Government Office, Office Building Ponoka, AB, Canada – Fire in recycle bin at government building extinguished by sprinkler system April 16, 2018 viking210 Ponoka RCMP are investigating a small fire that occurred at the Ponoka Provincial Building Wednesday around lunch. Along with police, the Ponoka County East District Fire Department were called to the scene where a blue recycle bin appears to have burst into flames. The building’s fire sprinkler system was set off, which extinguished the fire, and also covered a portion of the main floor. What was left of the bin was moved outside while RCMP investigated. A small amount of water was left on the floor near the sprinkler that went off.
Other Business Peace River, AB, Canada – Bus garage fire contained by sprinkler system March 12, 2018 viking210 (From Fire Department Reports) “February has continued to be busy with another 18 calls, including a structure fire in the bus depot in Peace River on Feb. 27,” Harris said, and explained, “A bus inside the garage was fully involved but fire damage was contained to the vehicle because the building has a sprinkler system.”
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Edmonton, AB, Canada – Arson fire in pub at historic building contained with help from sprinkler system July 27, 2017 viking210 Firefighters were called to a downtown Edmonton pub early Tuesday morning, after several kitchen appliances were turned on during a break-in. Crews responded around 4:20 a.m. to alarms at Mercer Tavern, located inside the Mercer Warehouse on 104 Street near 104 Avenue. “The second call came in stating that the delivery gentleman at the back of the building opened up the back door and found smoke coming out and extensive heat from the building,” district Chief Brian Lees said, adding that at that time, the call was upgraded to a structure fire. Crews arrived on scene and found what appeared to be smoke billowing out of the kitchen’s back door. When firefighters entered the building, their equipment detected very high levels of carbon monoxide so they quickly went back outside. “When you get 260 [parts per million] in an old concrete building like this style, there’s no way of ventilating it when the gas gets moving because of the design of the building. They made a good decision to pull out of the building and start ventilating and get the CO levels down,” Lees said. Firefighters discovered all of the burners on the stoves and gas-fuelled toasters were on when they arrived. Mercer Warehouse spokesperson Justin Archer said after the tavern was closed early Tuesday morning, someone broke in and turned on the gas stoves. The heat from the industrial appliances set off the sprinkler system, which in turn produced steam. “You know what, it could be that he was hungry and wanted to make himself a meal. I’m not too sure, ” said Mercer Warehouse owner Devin Pope. “The fellow, we do not recognize so we aren’t too sure what he was thinking. The police are going to figure that out.” Archer said several bottles of alcohol were also stolen. He said the tavern would be open at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Crews ventilated the building, got the gas turned off, and put the fire out with the help of the sprinkler system. The Mercer Warehouse is home to several eateries, over a dozen small businesses, and entrepreneurial mentorship company StartUp Edmonton. There’s no word on how much damage was caused.
Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise Calgary, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system stops high-rise balcony fire from entering building; No injuries reported May 7, 2017 viking210 Several floors of a southwest Calgary apartment building were evacuated Saturday night after a fire broke out on an upper storey balcony. Around 9:30 p.m., the Calgary Fire Department responded to several calls regarding visible flames coming off a balcony at the London Tower building in the 8000 block of Horton Road S.W. Calgary Fire Department Battalion Chief Alistair Tobin said residents in units two floors above and two floors below the fire were evacuated and placed onto city transit buses. No one was injured and fire crews managed to contain the fire and smoke damage to just one unit. “The sprinkler system worked perfect so it stopped the fire from entering the building much. The patio or the balcony was quite heavily damaged but the suite was protected by the sprinkler system,” Tobin said. Tobin said residents of six units were not allowed back into their homes last night. Everyone else who was evacuated was permitted to re-enter the building after the fire department completed its air quality monitoring. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Retail, Shopping Mall Mill Woods, AB, Canada – Activated sprinkler system assist firefighters in containing shopping mall store fire March 27, 2017 viking210 The Millbourne Market Mall in Mill Woods was forced to close Sunday after a fire in the kitchen of a restaurant. Fire crews responded to Remelies Cuisine in the area of 76 Street and 38 Avenue around 12 p.m. after the sprinkler system activated during a fire. Firefighters contained the blaze to the kitchen and put it out quickly. Officials said no one was hurt. The mall is closed for the rest of Sunday, and the fire is under investigation.
Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential Sherwood Park, AB, Canada – Grease fire at retirement home controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported March 27, 2017 viking210 A fire at Silver Birch Court last week resulted in the evacuation of 55 people. During the evening of Thursday, March 16, Strathcona County Emergency Services responded to a fire alarm at Silver Birch Court, located in Sherwood Park and managed by the Heartland Housing Foundation. As the alarm was triggered by a grease fire in an occupied unit, it was controlled by the building’s sprinkler system until first responders arrived to fully extinguish the fire. The water from the sprinkler flooded all four floors of the east wing of the affordable housing facility, resulting in considerable damage to the suite of origin; however, due to the rapid deployment of the sprinklers and firefighter response, no smoke damage was seen outside the suite of origin. Strathcona County Victim Services staff, transit buses, RCMP and Enforcement Services provided on-site support for the evacuated residents of Silver Birch Court, and no injuries were reported. As of Friday, March 17, restoration services were on–site and work is being done to have residents return to their suites as soon as possible.
Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse Clairmont, AB, Canada – Fire at distribution center contained by sprinkler system September 13, 2016 viking210 A second fire call went out at 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Crews from the Clairmont and Dunes stations were called to a monitored alarm at 9802 – 84 Ave, Gregg Distributors Ltd. in Clairmont where firefighters entered the bay and found a working sprinkler and smoke. Additional crews were called to the business and the fire was quickly extinguished. “Without the sprinkler system, the damage would have been much greater but at the same time, county crews made very quick entry into the building and knocked it down, thus reducing the overall cost to the business,” he said. The cause is under investigation and no one was injured in the incident.
Apartment Building, Residential Crossfield, AB, Canada – Possible arson fire at apartment complex put out with help from sprinkler system June 3, 2016 viking210 Airdrie RCMP believe a blaze at an apartment complex in southern Alberta on Tuesday may have been intentionally set. The fire broke out in the 1000 block of Railway Street in Crossfield, Alta. RCMP said the blaze was extinguished quickly, thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, Good Samaritans and members of the fire department. A third-floor apartment sustained minor damage, but RCMP said all residents in the building were able to get out safely and no one was injured. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or contact Crime Stoppers. Crossfield is located at about 50 kilometres north of Calgary.
Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility Edmonton, AB, Canada – Arson fire at women’s shelter controlled with help from sprinkler system May 1, 2016 viking210 A fire believed to have been deliberately set has shut down a downtown Edmonton emergency shelter and displaced more than 60 women who were staying there. Early Tuesday, firefighters responded to a fire on the fourth floor of a building that provides temporary shelter to homeless women. When police arrived, they were told a lighter had been used to start a fire inside the building. Officers arrested a 33-year-old woman at the scene and charged her with arson. Police said the flames triggered a sprinkler. Water and smoke damaged several floors on one wing of the building. Damage is estimated at $6,000. CBC has not been able to reach staff at the shelter to find out where clients are now staying and when the shelter will re-open.
Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse Edmonton, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system helps keep fire from spreading when stored cooking oil ignites March 22, 2016 viking210 More than forty firefighters battled a fire that broke out late Sunday morning at a storage warehouse in northwest Edmonton. Fire crews were called to the commercial warehouse in an industrial area near 148 Street and 128 Avenue just before noon. “When they arrived, there was black smoke coming out of the building,” Edmonton Fire Rescue spokeswoman Holly Budd said. “They forced entry and the sprinkler system had been activated in the building.” Edmonton Fire Rescue Services district chief Marc Zubick said the portion of the building that was engulfed stored edible oils. “It’s cooking oil that was the cause of the smoke but the cause of the heat that created the smoke on that oil has not been determined yet,” said Zubick. Zubick said the fire suppression system in the warehouse did a good job keeping the fire from spreading. As a precaution, firefighters called for more fire trucks at around 12:10 p.m., and a second alarm was called around 10 minutes later. Forty five firefighters fought the remainder of the blaze for two hours. The cause is still unknown.
