Tag Archives: Florida

Hotel / Motel, Other - Residential

Daytona Beach, FL – Mattress fire at residential building put out by sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to a mattress fire at the Three Oaks Inn at 331 S. Palmetto Ave. about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday. The fire is believed to have started because of someone smoking in bed, Daytona Beach fire spokeswoman Julie Maddux said. The building’s sprinkler system put the fire out. About 35 people were displaced. The displaced residents were assisted by the Red Cross.

Other - Retail, Retail

Tampa, FL – Early morning arson fire at business extinguished by sprinkler system

An early morning fire at the Hookah Hut in South Tampa today has been ruled an arson, firefighters said. Tampa Fire Rescue responded to the business, 3215 Henderson Blvd., at 6:19 a.m. and found that the fire had already been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, according to a release from the agency.

The Fire Marshal arrived to investigate and found that the front and rear doors of the business showed signs of forced entry, the release said.  The Fire Marshal also discovered that the fire started in multiple places and found an unknown liquid with a strong odor. 

Tampa Fire Rescue’s HAZMAT team was called in to investigate the liquid. About $20,000 in damage was caused to the building and contents, firefighters said. Firefighters continue to investigate.

Anyone with information should contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at (813) 274-7000 or use the anonymous tips page at www.tampagov.net/arsontips. Rewards of up to $2,500 or more are available for information leading to an arrest.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Sarasota, FL – Arson fire at nightclub is prevented from spreading by sprinkler system

Sarasota deputies are looking for a man who they say set fire to a gay nightclub Sunday morning.  Surveillance video shows a man wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and light colored shorts approaching Throb Nightclub, 2201 Industrial Blvd., at 9 a.m. Sunday, according to a release.

The man walked up to the door carrying a gas can and unsuccessfully tried to light the building on fire with a lit cigarette, deputies said. He walks away and then re-approaches the business, successfully lights the fire and walks away again.  The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading, according to a report.

When the flames cleared, Throb Nightclub had suffered $10,000 in fire and water damage. Owner Brian Zickafoose wasted no time making repairs, and opened the club for a regular Sunday evening just hours after the flames had been put out.

Anyone with information can contact criminal investigations at 941-861-4934 or the State Fire Marshal’s arson hotline at 877-662-7766. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477) or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com

Apartment Building, Residential

Viera, FL – Sprinklers activate to help limit damage in apartment kitchen fire; No injuries

One second floor apartment unit was damaged by smoke and fire and sprinkler water, and another was damaged by sprinkler water as part of a cooking fire that originated on a second floor structure at the Mission Bay apartment complex in Viera on Thursday afternoon, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue. Units from BCFR and the Rockledge Fire Department responded to a call just before 4:30 p.m.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire, BCFR adds.

Office Building, Restaurant

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Sprinklers activate, assist firefighters in extinguishing restaurant fire at downtown high rise

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The Bank of America building in downtown Fort Lauderdale was evacuated Thursday after a fire broke out in a restaurant located inside the building. A Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue representative said the grease fire began on the first floor of the building inside the grill at Grille 401. He said firefighters could see black smoke coming from the restaurant upon arrival.

 “When crews arrived, they found heavy black smoke coming from the upper part of the parking garage,” Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Capt. Greg May said. “The sprinkler heads activated like they were supposed to, but the fire got in the duct system and traveled the length of the building which is several hundred feet.”

“We looked out the side window here, and it was just covered in smoke,” Britny Alexander, who was inside the building at the time, said.

All 23 floors of the building were evacuated for several hours. No injuries were reported. Firefighters said Grille 401 would be closed for the remainder of the day. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Residential, Residential High Rise

St. Petersburg, FL – Sprinkler system saves residents of high-rise residential tower after ninth floor kitchen fire

(Blog Editor’s Note – Smoke does not cause sprinklers to activate – Only the substantial heat from a significant fire).

A small kitchen fire set off the sprinkler system and forced evacuation of the Burlington Towers in downtown St. Petersburg on Monday night, sending dry residents into the evening showers.

The fire in a unit on the 9th floor was put out quickly, but the smoke had activated the alarm system and set off the sprinkler system, officials said. At one point there were two inches of water in the hall of the 9th floor, and water had cascaded down to the seventh floor hall.

Some of the responding firefighters, who normally would haul hoses, were instead told to bring squeegees. There were no reports of injuries.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Tallahassee, FL – Restaurant fire caused by malfunctioning burner halted by sprinkler system

A popular Midtown restaurant is closed as a result of a fire.

The Front Porch opened its Thomasville Road location in early 2013. The restaurant, known for its locally-sourced seafood dishes in an upscale atmosphere, posted a Facebook message to its customers on Monday morning.

“We are very sad to announce that our beautiful restaurant suffered a small fire last week and we will be temporarily closed until further notice. Please continue to check back, as our Facebook page will be updated when we have a re-opening day in sight. We appreciate your loyal patronage and can’t wait to serve you all again soon!”

Restaurant owners could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The Tallahassee Fire Department arrived at 8:52 p.m. May 30 in response to a fire, the incident report states. Investigators estimate damages at $35,000. No one was injured during the fire and the building was already evacuated by the time firefighters arrived.

The internal sprinkler system went off as a result of a malfunctioning Butane burner, according to employee statements in the report.

“The burning fuel from the burner was enough heat to activate the sprinkler head directly above it,” the report said. Investigators believe the fire was caused by a leak in the burner’s gas bottle.

The report stated no actual fire damage to the building, and all content and structure damage was caused by the water from the sprinkler system.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Tampa, FL – Condo fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Lightning strike possible cause

A fire that may have been sparked by a lightning strike was quickly extinguished by a sprinkler system at a condominium complex at 4115 Chatham Oak Court, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said Sunday. Residents said they thought they smelled something burning after the lightning strike on the roof of the complex late Saturday, but they could not locate a fire, according to fire officials.

But a small blaze smoldered in the roof before it burned through the ceiling of unit 222 some time later, fire officials said. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross helped families find temporary housing. Fire officials did not say how many families were affected nor provide the time of the blaze.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

New Port Richey, FL – Sprinkler system puts out fire at assisted living facility

Pasco County is reporting that the fire at Gulf Haven is out.  The building’s sprinkler system took care of the blaze. Further information is not yet available.

Earlier: Pasco County Fire Rescue is on the scene of a reported commercial structure fire at Gulf Haven assisted living, 6343 Rowan Road.

Initial reports indicate a fire broke out caused by an electrical heater on the building’s first floor, Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin wrote in an email to media. Units on the scene have not reported any signs of smoke or fire, Tobin noted, but an evacuation is in progress as a precaution.  No further details are available at this time.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Delray Beach, FL – Kitchen fire at assisted living facility quickly contained by sprinkler system

Two floors of an assisted living facility in suburban Delray Beach were evacuated Monday night when a small fire started in the kitchen of an apartment, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue reports.

The fire started just before 9:15 p.m. in the 14000 block of Sims Road at Grand Villa of Delray Beach, north of Atlantic Avenue and west of Military Trail.

The building’s fire alarm and sprinkler system were activated and crews were quickly able to get the fire under control, said Capt. Albert Borroto, spokesman for Fire Rescue. The first and second floors of the facility were evacuated as a precaution.

There was no fire extension into any of the other units, Borroto said.  At 10:30 p.m., the building was being ventilated and residents from the second floor were allowed back into their homes.  It was not known how many residents from the first floor remained displaced late Monday.