Tag Archives: Washington

Vancouver, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at former restaurant

The Vancouver Fire Department battled a fire at the former Joe’s Crab Shack along the waterfront early Monday morning.

At about 5:41 a.m., crews were called out to a fire at the former seafood restaurant, located at 101 East Columbia Way. The restaurant closed for good in May 2020.

Crews arrived to the scene and found fire outside of the building, spreading to the inside. Vancouver Fire said the flames were initially knocked down in about 10 minutes, but the fire wasn’t fully under control until 50 minutes into the operation.

The building’s sprinkler system was activated which helped firefighters control the fire, according to Vancouver Fire.

In total, 20 firefighters were on scene, along with the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Columbia Way was shut down due to the response. People were asked to avoid the area while fire crews were on scene.

Renton, WA – Sprinkler system contains fire to one room

An apartment fire was taken down early this morning and the sprinkler system helped allow residents to evacuate before it was too late.

The Renton Fire Department (RFD) said the fire started in the 300 block of S. 2nd around 3:30 a.m.

Crews had to immediately call for a full alarm when they arrived with smoke and fire bursting out of the home.

Skyway Fire, King County medics and the Tukwila Fire Department all ended up coming to help.

RFD officials have not yet determined how the fire started, the person who went to the hospital suffered smoke inhalation.

Firefighters say the building sprinkler system actually helped contain the fire itself to one room.

Chehalis, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in sawdust bin; No injuries reported

While there was a large volume of fire in a sawdust bin at Hardel Mutual Plywood on Thursday evening, no one was injured and the fire did not spread to the company’s main structure. 

The fire most likely started in a sawdust vacuum system on site, said Lewis County Fire District 6 Chief Ken Cardinale. 

“Sometimes they get a spark either from a rock or a nail or something that gets into that sawdust material and then causes the fire,” said Cardinale. “I wouldn’t say they’re common, but they do occur at these facilities. We probably have two or three of these that occur every year around the county.” 

The fire was inside the sawdust bins outside the building, which had sprinkler systems installed and “held it in check” until fire personnel were able to arrive. 

District 6 responded and called neighboring Lewis County Fire District 5 to assist, said Cardinale. 

Crews attacked the fire from above for about an hour and a half before it was extinguished, he said. 

“We put it out to keep it from spreading to the inside and cleaned up and went home,” he said. 

Kent, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at library book drop

The downtown Kent Library closed on Thursday, Dec. 2 after the sprinkler system activated early in the morning when something in the book drop caught fire.

“The incident is currently under investigation,” said Sarah Thomas, King County Library System public relations specialist, in a Thursday afternoon email. “It will remain closed today (Thursday). We are unable to give a reopening date at this time.”

The Kent Library is at 212 Second Ave. N.

Puget Sound Fire responded to a sprinkler water flow alarm just before 6 a.m. Thursday, said Pat Pawlak, Puget Sound Fire spokesman.

“Firefighters arrived and found that that had been a fire in the book drop,” Pawlak said. “A single sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

People looking to use a local library can visit the Kent Panther Lake Library, 20500 108th Ave. SE, which also is part of the King County Library System.

Kennwick, WA – Sprinkler system activated for attic fire at nursing center

Kennewick fire officials are praising a sprinkler system for preventing a possible tragedy at a rehabilitation and nursing center early Tuesday. About 30 residents were at the facility at 2 a.m. Tuesday when a fire ignited in the attic of the Regency Canyon Lakes Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Ely Street. Fire Chief Chad Michael said the fire sent a light amount of smoke through the building. Firefighters arrived within four minutes of being called and discovered where the fire started.

A heating and ventilation system is suspected of causing the fire. “Fortunately, the attic space is fully sprinklered and a single sprinkler head contained the fire until fire crews arrived on the scene,” said the release.

All the physical, occupational and speech therapy patients living at the center and staff members were able to remain sheltered in the building, though firefighters helped move 12 patients to different rooms. Michael pointed out that sprinklers reduce fire-related deaths by 87% and injuries by 27%, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

East Wenatchee, WA – Sprinkler system extinguishes cooking fire caused by oil

A Tuesday night structure fire in East Wenatchee left occupants displaced and was a result of oil left cooking on the stove.

According to public information officer, Kay McKellar, Douglas County Fire District 2 responded to the structure fire around 9 p.m. in the 500 block of 11th street. A man in the home was cooking oil on the stove and left to head to the grocery store. When he returned home, the oil had started a small fire.

The overhead sprinkler did put out the fire, however there was water damage from the sprinkler to both the unit and the one below. The Red Cross was called to assist with the displaced occupants.

Spokane, WA – Sprinkler system controls apartment fire; No injuries reported

An early-morning apartment fire was largely controlled by the building’s sprinklers before the Spokane Fire Department arrived and finished extinguishing the flames.

A fire broke out at the Wolfe Apartments, 240 W. Sprague Ave., at about 1:30 a.m. Monday morning, according to Julie O’Berg, deputy chief at the Spokane Fire Department.

The fire was small and primarily controlled by a sprinkler system in the building, she said. Residents were able to exit the building safely, and no injuries have been reported, O’Berg said.

“Our crews helped with smoke removal and just making sure there’s no extension (of the fire),” O’Berg said.

The number of apartments damaged was not available Monday morning, but O’Berg said most of the damage was caused by the water from the sprinklers. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Long Beach, WA – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at restaurant

A popular Long Beach restaurant was spared serious damage after catching fire Monday evening, May 10.

No injuries but moderate damage were reported following a Monday evening fire at the Lost Roo restaurant, 1700 Pacific Ave. S. in Long Beach.

The fire, reported around 6:30 p.m., generated a quick response from several local fire departments including Ilwaco, Long Beach and Ocean Park.

Damage to the business, closed at the time of the fire, was mainly confined to the back kitchen area. It was initially suspected that it started in a clothing dryer, which was loaded with towels.

The charred, front-loading dryer was removed out the backdoor by firemen along with armloads of scorched linens.

Lost Roo owners Tania and Travis Miller were nearby and responded to the scene along with a growing gathering of curious onlookers.

“Nobody really knows what happened; we were actually closed today,” Tania said. “I would assume some sort of electrical issue. Travis and I were sitting at The Depot having dinner for Mother’s Day and our alarm company called and said there was smoke and that our sprinkler system had been deployed. It appears the fire started with the dryer but we’re not really sure yet.”

Tania, who has owned the business four years, said some employees were working in the morning but the business had been closed to customers for the day.

Tania praised the fast response from local fire departments and the effectiveness of the sprinkler system.

“This is a first, but the fortunate part is that sprinkler system did what it’s supposed to do. It went off right where the fire was at and put it out,” she said. “The damage is very minimal in regard to what potentially could have happened — it’s fixable.”

The business will be closed in the coming days for repairs. The official cause of the fire remains under investigation. The call-out lasted about an hour.

Spokane, WA – Fire at apartment complex controlled by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived; No injuries reported

At least two residents of a 32-unit Spokane apartment complex were displaced Sunday by a fire caused by a candle placed “too close to combustibles,” according to the Spokane Fire Department.

The fire was reported at around 6:15 p.m. at the West 315 Apartments on Mission Avenue and Washington Street.

The caller reported smoke from a second-floor apartment window and a fire alarm going off, according to the fire department.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes to a blaze on the second floor of the three-story apartment building.

The building, according to the fire department, is equipped with a fire and life safety system that includes a commercial fire sprinkler system, which did help keep the fire’s growth under control until personnel arrived.

More than 30 firefighters were needed to search the burning apartment, evacuate nearby units and survey the damage, firefighters said.

Nobody was injured, while firefighters rescued three cats.

Those affected have accepted assistance from the Greater Inland Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross. Firefighters said Monday afternoon that up to six more disabled residents could be temporarily relocated.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental.

“The SFD reminds our community that when using lit candles, to place them in sturdy, safe candle holders that will not burn or tip over,” department officials said in a statement. “Although we prefer battery-operated flameless candles, if candles are used, please keep them at least 12 inches from materials that can burn and never leave a candle unattended.”

Woodland, WA – Fire sprinklers kept fire in check at apartment building; No injuries reported

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue team members, as well as some Woodland residents, were very thankful for fire sprinklers Thursday morning.   

Just after midnight on Thanksgiving morning, a fire broke out in an occupied apartment building in the 1300 Block of Glenwood Street in Woodland. The fire started when an appliance was accidentally left on and overheated, causing a fire that spread to the cabinets below.  

Fire crews were notified of the fire by an automatic fire alarm tied to the fire sprinkler system.  A single fire sprinkler, ensuring minimal damage and no injuries or loss of life, quickly and automatically controlled the fire.  

This fire sprinkler kept the two occupants of the apartment where the fire occurred safe along with all of their neighbors in other units throughout the building.  There was very minor fire damage to a cabinet along with some minimal water damage that was limited to the first floor.   

Division Chief Mike Jackson of Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue said, “This situation would have been much worse had the building not been protected with fire sprinklers.  There likely would have been significantly more damage along with a greater risk of injury to the building occupants.”   

Jackson further stated that, “We are also reminded in times like this of how thankful we are for our crews that respond quickly 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, and 365 days-a-year, especially on holidays like today when they are at work, serving the community away from their families.’’

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue encourages home owners and building owners to consider protecting their property and family members with fire sprinklers.  Fire sprinklers offer the most effective way to protect structures and people from building fires.  

Visit Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue at www.clarkfr.org for more information about fire sprinklers.