Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

Apartment Building, Other - School / University, Residential

State College, PA – Late night fire at off-campus student apartments halted by sprinkler system

Some local college students narrowly avoided a disaster when their apartment building almost went up in flames.  A blaze broke out just after 11:30 Wednesday night in building Q at the Lion’s crossing apartments on Viaro Boulevard in State College.

Officials tell us a resident was heating oil on the stove when it caught fire and he then tried to extinguish it by throwing water on it. Crews are crediting the sprinkler system for activating and stopping the fire from spreading.

Shawn Kauffman, Assistant Alpha Fire Company Chief said, “In these types of residential buildings, the apartments are occupied by students and if there hadn’t been sprinklers it would have devastated their finals week.”

All residents were evacuated while the crews were on scene and they were allowed to return about 40 minutes after the fire broke out.

Apartment Building, Residential

Harrisburg, PA – Single sprinkler keeps apartment fire from spreading

A single fire sprinkler kept a kitchen blaze from spreading through a Harrisburg apartment complex on Monday night, city fire Chief Brian Enterline said. Crews responded to a building fire call in the 200 block of Mary Street at about 5:08 p.m. and found smoke pouring from a second-floor apartment.

However, firefighters found that a fire sprinkler head, which activates when the temperature reaches 155 degrees, quickly extinguished the blaze and stopped it from spreading to adjoining apartments, Enterline said. No one was injured, and Enterline credited the sprinkler for preventing what he called “catastrophic consequences.”

Firefighters used a ventilation fan and a wet/dry vacuum to help clean up the damage. Two apartments took on water damage and apartment management is assisting residents displaced by the fire. Affected residents should be able to return to their apartments by the end of the week, Enterline said.

“This fire could have had catastrophic consequences to both lives and property had it not been for the fast work of a single operating fire sprinkler head, which quickly contained and extinguished the fire,” Enterline said. “Firefighters were able to literally fight this fire with a fan and mop bucket.”

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

York, PA – Machine fire at metal component manufacturer controlled by sprinkler system

Smoke puffed out of the Gamlet Incorporated building on Tuesday after a machine caught on fire at the business.  York City Assistant Fire Chief Chad Deardorff said the sprinkler system in the building controlled the fire.  Deardorff said the cause of and damage from the fire has not yet been determined.  No inuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Erie, PA – Overnight apartment fire controlled by sprinkler system

A fire at an Erie aparment building was reported at 11:20 PM at 343 East 6th Street.  When fire crews arrived on the scene, they found that the sprinkler system was activated, keeping the fire from getting worse. The fire broke out near the foyer of the apartment building, and was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported, and a fire inspector was called to investigate.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Cheyney, PA – Suspected arson fire at university residence hall extinguished with help from sprinkler system

State police and campus detectives are investigating a suspicious dormitory room fire that sent a campus police officer to the hospital and caused the evacuation of more than 100 students from Tubman Hall at Cheyney University in Thornbury about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, said Trooper John E. Stewart Jr., a member of the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit.

“It was intentionally set. It is still under investigation,” said Stewart Sunday afternoon.  He noted an unknown person or persons entered room 518 on the fifth floor of the residence hall and attempted to set a student’s personal belongings on fire, which activated the emergency sprinkler system.

“The room’s occupant was not present at the time of the fire’s discovery,” said Stewart.  A Cheyney University Police Department sergeant who responded to the blaze suffered chest pains and smoke inhalation and was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, where he was treated and released, noted the state trooper.

“The sprinkler knocked down the bulk of the fire and he took down the rest,” said Stewart.  The name of the officer who extinguished the blaze was not available at press time.  Stewart said the fire was contained to one room and resulted in mostly water damage.

Concordville, Rocky Run and Edgmont fire companies responded to the fire, as did members of some Chester County fire departments, said Stewart. The scene was reportedly cleared by just after 8 a.m. Sunday.

Gwen Owens, director of public relations for Cheyney University, said Tubman Hall houses 127 students. She said they were permitted re-entry into Tubman Hall to retrieve items Sunday afternoon and have been temporarily relocated to two other residence halls on campus.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Media, PA – Sprinkler extinguishes fire at senior assisted living center

Residents of one building at Granite Farms Estates were evacuated Sunday night after a wall heater caught fire. Firefighters were dispatched at 10 p.m. for a fire on the third floor of A Building, according to Fire Marshal Alan Mancill. The responding firefighters found smoke on the third floor and the residents of were evacuated.  The sprinkler system in the building extinguished the fire. The fire was placed under control in about five minutes. There were no reported injuries.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Hempfield, PA – Sprinkler system activates, assists firefighters in fire at Olive Garden restaurant

The Olive Garden Italian restaurant along Route 30 in Hempfield was damaged by a kitchen fire late Wednesday night that spewed smoke through the building, emergency responders said.

The fire, which was reported at 11:36 p.m., started in the kitchen, went up a kitchen wall and spread into the ceiling, Bovard fire Chief Greg Saunders said.

The first responders were able to knock it down quickly, Saunders said. The building’s sprinkler system also sprayed water on the fire.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Pittsburgh, PA – Fire in high-rise residence hall at University of Pittsburgh extinguished by sprinkler system

University of Pittsburgh, Litchfield Tower A — The fire spread to a pillow and part of a chair, according to resident Jorge Garcia, but the sprinkler system put out the fire before it spread further.

“Fortunately, the sprinkler system was still working and put out the fire before any personnel arrived to extinguish it,” Pitt spokesman John Fedele said.  There was no “substantial damage” to anything in Tower A, Fedele said, aside from the carpet, desk and chair in room 818.

Garcia, a freshman neuroscience major, was in the room when the laptop caught fire. “I heard a spark, and then it was just flames,” Garcia said.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinklers help extinguish overnight fire at Toll Brothers’ plant (Morrisville, PA)

A Morrisville factory escaped serious damage Tuesday morning after a machine malfunction started a fire in a ventilation system that collects sawdust.  The accidental fire occurred shortly after midnight at a Toll Brothers’ construction plant, which makes panels for the builder’s homes.The fire forced the evacuation of the plant, but the business’ sprinkler system started putting out the fire before firefighters arrived and finished the job, Morrisville Fire Marshal Robert Seward said.