Tag Archives: North Carolina

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, NC – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire to kitchen; No injuries

Wilmington Fire Department crews responded to an apartment fire located at 106 N. Water St around 2:45 p.m. Saturday. Battalion Chief Chris Nelson said a sprinkler system located in the apartment controlled the fire, keeping it contained to the kitchen where the fire started, until firefighters arrived on scene.

The occupant was home at the time, but no one was injured. A total of seven trucks responded as well as units from NHRMC EMS and Wilmington Police Department.  Nelson said there was minimal fire damage to the apartment and some water damage to apartments below where the fire started.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Durham, NC – Sprinkler system helps firefighting effort at recycling center

Durham firefighters were called at 7:57 p.m. to 4619 Industry Lane in response to a structure fire at Sonoco Recycling.

Once on scene firefighters determined that “moderate smoke” was coming from the rear of the building. Employees told firefighters where the fire started and that a piece of machinery used to bale recyclable material was on fire.

Firefighters were able to control the fire within about 10 minutes. A sprinkler system in the building helped the firefighting effort.

Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was an overheated motor in a baler machine. No one was injured and only the machine and a “large amount of recyclable material” were damaged.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Rockingham, NC – Cotton mill fire held in check by sprinkler system

The sprinkler system at Wade Manufacturing kept a fire from spreading at the facility Wednesday afternoon. Rockingham Fire Chief Harold Isler said the department responded to the fire after receiving a commercial alarm call around 3:48 p.m. When crews arrived at the cotton fabric mill, smoke was showing from a door on the right side of the building on River Road, he said.

Once inside, firefighters discovered two bales of debris — swept up from the floor of the facility — on fire with open flames and heavy smoke. Isler said the bales “looked just like cotton.” “What kept it in check was the sprinkler system,” Isler said, which kept the fire dampened until fire crews could arrive.

 Using 300 feet of 1 ¾-inch hose, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames. All damage was confined to the bales and there was no structural damage, nor were there any injuries to factory workers or firemen, according to the chief.

 The cause of the fire is still under investigation. “One of the biggest issues we had was getting the smoke out,” Isler said. In addition to the building’s exhaust fans, firefighters set up fans inside the building to help ventilate the facility. Cordova Fire and Rescue was called for mutual aid to make sure there were enough people on the scene, Isler said. Although some commercial calls turn out to be false alarms, Isler said, “You can’t take any of them lightly.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Fayetteville, NC – Another off-campus apartment saved from fire by sprinkler system

Four Fayetteville State University students were displaced Tuesday evening after the stove in their apartment caught fire, activating the sprinkler system, which then extinguished the blaze. Firefighters were dispatched at 6:56 p.m. to 1302 Coley Drive at University Apartments, off Murchison Road adjoining Fayetteville State University, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Fire Department.

When firefighters arrived, they didn’t see any visible fire from outside and saw the residents had begun to evacuate. The sprinkler system contained the fire to just the stove. Firefighters were able to stop the flow of water from the sprinkler head while salvaging property and removing the smoke, the release said. The apartment received light damage from the water and smoke.

Firefighters restored the fire protection system and assisted the university in finding housing for the four students. There were no injuries reported, the release said. The three-story building contains 24 apartments.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Huntersville, NC – Sprinklers assist firefighters in extinguishing restaurant fire

Crews responded to Yoshi’s Grill on Gilead Road just after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday and found heavy smoke coming from the building. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control around 8:45 a.m. and said sprinklers were activated. Firefighters said the fire started near a washing machine and the restaurant was closed at the time.  No one was hurt.

Other - Retail, Retail

Richlands, NC – Fire at lawn and garden center contained by sprinklers

Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a Richlands business early this morning. A trash truck driver noticed smoke coming from the Great Outdoors Lawn and Garden Center on East Franck Street just before 6:00 a.m. Onslow County EMS Director Norm Bryson says fortunately the sprinkler system activated and kept the actual fire contained to the office and bathroom area.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Fire at high school extinguished by sprinkler system (Charlotte, NC)

A small fire that caused the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology to be evacuated Wednesday afternoon was intentionally set, officials with the Charlotte Fire Department say.

The high school – on Alleghany Street, off Freedom Drive near Interstate 85 – was being evacuated when the department responded to fire alarms, officials said Thursday.

The sprinkler system had already extinguished the small fire, which officials said caused roughly $1,000 damage. No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinkler system saves manufacturing plant from sustaining major damage (Thomasville, NC)

A sprinkler system saved a manufacturing plant from sustaining major damage, said Robbie Binkley, battalion chief for the Thomasville Fire Department.  Rocky Watts, division chief of code enforcement/fire marshal for the TFD, said the plant housed 100 gallons of sulfuric acid mixed with water in a chemical open system. He explained the fire was around the system. Watts said it appears the fire was a result of a shortage in the electrical wiring in the heating element of a chemical holding tank.  There was no structural damage and minimal smoke damage, the battalion chief reported. 

A fire destroyed the same business 10 years ago, at which time it did not have a sprinkler system, he said.  The sprinkler system “kept the fire in check and saved the building,” Binkley said. Watts said the company cleans racing parts and places a coating on them.

Apartment Building, Residential

Sprinklers keep fire from spreading into apartment building (Wilmington, NC)

A fire erupted in a work van and threatened to spread into the neighboring apartment building on Thursday afternoon. The apartment building was equipped with fire sprinklers, which kept the flames from overcoming the structure; firefighters reported that only minor exterior damage occurred thanks to the sprinklers. The cause of the van fire is under investigation, and there were no reported injuries.