Tag Archives: arson

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sprinkler contains arson fire at high school (Havre de Grace, MD)

About 25 firefighters responded to a fire that was intentionally started in the boys’ bathroom of Aberdeen High School on December 3. The afternoon blaze was set by a 16-year old male who ignited the paper towel dispenser; the fire resulted in 1,400 students to be activated. The school’s fire sprinkler activated and kept the fire from spreading beyond the bathroom. Firefighters were able to put out the remaining fire within five minutes. There were no injuries reported.

** Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by The Baltimore Sun, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system**

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinkler system controls arson fire at senior apartment building (Lancaster, PA)

City firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire, which was reported at 10:25 a.m. in the three-story Apartments at Mulberry Corners building. When firefighters arrived, the door to the woman’s third-floor apartment felt hot, said Chief Tim Gregg. The woman, whose identity was not available, was alone in the apartment, Gregg said. Firefighters helped her to exit and she was taken to the hospital, to be checked for injuries. The marshal ruled the fire was “incendiary” in nature, Gregg said. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system in the apartment building, he said. The apartment did not have extensive damage.Gregg praised the sprinkler system, saying it’s the “best fire safety device there is.” One sprinkler head was able to contain the entire fire, he noted. The Apartments at Mulberry Corners is a Housing Development Corporation building that contains 25 apartments for seniors ages 62 and older.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Fire extinguished at suspected arson incidents on college campus (Chestnut Hill, MA)

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Three fires were set in classrooms on Boston College over the weekend, and fire sprinklers put out the flames in each incident. Police are looking for a suspect in these cases. No injuries were reported.

***Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by WHDH.com, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Other - School / University, School / University

Sprinklers make the difference in arson fire at learning center (Las Vegas, NV)

Justice was served regarding the fire that was intentionally set on April 15 at a learning center for children with autism. The person responsible for setting the fire with gasoline and Molotov cocktails was sentenced on Friday, November 1. Authorities say that the fire could have been much more catastrophic had it not been for the building’s fire sprinkler system, which helped eliminate the blaze. No injuries were reported in the fire.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Arson fire in college residence hall controlled by sprinklers (Pueblo, CO)

A Colorado State University-Pueblo student was arrested late Sunday on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting fire to a residence hall on campus. At about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday police were dispatched to Culebra Hall on the CSU-Pueblo campus. When officers arrived they discovered an alarm was activated and sprinklers were going off inside the residence hall.

According to the affidavit, Cunningham said the man created a fireball by lighting a can of body spray and fuel he had on hand.  The fire eventually spread to a futon in the room and the fire activated the sprinkler system.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Arson fire at treatment center extinguished by sprinklers (Sheshatshiu, NL)

Four youths have been charged with arson in connection with a fire Wednesday night that started in a bedroom at the Charles J. Andrew Treatment Centre in Sheshatshiu. The Sheshatshiu Fire Department and the North West River Fire Department responded but the sprinkler system in the building had already extinguished the small fire.