Tag Archives: Virginia

Apartment Building, Residential

Martinsville, VA – Sprinkler system prevents fire from spreading at apartment complex

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday, Martinsville Fire & EMS responded to a structure fire at an apartment complex located at 1032 Mountain Road, Martinsville.

Firefighters encountered heavy fire coming from apartment #3 of the complex. The Martinsville Police Department evacuated tenants from the apartment complex, as all tenants made it out safely. Assistance was received from the Martinsville Police Department, Martinsville Electric Department, Henry County Department of Public Safety and Dyer’s Store Volunteer Fire Department. The local chapter of the American Red Cross also responded to assist the eight tenants who were displaced.

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental with it originating in the kitchen, near the stove, due to unattended cooking. Martinsville Fire & EMS reminds everyone to be extra cautious while cooking.

“Unattended cooking remains our number one cause of accidental fires. Make sure you never leave a cooking appliance unattended while it is in use,” said Martinsville Fire Chief Ted Anderson.

That is the second time fire departments have responded to apartment complexes in recent days. On Saturday, agencies responded to a 7:30 p.m. call of smoke coming out of Apartment 19 on East Church Street, behind Piedmont Community Services and Daily Grind in Martinsville.

The occupant was outside when firefighters arrived. The apartment’s sprinkler system activated and prevented the fire from spreading. The cause of the fire is accidental, stated City of Martinsville Public Information Officer Kendall Davis.

The American Red Cross helps provide free smoke alarms; for more information, call 403-5325.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Staunton, VA – Sprinkler system activated for vehicle fire in building

Crews responded to a fire this evening at Roto-Rooter Plumbing in Staunton as a service vehicle caught fire in one of the bays of the building. Everyone in the building got out safely but one person was sent to Augusta Health for smoke inhalation.

“The building had a sprinkler system so it activated and kept the fire to the vehicle. We only had minor heat damage to two adjacent vehicles and to the structural members above it but it was minimal due to the sprinkler system activating,” said Greg Schacht, Augusta County Fire Chief. No word yet on what caused the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Leavenworth, VA – Arson fire in apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire that resulted in the displacement of about a dozen people at a privately operated apartment building on the Leavenworth VA campus is being called a case of arson.

The fire was reported at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 3900 block of Franklin Avenue. No injuries were reported.

Leavenworth Fire Marshal Andy Brooks said someone apparently broke into a vacant second-floor apartment and placed miscellaneous items including mail and a DVD player on top of an electric stove. The person then turned on the burners.

The resulting fire activated the sprinkler system in the apartment, which put out the fire.

“The sprinkler basically ran until we shut it off,” Brooks said.

He said water from the sprinkler system flooded the apartment and a foyer area located on a lower level.

Brooks said electricity had to be shut off at the building.

“Water was flowing where we couldn’t see it,” he said. “We didn’t want to have any electrical hazards.”

He said the sprinkler system also was shut down to stop it from running and allow it to be drained out.

Brooks said about 12 tenants were displaced. He said the American Red Cross offered assistance to the people who were affected.

Angie Springs, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross, said in an email that the response team assisted the people who were impacted to address their immediate needs.

Brooks said a suspect has not been identified in the arson investigation.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Herndon, VA – Sprinkler system extinguishes countertop fire; No injuries reported

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue were called out early Monday morning for the report of a fire in the Herndon area of the county, according to a post on the department’s official Twitter account.

Units were dispatched around 7:22 a.m., after a passerby reported a fire at building in the 2400 block of Centreville Road, according to the tweet. A fire sprinkler extinguished a small blaze on the countertop in the building. After determining that the fire had not extended, crews remained on the scene for remove smoke from the building.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire was an electrical event involving a power strip. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated to be $6,000.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Roanoke, VA – Fire at business extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Roanoke Fire-EMS extinguished a fire in the 3400 block of Shenandoah Avenue NW Saturday night.

About 6:30 p.m., crews were called to respond to a fire alarm, and found smoke coming from a business building.

Firefighters say sprinklers helped lessen impacts from the fire, and put out part of the fire untouchable by the sprinkler system in place.

No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roanoke County, VA – Sprinkler system controlled apartment fire until fire crews arrived

Crews from the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department battled an apartment fire Saturday evening.

According to fire officials, crews responded to a report of a commercial fire alarm in the northern part of the county at approximately 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 in the 5300 block of Hawthorne Road.

When crews arrived on scene, they found smoke showing from a third story window of a large multi-story apartment building.

The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire by a single adult.

Everyone in the building was able safely evacuate the building without injury. In addition, the fire was knocked down within about 10 minutes.

The department says the building’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire controlled until firefighters arrived.

According to fire officials, damage is minimal but some water damage did occur in the apartment the fire originated as well as some of the units below.

The occupant of the apartment will be displaced and is being helped by the American Red Cross.

The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Harrisonburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex

The Harrisonburg Fire Department (HFD) says a Broadway man has been arrested in connection with a recent structure fire that officials believe appears to be intentionally set.

Officials say units from HPD, the Rockingham County Fire Rescue, the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad were dispatched to the 2400 block of Silverbell Drive at approximately 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, April 18 for a reported structure fire.

Crews say smoke was coming from a ground-floor apartment. A fire was found inside, and had been controlled by a fire sprinkler.

Officials say no victims were found during a search, although two dogs were safely evacuated. During an investigation, officials say information was found that suggested the fire was intentionally set.

Officials say Marlon A. Organ, Jr., of Broadway, was arrested in connection with the fire and charged with burning or destroying a dwelling. Organ was committed to the Rockingham County Jail.

Due to the ongoing investigation, officials say specific information about the fire, including origin and cause, will not be released. Stay with WHSV for updates.

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

Richmond, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at high-rise; No injuries reported

Officials said a two-alarm fire at a high-rise in Shockoe Bottom started in a unit’s kitchen Sunday morning.

Crews were called to the Jackson Warehouse Apartments at 12 South 17th Street for an apartment fire just before 8:30 a.m.

When firefighters pulled up, they saw heavy smoke coming from the building’s sixth floor.

“A second alarm was declared, due to this being a high-rise building,” fire officials said. “Crews quickly got the incident under control and assisted evacuating occupants of the building.”

Firefighters credited the building’s sprinkler system in helping prevent the fire from spreading to other apartments.

Officials said the fire likely started in one unit’s kitchen.

Officials said one person was “briefly stuck in an elevator” when power to the building was shut off, “but our crews got them out with no issues.”

No one was injured, officials said.

The Red Cross is helping one person who was displaced, according to fire officials.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fredericksburg, VA – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at apartment complex

Two apartments were damaged in a fire Friday afternoon in Spotsylvania County.

The fire started in a unit of the Alexander Heights apartment complex along Salem Church Road, according to county Fire Chief Jay Cullinan.

He said the sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading, but residents couldn’t go back to two apartments. The apartment where the fire started sustained smoke damage and the apartment below that unit sustained water damage, he said.

The chief said a firefighter suffered smoke inhalation issues and was taken to an area hospital for observation, but is OK.

Apartment Building, Residential

Huntington, VA – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A kitchen fire was put out by a sprinkler system and caused no injuries at a Huntington high-rise building on Saturday, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Units responded to the eight-story apartment building in the 5900 block of Richmond Highway around 5:05 p.m. Saturday. Three residents were home when the fire occurred in the kitchen. A child found the fire and alerted her father, who unsuccessfully tried to put it out with a towel. The resident notified his roommate, who called 911.

Fire department units arrived to find the fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was an air fryer igniting on the electric stove top when a stove burner was accidentally turned on. Damages were estimated to be $25,000.

Four residents were displaced, and Red Cross assistance was declined. Building management is helping the displaced residents.