Tag Archives: Oregon

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at apartment complex (Happy Valley, OR)

February 11, 2013 viking210

Firefighters are crediting a residential sprinkler system for putting out a two-alarm apartment fire. Brandon Paxton, Clackamas Fire District 1 spokesman, said the sprinklers in the Town Center Station Apartments worked so well that the fire already was out when firefighters arrived after receiving a 10:22 p.m. 9-1-1 call. Firefighters found combustible materials on a kitchen range that ignited when the stove was turned on accidentally. “The key here was early detection,” Paxton said. “The sprinkler system already in place did its job.” Paxton said the fire was contained to one apartment, but easily could have spread to other units if the sprinkler system hadn’t controlled it. No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system (Hillsboro, OR)

December 27, 2012 viking210

Hillsboro firefighters rushed to an apartment fire after midnight but they didn’t have to put it out: It was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. The fire was caused by an electric wheelchair in one unit and was contained to that apartment.

Residential, Single Family Home

Bathroom fire extinguished by residential sprinkler system (Woodburn, OR)

December 12, 2012 viking210

A bathroom fire was quickly extinguished and caused minimal damage after a single fire sprinkler head activated and suppressed it. There was no active fire by the time fire fighters made it to the scene. Investigation by officials eventually led a juvenile resident to admit that he intentionally set fire in the bathroom.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinkler system saves residents at off-campus apartment (Eugene, OR)

December 1, 2012 viking210

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, but the fire was quickly put out by the sprinkler system. Resident’s were evacuated as a precaution and later were able to return to their homes. The fire comes on what is almost the year anniversiry of a fire that broke out at Courtside’s sister complex, Skybox.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sprinklers put out fire in high school art room (Independence, OR)

November 2, 2012 viking210

A kiln in an art room at Central High School caught fire. The fire was put out by sprinklers by the time fire personnel arrived.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire contained by sprinklers at engineered wood products manufacturer (Medford, OR)

October 10, 2012 viking210

Sparks from a grinding operation started a fire that ignited in two connected sawdust bins at Boise Cascade. “Really the initial knockdown happened with the automatic sprinkler system,” said Arlen Blenkush, District No. 3 battalion chief. The fire was contained to the inside of the bins and did not damage the structure’s exterior.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Sprinkler system contains hotel fire (Forest Grove, OR)

September 17, 2012 viking210

A cigarette is to blame for a fire at the Best Western Hotel in Forest Grove on Sunday afternoon. Officials said the building’s fire sprinkler system activated and stopped that fire from spreading to the rest of the hotel.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Sprinklers make the difference in a suspicious restaurant fire (Eugene, OR)

August 29, 2012 viking210

A recycling bin at a downtown restaurant caught fire Wednesday morning, one of two fires overnight that firefighters are calling “suspicious.” The fire started in the cardboard bin and burned up onto a beam on the building. Firefighters said sprinklers activated, protecting the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cat survives apartment fire thanks to fire sprinkler system (Portland, OR)

August 6, 2012 viking210

Firefighters who responded to a southeast Portland apartment fire could hear screaming inside and see smoke seeping from under the door. So they kicked in the door and found — a cat.

Fire spokesman Ron Rouse says the cat — named Dude — was fine after the firefighters took him outside Wednesday evening and gave him some oxygen.

Rouse says the apartment resident had taken some warm clothes from the dryer and set them on a couch near some oily rags, then left the apartment. The spokesman says the combination of heat and the oily rags created spontaneous combustion. The apartment’s automatic sprinklers contained the fire to the couch.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Sprinkler system stopped paper mill fire from spreading (Oregon City, OR)

June 19, 2012 viking210

Firefighters responded to a small fire Monday at the former Blue Heron Paper Co. mill site in Oregon City. The building’s sprinkler system stopped the fire from spreading before firefighters came in and extinguished the remaining flames. No one was reported hurt and the cause is still under investigation.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers