Tag Archives: Morning (7am-12pm)

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Apartment fire held in check by automatic sprinkler system

A fire in an apartment on Madison’s North Side resulted in no injuries but some water damage.  The fire was reported at about 8:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 3500 block of Straubel Street, the Madison Fire Department said.  Engine Company 8 was initially dispatched to check on an alarm at the building, but arriving firefighters were informed there was smoke in the building.

Firefighters went into the basement of the building and found water dripping from the ceiling, indicating a problem in the unit above.  “Firefighters entered the apartment with help from maintenance, and found activated sprinkler heads keeping a fire in check,” said spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster.  The fire was extinguished and the walls were checked for any extension of fire.  Nobody was home at the time of the fire.  No cause of the fire or damage estimate was given.  The fire remains under investigation.

Primary / Secondary School

Grayson, KY – Bathroom fire at high school contained by sprinkler system; Student return to classes same day

A small fire briefly disrupted classes Friday at East Carter High School, according to Carter County Schools.  It happened in a restroom, and the smoke activated the sprinkler system. (note from blog editor: smoke does not activate this type of fire sprinkler system.  Only the substantial heat from a potentially dangerous fire will activate an automatic fire sprinkler)

All students and staff were evacuated as a precaution. No one was hurt.  They were allowed back in the building around 11:20 a.m. Students and staff were using an adjusted lunch/class schedule for the remainder of the day.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Bend, OR – Sprinkler system stops ‘ball of fire’ at downtown restaurant

A cooking oil fire ignited on the stove of a downtown Bend restaurant’s kitchen Monday morning, creating what a fire official called “a ball of fire that roared out from under the range hood” — but also setting off a fire sprinkler head that put out the blaze and prevented far worse damage.

Bend Fire Department crews responded around 10 a.m. to the reported fire at Mother’s Downtown Kitchen on Northwest Minnesota Avenue, next door to The Oxford Hotel, said Battalion Chief Dave Howe.

First-arriving crews reported some smoke coming from the building, but soon reported the fire already was out.

Cooking oil in a pot on the stove was ignited, possibly by a few drops of water, which caused the “ball of fire” that  set off the sprinkler head, Howe said. It also activated the range hood extinguishing system, putting out the oil still burning in the pot.

Losses were estimated at $30,000 in contents, but none to the building itself, both of which were insured.

The sprinkler, designed to open at 165 degrees, “saved the structure from what might have been a devastating loss,” Howe said in a news release.

The fire alarm system also quickly notified Deschutes County 911, as did a couple of customers.

Apartment Building, Residential

Davis, CA – Sprinkler system controls fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Ten people were displaced from their apartments Saturday after a small fire activated the complex’s sprinkler system, according to the Davis Fire Department.  Division Chief Joe Tenney said crews responded at 10:30 a.m. to the Sharps & Flats Apartments, 1660 Drew Circle, where a small fire had broken out on a desk in an upper-floor bedroom. The fire broke a nearby window, sending smoke and flames outside as firefighters arrived on scene.

A fire sprinkler in the apartment controlled the blaze, but it also caused water damage to that unit and two others, Tenney said. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.  The Red Cross was summoned to assist those who were displaced by the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Manassas, VA – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling apartment fire

On Thursday, Oct. 19 at 10:24 a. m., fire and rescue units were dispatched to an apartment fire at Woodburn Apartments, located in the 7800 block of Keara Court in Manassas. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke and fire showing from the side of an apartment that had extended into the home. Upon entry, firefighters discovered an activated sprinkler head that helped contain the fire. Firefighters quickly suppressed and extinguished the fire. No injuries reported.  The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. Red Cross is currently assisting the family, six adults and eight children, displaced by the fire. The fire is currently under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Smiths Station, AL – Daytime fire at high school minimized with help from sprinkler system

Smiths Station Fire & Recuse confirms first responders were called to a fire at Smith’s Station High School on Thursday morning.The fire department says units responded to the school around 11 a.m. CT where there had been a fire in a trash can inside the boy’s locker room.  Fire was brought under control and extinguished by the Lee County Sheriffs Office School Resource officer using a fire extinguisher prior to the fire departments arrival. The fire department also says the school’s fire suppression sprinkler system also activated.  Fire units used equipment to help remove the smoke and the school brought in a private company for water removal.  The department says there was only minor damage and no injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Springfield, TN – Paint booth fire at manufacturer of material handling equipment doused by sprinkler system

This is an update following our live broadcast from Unarco earlier today. Employees at Unarco Material Handling Inc in Springfield were evacuated this morning after a fire erupted in the part of the plant where paint is applied, officials said.

When the Springfield Fire Department arrived heavy smoke and some fire was showing from the back of the plant, according to Springfield Fire Chief Jimmy Hamill.  Unarco is located on 16th Ave East in Springfield behind the Royal Inn. The call to 911 came in at 10:22 am Friday Morning.

According to Hamill, the fire was in the Paint-Line. Firefighters were able to knock down most the fire quickly but to fully access the fire a hole had to be cut in the roof. “Fortunately the sprinkler system had the fire in check. There was still quite a bit of fire but the Sprinkler system kept it contained to one area,” Hamil said.

According to Hamill, Unarco has an excellent safety record. “They have been in business for a long time and have excellent maintenance and safety people including good evacuation procedures. The cause of this fire is still under investigation but the last fire at Unarco was back in the late 90’s. When we arrived they had everyone evacuated and a representative was able to get with me, quickly, and tell me what exactly they had going on.” Hamill said.

Today’s fire damaged about 5% of the plant, Hamill said. Hamill said the rest of the plant was undamaged and employees should be able to go back to work.

The Emergency Management Agency assisted Springfield Fire and Robertson County EMS was on standby but no injuries were reported.

Hamill said he’s proud of the work the firefighters and officers did today.

Below is a recording of our live broadcast.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Shelton, CT – Sprinkler system activates to contain restaurant fire

On 10/05/17 at 10:26 am the Huntington Co. #3, Echo Hose Co. #1 and the Pine Rock Co. #4 responded to a fire alarm sounding at the Red Lotus Restaurant #880 Bridgeport Avenue. Upon arrival firefighters found the occupancy filled with smoke and the fire sprinkler system activated. Further investigation by firefighters found a fire had occurred in a pot of food in the rear of the restaurant. The fire sprinkler head that activated kept the fire contained until firefighters arrived. The restaurant sustained smoke and water damage while adjacent stores sustained water damage. Two engines and one ladder truck responded.

Storage / Warehouse

Opp, AL – Sprinkler system extinguishes office fire at wholesale distribution business

A sprinkler system saved an Opp business that caught fire on Sunday morning. H.T. Hackney, a wholesale distribution center, experienced a fire in its front office area.  Opp Fire Chief Cory Spurlin said fire fighters were dispatched around 11 a.m. Sunday.  “Engine 7 arrived on the scene first, and there was smoke showing from the front office area,” he said. “I was behind them, and I requested mutual aid from Andalusia, Onycha, Babbie and Elba because there was approximately 400,000 square feet in the facility.”

Spurlin said that the fire was inside the wall in the office stairwell, and the sprinkler system kept it held at bay, but there was moderate to heavy damage in the area. Spurlin said they got the fire under control at 11:30 a.m.  “There was a lot of smoke in the downstairs and upstairs areas of the office,” he said. “We were able to hold it to the office area, and helped with ventilating and getting hot spots under control. We also helped the company get debris cleaned up.”

Spurlin said there were no injuries reported, and that there were employees present when the fire occurred. “The fire alarm worked, and everyone was safe and accounted for,” he said.