Tag Archives: Arizona

Apartment Building, Residential

Tuscon, AZ – Two sprinkler heads activated to put out fire at apartment; No injuries reported

Crews responded to an apartment Thursday afternoon in central Tucson.

Tucson Fire Department units were dispatched to Haskell Drive and Grant Road.

TFD responded to an apartment fire near Haskell Dr and Grant Rd on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019.

Officials say water was coming from an apartment door on the second floor. As firefighters made their way inside, they found that two sprinkler heads had activated inside the apartment – putting out a bulk of the fire. The fire was under control minutes later, TFD says.

The resident was not home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.

Fire officials say the cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sedona, AZ – Fire at assisted living facility extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Sedona firefighters were dispatched to the Sedona Winds assisted living facility at 475 Jacks Canyon Road for a fire in one of the residential units on Saturday at 1:56 a.m., according to the Sedona Fire District.

“The automatic fire sprinkler system had extinguished most of the fire before we arrived,” said Captain David Rodriguez, “limiting fire damage to the one room.”

The fire was discovered by a nurse’s aide when the sprinkler system activated and triggered the buildings fire alarm system.

The aide was able to evacuate the resident from the room and unplugged the HVAC unit, which appeared to be the cause of the fire, stated the SFD press release.

“This was an amazing success story,” said Fire Marshal Jon Davis in the press release. “A working fire sprinkler system, combined with a well-trained staff and a quick response by firefighters resulted in the best possible outcome.”

“I have no doubt that without all of those elements coming together, the outcome would have resulted in injury or death to occupants of the building and damage to the structure would have been extensive.” said Davis, “Incidents like this really highlight how a comprehensive fire safety strategy can benefit a community.”

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Deputies along with YCSO Search & Rescue members and Sedona Police Department assisted at the scene with the temporary evacuation of residents from the wing of the building where the fire occurred. Approximately 20 residents were displaced for a couple of hours and the resident of the room where the fire occurred, had to be relocated to another room while theirs is repaired.

Sedona Fire District investigators determined that the fire started when the in-room, wall mounted HVAC unit malfunctioned.

There were no injuries reported and damage is estimated at $20,000, the SFD press release said.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Flagstaff, AZ – Potential arson fire at Walmart contained by fire sprinkler activation

Flagstaff police evacuated a Walmart on East Huntington Drive at about 3 a.m. Saturday after receiving reports of a fire inside the store, according to Sgt. Charles Hernandez II, a spokesman for the police department. 

Police who responded saw heavy smoke inside the store, and noted that the store’s fire suppression sprinkler system had been activated. All Walmart staff were evacuated.

The store sustained severe fire and water damage and will be closed until further notice, Flagstaff police said.

Store employees told police they had seen a man who was about 5 feet, 7 inches tall leaving sections of the store where a fire had been started. The man was wearing a black hat, grey jacket, orange shirt and green camouflage pants, police said.

Flagstaff police are investigating the incident as an arson.

Anyone with information that may help identify the suspect can contact the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414 or make an anonymous call to Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Anyone with information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Yuma, AZ – Condominium garage fire kept from spreading by fire sprinkler head; No injuries reported

On Wednesday August 28, 2019, at about 4:50 am, smoke was reported in a garage at a residence in the Eldorado Condominiums, 2239 South 35th Avenue. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived to find a sprinkler head had activated in the garage and water was flowing. The water flow was stopped and it was found that a fire appeared to have been extinguished. Firefighters confirmed the fire was out and had not spread.

Firefighters located the area in the garage where the fire had originated and found what was left of a radio controlled car. The car was on an office type chair and had been left charging. Damage was limited to the radio controlled car and the chair. The chair had been directly under the sprinkler head and would have activated early in the fire. The homeowner had been home at the time the fire occurred and was able to reoccupy the residence. There were no injuries.

Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fires spread quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex. Sprinkler systems save lives and protect property.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system suppresses mattress fire at hotel; Second sprinkler save in 36 hours in Yuma

On Thursday July 11, 2019, at 7:00 am a fire alarm was received from the San Carlos Hotel, 106 East 1st Street. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived to find the building being evacuated and reports of smoke in the hallway of the 3rd floor. Firefighters found the smoke was coming from room 302 and that a mattress in that room had been on fire. A fire sprinkler head had activated and extinguished the fire. YFD personnel confirmed the fire was out and began the process of removing the smoke and water from the affected floor.

The adult male occupant of the room was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center for further evaluation. Another occupant of the building was evaluated for a fall that occurred during the evacuation but further treatment was not required. The American Red Cross assisted displaced building residents while firefighters and building management worked to ready affected apartments to be reoccupied.

The fire damage was limited to a mattress and a portable air conditioning unit in the room where the fire started. Additional apartments on the floor were affected by water flow. Residents from unaffected apartments were able to return right away but clean-up work was still being done to allow for all apartments to be reoccupied. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This is the 2nd fire sprinkler save in the past 36 hours here in Yuma and the 3rd fire sprinkler save at the San Carlos Hotel since 2017.

Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex. Sprinkler systems save lives and protect property.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Apartment fire started by TV set put out by fire sprinklers

Firefighters believe a bedroom television set triggered a fire inside a home at La Posada Apartments Tuesday night. 

According to the Yuma Fire Department, firefighters responded to the apartment located 900 West 30th Street. Authorities arrived at the scene and found that a fire sprinkler head had extinguished a fire inside the bedroom. Two people were inside the apartment at the time of the fire and were able to evacuate safely.

Fire officials believe the fire started in a bedroom television set. The damage reported was limited to items in the immediate area and wall behind the set. 

The American Red Cross assisted the two residents with temporary accommodations. 

Retail

Scottsdale, AZ – Man sets fire to his own business; Sprinkler system helps extinguish blaze and protect neighboring businesses

A 75-year-old Scottsdale man was arrested Sunday after a fire investigation determined he set his own business on fire earlier this month, according to police. James Richard Waller is being charged with arson of an occupied structure and criminal damage for his involvement in the April 14 fire near Pima and Pinnacle Peak roads. The fire was quickly put out by fire personnel and the building’s sprinkler system. Police say in addition to the fire and related damage to High Desert Rugs and Furnishings, several other nearby businesses and vehicles had been vandalized with spray paint.

All of the damage appeared to be related and investigators quickly deemed the fire was suspicious. During the investigation, evidence indicated Waller, the owner of High Desert Rugs and Home Furnishings, was responsible for both the spray paint and starting the fire inside his own business.

“Obviously, there was something wrong, and it makes you feel bad that it had to be that way,” said Denise Barrett, owner of a nearby business called Sonny and Chair. She said Waller had always seemed like a friendly person.

“I think he’s come in once or twice to get food to go,” said Tristen Haasch, a server at Raven Gastropub, which is also nearby. “Unfortunately, we were affected by graffiti; it covered our menu sides in the front, and our wall, the entrances.” Waller was arrested and released pending felony charges through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system contains fire to machinery at paper company

The Yuma Fire Department responded to a fire at the International Paper Company last Friday night. YFD said they arrived at around 8:15 p.m. and discovered that machinery inside the building was on fire, and the fire suppression sprinkler system was keeping the fire contained. The fire was originally discovered by employees working at the facility who initially attempted to extinguish the fire themselves. When their efforts were not successful, a manual pull station alarm was activated, according to YFD. Shortly after that, YFD said the heat from the fire began to activate the sprinkler heads which contained the fire to the machinery where the fire had started. Fire damage was limited to the area of the machinery, and the ceiling area above. However, YFD said the open spaces of the building sustained additional smoke damage. No injuries to employees or YFD personnel were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported and fire damage limited

The Yuma Fire Department responded to an apartment fire Tuesday morning that was extinguished by a fire sprinkler. YFD said just before 10 a.m. firefighters arrived to find an extinguished fire that started on the stove top due to an unattended pan of oil. YFD said the sprinkler head was shut down by YFD personnel who also confirmed the fire was extinguished and had not spread. Firefighters worked quickly to vent the heat/smoke from the apartment and remove the water that had been released during the activation. Most house fires start in the kitchen and the stove top is the most common place for these fires to start. Due to the sprinkler system quickly extinguishing this fire, the fire damage was limited to soot stains on the wall behind the stove and heat damage to hood above the stove, according to YFD.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tucson, AZ – Apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; Firefighters put out remainder of fire

Rural Metro Firefighters responded to a fire near Irvington Road and Palo Verde Road last Friday afternoon. When firefighters arrived on scene they found smoke coming out a door and saw that an overhead sprinkler had gone off, containing the fire. Firefighters got the remainder of the fire under control. The source of the fire was determined to be accidental and due to improper storage of combustible materials near cooking appliances. No one was present at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.