Tag Archives: Virginia

Martinsville, VA – Unattended cooking fire at apartment building contained with help from sprinkler system

An accidental fire damaged an apartment complex in Uptown Martinsville late Tuesday night. Martinsville firefighters and EMS were called out to 20 Fayette Street at about 10:35 p.m., after a resident within the building noticed smoke coming from apartment seven. Emergency personnel arrived within three minutes, by which point the complex’s sprinkler system had activated. With the help of Martinsville police, firefighters and EMS personnel got all residents safety out. In addition to the Martinsville department, firefighters from the Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department and personnel from the Henry County Department of Public Safety were on scene to help, containing the fire to just the one apartment. The American Red Cross was also on hand to provide assistance. All of the other tenants in the building were able to return to their apartments by 1 a.m and the residents of apartment seven were relocated to another apartment in the building.

According to Martinsville Fire Marshal Ted Anderson, it’s believed the fire was accidental, caused by some cooking left unattended. Unattended cooking is listed as the number one cause of accidental fires. “Never leave your kitchen while cooking,” advised Martinsville Deputy Fire Marshal Andy Powers. “If you absolutely have to step out for a second, take something with you like an oven mitt to remind you to return promptly to the kitchen.”

Manassas, VA – Days Inn fire sparked by ice maker contained with help from sprinkler system

A third-floor ice maker sparked a Tuesday evening fire at the Days Inn on Centreville Road in Manassas, displacing 55 adults and three children saying at the hotel. Fire crews were called to the hotel in the 7600 block of Centreville Road at 5:28 p.m. and arrived to find fire on the third floor. “Due to activation of the building’s smoke alarm and sprinkler system, occupants were alerted to the fire” allowing everyone to get out safely, Prince William fire and rescue said in a news release. The sprinkler system help contain the blaze, which firefighters able to quickly extinguish, the release said. The building has been posted as unsafe. All of the hotel’s occupants were moved to another hotel. Investigators determined that the fire began in an ice maker on the third floor.

Tysons Corner, VA – Automatic fire sprinkler system activates to help control shopping mall fire

Fairfax County fire investigators said Tuesday that an exhaust fan ignited a two-alarm fire at the Tysons Corner Center last week when the mall was open. Damages are estimated at $30,000.  Around 5:17 p.m. on May 31, Fairfax County and Arlington County firefighters responded to the reported fire. Units found smoke coming from the roof, and they were able to quickly put out the fire. No one was injured.  Fire investigators concluded that the fire was ignited by an overheated exhaust fan motor coming in contact with paper towel rolls. The fire started in the storage closet of a kiosk.  An employee reported the fire after smelling burning plastic coming from the storage room. Smoke alarms and the fire sprinkler system were turned on after the fire was reported.

Arlington, VA – Apartment fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Arlington County firefighters are on scene of an apartment fire in the Long Bridge Creek neighborhood.  The fire was reported in the bedroom of an apartment on the 2600 block of S. Veitch Street around 8:45 a.m. It was extinguished within 10 minutes of firefighters arriving on scene, before it could spread to other apartments. No injuries were reported. Scanner traffic suggests the building’s sprinkler system was activated by the fire.  The fire marshal’s office is now investigating the cause of the blaze.

Chantilly, VA – Early morning fire in middle school classroom extinguished by sprinkler system

At 2:00 a.m., Monday, May 17th, Fire and Rescue crews from Dulles South were dispatched for a fire alarm at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School, located at 26020 Ticonderoga Road. Firefighters arrived to find an active fire alarm and the presence of smoke inside the building. A full structure fire assignment, to include units from Brambleton, Fairfax County, and Dulles Airport, were dispatched to assist.

Firefighters located a small fire in a classroom which had been extinguished by an automatic fire sprinkler system. Fire department personnel remained on scene to ensure the extinguished material was removed, the utilities were secured and that the building was adequately ventilated. Once deemed safe, the building was turned over to Loudoun County Public Schools representatives. The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation and determined the fire was accidental and estimated damages at $5,000.  There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. One pet reptile was removed from the room of origin and turned over to school staff for care.

This incident is a prime example of the positive impact of a fire protection alarm and automatic sprinkler system. A small fire in a classroom triggered the school’s monitored fire alarm system, which alerted firefighters, while the fire was quickly contained and extinguished by an automatic sprinkler system.  The damages to the building were minimized by the sprinkler system, allowing the school to remain open with little impact to the community and its students.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Officials continue to tout the importance of automatic fire sprinkler systems and their safety benefits. For more information on fire prevention activities and education in Loudoun County, visit www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal or call 703-737-8600.

Hampton, VA – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in extinguishing apartment fire; No injuries

Red Cross is assisting a woman and seven children after a fire broke out at their Hampton apartment on Wednesday morning.  Hampton Fire and Rescue says firefighters were called to the 400 block of Jonquil Lane at about 11:40 a.m. Arriving units found a second floor apartment was filled with heavy smoke, and an activation of an overhead sprinkler system.  Most of the fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system, while firefighters extinguished the rest.

The fire was contained to the laundry closet area, but there was significant water and smoke damage to the apartment,. along with heavy water damage to apartments below it.  Crews did rescue a small dog from the fire. No one was injured.

Charlottesville, VA – Early morning fire at UVA fraternity house extinguished by sprinkler system

Charlottesville first responders were dispatched to an accidental fire Saturday morning at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house in the 500-block of Rugby Road. The city fire marshal says it originated in the fireplace of the more than 100-year-old frat house.  A sprinkler system quickly extinguished the fire. It was discovered shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday.

Salem, VA – Overnight fire at tire manufacturer controlled with help from sprinkler system

A fire at Yokohama Tire Corp. in Salem early Friday morning damaged part of the facility. Salem Fire & EMS went to the building in the 1500 block of Indiana Street about 2 a.m., according to the department. All employees inside the facility were safely evacuated.  The fire started at a mixer machine in the plant, according to a statement from the company. The sprinkler system was triggered. The type of rubber that caught fire causes a lot of smoke, the company said.  The first crew arrived within six minutes of the call and found heavy fire coming from one side of the building. The two-alarm fire also required assistance from Roanoke Fire-EMS and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue. The first firefighters on scene were able to get the fire under control within about 30 minutes.

The fire was contained to one part of the building, which sustained significant damage from the fire. Damage from the fire required extensive salvage and overhaul operations. An estimate of the damage was not available Friday morning. The plant was shut down at 4 a.m. and most areas of the plant resumed operations Friday morning, the company said.  About 32 people from fire and rescue agencies responded to the call. No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Salem plant manufactures passenger, high-performance and light-truck tires and is one of Salem’s largest employers.

Chesterfield, VA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in mall bathroom

A store at a Chesterfield mall will be closed for a few hours after a fire broke out in the bathroom.

Chesterfield firefighters received the call at 9:10 a.m. for a report of a fire in the bathroom at Chesterfield Towne Center, located at 11500 Midlothian Turnpike.

When crews arrived on the scene, they found a small fire in the bathroom of the At Home store. The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system. However, there was still some smoke inside and outside of the bathroom.

No injuries were reported, but employees and customers evacuated the store.

Crews are still on the scene for water cleanup, which will start once the sprinkler system shuts off.

The store opened at 9 a.m., but the store will be closed for a few hours as crews clean up. There is no word yet on when the store will reopen.

Danville, VA – Sprinkler systems assists firefighters in extinguishing senior apartment blaze

The Danville Fire Department stopped an apartment fire on Monday afternoon.  Crews arrived at 2:06 p.m. to 601 Bridge Street, a five-story apartment building, after a reported fire in Apartment 306. Firefighters say they found light smoke conditions in the third-floor hallway and water coming from under the apartment’s door.

When they entered the apartment, they found moderate smoke conditions and a small fire beside the stove. They quickly extinguished the small fire with a fire extinguisher as the sprinkler system had extinguished almost all of the fire. The fire was determined to be under control at 2:25pm.

One person inside the apartment building was having difficulty breathing and had to be treated and transported by the Danville Life Saving Crew to the Danville Regional Medical Center. The sprinkler system was controlled and salvage operations were done. The fire apartment sustained minor fire, smoke and water damage. Seven other apartments sustained water damage. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants.

Seventeen fire personnel were on the scene for two hours and 29 minutes. The Danville Life Saving Crew, Danville Electric Department, Danville Water and Gas Department and the American Red Cross assisted on scene.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Fire Marshal’s Office and determined to be unattended cooking. No other injuries were reported.