Tag Archives: British Columbia

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Langley, BC, Canada – Fire in dorm at Trinity Western University stopped by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system installed in the dorms at Trinity Western University a few years ago is being credited for stopping a fire from spreading last Wednesday morning. Township firefighters were called out to one of the dormitories on campus, after a couch erupted in flames around 7:30 a.m.

The couch was in one of the common areas and so far, fire investigators don’t know what caused it to catch on fire. “It’s still under investigation,” said Assistant Fire Chief Pat Walker. The sprinklers put out the fire as firefighters arrived.

College/University (on campus), School / University

North Vancouver, BC, Canada – Suspected arson fire at Capilano University contained by sprinkler system

North Vancouver RCMP are searching for suspects in a break-in and possible arson at Capilano University this morning.  Emergency crews were called to the university library shortly after midnight.

“On arrival, we noticed smoke in the library,” says Ast. Fire Chief Dave Burgess. “There was a small fire and the sprinkler had it deactivated.  The sprinkler controlled the fire and kept it to the area of origin.”

Investigators aren’t sure what may have been stolen from the library yet. They will examine video surveillance in an effort to identify any potential suspects. The University says they will be assessing the damage, but do not anticipate any class disruptions today.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Langley, BC, Canada – Sprinker system credited with containing townhouse kitchen fire

 fire that started on the stove of a Walnut Grove townhouse on Thursday might have done far more damage than it did, if not for the presence of a working sprinkler system.

Pat Walker, assistant fire chief with the Township of Langley said the blaze started after a pot used to sterilize rubber nipples for baby bottles was accidentally left heating on the stove when the family went out.

“They left the house and thought they had turned (the burner) off, but it boiled dry,” said Walker. Eventually the nipples caught fire and ignited plastic components inside the stove’s hood.

The flames had also melted a cabinet door and a plastic kettle on the counter before being doused. “It would have been a totally different scenario without the sprinkler,” said Walker.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Vernon, BC, Canada – Suspicious overnight fire at restaurant extinguished by sprinkler system

Police and the Vernon Fire Department are looking into the cause of a suspicious fire at the New Delhi Restaurant in Vernon.  Deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood says the fire started inside the building sometime before 3:15 a.m. when the building’s sprinkler system went off and triggered an alarm.

Firefighters forced their way into the building by busting open the front doors, but by the time they got there, the fire was already out.  “The sprinklers did actually put out the fire. It’s lucky they were up and working for sure,” Skolrood says.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Kelowna, BC, Canada – Deliberately set fire in nursing home extinguished by sprinkler system

The Kelowna Fire Department received an alarm at around 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning from White Heather Manor at 3728 Casorso Road. When crews arrived, they were met by the charge nurse who told them that there was a small fire in the nursing home’s activity room.

According to platoon captain Tim Light, the fire had already been extinguished before fire crews arrived by the sprinkler system. After searching the area, the firefighters shut off the water and then set up ventilation to clear smoke from the affected suites and hallways. The residents were evacuated outside at first, but when conditions permitted, they were sheltered in an unaffected area of the facility.

Firefighters stayed on scene to help lessen the water damage from the sprinkler. The Kelowna Fire Department says that this was a deliberately set fire, and that RCMP are now involved in the investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinkler limits damage and save lives in apartment fire (Chilliwack, BC)

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 2, fire crews responded to a fire in the third floor of a four-story apartment building. The apartment’s fire sprinkler system helped to put out the fire, and the tenant, who was home when the fire erupted, was able to evacuate safely along with the apartment’s other residents. The cause of the fire appears to be smoking materials.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Golf club fire halted by sprinkler system (Kelowna, BC)

At around 3:40 a.m. on Saturday, fire crews were alerted to a fire at a golf club pro shop. When they arrived, they discovered a fire burning on the outside of the building. According to investigators, the cause of the fire appears to be an improperly disposed cigarette. The facility’s fire sprinkler system had contained the fire to the building’s exterior, and no injuries were reported.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Sprinklers extinguish grocery store fire before firefighters arrive (Calgary, BC)

Over 50 customers and employees had to leave a local grocery store on Friday after a fire broke out. Officials say the area where the fire originated had a sprinkler system which went off, along with a fire alarm. The sprinkler system extinguished the fire before crews even arrived on scene. There were no reports of injuries, and investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Christmas tree fire extinguished by sprinkler system (North Vancouver, BC)

Firefighters responded to a call around 6:20 p.m. Thursday after a Christmas tree caught on fire in a townhome. “Luckily the townhouse unit has a sprinkler system in the building,” said Dan Pistilli, fire chief at the City of North Vancouver fire department. The tree ignited when the homeowner lit a sparkler for their young child and got too close to the tree.  Pistilli said the situation could have been much worse. “If the unit did not have a sprinkler system it would have been a different result,” he said.