Tag Archives: Alaska

Other - Retail, Retail

Fairbanks, AK – Sprinkler system douses overnight fire at popular outfitter/retailer

A fire that broke out in the basement of Prospector Outfitters early this morning forced the outdoor retailer at 1512 South Cushman St. to close.  The fire started in the building’s basement in the boiler room shortly after 1 a.m., according to Fairbanks Fire Department Assistant Chief Ernie Misewicz, setting off the sprinkler system, which doused the fire before crews arrived on scene.

Firefighters put out a minimal amount of smoldering inside the building’s walls and helped clean up some of the smoke and water damage from the sprinklers. Crews from Fort Wainwright, Steese and North Star Volunteer fire departments provided mutual aid to Fairbanks Fire Department.  Misewicz speculated the fire may have been caused by a boiler malfunction. He said the Prospector was closed Sunday morning while staff attempted to clean up the damage to reopen.

*** Note from Blog Editor — Smoke cannot activate an automatic fire sprinkler system, but rather only the substantial heat created early on in the growth stage of a potentially deadly fire. Only the sprinkler(s) closest to the fire will activate. ***

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Arson fire at hospital extinguished by automatic fire sprinkler system (Juneau, AK)

Juneau police say a 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fire at Bartlett Regional Hospital. Police say a 911 call from the hospital earlier Sunday reported that smoke, ashes and water were coming from a locked bathroom near the main lobby on the second floor. Police say the sprinkler system had extinguished the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Restaurant fire kept in check by sprinkler system (Fairbanks, AK)

A fire that began at a restaurant early Thursday morning was contained thanks to the building’s fire sprinkler. The Fairbanks Fire Department was notified of a fire at 5:50 a.m., and when they arrived, they found that the fire was kept at the point of ignition thanks to the fire sprinkler system.

“The sprinkler system basically saved the day,” Fire Chief Ernie Misewicz said. “It kept the fire in check in the front portion of the dining room.”

The fire’s cause was from someone improperly disposing smoking materials in a flower pot in the front of the building. There were no injuries reported.

“Had the sprinkler system not activated, there would have been significant damage to the building,” Misewicz said.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sprinkler system suppresses fire at school (Klawock, AK)

Fireworks ignited a small fire outside the Naukati School in Klawock, Alaska State Troopers say.
Around 10 p.m. Saturday, someone noticed a small pile of debris outside the school had caught fire. The sprinkler system was activated and the fire was quickly extinguished, according to an online post by troopers.  After investigating, officials determined two juveniles had been shooting off fireworks in and around school property.  One of the fireworks hit the school and then landed into the pile of combustible material, igniting the fire.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/07/29/2998058/fireworks-spark-small-fire-outside.html#storylink=cpy
Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Sprinkler system extinguishes dumpster fire at senior center (Juneau, AK)

1 Comment

A fire in a dumpster prompted firefighters to respond to the adult day care service at about 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning, but a sprinkler system extinguished the flames before they arrived. “They worked as they’re supposed to,” said Capital City Fire/Rescue Firefighter John Krebsbach, the shift captain at the downtown station at the time. “That’s why they’re there.” He speculated one of the residents probably dumped an ashtray with hot embers down the garbage chute, eventually catching fire.