Tag Archives: Indiana

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Fort Wayne, IN – Sprinkler system douses fire at truck repair business

A fire Friday evening at a large truck repair business kept the Fort Wayne Fire Department busy. The fire department got an alarm about 7:15 p.m. at Power Train HD America at 3415 Conestoga Drive in northwest Fort Wayne and arrived to find smoke coming from the building.

Firefighters forced open an entry door and also opened an overhead bay door to ventilate smoke from throughout the building, according to the fire department. A large dump truck was on fire in a service bay, which set off the alarm.

The business’ sprinkler system helped keep the fire contained, but it still took firefighters 35 minutes to get the fire under control, the department said. Fuel from the truck was contained with absorbent equipment. The cause of the fire remained under investigation Friday night. No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Muncie, IN – Sprinkler systems helps extinguish fire in loft apartment building

Terry Moore, Muncie Fire Department battalion chief, said a woman was in the process of moving her mother into an apartment on the seventh (and top) floor of the former Roberts Hotel when she placed a bag of clothing on the stove — and apparently accidentally turned on a burner.  The resulting fire was for the most part extinguished by a ceiling sprinkler.  Fire damage was minimal.

“The sprinkler did what it is supposed to do,” the battalion chief said. A few tenants, some in wheelchairs, stayed outside the building for several minutes.

Apartment Building, Residential

West Lafayette, IN – Sprinkler system activates to control overnight fire at Purdue University off-campus apartment building

West Lafayette Fire Chief Tim Heath said the fire broke out above a trash receptacle on the third floor. The heat from the fire caused one sprinkler head to start spraying.  Fuse Apartment management said the damage to the apartments is minimal and will be repaired as students are out this week for Thanksgiving break.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire at automotive components manufacturer contained by sprinklers (Greencastle, IN)

Local fire crews were called to the scene of a fire Friday evening at Heartland Automotive. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to reports of heavy smoke at 9:36 p.m.  Greencastle Fire Chief Bill Newgent told the Banner Graphic the blaze originated in the facility’s paint room. The sprinkler system in the area contained the fire until firefighters arrived to extinguish it completely. No cause has been determined.

Apartment Building, Residential

Apartment balcony fire extinguished by sprinklers (Columbus, IN)

A second-floor balcony at Riverstone Apartments was damaged after discarded smoking materials in a plastic container ignited a wooden flower box, Columbus firefighters said. The fire was reported at about 5 p.m., fire investigator Matt Noblitt said. The apartment’s sprinkler system immediately kicked on, dousing the fire and preventing damage, Noblitt said. The fire was out when firefighters arrived.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fire at Menards store put out by sprinkler system, suspect being held (Evansville, IN)

Evansville Police and fire departments were called out to the east side Menards shortly after 4:00 pm for a fire in the back section of the store. Investigators say the store’s sprinkler system immediately activated and put out the flames. EPD confirms one employee was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. A Robards, Kentucy man is behind bars, accused of starting the fire.

Office Building, Other Business

Sprinklers limit damage in commercial building fire (South Bend, IN)

Fire crews were dispatched to a fire at 1:30 a.m. Monday at the South Bend/St. Joseph Building Department. The building’s fire sprinkler was operating when they arrived, preventing a large amount of damage.

“The sprinkler head was triggered by the fire in that office,” said Captain Christian Rose of the South Bend Fire Department. “And there was a broken window, so we’re unsure how that happened. So we called the fire investigators out to see whether or not arson was involved, or something else.”

The office was open for business on Monday, and there were no injuries reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinklers save lives and property at manufacturing facility fire (Middlebury, IN)

After some equipment caught on fire at a wood manufacturing facility early Friday morning, four area fire departments arrived to fight the flames. 

Middlebury Fire Chief Jeff Wogoman said, “I figured we’d have a beast on our hands, but it went pretty smooth.”

The facility was equipped with fire sprinklers, which contained the the flames. 

“If they didn’t have a sprinkler system, it probably would have burned down,” Chief Wogoman said. “That’s what saved the building – that early control of the fire.”

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Manufacturing plant fire eliminated thanks to fire sprinklers (Seymour, IN)

No one was injured in a fire that broke out at an automobile parts manufacturing plant on Monday night. The fire began when an oil line on an injection mold machine malfunctioned; the exact cause of the malfunction is under investigation. Four to six of the building’s fire sprinklers activated, extinguishing the flames. No one was reported injured from the incident.