Tag Archives: Missouri

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fulton, MO – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at business

A Fulton woman was arrested for arson in the first degree after a fire was allegedly intentionally set in the basement of the Moser’s off of North Business 54.  

Pamela Cordrey, 48, is an employee of the Moser’s and was working at the time of the fire. She was arrested and taken to the Callaway County Jail on no bond, the Fulton Police Department said. 

The Fulton Police Department alongside the Fulton Fire Department, Central Fire Department and Callaway EMS responded to the fire around 2:07 p.m.

In a press release, the Fulton Fire Department said upon arrival of the first engine company smoke was showing from the grocery store. Fire crews made entry into the structure and reported moderate smoke inside the structure.

When the fire crews entered the basement, there was an active fire with the fire sprinkler system activated. Fire was extinguished within minutes.

With the help of the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office, Fulton Police said it was determined that the fire was set intentionally and caused significant damage to the area.

The Fulton Fire Department said the structure received smoke and minor water damages and that the Estimated loss is unavailable at this time.

Fulton Police posted on Facebook around 2:55 p.m. Wednesday, announcing Moser’s would be closed until further notice. 

Anyone with any information should call the Fulton Police Department at 573-592-3100, Crime Stoppers at 573-592-2474 or your local law enforcement agency.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Des Peres, MO – Supermarket fire that started in paper aisle contained by sprinkler system; No injuries Reported

Firefighters from multiple agencies raced to extinguish a fire Wednesday night at a Dierbergs store in West St. Louis County.

The call came in just after 8:10 p.m. at the Dierbergs at 1080 Lindemann Road.

The fire began in the paper aisle.

No one was injured and the store was safely evacuated. The sprinkler system did activate.

The fire was put out approximately 90 minutes later.

The St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Division is now investigating.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lee’s Summit, MO – Hotel fire extinguished by sprinkler system

On Friday, January 1, 2021, at 2:46 p.m., the Lee’s Summit Fire Department responded to reported structure fire at America’s Best Value Inn, 1020 SE Blue Parkway. The caller reported smoke in the first floor hallway, possibly coming from a meeting room. The hotel was being evacuated.

When the fire department arrived, there was nothing visible from the outside of the three-story hotel. Crews entered the building and found the building’s automatic fire sprinkler system had activated in the first floor meeting room and extinguished a fire involving a wall mounted heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC). Water flow was discontinued from the sprinkler head and the area was checked for fire spread to the wall and second floor. A search of the entire building found a few occupants still in the building that were removed. Crews assisted with smoke removal from the building. The incident was under control by 3:14 p.m.

The fire was contained to the area of the HVAC unit with significant smoke damage to the meeting room, and minor damage to the hallway. The cause of the fire was determined to be a faulty HVAC unit.

Portions of the hotel were able to be reoccupied.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Clayton, MO – Weeks after hotel opening, fire sprinkler system controls fire in housekeeping linen closet

Weeks after opening to the public, Le Meridien Hotel in Clayton caught fire.

Nine firefighters responded to the hotel at 7730 Bonhomme Avenue Friday morning. When they arrived, people were already being evacuated from the building.

The fire started in the 5th floor housekeeping linen closet and was reportedly controlled by the building’s fire suppression system.

Fire officials said the smoke and water damage appears to be confined to the floor.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Department Store, Retail

St. Charles, MO – Fire in Walmart put out by fire sprinklers, likely set by child; No injuries reported

A small fire set to a clothing rack at a Walmart in St. Charles on Saturday was likely started by a child, police said Sunday. 

The fire about 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Walmart at 2897 Veterans Memorial Parkway created a lot of smoke but injured no one. 

When firefighters arrived, they found that the conflagration was confined to a rack of clothes in the men’s department, said Mike Grzyb, the St. Charles deputy fire chief. The flames were quickly extinguished by a combination of the sprinkler system and firefighters, he said. 

Surveillance footage from the inside of the store showed a child, a boy less than 10 years old, hiding inside the circular clothing rack shortly before it caught fire, St. Charles Police Lt. Tom Wilkison said Sunday. 

The child left the store with his mother shortly after the fire began, Wilkison said. Police had not yet identified or located the child, he said.

The investigation will be referred to St. Charles County juvenile services once complete, Wilkison said. 

The store sustained extensive smoke damage and moderate water damage from the sprinklers, Grzyb said. Firefighters removed skylights to help clear out the smoke.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Cape Girardeau, MO – Laundry hamper fire contained thanks to fire sprinklers

A fire started around 7 p.m. Wednesday at Tipton Linen Service on Independence Street in Cape Girardeau.

According to firefighters on the scene, smoke was coming out of the roof.

Upon entering the building they discovered one of the laundry hampers was on fire.

The sprinkler system was activated and the fire was contained until firefighters were able to put it out.

One block of Independence Street west of West End Boulevard is blocked until 8:30 this evening.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Joplin, MO – Arson fire controlled thanks to fire sprinklers

About 2:23 AM early Friday morning Joplin Fire Department were alerted to a structure fire, 1110 East 7th, Teleperformance. Joplin Police officers were already on the scene clearing the building from a possible break-in and there was smoke in the building, so fire was dispatched immediately.

The source of the fire was located quickly by firefighters. However the sprinkler system had already gone off and drenched the interior of the building. We were told there was standing water everywhere. And heavy smoke damage.

The Joplin Fire Marshal arrived around 4:00 AM to begin the investigation. Addtionally Joplin Police investigators were present.

Sgt Tom Bowin of the Joplin Police Department told us overnight they had a suspect in custody. Now that man has been named and arrested on charges.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Lee’s Summit, MO – Fire sprinklers contain fire to truck at service garage

On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 4:16 a.m., the Lee’s Summit Fire Department responded to 1150 SE Hamblen Road for an automatic fire alarm. When crews arrived, they found the service garage at Sutton Trucking filled with thick smoke and upgraded the incident to a structure fire.

Crews entered to the smoke filled service area and located a fire in a commercial truck.  The sprinkler system had activated over the truck and contained the fire to the vehicle. Crews completed extinguishment of the fire inside the truck and removed the smoke from the building. A search of the entire building confirmed it was unoccupied. The incident was under control by 5:09 a.m.

Fire damage was contained to the truck with smoke damage to the remainder of the service area. Closed doors kept the smoke out of the offices. The fire is believed to have been caused by an undetermined failure within the vehicle.

Casino, Other Business

Cape Girardeau, MO – Trashcan fire in casino bathroom put out by fire sprinklers

A fire at the Century Casino, formerly Isle Casino, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri caused the building to be evacuated.

It happened early Wednesday morning on Dec. 18 at 777 N. Main St.

Chief Travis Hollis said crews were called out just before 3 a.m.

When officials got to the scene the building was being evacuated. They smelled smoke in the front lobby.

Firefighters found the source of the smell in the men’s restroom in the front lobby. Officials said a small fire was in a trashcan.

This activated the building’s sprinklers.

Hollis the building only suffered water damage.

The sprinkler system puts out around 13 gallons of water each minute.

Hollis said without the system, the situation could have been much worse.

The fire was contained within minutes after firefighters got to the scene.

The incident is under investigation.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

West Plains, MO – Fire at healthcare facility put out by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

No injuries were reported Wednesday after a small fire at NHC Healthcare in West Plains.

A report from the West Plains Fire Department says firefighters arrived just before 3 pm and found smoke in one of the rooms. An employee told responders that she was by the heater when she heard a popping sound and smelled a burning plastic scent. After unplugging the unit, the employee remained in the room for over a minute and didn’t notice any smoke or fire from the unit.

The building sprinkler system put out the fire.

The employee then made her way down the hall when a resident call light came on and the resident was yelling fire, according to the report.

No injuries were reported.