Tag Archives: Connecticut

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Torrington, CT – Fire at carpet factory held in check by sprinkler system

A fire Sunday at a carpet factory began when a forklift operator drove over flammable material used to make carpet padding, the fire marshal said. Fire Marshal Edward Bascetta ruled the fire as accidental.  Bascetta said a sprinkler system activated and kept the fire in check, for the most part, “or we would have had a much larger fire than we did. They had all their safeguards in place.”

The fire department called for three alarms Sunday evening after workers, an alarm system and nearby firefighters simultaneously discovered there was a fire within the 150,000-square-foot building owned by Calhoun, Ga. based Mohawk Industries. The massive industrial building stretches from Church Street to Pearl Street and has an entrance on Migeon Avenue.

“The workers were moving the stock pile of foam that they make into padding for carpets,” Bascetta said. “The forklift operator had gone in, picked up a pile and backed up against (material) and had some latex go under the forklift where the exhaust is.”

Bascetta said the heat of the exhaust sparked the fire in the latex, which is extremely flammable. “Once it gets in the latex piles, it keeps burning and you had to pull it apart to get it out.”

Brunoli said a firefighter, who was also trained as a forklift operator, used the machine to carry the smoldering bales of latex outside, where it was extinguished. Brunoli said the firefighter drove the forklift while wearing his protective equipment, including his air pack.

Bascetta said only stock was damaged. “The manufacturing side of the facility is close to being up and running today,” he said Monday afternoon. “They were getting stock in at 10 this morning.”

Representatives of the company did not return requests for comment. A woman at the factory said they could not comment, but work was continuing.

“They had plenty of workers there late last night working around-the-clock to clean up the area,” Bascetta said.

Fire Chief Gary Brunoli said the crew on Truck 4, returning to the fire station from another incident smelled smoke. He said they spun the fire truck around and by the time the department got the call about the fire, they were already there.

Brunoli and Bascetta said the quick response and fire suppression systems in place in the building helped control the fire before it got out of control. There were no injuries, and Bascetta said there was no major damage to the building.

Bascetta said the company has been proactive about fire safety. “They came to the fire department and said we manufacture foam padding for carpets, and we will have fires,” Bascetta said. “They take precautionary measures to prevent that, but sometimes something like this occurs and it is purely accidental.”

Bascatta said when fires burn in latex bundles the only way to extinguish it is to drag it from the building and pick it apart while spraying it down. Brunoli said they used foam to douse the smoldering fire and the Department of Energy and Environmental protection monitored runoff to ensure none of the plastic bits got into storm water systems.

Office Building, Other Business

Stamford, CT – Fire in records room at office building put out by sprinkler system

A fire suppression sprinkler system did what it was supposed to do and quickly put out a small fire in an Atlantic Street office building that broke out after hours. Firefighters were called to 1 Atlantic St. in response to an automatic fire alarm in the building Thursday at about 7 p.m., and found the sprinkler activated and smoke on the fourth floor of the building, according to a statement from Stamford Fire Department.

The fire started in a records room, it was determined, where firefighters found damage from fire, smoke and water, the statement said. They also found that just one sprinkler head of the automatic system had activated, and that it alone was able to control the fire. A total of five engines, one truck, one rescue and the deputy chief responded to the alarm arriving within three minutes. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the City Fire Marshal’s Office.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Shelton, CT – Sprinklers contain arson fire at packaging manufacturer

A criminal investigation is under way into a late-night fire at a Shelton company that specializes in corrugated cardboard packaging. An initial investigation “determined [the fire] was incendiary in nature, which means arson,” said Shelton Fire Marshal James Tortora.

The arson determination was made with the help of Shelton police detectives, the city Fire Marshal’s Office, the State Police, and the state Fire Marshal’s Office, including the use of a state-provided K-9 dog with specialized training.

Shelton Police Det. Christopher Nugent confirmed the fire was being looked into but declined to offer any details about the police investigation or case at this time. “The fire is currently under investigation,” Nugent said.

The fire occurred in an office at Honey Cell manufacturing facility at Bridgeport Avenue and Long Hill Cross Road. The plant’s address is 600 Bridgeport Ave., but it is actually accessed from Long Hill Cross Road.

Tortora said the fire call came in at about 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire in an office at the factory, “but the sprinkler system had it under control and kept it contained to the office,” he said.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the remaining fire soon after their arrival, Tortora said. “First arriving units reported light smoke showing from the building,” according to an Echo Hose Fire posting. “A fire was found in one of the offices with the sprinkler system in operation.

Based on the company website, Honey Cell is a part of Valley Container. Different divisions of the parent company specialize in different kinds of packaging. Valley Container has a factory and its headquarters in Bridgeport, as well as facilities in Massachusetts and Ohio.

Apartment Building, Residential

Meriden, CT – Overnight apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to a stove fire in a room at The Infinity apartment complex on Bee Street.  Shortly before 11:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to The Infinity, 390 Bee St. Upon arrival, it was determined the fire had already been put out. The sprinkler system was triggered, according to the fire department. Fire Marshal Steve Trella was on scene investigating the incident. There was damage above the stove, as well as minor water damage to the apartment and the room below.

Apartment Building, Residential

New Haven, CT – Sprinklers contain ‘potential disaster’ fire at apartment building

Sprinklers likely kept a kitchen fire in a second-floor unit from spreading throughout the Bella Vista Apartments Thursday morning.

Several fire trucks converged shortly before 9:30 a.m. on 315 Eastern St., Building D. The fire was contained in the kitchen by the sprinklers. Crews arrived and checked on whether the fire had spread, and left a short time later.

“It turned a potential disaster into a minor incident,” Battalion Chief William Gould said at the scene.

Gould said no injuries were reported.

Self-Storage Facility, Storage / Warehouse

Southbury, CT – Electrical fire at self-storage facility extinguished by sprinkler system

The operators of Store-Haus, a self-storage facility at 82 Poverty Road, cleaned up damage Thursday from a small fire the night before in the front office. Owner Dave Polmon said a chair in the office ignited after a wire overheated. The heat triggered the office’s sprinkler system, which put out the fire.

Firefighters were dispatched to the building at 8:40 p.m. after dispatchers were alerted by an alarm. Polmon said the business remains open despite the damage. He said plastic bowls five feet from the fire-damaged chair melted in the heat, but a container of chocolate-covered rains about 10 feet away did not melt.

Store-Haus opened in 1988 in the former location of a manufacturing firm called Dav-Matic Inc., which closed due to the decline of manufacturing in Connecticut.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Meriden, CT – Hotel manager thankful that sprinkler system contained fire

An East Main Street hotel is undergoing repairs after an electrical fire Saturday night caused the building to be evacuated and the power shut off.

The fire shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday at the Hawthorn Suites at 1151 E. Main St. caused significant damage to the hotel. Fire Marshal Steve Trella said the fire broke out in two control rooms and was contained by the sprinkler system.

After city electricians and cleaning crews worked through the night, electricity was partially restored Sunday afternoon. General Manager Amit Arora said it could be a day or two before occupants are allowed back.

“Water always does more damage than fire but I’m just thankful (the sprinkler system) was able to control the fire and no one got hurt,” Arora said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Greenwich, CT – Christmas tree fire at apartment complex put out by sprinkler system, no injuries

There were no injuries this morning when a Christmas tree caught fire inside a Greenwich apartment.  The fire was put out by the apartment buildings sprinkler system.

Police say the fire occurred at approximately 9 a.m. at Wilbur Peck Court after the resident of one of a 2nd floor unit left for work leaving the Christmas tree lights on. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation but the Greenwich Fire Marshall’s Office says it most likely was caused by a broken Christmas tree light bulb.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Fire at high-tech optical manufacturer put out by sprinkler system (Middlefield, CT)

Local firefighters were on the scene of a fire at Zygo Corporation in the eastern part of town early Monday. Four people were reportedly evaluated for injuries but declined medical treatment.  NBC Connecticut is reporting that the fire was minor and that it was put out by the sprinkler system inside the business.  Crews were beginning to clear the scene around 6:45 a.m. Monday.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Suspected arson fire at popular cafe controlled by sprinkler system (Fairfield, CT)

Fairfield police and fire officials have launched a “significant investigation” into a blaze at the Seagrape Cafe on Reef Road that was originally believed to be accidental but now appears to be arson, officials said Monday.

At 4:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, Fairfield Fire Department received a water flow alarm from the Seagrape Cafe, indicating a sprinkler system had been activated, Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Tracy said. Engine 1 responded to a small alleyway behind the Seagrape that directly abuts the Inn at Fairfield Beach about six minutes after the alarm, reports said. According to fire officials, Engine 1 was able to feed a hose through an exhaust fan in the back of the building that was off of the room where the fire was being “kept in check” by the Seagrape’s sprinkler system.