Tag Archives: Massachusetts

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire squelched by sprinkler system at apartment complex (Holyoke, MA)

A 103-unit apartment building had a fire break out on December 10 in one of it’s three-bedroom apartments. The sprinkler system in the hallway activated, containing the fire until fire crews arrived and put out the rest of the flames. Firefighters are crediting the sprinkler system with saving lives and property. 

“Sprinklers help keep the fires in check which gives the residents time to get out of the building, working in connection with a fire alarm that works well definitely saves lives,” Holyoke Fire Captain Anthony Cerruti said. “A small fire can go to a large fire in less than three minutes, and if you don’t have a working smoke detector or more importantly a sprinkler system, you’re looking at a total loss.”

All residents were able to evacuate safely and without injury. 

Office Building, Other Business

Fire at administrative office controlled by sprinkler system (Lenox, MA)

A fire began in the heating and cooling unit of an administrative office on Thursday, December 12. Four fire engines responded to the call, and thanks to the building’s fire sprinkler and fire doors, they were able to completely knock down the fire. No one was injured in the incident, and investigators ruled the fire as accidental.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Fire extinguished at suspected arson incidents on college campus (Chestnut Hill, MA)

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Three fires were set in classrooms on Boston College over the weekend, and fire sprinklers put out the flames in each incident. Police are looking for a suspect in these cases. No injuries were reported.

***Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by WHDH.com, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Other - Retail, Retail

Tanning salon fire doused by sprinkler system (Amherst, MA)

An early Saturday morning fire in a University Drive tanning salon was put out by an automatic sprinkler system before firefighters arrived on scene. Assistant Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren said no one was in the business when the fire started. An automatic alarm sounded at 1:37 a.m. Saturday alerting the Fire Dept. But, by the time fire apparatus arrived at the salon, the automatic sprinkler system put out the flames in a small utility room.

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in fraternity house fire (Medford, MA)

A fire began on the third floor of a college fraternity house on Wednesday, October 9, and fire crews are crediting the home’s fire sprinkler system with saving the building.

Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said, “It’s a very old house, and without the fire sprinkler system, the fire would likely have spread to the roof.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but early reports indicate that it was an electrical fire. There were no injuries reported.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at grocery store (Northborough, MA)

A wok in the Asian food department of a grocery store started a fire the morning of August 27, and firefighters were called to the scene. When they arrived, the fire had already been eliminated by the store’s fire sprinkler system and a cooking fire suppression system. Occupants were able to evacuate the building unharmed, and no structural damage to the building occurred. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at apartment fire set by arsonist (Boston, MA)

A Brighton woman is facing arson and attempted murder charges following a fire at a three-story building Sunday morning.  Sprinklers in the brick apartment building were activated and aided fire crews in their effort to get the blaze under control.  In the process of battling the blaze, firefighters had to rescue a man and woman, both 21 years old, and bring them down a ladder to safety from the third floor, according to Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

Apartment Building, Residential

Single sprinkler helps control apartment fire (Abington, MA)

No one was injured after a fire broke out at 2 Forsyth Drive in Abington. That address houses a 15-unit, three-story apartment complex according to Abington Fire Chief John Nuttall. Everyone was evacuated, and one sprinkler head inside helped to contain the flames according to Nuttall. While the fire is under investigation, Nuttall said that it looks accidental and that it started from the outside of the apartment complex.