Tag Archives: Iowa

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire sprinklers limit damage at manufacturing facility (Davenport, IA)

At about 8:45 a.m. on February 24, a fire was reported at a John Deere manufacturing facility. The incident began in the dust collection unit for a plasma cutting machine, and the fire sprinkler activated in that area, containing the fire until fire crews arrived. 

The plant was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Personnel in the unaffected work areas were able to return within 20 minutes.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Fire sprinklers put out fire at aquarium (Dubuque, IA)

Fire crews were alerted to a fire at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium on Saturday morning. The fire, which had started on the second floor of the aquarium in a tortoise enclosure, was eliminated by the building’s fire sprinkler by the time the crews arrived. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but no animals or people were injured in the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire contained in apartment building thanks to fire sprinklers (Waterloo, IA)

The fire sprinkler system kept a fire from spreading further than the second floor unit in which the fire began on Sunday afternoon. The fire began on a couch in the apartment, and no one was occupying the residence at the time of ignition. The rest of the apartment building safely evacuated the premises.

Battalion Chief Michael Moore said of the incident, “The sprinkler did its job. If the sprinkler system wasn’t in there, it would have been a ripping and roaring fire.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinkler system puts out fire at senior apartment complex (Des Moines, IA)

The Des Moines Fire Department says a sprinkler system helped keep a fire from spreading at an apartment complex for seniors. Fire crews were called to South View Senior Living Apartments at 1900 SE 6th Street around 1:30 Thursday. When they arrived they found a fire on a stove in one of the apartments. The sprinkler system in the apartment quickly put out the fire. No one was injured and damage was contained to one apartment.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fire sprinklers prove worth in restaurant fire (Des Moines, IA)

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Fire crews arrived to a fire reported at a restaurant the evening of Sunday, August 11. Officials now believe the fire began as a grease fire in the kitchen and then quickly came up the stove hood into the attic. An employee who witnessed the incident reported that the fire sprinklers activated almost immediately, suppressing the flames.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Single sprinkler activates to contain fire in high school gym (Rapid City, IA)

A fire broke out in the storage area of a high school gym in the early morning of July 18. Responding fire crews discovered a fire that was contained by one of the school’s sprinkler heads, keeping the wooden gym floor and bleachers safe from any damage. Remnants of the newly refinished gym floor were being stored in this room. There were no injuries reported in the incident.

Office Building, Other Business, Residential

Sprinklers controlled kitchen fire at residential and commercial building (Iowa City, IA)

The main body of the fire, contained to the underside of a kitchen counter, was controlled by the sprinkler system. The rest of the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes.  Though occupants were evacuated as a result of the fire, the release said there were no injuries and the fire did not leave the commercial portion of the building.