Tag Archives: Early AM (5am-7am)

Other Business, Place of Worship

Amherst, NY – Sprinkler system activates to contain church arson fire

A Molotov cocktail was thrown into a chapel early Saturday morning in Amherst. Amherst Police say that around 5:30 a.m. they responded to a fire alarm at the Chapel at Crosspoint. When they arrived they found that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown through a glass door and started a fire. A sprinkler system contained the fire.

Damage was estimated to be $10,000. Amherst Police and the A.T.F are investigating the incident, including checking security cameras belonging to the Chapel and nearby businesses. Anyone with information is asked to call (716) 689-1364.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Enid, OK – Fire at food production facility controlled with help from sprinkler system

AdvancePierre Foods had a small fire in one of its cooking stacks early Thursday morning. The fire, at 6:03 a.m., may have been caused by grease accumulation, said Enid Fire Marshal Kenneth Helms. The fire is categorized as a cooking fire and activated two sprinkler systems.

Helms said firefighters had to pull back part of the roof membrane, and units were there for a couple of hours. No injuries were reported. The plant was shutdown for a short period.

The plant is now open and the impacted area is closed until repairs can be completed.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lexington, KY – Sprinkler system confines apartment fire to attic; No injuries

A passerby spotted smoke coming from the roof of a building at the Forest Creek Apartments on Appian Crossing Way and called 911 around 6:30 a.m.  Everybody made it out of the building safely.

Firefighters say the fire started in the attic and sprinklers confined it there until crews arrived. The fire did not cause much structural damage, but some of the residents’ belongings did sustain some water damage. Officials say 12 families live in the building, but the fire only impacted two.

Firefighters say it appears the fire was likely caused by an electrical problem. They say the sprinkler system likely saved the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

Vancouver, BC, Canada – No injuries in early morning apartment blaze after sprinklers successfully activate

More than 40 residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside were displaced from their homes Saturday after an early morning apartment fire.

Capt. Jonathan Gormick, a spokesman for Vancouver Fire and Rescue, said staff with emergency social services were working with the residents to find them accommodation until they can return to their apartments, likely next week.

The fire broke out in the attic of the apartment complex on East Cordova Street at around 5 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames on the roof. Gormick said the building’s sprinkler system was activated and all the residents escaped unharmed.

Firefighters put out the fire before it damaged any of the suites, however he said many of them sustained water damage from the sprinklers. The cause of the blaze is unknown and firefighters continue to investigate.

 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Portland, OR – Early morning fire at commercial laundry business controlled by sprinkler system

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a fire in a commercial laundry at 14321 N.E. Whitaker Way early Sunday. No one was injured in the fire, although additional resources were called in because of the potential for a large fire load due to the number of garments, towels, and chemicals — including detergents and cleaners — in such a business.

According to PF&R, initial reports at 6:12 a.m. were that smoke and flames had been seen inside the building and employees had evacuated it. Additional calls came in from neighboring businesses with reports of heavy black smoke coming from the roof. 

When firefighters arrived at the UniClean building, they quickly gained access to it and began searching for the area of the fire. A second alarm was called because of the size of the structure and the nature of the business.

Within minutes of arrival, crews were able to locate the area of the fire in the southwest corner of the building. The sprinkler system had activated and played a key element in keeping the fire at bay until fire fighters were able to gain access and knock it down. 

Truck crews were able to ventilate the building efficiently by removing the sky lights on the roof of the building.

A PF&R Investigator determined has the fire to be accidental, caused by a laundry bin full of oil soaked rags that had a chemical reaction. This type of fire can occur when an oil soaked towel or rag is slowly heated to its ignition point through oxidation.

No damage estimate was immediately available. Additional resources that responded to the fire included: eight Engines; four Trucks; one Squad; one Investigator; five Chiefs; and one Rehab rig.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

LaGrange, GA – Fire at Piggly Wiggly grocery store controlled by sprinkler system

Police and fire personnel responded to a fire about 6 a.m. Tuesday at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store at 1861 Roanoke Road. No one was injured in the blaze, which triggered the evacuation of the store’s employees. No customers were inside the building at the time, according to Chris Taylor, a public information officer for the LaGrange Fire Department.

LaGrange fire and police, along with the Troup County Sheriff’s deputies, responded to the scene. Initially, emergency dispatchers received calls that someone was possibly trapped in the room, but those reports turned out to be false, Taylor said. Taylor said the fire started in the back portion of the store in a utility area.

“There was a problem with the backup generator in the mechanical room,” he said. The fire was controlled by an automatic sprinkler system that activated, but firefighters still had to use hoses and water to extinguish secondary fires that also burned.

Officials with Georgia Power also responded to the scene, Taylor said. The LaGrange Fire Department is investigating the fire, but Taylor said no foul play is suspected and the preliminary cause of the blaze is expected to be either mechanical or electrical. Taylor expected a full report and information to be released by LFD this afternoon.

Taylor said the fire did not burn anywhere but the utility room. “We’re glad that the store wasn’t in regular operation when the fire occurred,” Taylor said. The Daily News attempted to call Piggly Wiggly several times this morning for comment, but its phone lines were busy.

 

Other - Residential, Residential

Terre Haute, IN – Fire at homeless shelter extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Officials are investigating an apparent arson after an early morning fire broke out at a Terre Haute homeless shelter. The fire started just before 6 a.m. at the Conners Center on 13th Street. The center, also known as Gary’s Place, is a shelter for women and children.

Kristina Stuff recalls waking up to billowing smoke and several women in the building who were shouting fire. “I thought it was the moment. I was petrified.”

The building is made up of three floors, and three floors up Stuff and her elderly mother were trapped by the overwhelming smoke. Stuff tried to get out but was unable to carry her mother through the smoke. “It didn’t matter what kind of evacuation plan we had it was just too much,” said Stuff as she describes trying to escape.

In that moment stuff recalls feeling helpless, “So I took us back in, soaked down towels and put it on her face, and prayed to God.” It wasn’t long before relief arrived. With the help of the Terre Haute Fire Department all of the residents inside the building got out safely. Stuff and her mother were rescued and treated for smoke inhalation, while the others escaped without injury.

“We don’t like what the future holds for us, but we are alive,” said Stuff.

Terre Haute Fire Chief, Jeff Fischer tells News 10 the fire started in the basement next to the soda machine. It appeared the sprinkler system aided in putting out the flames, but the black smoke continued to cause extensive damage to the second and third floors. “So that means cleaning everything, and taking care of that, and trying to get the smell out,” explained Rev. Timothy Fagg, CEO of the Lighthouse Mission.

The fire is being investigated as arson. Fire officials found evidence of poured gasoline close to the soda machine. “Every dollar we get goes to take care of the homeless here in the Wabash Valley, and when’s there’s something like this it’s difficult for us,” said Rev. Fagg.

All 14 residents are displaced while clean-up takes place. “This is it. This is all we got. We don’t have anywhere else to go,” said Stuff. Rev. Fagg said the residents will be offered a bed at the Lighthouse Mission until repairs are made. The shelter is looking for volunteers to help with cleaning and painting.

The Terre Haute Police Department is spending the day interviewing those at the shelter. The investigation into who started the fire is still on-going.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Brenham, TX – Sprinklers activate to help contain fire that started in jail laundry; No injuries

An overnight fire in the laundry room at the Washington County Jail set off the alarms and the sprinkler system, according to Chief Deputy Jay Petrash . The jail staff discovered the fire around early Tuesday morning. Brenham Fire Department personnel arrived within minutes extinguishing the flames.

Fire personnel used high pressured fans to remove heavy smoke from the area, while jail work crews cleaned the charred clothing from the machines and removed water from the room and hallway. Chief Petrash said that none of the 100 housed inmates or jail personnel had to be evacuated, and no one was injured. The fire is believed to have started due to a build- up of lent in one of the dryer’s filter, however, the cause is still being investigated by the Brenham Fire Marshall’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office personnel are still assessing the damage and will be awaiting review by insurance as it relates to replacement of equipment and costs.

Apartment Building, Residential

Webb City, MO – Early morning apartment fire contained by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system limited the spread of a fire in a Webb City apartment building early Tuesday.  Crews with the Webb City Fire Department responded to a fire at the Cardinal Towers, 324 N. Tom St., about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The alarm was traced to a single apartment on the first floor, where firemen searched for occupants. They found the woman had left the apartment when she was awakened by the alarm and was safe in the lobby of the building.

Firemen were able to stop the fire quickly, they said, because the sprinkler system had prevented the blaze from spreading beyond the single apartment. The source of the blaze was found to be in the area of a medical oxygen concentrator. The Webb City Police Department and METS ambulance also responded to the blaze.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fairview Heights, IL – Sprinklers contain early morning fire at popular restaurant

Lotawata Creek, a popular Fairview Heights restaurant, was damaged in a fire Saturday morning, Fairview Heights firefighters said.

Chief Bryan Doyle of the Fairview Heights Fire Department said they got the alarm call just before 7 a.m. He also said they were flooded with 9-1-1 calls from the hotel nearby when smoke started coming out of the building. Doyle said the security footage showed the fire burning for about an hour before the alarm went off.

Additional fire departments — Collinsville, O’Fallon and French Village — were called in to assist on the fire when it reached the ceiling of the restaurant . Doyle said the sprinkler system was what kept the building from being a total loss. He said he thought the building would be able to open anywhere from two to four weeks.

Doyle called for the Illinois Fire Marshal to investigate the fire to find a cause for the insurance company, he said there was no foul play suspected.