Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Grand Terrace, CA – Attic fire at convalescent hospital contained by sprinkler system

An attic fire prompted a precautionary evacuation at a Grand Terrace convalescent hospital, say San Bernardino County Fire Department officials.

The blaze was reported at 7:36 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Grand Terrace Health Care Center, 12000 Mount Vernon Ave., about a block north of Barton Road.

The first firefighters to arrive were the crew of Medic Engine 213 who reported smoke billowing from the roof, said Battalion Chief Dan Filter.

“We evacuated a wing because there was fire in the attic,” he said.

The building’s sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading.

Firefighters climbed ladders to the top of the one-story building and cut a hole in the roof so they could extinguish the flames.

No one was hurt. The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately determined.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Petaluma, CA – Warehouse fire fully extinguished by sprinkler system; damage limited

A fire safety sprinkler system installed inside of a warehouse complex on Petaluma’s Industrial  Avenue managed to fully extinguish a fire that broke out inside of the building Sunday evening,  limiting the damage to an estimated $50,000, according to the Petaluma Fire Department.

Petaluma firefighters responded to a water flow alarm at 1340 Industrial Avenue at 7:30 p.m.  yesterday, and arrived to find the odor of smoke and water coming out from under the structure’s
exterior doors. Crews forced their way into several of the building’s units, discovering one to be  completely full of smoke with around three inches of water covering the floor.

The sprinkler system had fully extinguished the fire, which appeared to have started in an office area,  according to the fire department. The system had caused minor flooding in an adjoining unit.
Crews shut down the system, evacuated the smoke and began removing water to prevent further damage.

The business owners arrived later that evening, and are now working with a local cleanup company, according to the fire department.  There were no individuals working in the building at the time, and there were no injuries. The cause  of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters from the Petaluma Fire Department and Cal Fire responded to the incident, with the  Lakeville Volunteer Fire Department and the Wilmar Volunteer Fire Department providing coverage  in the city.

Primary / Secondary School

Antioch, CA – Sprinkler system helps to limit damage in arson fire at elementary school

Fire inspectors suspect an arsonist set two dumpsters ablaze at an elementary school in Antioch on Saturday, a fire official with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said Monday.

Firefighters responded just before 7 p.m. to a report from a person walking by the Mno Grant Elementary School, located at 4325 Spaulding St., of a fire at the school, fire Capt. George Laing said.

Laing said fire crews arrived to find two dumpsters engulfed in flames that were adjacent to a masonry wall and overhang.

The fire burned through some of the overhang and caused minor damage to the roof but Laing said for the most part, the fire was contained to the overhang and dumpsters.

One sprinkler activated and protected the main electrical service, Laing said. Firefighters were able to douse the flames quickly and Laing said there were no injuries reported.

Fire inspectors determined someone set the dumpster on fire intentionally, but Laing said he couldn’t release more details because the fire is under investigation. 

A call to Antioch police was not immediately returned.Laing said it’s helpful for neighbors to pay attention to their surroundings and immediately report any suspicious activity or smoke to 911.

 

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire at senior assisted living center contained to point of origin by sprinkler system

Many residents at a senior living center in Baton Rouge were forced to evacuate after a dryer unit caught fire before 7 p.m. Monday.  St. George Fire officials said none of the 93 residents at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center on Siegen Lane were hurt.  One staff member suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated on site by EMS. 

“The fire began and was limited to the laundry area,” said Eldon Ledoux, spokesman for the St. George Fire Department.  The call came in around 6:49 p.m., and crews arrived on scene within 5 minutes. The fire was under control in less than half an hour, leaving little damage. 

“The sprinkler system really knocked the fire down and stopped it from spreading beyond that point of origin. This is where sprinkler systems save lives,” said Ledoux.  Many seniors were evacuated from the building. Others stayed inside behind fire doors with fire crew supervision. 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

New Orleans, LA – Sprinklers put out fire at French Quarter restaurant

The New Orleans Fire Department responded to a one-alarm fire Monday (July 20) at the Gazebo Café in the French Quarter. Firefighter Michael Williams said the police department called the fire department around 7 p.m. to report smoke coming from the Decatur Street restaurant. It was closed at the time, he said, and firefighters had to force entry into the building.

They had the scene under control in 10 minutes, he said. Williams said the fire appears to have been caused by a commercial refrigerator that failed. The fire was contained to the Gazebo Cafe, he said, and the restaurant’s sprinkler system put the fire out.

The New Orleans Fire Department responded to a one-alarm fire Monday (July 20) at the Gazebo Cafe in the French Quarter. The restaurant sustained mostly smoke damage, he said. In total, Williams said eight units and 22 firefighters responded. No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cookeville, TN – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in extinguishing apartment kitchen fire

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On Wednesday, July 15 around 6:30, the Cookeville fire department responded to a kitchen fire at an apartment complex on West Broad Street. “We were on scene there for a little over an hour,” Capt. Blair said.

A working sprinkler system installed at the complex helped to contain the fire in the unit where it originated and prevented it from spreading to other units.

“That sprinkler system likely saved the apartment complex. It certainly helped contain the fire to the unit where it started, and it made it easier for us to extinguish the blaze after we arrived on the scene. Because of the sprinkler system, we had the fire out in no time,” Capt. Blair said.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of sprinkler systems in saving lives,” he said.  As a precaution, the department evacuated several buildings at the complex while fire fighters worked to put out the blaze.  A total of 19 fire fighters responded to that call.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Nashville, TN – Sprinklers activate to help control arson fire at high school

Stratford High School suffered damage after a propane torch was used to set fire to an administrative office.  Officials with Metro Police said the incident happened Sunday at the school located on Stratford Avenue in Nashville.

Investigators said Trevarious Carney used a portable fire extinguisher and broke into the school during the evening hours.   The 20-year-old was allegedly seen on security video inside the building.

According to police, he first set a fire to the carpet inside an administrative office.  He fled the scene after the fire alarm began sounding.  The building’s sprinkler system went off, keeping the fire contained to the office area. 

Carney was identified as a suspect and charged with attempted arson.  No additional details were known. 

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Louisville, KY – Sprinkler system credited with controlling fire at recycling plant

A three-alarm fire at a recycling center in Louisville is now under control.  Employees called 911 just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, after failing to extinguish a fire at Recycling Management Resources, or RMR, in the 500 block of Industry Road.

The sprinkler system is being credited for making what could have been a potentially bad situation controllable. Officials said that the fire could have been much worse considering the large inventory of cardboard and other paper products inside.

At the height of the blaze, more than 80 firefighters were working to put it out. There were 18 employees in the building at the time of the fire, but no injuries have been reported. The fire is under control, but fire crews said they will stay on the scene throughout the night.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Huntsville, AL – Sprinklers quickly extinguish fire at extended-stay hotel

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Huntsville fire officials evacuated an extended-stay hotel Sunday afternoon.  Crews were called to the InTown Suites on The Boardwalk around 2:30 p.m. after a report of a small fire.

The sprinkler system had deployed by the time firefighters arrived.  Hotel guests were evacuated and no injuries were reported.

Guests were allowed back inside around 7 p.m. to collect belongings; the hotel’s owners have arranged for alternate accommodations.

InTown Suites issued this statement Sunday night:

“A small fire occurred in a room this evening at our Huntsville, Alabama location. Thankfully, there were no injuries. The fire was quickly extinguished by sprinklers, but water from these systems entered the main electrical room of the hotel. Therefore, electrical power has been disconnected until we can inspect and repair any issues. We are working hard to restore service as quickly as possible, and are relocating guests to nearby hotels. We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the Huntsville Fire Department and the American Red Cross. The safety and security of our guests and employees is our primary concern and we are thankful the systems in place worked as intended.”

A cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Other-Government/Military

Yuma, AZ – Sprinklers knock down fire at Department of Transportation garage

On Wednesday, just after 8:30 pm, the smell of smoke was reported in the 2100 block of east Gila Ridge Road. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived in the area and began to search for the source. A short time later smoke was found to be coming from a garage in the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) yard at 2165 east Gila Ridge Road.

Firefighters gained access to the locked garage and found an ADOT utility truck on fire inside. The fire had mostly been knocked down by the fire suppression sprinkler system inside the garage. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire and confirmed it had not spread further. Damage was limited to the vehicle and to sections of the garage directly above the truck. Several other vehicles, as well as additional tools and equipment, were undamaged. Fire investigators believe the fire originated in some equipment on the utility truck. The fire is not considered to have been intentionally set.

Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to personal property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat (155 degrees for a residential sprinkler) activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex.