief Brian Lambel. “The fire suppression was extremely effective due to the training and professional operations of our firefighters. The automatic fire sprinkler systems performed as designed due to the inspections, code enforcement and the development review role our Fire Prevention Bureau performs. The outcome of these fires could have been much different if all of these components had not come together.”

Fire sprinklers work because they do not rely on human factors. Unlike the common myth that all sprinklers in the building activate at once, only the fire sprinkler above the actual fire activates. Automatic fire sprinklers operate in the area where a fire starts, preventing it from growing uncontrolled to a dangerous size while simultaneously sounding an alarm and notifying the fire department.

Because of the proven effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers and the enhanced life safety features they provide, the Village of Mount Prospect requires all new construction be protected by automatic fire sprinklers. This requirement includes new townhomes and single-family residences. For more information regarding automatic fire sprinklers, or the requirements for testing and maintenance of sprinkler and fire alarm systems, please contact the Mount Prospect Fire Prevention Bureau at (847) 818-5253.

 

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Hibbing, MN – Kitchen fire at community college dormitory suppressed by sprinkler system

A dorm at the Hibbing Community College was evacuated Thursday due to a grease fire in one of the rooms.  A student was reportedly cooking with oil on the stove when the pan caught fire around 4 p.m.  When the fire wouldn’t burn out, the student placed the pan in the shower.   Authorities say when water hit the oil there was a flash grease fire which set off the sprinkler system in the bathroom, suppressing the fire.

The student received minor burns to his left hand and was treated and released from the Hibbing Hospital.  The building sustained smoke and water damage estimated at $10,000.

From 2009-2013 U.S. fire departments responded to almost 4,000 dormitory fires and 86% of them were kitchen fires, according to the Hibbing Fire Department.  Fire crews are reminding people make sure to use a tight fitting lid when cooking with oil and to remember to never pour water on a grease fire.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, Residential High Rise

Fall River, MA – Sprinklers extinguish fire on 6th floor of apartment building with over 100 elderly and disabled residents; No injuries

An early-evening fire sent elderly and disabled residents of Borden Place West, 181 S. Main St., out of their apartments. The fire started around 5:30 p.m. in the trash compactor, according to Fall River District Fire Chief Douglas Sullivan. The exact cause was being investigated, but Sullivan said it appeared accidental.  The sprinkler went on in the trash compactor and extinguished the fire.

“The system worked the way that it should have,” Sullivan said. “The fire was contained.”

Wendy Carvalho, who acts as the fire warden on the sixth floor where she resides, said someone may have dropped an ashtray or cigarette into the trash chute “I knocked on everyone’s door,” Carvalho said. “They all came out.”

Most of the 100-plus residents in the building are elderly or disabled, with many using walkers and in wheelchairs. Heavy smoke hung in the hallways even after the fire was extinguished, and many residents sat outside waiting to get back into their apartments. Other residents were inside the community room on the street level, and out of harm’s way.

Resident Joseph Blanchard, who has lived in the building for 25 years, said it wasn’t the first fire at Borden West, but it was the worst. “There was really a lot of smoke,” Blanchard said.

Sullivan said Borden West owner Peabody Properties called in professional cleaners to remove the excess water from the apartments that were flooded on the first floor. All residents were allowed back inside within a couple of hours.

No residents were injured. One firefighter fell and injured his shoulder but was able to continue working. Responding to the fire were four engines, two ladder trucks, Rescue No. 1, Special Services, and Fall River police.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hartford, CT – Apartment fire put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

A small fire in a kitchen at 76 Pliny St. was put out by sprinklers last Thursday evening, fire officials said. Firefighters found out about the fire about 4:40 PM and found the fire in one of the apartment’s kitchen, Capt. Ted Kolosky said.

The building was evacuated and no one was injured. The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Rochester, MN – Fire officials credit sprinkler system in extinguishing apartment blaze

Officials with the Rochester Fire Department are crediting a “sprinkler save” with extinguishing a fire inside an unoccupied apartment Thursday evening. Firefighters were sent at 5:54 p.m. to 2804 Second St. SW in response to a sprinkler alarm — sent by facilities when the sprinklers have been activated.

When they arrived, the apartment was full of smoke, said Deputy Chief Vance Swisher, but the flames had already been extinguished, thanks to the sprinklers. A preliminary investigation indicates a lamp that had been left on fell onto some combustible materials in a children’s bedroom, he said. The ensuing fire activated two sprinkler heads, putting out the fire before it could spread.

“It could have been a significantly larger fire,” Swisher said, “and certainly done more damage to the building.” The residents of that apartment were unable to stay there because of the water damage, he said, and the apartment below it may have sustained some damage, too.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

West Hazleton, PA – Sprinklers assist firefighters in extinguishing fire at manufacturing plant; No injuries

Firefighters from multiple companies responded to a fire alarm at a plant in Valmont Industrial Park in West Hazleton on Sunday afternoon. Firefighters and the plant’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire, which spread to the roof, Cara said. Crews could be found walking on the building’s roof after accessing it from a ladder truck.

Smoke rolled off the roof at Greif Brothers, 95 Jaycee Drive, and was visible for a time from Route 93 after firefighters were dispatched there around 4:30 p.m. The smoke began to dissipate and finally disappeared from outside view by about 5 p.m.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Cara said crews spotted the smoke upon arrival after being dispatched to the facility by Luzerne County 911 for an activated fire alarm and found a fire in a hopper holding polystyrene.

Cara said firefighters ventilated the building and found the fire didn’t extend elsewhere. Damages amounted to mostly smoke and water, Cara said. He expected the damage would “cause little change” in Greif Brothers operations.

No injuries were reported. Employees were at work when the fire broke out and evacuated, he said.

Cara said multiple fire companies were called to respond as a precaution. With commercial buildings, Cara said, it’s difficult to predict how quickly and where the fire will spread.

Firefighters from Hazleton, Valley Regional, Freeland, McAdoo, Hazle Township and Mahanoy City responded, as did utility companies PPL and UGI. American Patient Transport Systems Inc. also responded, as did fire police to direct traffic.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Summerside, PE, Canada – Fire at elementary school extinguished by sprinkler system; Classes resume next day

Most classes at Elm Street Elementary School in Summerside, P.E.I., will resume on Tuesday after a small fire forced the cancellation of all classes on Monday. The fire started near a ventilation fan in the computer server room at about 4:30 p.m. local time Sunday.

Summerside fire Chief Jim Peters said the sprinkler system had put out the fire by the time firefighters arrived. “It was just a matter of us, the firefighters, shutting down the sprinkler system and clearing some smoke,” said Peters.

Shutting down the sprinklers, however, took about 30 minutes, said English Language School Board superintendent Cynthia Fleet. The water soaked through the floor and ran into classrooms below, including the kindergarten.

Because of the water damage, kindergarten will be cancelled again Tuesday. All other classes will go ahead Tuesday as usual. Kindergarten classes will resume Wednesday, with changes for one classroom.

“Tomorrow, we will have teachers with workers from the school board move furniture and materials back into two classrooms, and a third classroom will be relocated into the breakfast area,” Fleet said.

“So that is why the breakfast program will not be in operation for the remainder of the week.”

Communications at the school will be by telephone only until the computer system is restored.