Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Winston-Salem, NC – Overnight condominium fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Unattended cooking identified as cause

A stove fire Tuesday displaced five people in three condominium units at Ivy Glen Court in the southwestern part of the city, the Winston-Salem Fire Department said. A water flow alarm was received Tuesday from 333 Ivy Glen Court at about 11:30 p.m. On the way, firefighters learned that a fire on the stove had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

On arrival, firefighters discovered minor damage amounting to $1,200 to the structure and $600 to contents. The sprinkler system was shut off to prevent further damage. Power to three units affected by the water from the sprinkler was cut off. The fire department said those displaced are staying with friends and relatives.  The cause of the fire was unattended cooking, the fire department said

Hospital/Care Facility, Other - Hospital/Medical

Bend, OR – Sprinklers credited with saving medical radiology business from overnight fire

Bend Fire officials credit the sprinkler system for saving a northeast Bend business. Firefighters responded to an alarm at Central Oregon Radiology Associates (1460 NE Medical Center Dr.) just after 3 a.m., Friday. When crews arrived, they found that a garbage can had caught fire under the overhang of the building and had activated an exterior sprinkler head.

Investigators say the sprinkler activation prevented what could have been a very expensive fire, given the imaging systems inside the business. The cause of the fire is believed to be an improperly disposed of cigarette.

Dep. Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki says sprinkler heads react to heat; units not exposed to heat don’t activate, which allows minimal amounts of water to be applied to a small fire and keep it from growing. This minimal amount of water also prevents extensive water damage. When water started flowing, the alarm company notified 911.

He reminds business and building owners to keep sprinkler systems well maintained, especially during frigid temperatures. He says frozen systems render them inoperative and/or can result in broken pipes. Derlacki says most fire sprinkler systems that do freeze are the result of lack of maintenance

Apartment Building, Residential

Lakewood, NJ – Dryer fire in apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

A dryer fire and subsequent sprinkler activation in a Lakewood apartment was cause for several families being displaced. At approximately 11 PM, residents woke up to their smoke alarm sounding, and found smoke billowing from their dryer.  The resident immediately called the Fire Department, and then opened the door to the dryer to try grabbing some of burning clothing articles to place them into a bathtub, but burned his hand in the process, officials confirm.

By this time, the apartment’s sprinkler system was activated, and extinguished the fire, but not before soaking the residence, and the apartments beneath, officials say. The fire department arrived, and ventilated the apartment.  The families from at least three apartments were displaced, sources told TLS.  The resident was treated at the scene by Lakewood First Aid.

Ocean County Fire Marshals determined the dryer was caused by being overloaded with clothing, officials say.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Mt Vernon, KY – Overnight fire at county jail suppressed by sprinkler system

A fire early Wednesday at the Rockcastle County jail caused 13 inmates and two jail employees to be sent to hospitals with smoke inhalation.  Police and fire officials were called about 3:20 a.m. to the jail, which housed 102 inmates at the time, Kentucky State Trooper Lloyd Cochran said.

Four jail employees were in the building at the time State police suspect arson, Cochran said. The investigation is open, and no arrests have been made. None of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening, and many of those hospitalized have been released, Cochran said. The injured were taken to hospitals in Rockcastle and Laurel counties.

The fire caused heavy smoke and water damage, Cochran said. It could be closed for several weeks.

All of the inmates were transported to the Laurel County Correctional Center, Cochran said. It was unclear whether the prisoners would be able to stay there until repairs are made to the Rockcastle County jail.

 

Jail employees told police that alarm and sprinkler systems worked as they are supposed to, Cochran said. State police will be able to confirm that alarms and sprinklers worked properly after the investigation is completed.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Palm Springs, CA – Sprinkler system successfully activates in hotel fire; No injuries

A hotel fire in Palm Springs caused the sprinklers to go off and evacuated guests about 9:30 p.m. Monday night. It happened at the Extended Stay Hotel on Tahquitz Canyon Way.

Firefighters believe the fire was started by one of the guests but aren’t saying how it started. There are no reports of injuries.  Sixteen guest rooms were affected by water damage.  Fire crews continued to mop-up the mess Monday night.  The hotel is working on finding new places for guests to stay.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Omaha, NE – Sprinkler system puts out overnight fire that started in school art room kiln

No one was injured when a kiln in an art room at Beadle Middle School in southwest Omaha sparked a fire overnight. Authorities said the fire activated the school’s fire alarm and sprinkler system. Officials say the sprinklers put out the fire before firefighters arrived. The fire was confined to the art room and no students were in the school at the time.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Portland, OR – Firefighters use sprinkler system’s FDC to help control blaze at abandoned building; No injuries

A fire broke out Tuesday night in an abandoned building that formerly housed the popular dive bar and music venue, Slabtown. Initial reports of smoke coming from a dumpster around NW 16th Avenue and NW Northrup Street came in around 7:30 p.m., Portland Fire & Rescue Lt. Rich Tyler said.

When firefighters arrived, they determined the smoke was actually coming from the basement of what used to be Slabtown Bar. It was upgraded to a commercial fire and several more crews rushed to the scene.

As they began to fight the fire, crews discovered holes they were previously unaware of in the basement of the abandoned building. That discovery, combined with knowledge of the building’s unstable structure, forced crews to retreat. “For us it’s unsafe,” Lt. Tyler explained. “There’s parts of the structure that, in fire conditions, would be unsafe for us as firefighters to be working in.”

It was upgraded to a 2nd-alarm fire as crews worked to devise a new plan of attack. Lt. Tyler said all firefighters taken out of the building were accounted for.  Fire hoses were hooked up to the building’s sprinkler system to help put out the flames. The fire was under control by 8:50 p.m.

As of 10:15 p.m., firefighters were still working to put out hot spots in the basement. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Victoria, BC, Canada – Apartment cooking fire doused by sprinkler system

A Victoria apartment suite is heavily water damaged after a sprinkler system doused a stove-top oil fire and then drowned the rest of the room.  Alarm bells sounded at 9:30 Sunday evening at 710 Queens Avenue when an oil fire ignited, according to Victoria Fire Battalion Chief Dave Bicknell.   The lone occupant of the suite had been cooking french fries in oil on the stovetop at the time of the fire.  

“The fire was likely caused by overheating of the oil,” Bicknell said, in his report.  The sprinkler system extinguished the kitchen fire but continued to flow until fire crews were able to shut it down.  “There was some damage to the suite caused by smoke and heat, however the fire itself had been contained to the pot,” Bicknell said. The building on the corner of Douglas Street is run by the Victoria Cool Aid Society

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Lancaster, OH – Sprinkler system helps contain overnight fire at senior apartment complex; No injuries

A 36-unit apartment complex had to be evacuated Sunday morning after a fire started on the second story of the three-story building. Lancaster firefighter Pete Anson says the call came in just after 1:00 a.m. Sunday at the Canal Place Senior Apartments. The fire department was notified after the smoke alarm and sprinkler systems were activated. Anson says crews arrived on scene in four minutes.

“We had a lot of elderly patients on the second and third floors,” he said. Residents in the complex were already trying to get out as smoke started to fill the second floor hallway. Because the elevator went out, it wasn’t easy for many wheelchair dependent tenants.

“On our way in we did encounter a female in the stairwell dragging her wheelchair down,” he said.

The firefighter says he and his team began getting people outside and, in some cases, literally carried those who couldn’t walk.

“It was difficult and challenging to get 30, 40 [people] out at one time,” he said. “But the guys last night worked really hard and were able to get everybody out.”

Anson says the fire started on the second floor. An apartment manager would not let 10TV cameras inside to see the damaged area, but Anson says a charred couch that now sits outside the building came from the room where it all started.

Cleanup crews were at the building Sunday trying to dry the water-soaked floors. Also, the America Red Cross Ohio Buckeye Region says three families were assisted and received immediate emergency lodging.

According to the building manager and firefighters, no one in the building was injured. Anson says the cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire Chief David Ward tells 10TV at last check the Canal Place Senior Apartments did meet fire code.

Apartment Building, Residential

Oviedo, FL – Overnight fire in three-story apartment building stopped by sprinkler system

Firefighters said a burning candle started a fire Tuesday morning at an apartment building in the Oviedo area of unincorporated Seminole County.  The Seminole County Fire Department said the fire broke out around 2:09 a.m. in a first floor unit of the three-story building.

When firefighters arrived, an audible alarm was going off, and residents had evacuated their apartments safely.  Once inside, firefighters determined the sprinkler system stopped the fire.  The American Red Cross is providing assistance to one occupant.