Tag Archives: North Carolina

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

High Point, NC – Sprinkler system activated for fire at factory; No injuries reported

A fire damaged part of the Akzo Nobel factory in the southern part of the city Tuesday morning and forced a temporary evacuation of the complex, which produces specialized paints and coatings.

The fire started around 6:30 a.m. at the factory in the 1400 block of Progress Avenue.

Employees in the building where the fire was immediately evacuated, and the building remains shut down until further notice, Akzo Nobel said in a statement to The High Point Enterprise.

Firefighters saw flames coming from part of one building when they arrived, Deputy Fire Chief Brian Evans of the High Point Fire Department said. The fire started in a vat in a production area. A sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading further, he said.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control in eight minutes, and no one was injured.

Three buildings were initially evacuated while firefighters brought the blaze under control, Evans said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but it is being ruled an accident, he said.

A dollar estimate of the damage wasn’t available Tuesday.

Fifteen units and 33 firefighters went to the fire scene.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Brevard, NC – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at retirement community; No injuries reported

The Brevard City Fire Department said crews responded to a kitchen fire at the College Walk Retirement Community early Sunday morning.

Officials said crews responded to the scene along N. College Row shortly after Midnight.

According to officials, when crews arrived, they noticed smoke from the kitchen, so they activated the sprinkler system, which contained the flames, and helped firefighters extinguish them. Thankfully, officials reported that no injuries were reported following the incident.

The Transylvania County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Grantsboro, NC – Sprinkler system activated for fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

Multiple departments in Pamlico and Craven Counties were responding to a fire at a restaurant in Grantsboro Monday morning.

The fire was at The Great Wall restaurant, next to Food Lion.

The sprinkler system kept the fire under control, according to a responding fire marshal. Crews got on the scene and doused the flames that were confined to the kitchen, although the kitchen did receive significant damage. Crews had to break the front and back doors to get into the restaurant.

There was no damage to the rest of the plaza.

No one was reported as hurt.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Boone, NC – Sprinkler system extinguishes classroom fire at high school; No injuries reported

There was minor damage to some classrooms after a fire at Watauga High School on Thursday.

At approximately 4:24 PM the fire alarm and sprinkler system were activated in one of the classrooms on the main level of Watauga High School, according to Superintendent Dr. Scott Elliott.

A stovetop in the classroom was inadvertently activated when items were placed on top of the stove. The sprinkler system extinguished the fire before the fire spread to any other classrooms, according to Elliott.

There was minor fire damage to the walls and cabinetry, and extensive smoke and water damage to several classrooms on two floors. Dr. Elliott said they will spend the weekend getting everything cleaned up and repaired before the students return to class on Tuesday. 

“I am grateful to all the first responders, most especially the Boone Fire Department, and to our own maintenance and custodial staff for their quick response and assistance. Also, it is a good reminder to every single one of us to be careful around stoves and other appliances. This same thing could have happened in anyone’s home or place of work. In this case, we are fortunate that no one is injured and the classrooms can be repaired.” Dr. Elliott said.  

Other - Retail, Retail

Asheville, NC – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at shopping center outlet; No injuries reported

Asheville Fire Department had several crews at Asheville Outlets on Wednesday night, Jan. 11, 2023.

About six fire engines could be seen in the shopping center parking lot, where an alarm could be heard and firefighters could be seen heading to the roof.

Asheville Fire Department said the fire happened in a storage room near Restoration Hardware just before 11 p.m.

Officials tell News 13 that the sprinkler system put out the fire and no other businesses were damaged other than possible smoke damage.

No one was injured in the fire.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Fayetteville, NC – Sprinkler system activated for fire at nursing home; No injuries reported

The Fayetteville Fire Department battled a fire at Autumn Care of Fayetteville nursing home Sunday night.

The first units arrived around 11:30 p.m and found a fire located in a room on the 400 hall of the facility.

Thirteen residents were forced out of their rooms while six others sheltered in place.

The facility’s sprinkler system had contained the fire to a single room, through the Fayetteville Fire Department said the fire did extend to the exterior of the building.

Crews were able to extenguish the fire, which officials with the department said was caused by a mounted heater.

Cape Fear Valley EMS is assessing residents of the facility, though no injuries have been reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Durham, NC – Sprinkler system activated for fire in apartment building

A senior citizen was rescued from an apartment fire Tuesday night.

Firefighters responded to the senior apartment building, The Veranda at Whitted School, located at 200 East Umstead St., around 10:15 p.m.

A neighbor met firefighters to tell them an apartment was on fire.

The crew entered a smoke-filled apartment and rescued one resident inside a bedroom. The resident was in good condition but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Firefighters said an unattended hot stove may have caused the fire. A sprinkler system helped extinguished the fire, but there was water damage in the apartment and in a daycare located below.

If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop, officials warned, saying cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Asheville, NC – Sprinkler system keeps building fire in check; No injuries reported

Asheville FD says a sprinkler system helped contain a fire that broke out Friday morning at a building along College Street.

AFD reported in a Facebook post on Saturday more details about the fire. The department said the fire was caused by people who had lit combustibles to keep warm, and was located in the floor between the 2nd and 3rd floor. The sprinkler system cut on and kept it in that area.

Crews did not report any injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

Whiteville, NC – Fire sprinklers contain fire started by electric wheelchair

A lifesaving rescue was carried out by firefighters Saturday night. The Whiteville Fire Department was called out to the Covey Reserve Apartments and were able to save a man from dying.

Captain Kyle McDaniel was one of the firemen on the call.

“We searched each room and JD made contact with him and roused him up,” said McDaniel. “That’s when we realized we had a victim in the room.”

McDaniel said they weren’t able to see their hands in front of their face; that’s how much smoke had filled the apartment.

However, it could’ve been a lot worse if the sprinkler system didn’t go off.

“95-percent of the fire was out when we made entry,” said McDaniel.

The cause of the fire was an electric wheelchair. It belonged to Stacey Todd, who was asleep in the next room.

“Oh man, I tell you what. It’s a scary thing; it’s scary,” said Todd. “But things happen in life, sometimes you can’t help it.”

Todd says he lost everything in the fire, losses that come particularly hard this time of year with the holidays just around the corner.

But he is keeping his spirits up.

“I thank God; that’s all I know,” said Todd. “Because I didn’t know anything. I want to thank the fire department because if they wouldn’t have come, I wouldn’t be here.”

For Captain McDaniel, he says being able to save a life just gives him more reason to do what he loves.

And as for Stacey Todd he’s staying in a motel until he can find some place else to stay or his apartment gets restored.

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