Tag Archives: Maryland

California, MD – Sprinkler system contains fire in 2-story single family residence

On Friday, January 19, 2024, at approximately 11:05 a.m., firefighters from Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, and Hollywood responded to the 43000 block of Sweetbay Street in California, for the reported basement fire in a residence.

Crews arrived on the scene to find a 2-story single-family residence with smoke coming from the front door.

Firefighters entered and located fire in a utility room, which was being contained by a sprinkler system. Personnel extinguished the remaining fire and secured utilities to the residence and found no extensions.

Preliminary investigation by firefighters suggest that the fire was caused by a Lithium-Ion battery that was in the process of charging.

No injuries were reported and the occupants were not displaced by the fire.

This is the 2nd fire this month for our St. Mary’s County firefighters responding to a house fire caused by a charging Lithium Ion battery.

Largo, MD – Residential sprinkler system activated for early morning house fire

Three people are without a home early Tuesday morning after a large fire in Upper Marlboro.

Firefighters with the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department responded to Water Fowl Way, off of Watkins Park Drive, around 4:45 a.m. after a report of a house fire in the area. Through an initial investigation, it was determined that the fire in the garage spread to the roof area of the home.

Three people were inside the home at the time of the fire and were alerted to the blaze by smoke alarms. The residential sprinkler system also activated and helped to minimize the spread of the fire in the living areas.

The house fire left three people displaced, but none of the residents were injured. One firefighter was taken to the hospital to be checked out after working the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Salisbury, MD – Sprinkler system controls fire at hospital

An early morning fire at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional has been ruled accidental.

The fire was reported at around 1:25 a.m., in an Environmental Services Storage Closet. Crews were able to control the blaze in just over 20 minutes.

Maryland State Fire Marshals say the fire involved an electric vacuum cleaner attached to the wall and was caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery. The incident reportedly took place in an employee-only area and was controlled by the automatic sprinkler system. No patients were displaced or required evacuation, and hospital operations were not affected. The sprinkler and alarm system were placed back in service.

Baltimore, MD – Sprinkler system activated for accidental fire at high school

A fire damaged a classroom at an Eastern Shore high school early Wednesday, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The fire started at Easton High School after custodial workers “inadvertently” activated a stove-top burner, fire officials said.

The custodians were moving items out of a classroom and, at one point, placed electronic equipment on the burner, which is what activated the burner, according to authorities.

That’s what started the fire, fire officials said.

Moments later, the fire alarm activated and alerted staff to the fire, according to authorities.

A sprinkler head was activated and suppressed the flames, fire officials said.

The fire required 58 firefighters and was under control within about 96 minutes, according to authorities.

All damage was contained to a single classroom, fire officials said.

The cost of the damage came to roughly $3,000, which included $500 in structural damage and $2,500 in damage to “contents,” according to authorities.

Charles County, MD – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire in home

A Charles County man was arrested Saturday after deputies say he set a fire inside his parents’ Waldorf home, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Around 10:30 p.m., Saturday deputy state fire marshals responded to the 9200 block of Misting Court after the owner believed his son had set a fire.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office told the arriving investigators that the homeowner had been having issues with his son, 21-year-old Jordan Christopher Robinson, over the past few days and that he asked Robinson to leave the house earlier in the day.

At around 8 p.m., the homeowner received an alert on his phone for his home security cameras, where he saw Robinson enter the home, authorities said.

“He returned home and discovered Robinson had left the house and the remains of a fire inside his bedroom that the fire sprinklers had extinguished,” deputies said in a news release. Investigators credit the sprinkler system containing the fire and minimizing damage to around $6,000.

Officials said Robinson was arrested Sunday morning and was taken to a local hospital for injuries he had sustained earlier in an altercation with a family member.

After being released from the hospital, deputies said Robinson was transported to Charles County Detention Center, where he was charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, home invasion, and malicious destruction of property over $1,000.

Elkton, MD – Sprinkler system activated for fire inside home; No injuries reported

Investigators are crediting a smoke alarm and a fire sprinkler system for “saving the lives of a family” and for reducing significant property damage after a blaze broke out inside a home near Elkton early Sunday morning, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

One of the three occupants called 911 shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday after discovering the fire inside a bedroom at the home in the 200 block of Independence Drive, prompting area volunteer fire companies to respond, fire officials said. A smoke alarm inside that home had sounded an alert, allowing that resident to make the discovery, fire officials added.

“Upon arrival, the fire department determined the fire had been extinguished with one fire sprinkler that had activated,” an MOSFM spokesperson said, naming Singerly Volunteer Fire Company of Elkton as one of the volunteer fire companies that responded.

During their on-scene investigation, MOSFM detectives determined that a “malfunctioning oscillating fan” had triggered the blaze and then listed accidental as the cause of the fire, the spokesperson reported.

No one was injured and damage to the home was “limited to an estimated $10,000,” according to the spokesperson, who commented, “The investigation determined that the activation of only one automatic fire sprinkler prevented the fire from spreading from the bedroom into the remainder of the home.”

The spokesperson further reported that relatives are providing temporary assistance to the residents, whom he identified as one adult and two children, ages 15 and 8.

In the wake of Sunday morning’s house fire, State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci issued this statement: “Residential fire sprinklers are proven to save lives, prevent injuries and protect property and valuables. The best home fire safety practice is combining a smoke alarm, an escape plan, and a residential fire sprinkler. Today we saw the effects of this winning combination.”

Under state law, a residential fire sprinkler is required in all new one-family and two-family homes in Maryland, MOSFM officials said. In addition, Maryland law prohibits local governments from “weakening the sprinkler requirement in their jurisdiction’s building codes,” they added.

Hagerstown, MD – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at elementary school

Someone started a fire at Bester Elementary School in Hagerstown on Tuesday.

Shortly after 11 a.m., firefighters responded to the school at 385 Mill Street for a fire on the second floor.

The school was being evacuated when first responders arrived and an extinguished fire was found in a bathroom.

Officials said the fire was put out by the school’s automatic sprinkler system and was contained to the one room.

One school staff member was evaluated for smoke inhalation but did not need to be hospitalized.

Officials said the fire was intentionally set, a suspect has been identified, and charges are pending.

School dismissed early for the day after the incident.

Fallston, MD – Residential sprinkler system activated for fire in home; No injuries reported

Deputy State Fire Marshals are crediting a smoke alarm and a home fire sprinkler system for saving an infant’s life and reducing significant property damage at a Fallston home over the weekend.

Fallston Volunteer Fire Company and mutual-aid departments were dispatched at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday for a reported dwelling in the 2000-block of Arden Drive after the owner, who was outside at the time, heard a smoke alarm sounding. Upon arrival, the fire department discovered a fire in the kitchen with one activated fire sprinkler.

Fire investigators concluded the fire started in the kitchen, and the cause was accidental due to an unattended candle. The investigation determined that the activation of only one automatic fire sprinkler prevented the fire from spreading from the kitchen into the remainder of the home. Damage was limited to an estimated $20,000, and no injuries were reported.

State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci stated, “Residential fire sprinklers are proven to save lives, prevent injuries and protect property and valuables. The best home fire safety practice is combining a smoke alarm, an escape plan, and a residential fire sprinkler. Today we saw the effects of this winning combination;”.

Maryland requires a residential fire sprinkler in all new one- or two-family homes across the state. Maryland law also prohibits local governments from weakening the sprinkler requirement in their jurisdiction’s building codes.

Silver Spring, MD – Sprinkler system activated for fire at senior living facility; No injuries reported

A fire in the stairwell of a senior living building in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Saturday morning led to the temporary evacuation of the facility and displaced at least 30 residents.

There weren’t any reports of injuries.

According to officials, on Saturday morning around 11 a.m., Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel were called to the Willow Manor at Fairland apartment complex for reports of a fire in the stairwell.

Firefighters discovered “there was a fire in the stairwell, especially between the second and third floors … there was a sprinkler activation, pretty heavy smoke conditions throughout the building,” fire department spokesman Pete Piringer told WTOP.

“We did evacuate some people. We did assist some of the other residents either sheltering in place, or getting out,” Piringer said. “But fortunately there were no injuries and the fire was extinguished pretty quickly.”

The cause of the fire may have been an improperly discarded cigarette.

“Apparently, some folks tend to smoke in that particular stairwell. And they improperly discarded one of the cigarette butts and caused the fire,” Piringer said. “Fortunately, the sprinkler system did keep the fire in check.”

Initial estimates of the damage are around $25,000 — not including water damage, Piringer said in a tweet Saturday afternoon.

At least 30 residents of the building will be temporarily displaced due to smoke or water damage.

“The Red Cross has been called in along with our Department of Health and Human Services Emergency Management Group to assist those residents. It appears as though at least, temporarily, initially, about 30 apartments (and) 30 residents will be affected,” Piringer told WTOP.