Tag Archives: Canada

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Richmond Hill, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system controls overnight fire at medical sleep clinic

A dozen patients at a Richmond Hill sleep clinic got a rude awakening early Tuesday morning when a small fire roused them from their beds.

Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services responded to the fire in the Oak Ridges Medical Centre at 13291 Yonge St. at 2:43 a.m. Tuesday.

On arrival crews encountered smoke coming from the restaurant in the rear of the building.

Firefighters helped remove 12 people from the stairwell and sleep clinic area, according to Richmond Hill’s fire chief Steve Kraft.

The flames were partially extinguished by the sprinkler system and fire crews extinguished the remaining fire.

“There were no injuries. It was a small fire that was kept in control with the sprinkler system of the building. Our crews arrived and they assisted getting some people out that were at the sleep clinic,” Richmond Hill deputy chief Bryan Burbidge said.

“We got the people out first and then went back in to finish extinguishing the fire and then remove the smoke.”

The patients were fine during the ordeal, despite the early wake-up call, Burbidge said.

“They were fine, other than lack of sleep,” he said.

While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, it is not considered suspicious, Burbidge said.

Twenty firefighters, the chief officer and York Regional Police and paramedics worked to resolve the incident.

The medical building was expected to be fully operational this morning with the exception of the cafeteria.

Oak Ridges is in northern Richmond Hill, just south of Aurora.

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

Victoria, BC, Canada – Stove fan fire in high-rise apartment building doused by sprinkler system

A small fire in an apartment building on Fisgard Street will likely have residents of least a few units looking for somewhere to stay tonight. Crews were called to the 12-story Hudson Mews building at 780 Fisgard just before 8 p.m.

People living in the 120-unit building were forced out as firefighters arrived and searched for the cause. It turned out to be a fire in a stove fan on the fifth floor of the building.

“When crews arrived on scene, they found that a suite on the fifth floor had had sprinkler activation,” said Victoria Fire Department Acting Battalion Chief Mark Robertson.

“it was caused by a small fire in a hood vent.” The fire doesn’t appear to have caused much damage but it set off sprinklers.

“The fire has been extinguished but there was quite a bit of water damage to the suites below,” said Robertson.  City of Victoria Emergemcy Social Service attended to take care of any residents that were unable to return to their suites.

The building’s management team assisted with contacting their repair contractors and organizing their residents.  Those who could return home were allowed back in about 45 minutes later.

The building opened in May 2014.

Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse

Montreal, QC, Canada – Suspected arson fire at food distribution business put out with help from sprinkler system

Montreal police say they believe an overnight fire at a Saint-Leonard food distribution store was arson.  Fire crews were called to the business on Magloire Street near the corner of Lafrenaie Street around midnight.

When the firefighters arrived at the scene, they saw that a window in front of the store had been broken and noticed an accelerant had been thrown inside, said Montreal police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils.  The sprinkler system helped put out the fire quickly, so damage was minimal.  No one was hurt and so far police have no suspects.

Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse

Clairmont, AB, Canada – Fire at distribution center contained by sprinkler system

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.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Oakville, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system knocks down fire at shopping mall caused by welding sparks

The Oakville Fire Department says no one was injured after fire broke out at the Oakville Place shopping mall earlier this morning (Tuesday). Fire crews were called to the mall at around 9 a.m.  Deputy Fire Chief George Birtig said the fire started at the building’s south side when sparks from welding, which was taking place on the roof in an area undergoing renovations, dropped down into a storage area on the second floor and ignited some products there.

“That set off the sprinkler system,” said Birtig.  “When we got there, there was still some flame left, but the sprinklers had knocked down the majority of the fire.”

Firefighters quickly extinguished what was left of the blaze.  Birtig said the mall was not open when the fire took place and so no shoppers were impacted.  Oakville Place staff said they were hopeful the mall could be reopened around noon.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Revelstoke, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system helps contain electrical fire at timber mill

The sprinkler system at Downie Timber Mill was crucial in containing a fire that broke out at the business on Tuesday night, Aug. 30.

Revelstoke Fire and Rescue Services (RFRS) responded to the fire, following a 911 call, at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Fire chief Rob Girard reported that the fire was electrical, possibly sparked by one of the large air compressors.

With 17 personnel from the Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services responding to the fire, it was out in less than 30 minutes with no injuries.

“Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke  pouring from the rear of the compressor building and sprinklers activated,” Girard said. “We immediately ventilated and had an attack crew enter the structure for the fire attack.”

There were no occupants in the building at the time and dealing with the fire was made easier due to the installed sprinkler system.

“The sprinkler system in the mill did a great job containing the fire to the area of origin,” Girard said, “without sprinklers this fire would have been a completely different matter for us.”

“Our hats are off to the great staff and management at Downie Timber Ltd. who helped us when we first arrived right through to mop up,” Girard said. “We all realize how important this facility is to the community.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Petersborough, ON, Canada – Garbage chute fire at apartment building kept in check by sprinkler system

A fire in a garbage bin at an apartment building caused $500 damage and prompted an evacuation of the building.

Peterborough Fire service responded quickly to alarm bells ringing at a high-rise building at 909 Clonsilla Ave. this afternoon.

Upon arrival it was determined that a garbage bin  under the building’s garbage chute was on fire. This activated the  sprinkler system which controlled the  fire until fire crews extinguished the fire.

Smoke had spread throughout the  building and crews were able to remove it.

The building tenants had evacuated the  building upon hearing the  alarms ringing.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, said acting platoon chief Lloyd Dozois.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Brampton, ON, Canada – Sprinklers help douse flames at auto parts shop

One victim was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a fire at a Brampton auto parts shop Monday.

Brampton firefighters were called to the unit at 225 Advance Blvd. around 7 p.m. They were met with thick, black smoke and limited visibility, but the sprinkler system inside the business had been activated.

Firefighters’ efforts combined with the sprinkler system doused the flames and the fire was declared under control by 7:30 p.m.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. One occupant of the unit was taken to Brampton Civic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An estimate of damage is not yet available.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Steinbach, MB, Canada – Sprinklers extinguish fire in dust collection system at manufacturing facility

A fire started in the dust collection system at Loewen in Steinbach. The fire department was dispatched to the scene at 8:26 p.m. Monday evening.

Steinbach Fire Captain Russ Reimer says when they arrived on scene alarms were sounding and crews were sent into the building to investigate.

“[They found that ] there had indeed been a fire in one of the collection systems, but these systems are also sprinkled so the sprinklers had gone off and done their job.”

Reimer says crews then used a thermal imager to ensure the fire was out and no embers had travelled further. He notes they also sent a crew to the north side of the building to ensure the silos were not in danger. Reimer says the sprinkler alarms continued to sound.

“The sprinkler alarms will go off when there’s any water flow in the system, and the system was sensing water flow. They may also have a faulty spot in their system right now causing the alarms to want to stay in alarm.”

He notes there were employees in the building at the time of the fire but no one was injured and they evacuated when alarms sounded.

“I wouldn’t say this is a common occurrence, but when it comes to manufacturing, this is not an unusual thing to have happen, which is why the systems are in place.”

The cause of the fire is unknown and Reimer adds, if there is any damage, it’s minimal and most likely appear as water damage from the sprinklers.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charlottetown, PE, Canada – Sprinklers limit spread of fire that started on deck of loft apartment building

At least six people have been displaced after a fire late Friday afternoon at the Y Lofts condo building in Charlottetown.  There were no injuries.  Charlottetown Fire Chief Randy MacDonald said the call to the 18-unit condo building, located at the corner of Euston and Prince Streets, was received at 5:20 p.m.

When crews arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the roof of the building, which was formerly the YMCA. The building was evacuated prior to fire crews arriving, he said. MacDonald added the fire seemed to have started on the outside deck of a third floor unit. It then spread to the roof. The fire was “held to the outside” by the building’s sprinkler system, he said.

Shortly after 6 p.m., MacDonald said the fire was “knocked down” and mostly contained with crews dealing with hotspots. He also noted a challenge to fighting the fire was the warm weather. To keep fire fighters safe, they took “quick breaks” and kept hydrated throughout the incident, MacDonald said.

Fire officials are investigating the cause.