Tag Archives: Iowa

Marion, IA – Fire at hotel contained to one room by sprinkler system

Guests evacuate a hotel in Marion due to a fire Sunday morning. Marion Fire Department responded to a fire report from the Microtel Inn and Suites in the 5000 block of Dryer Avenue. Crews arrived as light smoke was coming from the building. The Marion Fire Chief says the fire was coming from one of the rooms on the first floor. The fire sprinkler system did go off, and the fire was contained to just the one room.

Everyone evacuated the building and waited in the parking lot, no one was injured.

The cause remains under investigation. 

West Des Moines, IA – Officials credit sprinkler system with controlling moving company warehouse fire

Fire crews were called to a fire in an industrial area of West Des Moines just before noon Monday.  Fire broke out at 523 S 18th Street in West Des Moines at Mayflower Transit.  The building holds furniture held for later moving.   Fire officials said a sprinkler system inside the building likely saved the structure.  The cause of the fire is not known and a damage estimate was not yet available.

Fort Dodge, IA – Sprinkler system credited with extinguishing apartment blaze

A sprinkler system put out a fire in a Fort Dodge apartment building Wednesday night and no one was injured.  The incident at Evergreen Estates, 1543 27th Ave. N., was reported at 10:27 p.m.  Fire Department Capt. Paul Neeson said a fire ignited on the stove in a first floor apartment in the three-story building. He said the heat from the fire caused a sprinkler head to activate and douse the flames.  “It did its job,” he said of the sprinkler.

Cedar Rapids, IA – Sprinkler system significantly helps control spread of fire at recycling center

A commercial recycling center suffered significant smoke and water damage, but minor structural damage in a fire Wednesday night.

According to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, crews were called to a commercial recycling center owned by Republic Services Recycling at 4250 Sixth St. SW at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report of an automated alarm. Responding firefighters discovered there was a fire in the building and encountered heavy smoke.

The fire department said the size of the building required a “prolonged search” to find the origin of the fire. Additionally, cold temperatures and the amount of work required at the scene led firefighters to call for additional units.

The fire was eventually found in recycling paper bundles. Firefighters said the building’s sprinkler system “contributed significantly” to controlling the spread of the fire.

Ottumwa, IA – Fourth floor hotel fire held in check by sprinkler system

At approximately 12:15 a.m. Sunday morning, October 30th, the Ottumwa Fire Department responded to a report of a room on fire at the Hotel Ottumwa. Upon arrival, fire fighters discovered a fourth floor room on fire. Two sprinkler heads had activated, keeping the fire from growing and spreading. An employee of the Hotel Ottumwa, Trevor Medina, heard the fire alarm activation and went to the fourth floor. Medina kicked in the door and pulled a female occupant to safety. The occupant was immediately transferred to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Ottumwa Police Department personnel assisted with the safe evacuation of the upper floors of the hotel. Ottumwa Fire Chief Tony Miller credits the courageous action of Medina with preventing a tragic ending. 

The hotel sustained smoke and water damage; mostly limited to the original floor of origin with minor smoke damage on the fifth floor. Tenants and guests were allowed to return their rooms shortly after the fire was extinguished and the smoke was removed. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ottumwa Fire Department. 

West Burlington, IA – Jewelry store fire in shopping mall extinguished with help from sprinkler system

A small fire caused occurred at Kay’s Jewelry Store about 7 p.m. Wednesday at Westland Mall.  West Burlington Fire Chief Shaun Ryan said his firefighters responded to the mall about 7 p.m. on the report of smoke coming from a storage facility on the second-floor of the store.  He said sprinkler systems activated and extinguished most of the fire by the time fire crews arrived.  He said firefighters were able to knock down the remainder of the small fire within minutes.

The entire mall was evacuated for about 90 minutes while firefighters removed smoke from the area, he said. The mall’s alarm system is on the same circuit so fire alarms went off throughout the building. 

He said the cause of the investigation remains under investigation.  No injuries were reported.  The Burlington Fire Department assisted West Burlington at the scene.

Sioux City, IA – Apartment bedroom fire extinguished by single sprinkler

An apartment sprinkler was able to extinguish a small fire in a Sioux City apartment complex Friday night prior to the arrival of firefighters, officials say. According to a Sioux City Fire Rescue news release, firefighters responded to an alarm at Prestwick Apartments, 4230 Hickory Lane, shortly before 10 p.m. Friday.

After investigating, firefighters located a single sprinkler head spraying water in a bedroom in one of the apartments.  Firefighters stopped the water and found remains of a small fire that had occurred on the dresser, the release said.  The occupant of the apartment was not home.

Upon investigation, the firefighters traced the source of the fire to an unattended candle. Damage was limited to the top of the dresser and a television near the candle, the release said.  Officials say sprinklers in buildings significantly reduce fire loss and deaths.

Spencer, IA – Laundry room fire at hospital contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

No patients or staff had to be removed from Spencer Hospital Saturday when the Spencer Fire Department responded to an early morning fire at the local medical facility. At 6:08 a.m., Spencer Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to Spencer Municipal Hospital following the report of a fire in the laundry room.

While responding, firefighters were notified that the fire had been put out in the area when the sprinkler heads in the room were activated. There was still smoke in the area and Spencer fire crews were on site for approximately one hour working with Spencer Hospital staff and Spencer Police.

The fire originated in the laundry area but the cause remains undetermined at this time. There was flame damage to the laundry room with some smoke entering the hallway and stairwell adjacent to the third floor. Fans were used to remove the smoke.

No injuries were reported. The sprinkler system contained the fire and the smoke was contained by the closure of fire doors through the activation of the fire alarm system.

Des Moines, IA – Sprinklers help knock down flames when fire breaks out in apartments above pizza parlor

No injuries were reported after a fire forced the evacuation Wednesday night of the Elliott Apartments above Fong’s Pizza on Fourth Street downtown.

Captain Mark Dooley of the Des Moines Fire Department said crews arrived around 10:30 p.m. to smoke and flames on the second floor of the six-story building and launched an “aggressive interior attack.”

“The flames were knocked down some with the activated sprinkler system,” Dooley said, adding that it made the firefighters’ job a lot easier.

Almost all of the residents were home at the time fire crews responded and all were evacuated by 11 p.m.

At 12:15 a.m. Thursday, Dooley said crews were no longer actively working to put the fire out but were instead checking the building to make sure the fire didn’t spread.

The heat was what was causing the most concern, Dooley said. When the fire started around 10:30 p.m., it was approximately 84 degrees in downtown Des Moines, according to the National Weather Service.

“There are medic units here just for the care of the firefighters,” Dooley said. They brought in extra medical crews and supplies solely to assist the roughly 100 firefighters working inside the complex, making sure to check their temperatures and heart rates.

No cause for the fire has been identified and the investigation continues.

Dooley said Polk County’s emergency response teams helped residents find a place to stay for the night.

Fourth Street, Walnut Street and parts of Court Avenue were reopened in time for Thursday morning traffic.

Joe Swift, a resident on the fourth floor, said he was out of the building minutes after the fire alarm went off. He said the smoke got very thick in the stairwell when he reached the second floor, making it difficult to see. He commended the men and women of the Des Moines Fire Department, who were knocking on doors and assisting residents out of the building.

“These guys do a great job, and the ladies too,” Swift said. “In old buildings like this, underneath all that carpeting is all wood. There’s lots to catch on to.”

On Twitter, Fong’s promised to repay swift work by the fire department with free pizza.

Marshall Town, IA – Freezer fire at grocery store controlled with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters were sent to a grocery store on a report of a fire in a freezer Thursday. Crews were sent to the Aldi’s store at 2405 South Center Street at 9:20 a.m.  The store was evacuated as workers tried to track down which freezer the burning smell was coming from.  The fire was seen coming from the back side of a freezer.

By the time fire crews arrived, moderate smoke has filled the entire store, but no fire was visible from the entrance. As they started work, firefighters reported the sprinkler system activated. No injuries were reported.  The investigation found the cause of the fire to be electrical and damage is estimated at $75,000.