Tag Archives: Colorado

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Colorado Springs, CO – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in extinguishing hotel fire; Fire started in room heater

A small fire at a Colorado Springs hotel was quickly contained late Monday night.  Guests and staff were evacuated after the fire sparked at Quality Inn on Aerotech Drive around 11:30 p.m. The heat from the fire triggered the sprinkler system.  Firefighters say the fire was started by a heater in one of the first floor rooms. It was quickly extinguished, and guests were able to return to their rooms.

Other - Residential, Residential

Colorado Springs, CO – Residential garage fire prevented from spreading by sprinkler system

Colorado Springs firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at a home as a result of improper disposal of cigarettes. According to CSFD, fire crews responded to 2561 Raywood View at 3:26 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Crews arrived to the two-story, multi-family home within five minutes of the call. Firefighters said no smoke was showing from the exterior of the home but found a small extinguished fire in the garage. The garage sprinkler had turned on when a small fire in a plastic trash can was detected, which prevented it from spreading and possibly causing serious damage.

CSFD fire investigators said after conducting an investigation the cause was determined to be from “careless disposal of cigarettes.” CSFD and the National Fire Protection Association want to remind all citizens that it’s extremely important in disposing of cigarettes properly.

Here are some helpful reminders from the NFPA:
•If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths result from fires that started in living rooms, family rooms, and dens or bedrooms.
•Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet
•Use a deep, sturdy ashtray. Place it away from anything that can burn
•Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily
•Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that
•Follow this link from the NFPA https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Safety-tip-sheets/SmokingSafety.pdf for more information

Retail, Shopping Mall

Lone Tree, CO – Storage room fire at shopping mall extinguished by sprinkler system

The sprinkler system extinguished a small fire inside Park Meadows Mall on Thursday afternoon, South Metro Fire Rescue said.  The fire was contained to a storage room in a back hall, officials said.  The food court was closed and evacuated while crews made sure everything was safe. The rest of the mall remained open.  Firefighters were leaving the scene a little after 3 p.m. The food court was likely to reopen soon after that.

Apartment Building, Residential

Greenwood Village, CO – Sprinkler system helps control arson fire at apartment building

A man was arrested and taken to the hospital Saturday afternoon after police said he was linked to multiple fires in their jurisdiction. Joe Bradley, Patrol Commander for Greenwood Village Police, said officers and firefighters responded to a fire in an apartment at Timber Creek. When firefighters and police arrived on scene, they located an active fire. South Metro Fire spokesman Eric Hurst told CBS4’s Dillon Thomas the sprinkler system in the unit had engaged the fire.

As firefighters cleared the building, police were warned of an unaccounted for person in the apartment. Shortly after, a different 911 call reported a separate fire along Yosemite. When police arrived to investigate the fire at Stoney Brook Apartments, they located an adult male allegedly attempting to set a bush on fire. Police said they attempted to contact the adult male who fled on foot. Police would later tackle the suspect and arrest him. Police then identified the suspect as the same person who was listed as missing in the apartment fire. Police said there was no threat to the community following the arrest.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Colorado Springs, CO – Hotel sprinkler system activates in response to dumpster fire started outside

A man was arrested Sunday for allegedly setting several dumpsters on fire and vandalizing cars in downtown Colorado Springs.

Police responded about 7 p.m. to a call about a man starting dumpster fires and damaging cars. One fire was so big that it triggered the sprinkler system at a local hotel. Witnesses followed the suspect, later identified as Steven Roche, 51, to East Bijou and North Tejon streets.

Police say Roche became difficult when they tried to contact him. Police said Roche apparently used a rock to damage several cars.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony criminal mischief as well as resisting arrest and two counts of fourth-degree arson, all misdemeanors.

Other Business

Grand Junction, CO – Sprinkler system activates to help control fire at custom door business

Investigators are trying to figure out what started a fire at a local business Wednesday night. It happened at Alpine Custom Doors in the 2800 block of Chipeta Avenue in Grand Junction, that’s north of I-70B, off of 28 1/2 Road.  The Grand Junction Fire Department said the flames started behind the building, then spread to the exterior of and eventually the inside of the building.  No one was inside at the time and no one was hurt.  We’re told a sprinkler system did go off during the fire.  There’s no word right now on the cause or the extent of the damage.  Officials remind everyone that dangerous burning conditions still exist. During red flag warnings, and Stage 1 fire restrictions all burning is banned.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Basalt, CO – Sprinkler system douses dumpster fire at mixed-use building

A built-in fire sprinkler system performed exactly as designed Tuesday evening in a mixed residential-commercial building at Willits Town Center, Basalt Deputy Fire Chief Pete Bradshaw said.

A fire ignited shortly after 6 p.m. in an isolated room with a trash dumpster and compactor. Black smoke was billowing out when firefighters arrived, but the sprinkler system was activated before they swung into action. The smoke turned white and water flowed from the room.

“The sprinkler pretty much did its job perfectly,” Bradshaw said.The room is built so that it would take about two hours before the fire could burn through the sheetrock and spread, Bradshaw said.

The residents and customers of the restaurants and shops in the Triangle Park Lofts building had to evacuate for nearly 30 minutes as fire alarms rang out. The building is home to popular restaurants such as Smoke and El Korita.

Bradshaw said 17 firefighters responded, including 12 volunteers, with one engine and one ladder truck.

Fire officers didn’t poke around the garbage to determine the cause. It wouldn’t have been easy to determine since the fire burned for a short time and the pile was thoroughly doused, Bradshaw said.

“It’s the second time we had a fire in that dumpster,” he said, recalling that the first incident was a couple of years ago.

Residential, Single Family Home

Westminster, CO – Home fire sprinkler system extinguishes fire in three-story residence

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Westminster fire crews are giving to warning to all home owners after a three story home was saved by an in home fire sprinkler system. The fire department say a family heard their smoke alarm go off as well as ‘pop’ sound Friday evening. That pop was from their home sprinkler system being activated. The residents went to the garage to find a fire in a trash can. Before fire crews arrived, the sprinkler system has contained and extinguished the flames. 

Fire crews says this is a valuable demonstration on the effectiveness of home fire sprinkler systems. They say according to the National Fire Protection Association, in-home fire sprinklers can cut the risk of death in a fire by 80 percent. The risk of death in a home fire is cut in third with the use of a working smoke alarm. 

 “Because fire sprinklers react so quickly, they can dramatically reduce the heat, flames, and smoke produced in a fire,” says the NFPA. “Properly installed and maintained fire sprinklers help save lives.”  With home fire sprinkler systems only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly onto the fire.  The system may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take for the fire department to arrive to the scene. 

NFPA has listed facts about home fire sprinklers at http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/fire-and-life-safety-equipment/home-fire-sprinklers.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Keystone, CO – Single sprinkler head keeps condo fire from spreading

An apparent accidental fire Saturday evening caused significant damage in the Mill Creek condominiums in Keystone, but a sprinkler head kept it from spreading, and no one was injured.

Some 15 firefighters from Lake Dillon Fire responded to an alarm triggered by the sprinkler system about 7:15 p.m., and they were assisted by a crew from Red, White & Blue Fire of Breckenridge in extinguishing the fire. They were supported by two volunteers from the Lake Dillon Fire Corps.

The fire caused significant damage to two units and left two others with smoke and water damage. Keystone Resorts found alternative lodging for the people staying at the six-unit building at 56 River Run Road.

The fire apparently broke out in the concealed space between the third and fourth floors, and the initial focus of the investigation is on electrical wiring.

“Fortunately, everything worked as it should: A single sprinkler head kept the fire from spreading, and the alarm alerted the occupants. And, most importantly, the occupants heeded the alarm and evacuated the building immediately,” said Lake Dillon Fire Chief Jeff Berino.

A preliminary estimate of the total damage is between $400,000 and $500,000.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Grand Junction, CO – Sprinkler system puts out fire started during middle school basketball game

Spectators and participants in a basketball game at Bookcliff Middle School were evacuated Tuesday night after a fire started in one of the school’s bathrooms, the Grand Junction Fire Department said.

Fire officials said the school’s sprinkler system put the fire out and there was no active fire when crews arrived on scene.

GJFD said there was minimal damage. Classes took place as usual on Wednesday.

Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.