Tag Archives: Canada

Apartment Building, Residential

Campbell River, BC, Canada – Single sprinkler credited in controlling blaze in 48-unit apartment building

Officials in Campbell River are crediting a single sprinkler for preventing major damage to a new apartment building when a fire broke out last week. The blaze started on the fourth-floor of a 48 unit building in the 700-block of Merecroft Road just after midnight Thursday. The single sprinkler kept flames under control until fire crews arrived. There were no injuries although some tenants will be displaced for a few days while the water from the sprinkler is dealt with by the building owner.

“No one was home in that apartment, but occupants in the rest of the large complex were awoken by the fire alarm, and that single sprinkler helped contain the fire,” fire chief Ian Baikie said in a release. “This is a much better outcome than a fire in an unoccupied unit without fire sprinklers.”

Fire and smoke damage was confined to a single unit on the fourth floor and water from the sprinkler got into units below where the blaze occurred. Baikie said if not for the sprinkler, people would have been out of their homes for weeks or months.

Hospital/Care Facility

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Sprinklers limit fire damage in supportive housing complex

A sprinkler system is being credited with limiting the fire damage in a supportive housing complex in Chilliwack Monday morning.

Firefighters responded to an alarm just before 3 a.m. from a building located in the 8900 block of School Street.

When they arrived, they determined the alarm had been triggered by a fire on the top floor of the four-storey structure. A sprinkler head had been activated due to a number of fires that had been intentionally set in one of the suites, said the Chilliwack Fire Department.

A single sprinkler had controlled and extinguished the fires.

Firefighters confirmed the fires were out and shut off the sprinkler system.

Majority of the damage in the unit was related to multiple fires apparently set by the lone tenant, the department said. There was minor water damage to the units below.

Crews from Chilliwack Firehalls 1 and 4 responded to call.

There were no firefighter injuries, and fire officials and RCMP fire investigators are continuing their investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Nanaimo, BC, Canada – Intentionally-set fire at credit union knocked down by sprinkler system

A man is in psychiatric care after being arrested in Nanaimo yesterday.

Police responded to a break-in alarm at the Island Savings Credit Union branch at Cedar Village Square, 1840 Cedar Rd., shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Police are not identifying the suspect other than to say that he is 54 years old and from the B.C. Interior, but allege he broke windows and lit a fire which led to his arrest.

“He lit a fire in the cardboard recycling area of the receiving bay of the 49th Parallel Grocery store,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “He also threw a brick through one of the … windows at the credit union and he also broke a passenger side window to a car.”

O’Brien said there was a warrant for the man’s arrest under Canada’s mental health act.

“He offered no resistance. He was arrested immediately.” O’Brien said. “It was apparent to the members that were mental health issues at play and he was taken for a psych exam.”

The man remains in care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Percy Tipping, North Cedar Fire Rescue chief, said the fire, that was started in cardboard, spread to some shipping pallets. The heat from the fire triggered the building’s automatic sprinkler system.

“Which was good because it could have been a lot more serious … the sprinkler system took care of the bulk of it for us,” Tipping said.

O’Brien said police are looking at recommending charges, but also are taking into consideration the man’s mental health issues.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fort St. John, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system helps contain fire at Sushi Heaven restaurant

The Fort St. John Fire Department has extinguished a kitchen fire at the Sushi Heaven restaurant this morning.

Fire Chief Fred Burrows said firefighters were called out to the restaurant in the plaza next to No Frills in Fort St. John shortly after 7:00 a.m. Wednesday.

The Fort St. John Fire Department has extinguished a kitchen fire at the Sushi Heaven restaurant this morning.

Fire Chief Fred Burrows said firefighters were called out to the restaurant in the plaza next to No Frills in Fort St. John shortly after 7:00 a.m. Wednesday.

He said that the fire investigator is currently conducting their investigation, and while the cause of the fire is currently not known, it is not deemed suspicious.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Montreal, QC, Canada – Sprinkler system limits spread of fire at Atwater Market

The Atwater Market has reopened following an early morning fire at one of the food stands attached to the exterior of the building.

The structure is a temporary extension to the market during the winter months, built with removable walls and awning.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 3:30 a.m. on Friday.

Martin Farmer, chief of operations for the Montreal fire department, said flames and smoke could be seen jutting from the side of the building.

No one was injured, but damages are estimated at around $50,000.

Farmer said the building’s sprinkler system did its job, helping limit the spread of fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Kitchen fire at assisted living facility extinguished by sprinkler system

There were some nervous moments last night as the Chilliwack Fire Department (CFD) responded to reports of a fire at an assisted living facility on McIntosh Drive.  Neighbours reported on social media on Feb. 21 after 8:30 p.m. some visible smoke at Cascade Manor Assisted Living.  When firefighters from Halls 1 and 4 arrived they found a stovetop fire in the kitchen of a residential unit that had been completely extinguished by the facility’s automatic sprinkler system.

The CFD said the sprinkler system significantly limited fire damage to a small area around the stove and the kitchen cabinets. “Without a working sprinkler system in place, this fire had the potential of causing extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the care facility,” the CFD said in a press release.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by fire officials and is believed to be accidental in nature.

“The Chilliwack Fire Department strongly promotes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in homes. The presence of an automatic fire sprinkler system in conjunction with a working smoke alarm greatly reduces the risk of being injured or dying in a fire.”

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Lake Country, BC, Canada – Overnight fire at high school contained by sprinkler system

Fire broke out at a Lake Country high school overnight.  Lake Country Fire Chief Steve Windsor says firefighters were called to George Elliot Secondary just after 10 p.m. Friday.  A fire caused considerable water and smoke damage to a classroom.  The fire started in a waste paper basket and was contained by the school’s sprinkler system.  The school district had a restoration company en route as of late Friday, to mitigate the damage.

Hotel / Motel

Fort St. John, BC, Canada – Laundry fire at Super 8 Hotel put out by sprinkler system

Firefighters in Fort St. John were called out to a small laundry room fire at the Super 8 Hotel.  Fire Chief Fred Burrows said that crews were called out to the hotel in the 9500 block of Alaska Road North at approximately 6:30 in the morning. Burrows said that a small fire had broken out in the hotel’s laundry room and that the small fire was extinguished by the hotel’s sprinkler system by the time firefighters arrived.  Burrows said the hotel’s occupants were evacuated to the hotel’s lobby when the fire alarm sounded and were given the all-clear to return to their rooms once crews ensured that the fire was put out. The hotel’s General Manager Lourdes Samodio said that the incident lasted only roughly five minutes and that no one was hurt in the incident. She declined to comment further on the matter.  Burrows said that the laundry itself sustained minor damage and that apart from the appliances and cleaning supplies stored in the room, the rest of the hotel was unscathed. According to Burrows, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but that the fire at this point is not deemed suspicious.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Quesnel, BC, Canada – Early morning fire at sawmill controlled by plant’s sprinkler system

A fire at Tolko Mills on Two Mile Flat had Quesnel Volunteer Firefighters out in force at 2:30 a.m. today (Jan. 17).  A total of 18 fire department personnel attended, along with three engines and one ladder truck, says director of emergency services Sylvain Gauthier.  The fire was in the main sawmill, and was contained to this area by the mill’s sprinkler system. There was some damage to the mill’s structure and to electrical wiring.  Gauthier told the Observer that the fire was caused by a spark from a welder.  The Quesnel Fire Department was on the scene for just over three hours. Representatives at Tolko have said they are doing their best to get the mill back up and running as quickly as possible. This could happen as early as this afternoon or tomorrow (Jan. 18).