Tag Archives: Michigan

Other - Retail, Retail

Owosso, MI – Sprinklers help limit damage to sporting goods store and adjoining businesses in fire

The fire broke out at Dunham’s sporting goods store in Corunna last Wednesday morning at around 7 a.m. located at 1435 East M-21. The building also houses Pets Supplies Plus and Tractor Supply Company but neither of them appeared to have sustained any damage. Corunna Fire Department believes it began near the front of the building in the shoe department.  The sprinkler system inside went off as it should for a fire, causing some water damage. The fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lansing, MI – Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at new apartment building

A tenant moving in to a new apartment building near downtown Lansing accidentally started a small fire that left 11 units uninhabitable due to water damage, Lansing firefighters said.

The fire at Marketplace, on Cedar Street near the Lansing City Market, started in a fifth-floor unit between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Friday, said Steve Mazurek, a public information officer for the city’s fire department.

The building’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire, which started on a stovetop that was turned on by accident and sparked a box or other material that had been placed there, Mazurek said. The fire was contained to a single unit, whose tenant had moved in the same day, he said.

Firefighters were called because water from the sprinkler system caused damage to surrounding and lower units, Mazurek said. No one was injured. Eleven of 79 units can’t be occupied until they’re repaired.

The $8.5 million Marketplace building opened last fall. It is owned by Lansing developer Pat Gillespie. Gillespie could not immediately be reached by phone.

His company, Gillespie Group, posted a message on its Facebook page this morning, saying a restoration company will be on site throughout the weekend to repair damaged units. Office staff are available to answer residents’ questions, the company said.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Ferndale, MI – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at auction business

A fire at a large commercial building is being investigated by the Ferndale Fire Department and the county’s arson squad, but may have been started by a careless smoker.  The fire broke out early Monday afternoon at Assets Now Auction, 1450 Academy, south of Nine Mile Road near Wanda.

“It’s looking like a careless smoker may have started the fire,” said Ferndale Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan, “but we won’t know until we finish analyzing the surveillance video from the business.”  Fire broke out in the paper products area and firefighters were called to the building about 12:45 p.m.  Sullivan said the building has a sprinkler system that helped stop the fire from spreading into a large blaze.

Ferndale Fire Marshal Brian Batten said the building covers about 30,000 square feet. Fire officials estimate the fire caused about $20,000 in damage from smoke and water.  “There was no structural damage to the building,” Batten said.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Greenville, MI – Fire at plastics compounding business quickly extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters from the Greenville Department of Public Safety responded at 5:20 p.m. Thursday to a structure fire at West Michigan Compounding, located at 1300 Moore St. in Greenville.

According to Greenville Department of Public Safety Sgt. Brian Blomstrom, during routine cleaning, a hot ember escaped into the ventilation system, starting a fire that was quickly extinguished due to a combination of the company’s sprinkler system and a quick response time from fire fighters. No one was injured.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Fire in vacant building exinguished by sprinkler system, adjacent buildings saved (Brighton, MI)

Brighton fire and police officials are investigating a trash fire at a downtown building. “When they got there, it smelled like smoke,” Chief Michael O’Brian of the Brighton Area Fire Department said. “In this case, the sprinklers extinguished the fire.” Firefighters found “some trash” in a mechanical room had burned, the chief explained. O’Brian said had the sprinkler system not worked, the fire could have easily burned the building at 139 E. Grand River Ave., which once housed Kathleen’s Cookies, and surrounding buildings.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Kitchen fire at senior living facility suppressed by sprinkler system (Rochester Hills, MI)

No one was injured as a result of the fire, which was reported around 7:20 p.m. at the “Waltonwood at University” senior living facility.  The fire occurred in the north wing of the independent living building and resulted in a precautionary evacuation of nearly 30 apartments. The Rochester Hills Fire Department has deemed the fire accidental and said an item left on an electric stove caught fire and spread to a cabinet above the stove. Canto said the facility’s sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading further.

Other - School / University, School / University

Sprinkler system activates in off-campus apartment building fire (East Lansing, MI)

No one was hurt but a dozen apartment units were damaged by the fire Sunday evening at the Landings at Chandler Crossings apartment complex, located off campus from Michigan State University.  East Lansing Fire Marshal Gerald Rodabaugh said the fire remains under investigation.  An alarm system in the building was triggered and caused occupants to flee the building. Firefighters evacuated others. A sprinkler system in the building also was activated, officials said.  No one was injured.

Apartment Building, Residential

Apartment fire stopped by sprinklers (Niles, MI)

An fire erupted in the unit of an apartment on Friday morning, and firefighters were dispatched to the scene. The fire sprinkler activated in that unit, eliminating the fire before the fire crews arrived. 

Niles Fire Chief Larry Lamb said that there was minor minor smoke and fire damage thanks to the fire sprinkler. 

“You can see that the damage is a lot less extensive when we have sprinkler systems in place to protect our occupants.” Lamb said.

The fire was caused when the resident of the unit accidentally caught a vinyl shower curtain on fire with a match.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinkler keeps fire from spreading at industrial facility (Grand Rapids, MI)

Grand Rapids firefighters responded to an afternoon fire which began on the afternoon of November 26. A compressor inside of the building came in contact with oil on the floor, which ignited the flames. Grand Rapids firefighters said that the fire continued up the wall, which had foam insulation, and despite employees’ efforts, they were unable to extinguish the flames. The facility’s fire sprinkler system then activated, suppressing the fire from growing any further; fire crews then arrived and put out the rest of the fire within 10 minutes. No one was injured in the incident.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Fire at Microtel Inn & Suites controlled with help from sprinkler system (Holland, MI)

The Holland Public Safety Fire Services were dispatched at about 2:12 a.m. Saturday morning to a fire alarm at Microtel Inn & Suites. Fire personnel found smoke present on the first floor and the sprinkler system activated when they arrived. The fire was extinguished within minutes of the first arriving engines. No civilian or uniformed injuries were reported. Chris Tinney, Captain of Fire Operations, says that the buildings fire protection features and a response time of just over five minutes by fire crews, were critical in reducing property damage safety for the motels occupants. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.