Tag Archives: Alabama

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Huntsville, AL – Fire in laundry room at Marriott hotel extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Huntsville Fire and Rescue said a member of the hotel’s maintenance staff opened a laundry room door and said he saw black smoke and flames. By the time the fire department got to the hotel, Marriott had already ordered an evacuation and the hotel sprinkler system put out the fire. According to Huntsville Fire and Rescue everyone was evacuated from the hotel for roughly 30 minutes before they were let back inside. The fire department set up fans inside the area where the fire started to help dry up the water put out by the sprinkler system. No one was hurt.

Other Business

Wetumpka, AL – Sprinkler system activates; Helps limit damage after overnight fire at Skate Zone family entertainment

The Wetumpka Fire Department extinguished a fire at Skate Zone 2000, located on Red Eagle Drive, at around 2 a.m. Oct. 4.  According to Fire Chief Greg Willis, the fire department was dispatched to Skate Zone through the building’s fire alarm system. Once they arrived, Willis said they noticed a light amount of smoke outside of the building and forced their way in.  Willis said the fire started near the skating rink’s DJ booth. By the time they got there, Willis said the fire had gone up a nearby wall and spread to the ceiling. With the help of the building’s sprinkler system, Willis said firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within minutes.  Willis said an area of about 10 square feet was damaged.

“It burned an area that would be the equivalent of a room in your house,” Willis said.  “I think it’s a good example of why we work so diligently to help our commercial buildings have these systems in place,” Willis said. “Our personnel did a great job of stopping what could have been a major loss to the community.”

In the 1990s, Willis said firefighters faced a similar situation with another skating rink. Unlike Skate Zone, Willis said the previous skating rink did not have an alarm or sprinklers. “The one in the ’90s was a completely different situation. It was completely destroyed,” Willis said. Cole said he is grateful for the fire department, not only for saving Skate Zone 2000, but for the effort they put in year round.

“I really appreciate the effort that the Wetumpka Fire Department puts in,” Cole said. “It takes a lot of dedication to do what they do.” Cole said Skate Zone 2000 will remain closed for clean-up and repairs, and is unsure when it will be open again.

Other - Residential, Residential

Montgomery, AL – 7th Floor structure fire contained by sprinkler system while fire crews arrived

No one was hurt as Montgomery Fire and Rescue units put out a Saturday morning fire.

The department posted on Facebook that a 7th floor structure fire at a room in the 300 block of Montgomery Street was started by food left unattended.

Responders said the sprinkler system held the fire in check but damage was still done.

The department reported considerable smoke and water damage as well as damage to the stove and cabinets.

Government Office

Moulton, AL – Fire in office cubicle at county courthouse is extinguished by sprinkler system

An overnight fire has caused damage in a north Alabama courthouse, and leaders are trying to figure out what to do next.  Local media reports that Moulton firefighters located the fire in a cubicle on the second floor after receiving an alarm.  Firefighters say it was an electrical fire that was put out by the sprinkler system.

Lawrence County officials announced on social media that the county courthouse in Moulton sustained fire, water and smoke damage from a blaze late Monday.  The building is closed indefinitely, and commissioners are meeting Tuesday to discuss the next step.

Apartment Building, Residential

Birmingham, AL – Early morning fire at downtown loft apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

Apartment Building, Residential

Enterprise, AL – Kitchen fire at apartment complex suppressed by sprinkler system

The Enterprise Fire Department went out on fire calls last Monday night and Tuesday morning, with none of the calls resulting in injuries.  A fire Tuesday morning in Enterprise forced the temporary relocation of several occupants of an apartment complex.  According to Enterprise Fire Chief Byron Herring, a stove fire started in an upstairs apartment at a complex in the 300 block of Heron Cove Drive. The unit’s sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived.  Water ran down into a lower-level apartment, causing an adult and four children in that apartment to be temporarily relocated while the electrical system was checked for safety, Herring said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Birmingham, AL – Sprinkler system assists firefighters battling apartment blaze

Birmingham firefighters are battled an apartment fire across from Railroad Park.  The fire has been contained and crews are now working to shut off the sprinkler system.  Birmingham Fire and Rescue says the fire was on the fifth floor of Parkside Apartments on 1st Avenue South.  There are no reports of injuries at this time. The building has been evacuated.  No other details were immediately made available..

Apartment Building, Residential

Montgomery, AL – Fire in newly renovated apartment building contained by sprinkler system

An early morning fire at the newly renovated Kress Building began in a freestanding fireplace on a fourth floor apartment balcony. The apartment’s owner told the Montgomery Advertiser the chimenea fire caused minor structural damage on the balcony. An activated sprinkler system kept the fire contained, Montgomery Fire/Rescue PIO O.J. Whiting said. The third floor suffered some water damage. Montgomery Fire/Rescue responded to the Dexter Avenue building around 7:40 a.m. and evacuated the building. No injuries were reported.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Smiths Station, AL – Daytime fire at high school minimized with help from sprinkler system

Smiths Station Fire & Recuse confirms first responders were called to a fire at Smith’s Station High School on Thursday morning.The fire department says units responded to the school around 11 a.m. CT where there had been a fire in a trash can inside the boy’s locker room.  Fire was brought under control and extinguished by the Lee County Sheriffs Office School Resource officer using a fire extinguisher prior to the fire departments arrival. The fire department also says the school’s fire suppression sprinkler system also activated.  Fire units used equipment to help remove the smoke and the school brought in a private company for water removal.  The department says there was only minor damage and no injuries were reported.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Birmingham, AL – Sprinkler system knocks down dryer fire at rehabilitation center

A small dryer fire forced patients at UAB’s Spain Rehabilitation Center to be evacuated early Thursday morning.

The fire was reported before 4:00 a.m. on the fifth floor of the building. Birmingham Fire-Rescue says the flames were put out by the building’s sprinkler system before they arrived.

Patients covered in blankets waited outside the building for approximately 30 minutes according Birmingham Fire-Rescue.