Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Bend, OR – Sprinkler system controls fire at two businesses

A fire sprinkler system saved two northeast Bend businesses from major damage when a fire broke out in a bathroom Monday night, a Bend Fire official said.

The fire in a commercial building on Northeast 18th Street was reported around 9:35 p.m. by a fire alarm company, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said. As crews responded, the business owners called 911 and reported seeing smoke on their security cameras, so more firefighters were dispatched.

Crews found the fire had been controlled by the sprinkler system in an upstairs bathroom.

“The cause is still under investigation but not believed to be intentional,” Derlacki said in a news release Tuesday. Damages were limited to about $10,000 an the two businesses were able to resume normal operation by Tuesday afternoon.

The cause remained under investigation Tuesday, but Derlacki said it was not believed to be intentional.

Derlacki said the fire sprinkler system extinguished the fire with only one head activating.

“National data show that the presence of fire sprinklers in a building drastically reduce the fire damage and down time for businesses,” the fire official said. “In this case, staff were able to clean up the water within a few hours and prevent any damage to stored goods in the building.”

“With no one in the building at the time of the fire, without the sprinklers, this fire would’ve gotten out control before it was large enough to be noticed in a large industrial park,” Derlacki added.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Salisbury, MD – Sprinkler system controls fire at hospital

An early morning fire at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional has been ruled accidental.

The fire was reported at around 1:25 a.m., in an Environmental Services Storage Closet. Crews were able to control the blaze in just over 20 minutes.

Maryland State Fire Marshals say the fire involved an electric vacuum cleaner attached to the wall and was caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery. The incident reportedly took place in an employee-only area and was controlled by the automatic sprinkler system. No patients were displaced or required evacuation, and hospital operations were not affected. The sprinkler and alarm system were placed back in service.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Grand Forks, ND – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at correctional center

At approximately 2:04 am on Tuesday, December 12th, the Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to 1701 North Washington Street, which is the Grand Forks County Correctional Center, for a report of smoke and flames in the laundry room.

Fire crews arrived on the scene and were met by employees who had found smoke and flames in the laundry room. Crews found that the clothes in the dryer had caught fire, and the sprinkler system had activated. Fire Crews quickly extinguished the fire and removed the smoke from the building. The cause of the fire is undetermined. One inmate was transported to Altru with unknown injuries. There were no injuries to fire personnel or corrections staff.

The fire department responded with five engines, one aerial truck, one command vehicle, and twenty personnel. The fire department was assisted by the Grand Forks County Corrections Staff, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, and Altru Ambulance.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Fairfield, CT – Sprinkler system activated for fire at abandoned building

Fairfield police say the old Fairfield Cinema has once again been damaged.
Patrol officers noticed plywood missing from the doors Tuesday night.
Police say they heard a fire alarm coming from the building. Upon entering, they say the interior of the building had been badly vandalized.
They say a fire was put out on the second floor by the building’s sprinkler system.
Authorities say the vandalism is under investigation.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business

St. Cloud, MN – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Salvation Army

A fire at St. Cloud Salvation Army’s emergency shelter forced dozens of people out of the place they were calling home for the holidays.

According to the St. Cloud Fire Department, the fire started around 3:45 a.m. Monday. Fire damage was limited to one room because of the sprinkler system.

Lt. Nathan North of the St. Cloud Salvation Army feels fortunate the fire didn’t spread but says the water damage left most of their space needing full renovations.

“In that moment, it just, it fell off, and my heart sank,” North said about getting the phone call about the fire.

“Unfortunately, our shelter [became] unsafe to be in until we can assess everything,” North said. “So unfortunately, it displaces all of our residents that are here with us.”

That’s around 40 people, many of whom are now with Place of Home Ministries.

“It’s terrible for the people,” Pastor Carol Smith, with Place of Home Ministries, said.

“We were able to get [a floor at] our facility ready that we were not occupying at the moment, miraculously,” Smith said.

She adds pillows, blankets, and bedding would be warmly welcomed and that donations can be dropped off at 511 9th Ave. N. in St. Cloud.

“We’re just trying to provide what we can for support and all that this holiday season,” Smith said.

As for the St. Cloud Salvation Army, North is asking people not to share physical donations with them as they work to clean up their facility. He added that donating to the Salvation Army’s red kettles is the best way to help.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Cedar City, UT – Sprinkler system activated for trash can fire inside commercial building

Fire officials are highlighting the importance of automatic fire suppression sprinklers after a commercial business building was saved earlier this week.

Cedar City public information officer Gabrielle Costello said a fire started inside a trash can inside the Jones Paint and Glass building located at 38 E. 1600 North at approximately 9:11 p.m. Monday.

Chad Barnes, assistant manager of Jones Paint and Glass and also a full-time firefighter with Cedar City Fire Department, was reportedly notified in both capacities that the facility’s sprinkler system had been activated after hours.

According to a news release issued by Costello on Friday afternoon, Barnes wasn’t on duty with the fire department but arrived alongside on-duty fire crews that evening to find that the building’s sprinkler system had extinguished the fire within 30 seconds of being activated.

Prior to the activation of the sprinklers, the fire and smoke had been building up inside the trash can for approximately four minutes, as seen on the company’s surveillance cameras, the statement added.

“This is a prime example of how a sprinkler system can save a business,” Cedar City Fire Chief Mike Phillips said in the news release. “Recovery after a fire can often put a business out for a few days or sometimes forever but there are ways to prevent complete devastation and resume operations soon after.”

Barnes noted that even though the initial cost upfront for a sprinkler system can be costly for small business owners, the benefits are far greater if the sprinkler system is activated and saves the business.

“We are thankful to have resumed normal business operations the very next morning,” Barnes said.

“On behalf of everyone at Jones Paint and Glass, we want to thank the firefighters for their prompt response and the time they spent helping clear the water from the building,” he added.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, officials said.

Small business owners in Cedar City or Iron County who have questions about fire suppression systems are invited to call the Cedar City Fire Department at 435-586-2964.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Burlington, VT – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire at police department

A fire at the Burlington Police Department was intentionally set, authorities say.

The Burlington Fire Department was dispatched Monday morning around 2 a.m. to the headquarters of the Burlington Police Department at 1 North Ave.

A fire had been set in the lobby, according to the police department, by Stephen A. Romprey, 62, who said later when he was questioned that he was making a point. He set fire to paper in the vestibule which is the only part of the police station that remains open at night. He was taken into custody and charged with second degree arson and reckless endangerment.

By the time fire crews arrived on scene the fire had been put out by the building’s automatic sprinkler system. Due to the amount of smoke the fire had produced, crews evacuated workers from the Emergency Communications Center, which was in a different part of the building. An emergency plan was activated to relocate the dispatch services so that 911 calls were not disrupted.

The fire and sprinkler system caused thousands of dollars in fire and water damage to part of the building, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. The water from the sprinkler flooded floors in multiple areas. About three hours after the evacuation, the Emergency Communications Center was able to operate out of the BPD building once again.

The police department is considering locking the doors to the vestibule as a result even though it includes a phone the public can use to alert authorities and a warm space that some unhoused use at night. Murad said the department is considering putting a phone on the exterior of the building.

This was the second in about a week’s time that Burlington emergency responders were targeted. On Nov. 5, an ambulance was stolen while on a call, driven about half a mile and crashed into a parked car.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cross Lanes, WV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

A sprinkler system in a Kanahwa County apartment is credited with preventing a horrible tragedy early this morning.

Firefighers from Kanawha and Putnam County responded to the blaze around 4:30 a.m. at the Unity Apartments in Cross Lanes.

The fire broke out in the bedroom of one unit, but the sprinkler quickly had the fire under control even before the fire department arrived. Nitro Fire Chief Casey Mathes said had it not been for the sprinkler, the early morning fire very likely would have claimed several lives.

Twenty-seven residents of the apartment building located on Big Tyler Road were evacuated. They were allowed to reurn home after about an hour.

Investigators said the fire is blamed on smoking in bed.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fayetteville, NC – Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

An investigation is underway after an apartment fire in Fayetteville forced multiple people of their homes.

Crews responded to the three-story complex on Bunce Road and Cliffdale Road around 1:23 a.m.

Fire officials say smoke was found coming from a unit on the third floor.

They say crews found a kitchen fire that was extinguished by the sprinkler system.

The power had to be turned off to multiple units due to water damage from the sprinklers.

Officials say Red Cross is helping multiple residents because of that damage.

No one was hurt.

The cost of damages are estimated to be around $15,000.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Trenton, MO – Sprinkler system activated for deck fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

On October 23, 2023, at approximately 12:28 a.m., a structural fire broke out at 2414 Oklahoma Ave, Apartment 10. The incident, which lasted roughly two hours, drew an immediate response from local emergency services after a 911 notification was received.

Upon arrival, firefighters were met with smoke and visible flames emanating from the rear deck of the apartment. The property, owned by Morse & Sons and occupied by Samantha Lynch and Eryn Howe, suffered moderate damage, primarily confined to the rear deck and siding.

Lt. Derek Hert said firefighting personnel deployed a 1 ¾ inch attack line, successfully extinguishing the fire. Firefighters then employed a thermal imaging camera to inspect the area for potential fire extensions, but none were found. The crew stayed on-site, aiding the Missouri Division of Fire Safety Fire Investigators in determining the cause and assessing the overall scene.

One notable factor in the incident’s management was the activation of the exterior fire sprinkler system serving the deck area. This system played a role in suppressing the fire, significantly limiting its spread and potential for more extensive damage.

While there were no injuries reported, the incident left the property with moderate damage. The Missouri Division of Fire Safety Fire Investigators have since attributed the cause to improper disposal of smoking materials.

Support was also received from several other departments, including the Grundy County Ambulance, Trenton Police Department, and the MO Division of Fire Safety Fire Investigation unit.