Tag Archives: Iowa

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Clinton, IA – Arson fire extinguished by sprinkler in janitor’s closet at local business

A Clinton man was arrested and charged with arson for his alleged role in a fire at a local business. According to the affidavit, on Sept. 16, at 3:16 a.m., communication dispatched the fire department and police officers to Collis, Inc., at 1710 S. 21st St. in reference to an unknown fire. Boyd, a supervisor at Collis, who was working at the time of the fire, called 911 from his cell phone to report the fire. The firemen arrived and found the fire located in a janitor’s closet. The fire activated the sprinkler system under the stairs and extinguished the fire as the firemen arrived.

The affidavit states that during the investigation of the cause and origin of the fire, investigators observed two possible locations as the cause of the fire. Based on the origin of the fire, investigators determined the fire was intentionally set in the janitor’s closet.

The affidavit continues that during the investigation they were able to identify Boyd as a possible suspect and Boyd was interviewed. During the interview, Boyd allegedly admitted he went into the janitor’s closet to get some garbage cans for his area. Boyd stated that while he was in the closet he used matches to light a box on fire, shut the door and then he left the closet. At the time of the fire, there were approximately 20 other employees in Collis working.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Iowa City, IA – Lab fire at University of Iowa contained with help from sprinkler system

The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a fire on the University of Iowa campus Friday afternoon. According to a news release, crews were called to the Chemistry Building, 251 N. Capitol St., at 3:47 p.m. Friday for a report of an active fire in one of the labs.

Responding crews located a fire in one of the labs, which was partially suppressed by the sprinkler system. The fire was extinguished within eight minutes and crews remained on scene to assist with cleanup and ventilating the building. They were assisted by UI and Iowa City police, the Johnson County Ambulance Service and MidAmerican Energy. While employees were in the lab when the fire began, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire department and UI public safety.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Dubuque, IA – Fire in paint booth at manufacturing facility controlled with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters say a fire inside a paint booth at a Dubuque warehouse Tuesday was contained fairly quickly but still caused significant damage.

Dubuque Fire Chief Rick Steines said firefighters received a report at 9:49 a.m. Tuesday at a warehouse at 1111 Purina Drive. He said the blaze originated in a paint booth used by manufacturing company Andersen Eagle and was contained to the machinery.

Steines also said there were two 50-gallon barrels of acetone in the booth that started to burn. No injuries have been reported.

Steines said the booth’s sprinkler system helped contain the fire and firefighters were able to run a hose into the booth to extinguish the blaze. He said it was contained within about 15 minutes but crews stayed on scene to ensure the fire was out and to assess damage and help get the sprinkler system back on line.

Steines said the paint booth’s safety functions worked properly and the damage was contained to the booth.

“There’s no damage estimate yet, but there was pretty significant damage to the paint booth and some water damage from the sprinklers.,” Steines said.

He said the fire was paged out at a two-alarm level at first. But since it was contained quickly, the additional crews were back in service a short time later.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Des Moines, IA – Single sprinkler extinguishes overnight fire at East High School

Firefighters responding to East High School in Des Moines found a single fire sprinkler had extinguished a fire inside the school. Crews were called to 815 East 13th Street just before midnight on Monday. They found a pressure washer consumed by fire, but the fire did not spread. Crews said the fire sprinkler was set off when temperatures of about 155 degrees were reached. No injuries were reported. Damage is believed to be limited to around $1,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Des Moines, IA – Early morning apartment fire contained to one room by sprinkler system

Fire officials said a fire broke out in a bedroom at an apartment complex at 3500 East Douglas Avenue at around 6:30 a.m.  Officials said the fire was contained to the bedroom by the sprinkler system. Fire crews arrived and were able to put out the fire.

Crews told KCCI 8 News that two people were being treated at the scene, but no one was injured in the blaze. Fire crews estimated damage to the apartment at $10,000. Investigators are not yet sure of an exact cause.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Council Bluffs, IA – Sprinkler extinguishes intentionally set fire at high school

A small fire briefly disrupted activities Tuesday afternoon at Abraham Lincoln High School.  Around 12:15 p.m., someone set fire to a football tackling dummy on a balcony in the school fieldhouse, according to Council Bluffs Fire Marshal Larry Wohlers.  The fire activated a sprinkler head about 20 feet above the fire, which distributed water to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters arrived shortly after the activation.  No one was injured.

College/University (on campus), School / University

College campus fire contained by sprinkler system (Iowa City, IA)

A fire began in the Iowa City Chemical Building at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24. The flames began on the building’s fifth floor and were controlled by the school’s fire sprinkler system. No one was injured in the fire. Investigators believe the fire’s cause was the ignition of chemicals, but it is still under investigation.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Fire sprinklers credited with limiting fire at agricultural equipment dealership (Le Mars, IA)

The fire crews who responded to a fire at an agricultural equipment dealership early Monday morning are attributing the limited damage to the fire sprinkler system in the building. The fire, which appears to be caused by an electrical malfunction with a computer tower, was limited by the sprinkler system. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinkler system proves worth in apartment kitchen fire (Des Moines, IA)

A sprinkler system saved a Des Moines apartment from further damage after a fire started in the unit’s kitchen, officials said.  A fire had started while one of the occupants was cooking, officials said. 
Fire officials called the incident a “perfect example of how the fire protection systems required in these residential structures can save lives and property.”