Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

Apartment Building, Residential

Erie, PA – Apartment fire caused by unattended candle is put out by sprinkler system

Erie firefighters were dispatched to the Alex W. Thompson apartment complex, 441 W. Third St., on a report of a fire Monday at 1:49 p.m. The fire broke out in an apartment and was caused by a candle placed next to a plastic ornamental plant, Erie Fire Inspector John Widomski said. The fire set off the building’s sprinkler system, which put out the fire, Widomski said. Widomski said there was minimal fire damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Aliquippa, PA – Sprinkler system activates to help control overnight apartment fire

A fire inside an Aliquippa apartment building early Saturday morning displaced 40 residents. The Aliquippa Fire Department said the fire broke out inside the Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments on Sheffield Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. Officials said the fire started inside a kitchen on the eighth floor. Fire officials said there were no injuries, but 40 people were displaced because of water damage caused by the sprinkler system. The Red Cross said it is providing lodging for 23 of the building’s residents.

Residential High Rise, Townhouse / Condominium

Pittsburgh, PA – Fire at high-rise luxury condominium building controlled with help from sprinkler system

No one was injured in a 3-alarm fire in a kitchen Friday night at Piatt Place, a high-rise condominium complex Downtown. The fire was reported at 7:30 p.m. at 301 Fifth Ave., the city’s Department of Public Safety said. Crews were working at midnight to ventilate the building and assess damages. The fire was labeled as 3-alarm due to the size of the building, the department said. It started in a kitchen in a residence on the sixth floor; the building’s sprinkler system assisted in containing the fire. The cause was under investigation.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Lower Heidelberg, PA – Fire at BBQ restaurant held in check by sprinkler system

Crews responded to a fire at a Berks County restaurant early Friday morning. Firefighters battled a fire at The Bar-B-Q Pit along Penn Avenue in Lower Heidelberg Township.  Berks County dispatchers say the flames broke out at about 5:30 a.m.

Fire officials say police arrived first and saw smoke and flames in the kitchen through a window. The sprinkler system held the fire in check while firefighters went in and put it out. No one was hurt.

Crews had to close Penn Avenue for about 15-20 minutes but have since reopened it. Investigators are trying to figure out what caused the fire.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Lancaster, PA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in four-story commercial building

A sprinkler system knocked down a two-alarm commercial building fire in downtown Lancaster Wednesday night, according to a Fox43 report.  Firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm in a four-story building at East King and North Christian streets at about 7 p.m., according to the report.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke on the upper floors of the building that houses an art store on the first floor and neighbors the Lancaster County courthouse complex. Crews sounded a second alarm in response to the heavy smoke that stemmed to the fire likely ignited in the basement elevator room, the report said.

The building’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire, which a cleaning crew inside didn’t know had broke out until firefighters arrived, according to the report. The crew made it out of the building safely. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Office Building, Other Business

Pittsburgh, PA – Fire at U.S. Steel Tower extinguished by sprinkler system

Pittsburgh firefighters responded early this morning to a fire in the U.S. Steel Tower in Downtown. According to a release by the city’s department of public safety, firefighters responded to the fire at Pittsburgh’s tallest building at about 4:45 a.m., but found that a small fire in a custodian room in the lower level of the building had already been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. There were no injuries and only minor damage, according to the release.

Uncategorized

Bensalem, PA – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Two sprinklers halt car fire in parking garage

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — READER REPORTED ** A Sprinkler Saves reader reported that two sprinklers extinguished a car fire in the lower level parking garage of a 6 story building around 9:00 p.m. on January 20, 2016.

According to the reader, a passerby saw the fire, and called 911.

The fire company arrived on the scene within minutes, and witnessed the sprinkler heads activating and extinguishing the fire before any major damage was done.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Chambersburg, PA – Sprinkler system controls fire at La Quinta Inn until fire crews arrive

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The fire broke out around 8:20 a.m. Wednesday at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in the 100 block of Walker Road in the borough, said Chambersburg Deputy Fire Chief Dustin Ulrich in a news release.  A sprinkler system helped control the blaze until crews were in place, and the fire was under control around 10:25 a.m., Ulrich said.

Fire crews arrived to find that a mulch fire had extended to the building, Ulrich said. The fire quickly spread to the third floor of the building and the attic before a second alarm was requested around 8:50 a.m.

The state police fire marshal ruled the fire accidental. No estimate was immediately available as to the amount of damage, Ulrich said, adding that the building was uninhabitable until repairs can be made.

No injuries were reported to either firefighters or to the 25 families occupying the hotel. Crews from the Franklin Fire Department, Fayetteville Fire and EMS, Marion Fire Department, Letter Kenny Fire Department, New Franklin Fire Department, Waynesboro Fire Department, Greencastle Fire Department, West End Fire and Rescue, Mont Alto Fire Department, Cumberland Valley Hose Company, Vigilant Hose Company and Holy Sprit EMS responded to the fire.

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Philadelphia, PA – Early morning fire at Psi Upsilon fraternity contained by sprinklers; Arson is possible cause

A “possible arson” was reported at the Psi Upsilon — also known as Castle — fraternity house at 4:04 a.m. on Friday, Division of Public Safety Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Eugene Janda said. Upon arrival, evidence of an active fire was found, along with indications that the built-in sprinkler system had managed to contain the blaze. The Philadelphia Fire Department said that by the time firemen arrived, the fire had been put out. Janda said they believe an open flame met with combustibles caused the fire to spread.

The house — located at 250 S. 36th St. just off Locust Walk — had its alarm system go off. The Philadelphia Fire Department, Penn Police Departmentand Penn Fire and Emergency Services were all alerted immediately, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. The Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s office was notified along with the Philadelphia Police Department. Alongside DPS, both departments will be working on an ongoing investigation into what was described by Janda as a “possible arson.”

Castle President and Wharton senior Michael Pozzuoli declined to comment on the fire.  Janda was quick to point out the effectiveness of both the alert and sprinkler systems in this instance, mentioning that without the systems, this could have been a “totally different story.”

Just a few weeks ago, on Sept. 24, Phi Gamma Delta’s off-campus house experienced a fire when a dryer went in flames while a resident was doing laundry.

Implementation of the sprinkler systems in Greek houses began in the 1960s and 1970s. The systems were so effective that by the early 2000s, Penn had spent at least $32 million ensuring that all 14 residential buildings on Penn’s campus had them in place. “Everyone has a sprinkler over their heads at night,” Janda said.

Janda emphasized safety measures that can be taken to avoid potential disasters. “Get up, get out, and account,” is the main thing to remember in case of a fire, he said. “Account” refers to checking on the status of fellow residents and reporting any missing persons to responding emergency personnel. Greek houses in particular are encouraged to have a coherent, established plan in case of emergency. Though this may not be the most exciting topic to bring up at the next chapter, Janda knows it very well might save a life.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Philadelphia, PA – Sprinkler system activates to help contain fire at iconic welcome center in Fairmount Park

Crews were sweeping up shattered glass Tuesday morning, cleaning up after a fire at the Fairmount Park Welcome Center at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard. The iconic building was built in 1960 and is known as an example of mid-20th century modern architecture.

“It’s a rather unusual architecture style in Center City,” said Mark Focht of Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department, “but goes with the Penn Center office buildings that surround it. It’s a unique, iconic building.”

Arthur Shinholster says he was in Love Park with his friends when the fire broke out just after 3 a.m. He called 911. The building’s alarm and sprinkler system activated. Smoke was coming from the basement.

“It was a whole bunch of smoke coming out of it,” Shinholster told Action News. “It was coming from underneath. No sooner I pulled over but Michael Nutter, Mayor Michael Nutter, pulled up. I was calling the fire department, and his crew was calling at the same time.”

40 firefighters were able to get the fire under control within 15 minutes. Officials say the worst of the damage is in the basement, though firefighters were forced to break about 20 windows for ventilation.

You can see windows broken out,” said Philadelphia Fire Department Capt. William Dixon. “There’s obvious damage, smoke and water damage throughout the building.”

“We are coming up into our very busy season with the Holiday Village here in Love Park,” said Focht. “So we will figure out over the next 24 hours how we will utilize building over next several months.”

The welcome center was already set to be closed in April for extensive renovations.

James Cuorato, President and CEO of the Independence Visitor Center, says the welcome center is an important satellite location.

The hope is to get it back up and running as soon as possible.

 

“We have a big weekend coming up with the Temple-Notre Dame football game,” said Cuorato. “We are anxious and hopeful to get it back and running by then.”

 

The fire marshal is working to determine what caused the blaze.