Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at apartment complex

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Fargo Fire says a charging ebike battery caused a fire inside an apartment Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was reported just after 2 at an apartment at 1781 35th Street South, just east of I-29. The building’s sprinkler system activated and put the fire out. Fire damage was limited, but the unit has smoke and water damage as well.

The Fire Department says the ebike had a modified battery, and the owner left it unattended during charging.

People are encouraged to buy their ebikes from a reputable supplier, and not to modify the battery with aftermarket parts.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Warner Robins, GA – Sprinkler system activated for overnight arson fire at high school

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Authorities are investigating vandalism after a suspect broke into Warner Robins High School and started a small fire.

According to the Houston School District, Warner Robins Hih School Principal Chris McCook notified parents of the incident by phone and email and said it happened overnight.

He said at around 12:30 a.m. a person broke into the school and started a small fire in the multi-purpose room, immediately setting off the overhead sprinkler system and alerting the fire department.

McCook told parents the fire was contained, did minimal damage to the building and thanked fire crews for promptly responding.

“I am grateful to the fire department for their quick response and our maintenance staff who worked during the night to make sure the school was ready for students to arrive this morning,” said McCook. “Law enforcement has also been on campus to gather evidence necessary to find the individual responsible.”

WGXA has reached out to the Warner Robins Police Department and has yet to hear back.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Snohomish, WA – Sprinkler system holds fire commercial fire in check

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Early Saturday morning 48firefighters responded to a fire at 1530 Bonneville Ave (a 17,000-square-foot commercial building) in the City of Snohomish.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 was dispatched to a fire alarm, wherethey found smoke coming from the building and upgraded the response to a commercial fire.

Units from Everett Fire, South County Fire, and Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue assisted Snohomish County Fire District #4.

Investigators said the building had an operating sprinkler system that held the fire in check until crews could gain access to the seat of the fire and fully extinguish it.

Currently there is no cause to the fire and the Snohomish County Fire Marshal is leading the investigation.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Normal, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire at university housing

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It remains unclear what caused a fire at Watterson Towers South Tower at Illinois State University Wednesday afternoon.

The Normal Fire Department said a call came in around 4:20 PM Wednesday for an activated fire alarm.

While en route, numerous other calls came in that there was reported smoke in the building near the second-floor fitness center.

A search of the second floor led firefighters to find an activated fire sprinkler and a fire in a staff workroom that is connected to the fitness center. The fire was put out, while other firefighters searched the top floor and the floors above and below for any fire spread.

The Normal Fire Department says there is fire and smoke damage, but it is contained within the staff work room, while there is water throughout the second floor as a result of the fire sprinkler system and fire suppression efforts.

Public Information Officer Matt Swaney said the second floor at Watterson Towers South Tower is not a residential floor, and mainly houses the fitness center, and several offices and work rooms.

“The second floor is below any of the residential floors and no students are displaced. The second floor will remain closed while Illinois State University coordinates clean up and restoration work to the area,” said Swaney in a press release.

The building has reopened to students and it was turned back over to Illinois State University shortly after 6:30 PM.

No damage estimate is available.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Normal Fire Department and Illinois State University.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at hotel; No injuries reported

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A Main Street hotel had to be evacuated late Monday afternoon after a fire broke out.

Crews responded to the 700 block of Main Street just after 4 p.m., where they found smoke inside the building.

The hotel’s sprinkler system was activated, and crews launched an offensive attack.

A ladder truck was used to help evacuate some of the occupants. No one was injured, and residents were able to return to the building after the fire was extinguished.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

St. Johns, NL, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

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The effects of a minor fire have displaced several residents of an apartment building in Pleasantville.

Fire crews were called to the building, on Charter Avenue, at about 10:00 p.m. on Monday evening. An unattended pot left on a stove had started a fire in the kitchen of a unit on the second floor. Dean Foley, Platoon Chief with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, said that while the fire was quickly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, water continued to flow for some time, causing flooding in multiple units.

Maintenance personnel arrived to shut off the flow of water to the affected area of the building, which is owned by the City of St. John’s. Foley said that fourteen people in total were displaced from their apartments. The Canadian Red Cross were called to assist those who could not make alternate arrangements for accommodations.

No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Oregon, WI – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at three-story multi-residential building; No injuries reported

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On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 1, the Oregon Area Fire & EMS District was alerted to a fire alarm in the 100 block of Wolfe Street in the Village of Oregon. According to a Monday, Sept. 9 OAFED news release, Engine 2 arrived on the scene to find a three-story multi-residential building.

Upon investigating the cause of the alarm activation, the crew was alerted to a water flow alarm on the third floor, as indicated on the fire alarm panel. A tenant also notified them that water was coming from the ceiling on the second floor.

Crews located an unoccupied third-floor apartment full of smoke and an activated sprinkler head in the washer and dryer area. The sprinkler activation was due to a dryer fire with clothing inside. There was minimal fire extension to the structure and area of origin.

Smoke and water damage were caused to the apartment involved and the apartment below. The loss value is estimated at $10,000. The crew also located a dog in the apartment that was not harmed in this incident.

“The OAFED would like to take this time to stress the importance of commercial and residential sprinkler systems, and the lives and property in which they protect,” said Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier. “With the use of the sprinkler system, no residents were displaced and no injuries were reported. It is also very important to remind everyone not to leave their appliances running unattended, such as dehumidifiers, dishwashers, and clothes dryers – this is a common cause of fires and can be easily prevented.

“As we move toward Fire Prevention Month, we encourage you to ensure that your houses are equipped with functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that the batteries are changed twice a year.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for stovetop fire at high-rise apartment building

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A stovetop fire Saturday afternoon led to Wilmington firefighters being sent to a high-rise apartment building.

Crews were dispatched to the 900 block of North Market Street around 3 p.m. for a report of a water flow alarm from the building’s sprinkler system.

When firefighters got to the 7th floor, they noticed water in the hall and determined that the sprinkler system in one of the apartments had activated.

Inside that apartment, they found the sprinklers had put out a fire on the stovetop.

Firefighters turned the sprinklers off, and electricity was turned off in that apartment and several others where water was found.

After Licenses and Inspections and building management determined all the water had been removed, electricity was turned back on.

Apartment Building, Residential

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at apartment building

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At 11:36 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service received reports of fire at a two-storey apartment building in the 300 block of Ross Avenue.

When crews arrived on scene, they entered the structure and found smoke inside the building. When they located the fire, the sprinkler system was activated and had already knocked it down.

The building was evacuated because water from the sprinkler system caused damage to the structure. Firefighters helped some residents out of the building, while others self-evacuated.

The City of Winnipeg’s Emergency Social Services team was called to help approximately 44 displaced residents find temporary accommodations. A Winnipeg Transit bus was also deployed to provide shelter for residents.

Paramedics assessed one person at the scene and transported them to hospital in stable condition.

Damage estimates are not available at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charleston, SC – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

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Emergency personnel arrived 13 minutes after they were dispatched to the three-story apartment building.Crews searched the building and located a possible fire in a third-floor apartment.
Firefighters forced the door and discovered smoke in the unit and an extinguished kitchen fire. A rapid search of the unit discovered a dog in the apartment, which firefighters quickly brought to safety.
According to the CFD, the fire originated on the stovetop after combustible items stored on the stove surface were ignited. The fire was contained to the kitchen area by a single fire sprinkler.
Five units were affected by water from the incident. The CFD said they anticipate three adults will be displaced. No injuries were reported.
“We continue to experience a significant number of fire losses in the kitchen area. Residents need to stay in the kitchen when cooking, verify cooking devices are turned off before leaving the kitchen, and never store combustible items on top of the stove,” Julazadeh said.
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