Tag Archives: Illinois

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Burbank, IL – Fire in locker room of police station controlled by building’s sprinkler system

No one was injured when the southwest suburban Burbank Police Station caught fire Sunday night. A small fire broke out about 7:25 p.m. in a locker room on the lower level of the police station, according to a statement from Burbank police. The Burbank Fire Department, as well as several other area fire departments, responded to put out the fire, which was confined to a couple of lockers.  Police said the building sustained heavy smoke damage, some fire damage and water damage. The fire was controlled by the building’s sprinkler system.  An early investigation suggests that the fire originated near an electrical outlet within a locker and does not seem to be suspicious in nature, police said. No injuries were reported, and no prisoners were inside the building at the time of the fire. Neither the communications or emergency operating systems were affected, so the fire will not impede police functions, police said

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Aurora, IL (No Media Coverage) – Kitchen fire at restaurant fully extinguished by one sprinkler head

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE *** At 3:12 a.m. on 3-9-17 the Aurora Fire Department responded to an activated fire alarm at 85 Executive Drive on the city’s far eastside.

Upon arrival firefighters found a restaurant/bar with the fire alarm activated and light smoke seen through the front windows. Upon making entry and upon investigation firefighters found that a small fire started on the cooking surface in the kitchen area which activated one sprinkler head that fully extinguished the fire.

A total of 10 firefighters were on scene and there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

The total estimated dollar loss is $10,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Park Ridge, IL – Fire in trash chute at parking garage extinguished by sprinkler system

(No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported) On February 12, 2017 at 5:09 p.m. the Park Ridge Fire Department was dispatched to 50 N. Northwest Highway for an activated fire alarm. Crews arrived on the scene within four (4) minutes and determined there was a possible fire in the trash room located in the parking garage.  Upon entering the trash room, there was water flowing from 4 sprinkler heads inside the trash chute.  These heads activated due to a fire of undetermined cause in the dumpster itself.  The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system saving what could have been a large fire loss.  Crews checked for fire extension and damage.  There was minimal damage to the building from water and smoke.  No injuries were reported and all building fire protection systems were placed back in service that night.

Apartment Building, Residential

Springfield, IL – Two sprinkler heads knock down arson fire at vacant apartment building

Arson is suspected in an early-morning fire Sunday at the soon-to-be opened The Villas at Vinegar Hill apartment building.

Springfield Fire Chief Barry Helmerichs said crews were called around 2:20 a.m. for an automatic alarm caused by sprinklers being activated.

The sprinklers extinguished the blaze, but the new building suffered some smoke and water damage, Helmerichs said, adding vandalism also was noticed.

The Villas at Vinegar Hill is a four-story, 92-unit apartment development for residents 62 and older being developed by The Springfield Housing Authority. It’s being built on the site of the former John Sankey Hi-Rise at 401 W. Allen St.

Nobody is living in the building yet, Helmerichs said.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

DeKalb, IL – Sprinkler system activates to help contain recycling center fire

Recycling materials inside Waste Management’s DeKalb facility caught fire recently and caused an estimated $150,000 in damage to the building, according to a DeKalb Fire Department news release. The department responded at 10:17 a.m. Saturday to a reported fire in the facility at 115 Simonds Ave.  DeKalb Fire Chief Eric Hicks said the fire started in the recycling sorting area inside the building. The cause of the fire is not yet known.  The fire was deeply seated in the recycling materials, which take up one-third of the building, according to the release.

“It’s a recycling center, so anything you can think of that’s recyclable is in there, paper, cardboard,” Hicks said. The building’s sprinklers were activated when firefighters arrived, but piles of the recycling materials had to be taken apart and wet down with a hose line for the fire to be extinguished, according to the release.  A special fan from Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 8 was used to remove the dense smoke from the building.  Hicks said the department does not have to use the ventilation fans often, but they are available to departments around the state for warehouse-type fires in larger buildings.  The fire was under control within five hours, and no one was injured. Sycamore, Cortland, Malta, Hinckley, Maple Park, Waterman and Genoa-Kingston fire departments assisted.

Other - Retail, Retail

Schaumburg, IL (No Media Coverage) – Fire at IKEA store contained by sprinkler system

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE ***  The Village of Schaumburg Fire Department responded to a call early morning (1:30 am) on Wednesday (1/18) at the IKEA in Schaumburg. Upon arrival our crews reported light smoke in the building. They were meet by building maintenance who stated the syrup machine started on fire in the first floor food court activating the sprinkler system. A single sprinkler contained the fire, and the building engineer was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The cause is believed to be due to a shorted electrical cord, and the damage was limited to an estimated $4,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Springfield, IL – No injuries in apartment arson fire controlled with help from sprinkler system

Four apartments in the Near North Village building at Fourth and Madison streets sustained water damage Tuesday night after a fire was started in a hallway. Springfield Fire Chief Barry Helmerichs said someone apparently set a blanket on fire in a fifth-floor hallway about 6:10 p.m. The fire activated the building’s sprinkler system, and firefighters who responded spent most of their time getting the sprinklers shut off.  Water from the sprinklers damaged one apartment on the fourth floor, two on the third floor and one on the second floor, Helmerichs said.  No one was injured. The fire is under investigation.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Bartlett, IL – Sprinkler system holds fire in check, protecting suburban landmark BAPS Cultural Center

A fire that started in a large commercial dryer at the BAPS Cultural Center in Bartlett last week was held in place by a sprinkler until fire crews arrived, preventing the possible loss of a suburban landmark, authorities say.

Occupants of the building at 1851 S. Route 59 were quickly notified to evacuate by the fire alarm system at 9:39 p.m. Jan. 3, Damage was limited to the dryer and smoke damage to the immediate area around it.”

The building where the fire occurred is very large and unique,” Bartlett Fire Protection District Fire Chief Michael Falese said. “Without a fire sprinkler system, this could have been a very significant fire with millions of dollars of damage and a loss of a landmark facility.”

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Galesburg, IL – Restaurant fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Galesburg firefighters responded to the report of a structure fire late Thursday morning at Crazy Buffet, 463 Grant Ave., in the Seminary Square retail development. No flames were visible upon arrival, however firefighters found light smoke coming from the roof. Dispatch received a call from the alarm company followed immediately by at least a half dozen calls from passersby saying a large volume of smoke was coming from the roof. Galesburg firefighters responded at 11:24 a.m.  “Fire units found the kitchen full of smoke,” Fire Chief Tom Simkins said in a news release. “Fire had started in wok in the grill area. The manager attempted to extinguish the fire with three hand fire extinguishers. The hood system functioned properly and knocked the fire down on the grill. However, fire had extended outside the grill and was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system which had a single head flowing on our arrival.

“Fire also extended upward into the hood duct system. It appeared the filters had not been cleaned in some time as they were packed with grease, fueling the fire. This caused extension to the roof. The aerial ladder was deployed and a hose line stretched onto the roof. ​A hydrant was needed for additional water for extinguishment.” The Knox County Health Department was notified and the business was closed pending direction from KCHD officials.   No injuries were reported. A call-back crew of five off-duty personnel handled at least three calls during the fire. Simkins said an alarm at the Pizza Ranch “most assuredly” activated due to the drop in incoming pressure in the sprinkler system due to the use of the hydrant across the street.  The fire cause is listed as accidental. The fire department reported the scene under control at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, although fire officials remained on scene to investigate.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Cooking fire at apartment building put out by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

About 5:30 p.m., Peoria firefighters responded to a report of a fire that was prompting occupants to flee Apartment 8208 of 1808 W. Cherry Bud Drive. Firefighters arrived to the fire already out.  The occupants had overheated cooking oil, which burst into flames and activated the unit’s sprinkler system, said Battalion Chief Aldo Scott.  The sprinkler extinguished the fire.  No injuries were reported.  The apartment complex was going to provide housing for affected residents, Scott said.