All posts by viking210

The call came in at 9:15 a.m. from an automatic alert from the fire alarm company, and firefighters found smoke coming from a ground-floor office space.

There were minimal flames, and the fire was contained. Authorities say heavy smoke activated the fire suppression sprinkler system.

The airport’s terminal was temporarily evacuated, and after the fire was put out, air quality tests were conducted, and the terminal reopened within an hour.

Since the terminal is open, airport operations will continue as normal, but it is suggested to contact your airline for the most up-to-date flight information.

There were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, School / University

Macomb, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at university hall

January 21, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

A fire at Western Illinois University Grote Hall led to $20,000 in damages. The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading.

At 8:55 p.m., Wednesday, January 15, the Macomb Fire Department was dispatched to a water flow alarm at Grote Hall, 720 W Adams Street on the campus of Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb.

While enroute, the WIU Office of Public Safety (OPS) advised that they had smoke and flames in room 410. The first arriving units arrived on scene at 9:01 p.m. and began high-rise standpipe operations. Fire command made contact with OPS who had discharged two fire extinguishers on the fire.

The interior firefighting crew stretched a hose line to the fire room and finished extinguishing the fire. The fire was contained to a waste basket in the room.

The fire activated a sprinkler within the closet of the room and kept the fire from spreading. Multiple rooms sustained smoke and water damage and at least two residents were displaced.

Four on-duty firefighters responded to the call and nine additional firefighters responded to a crew callback. Emmet- Chalmers and Good Hope Fire Departments responded to the scene and assisted with primary searches of the building.

The fire was deemed under control at 9:12 PM. All units cleared at 11:21 p.m. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for observation and was treated and released.

A smoke alarm was present in the room, however, did not alarm due to the device being obstructed by the resident. Once the sprinkler system activated the water flow alarm notified OPS dispatch of the fire.

The structure sustained fire, smoke, and water damage throughout and has an estimated loss of $20,000. The fire was investigated by the Macomb Fire Department and WIU OPS. The fire was deemed unintentional due to improper disposal of ignited materials.

The Macomb Fire Department wants to again remind citizens that smoke detectors are essential safety devices that play a crucial role in protecting lives and property by providing early warning of smoke or fire. Tampering with smoke detectors can lead to criminal charges.

The following agencies assisted: McDonough County Communications Center, Macomb IL Police, WIU OPS, WIU Support Staff, Lifeguard Ambulance Service of Illinois, Emmet- Chalmers FPD, Good Hope FPD, and the City of Macomb Public Works.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Chapin, SC – Sprinkler system contains dryer fire at high school; No injuries reported

January 20, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

Dutch Fork Fire Rescue units responded to Spring Hill High School Tuesday after a dryer caught fire.

According to the school, the fire happened around 10 a.m. when a dryer in the kitchen area caught fire and activated the sprinkler system.

Firefighters said the fire was contained in the dryer at the back of the school.

Administrators at the school confirmed all students and staff were evacuated and they are accounted for.

No injuries were reported.

Units are working on removing the dryer and ventilating the building.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Port Washington, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at hotel restaurant kitchen

January 18, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

Port Washington firefighters were dispatched to the Harborview Hotel on E. Grand Avenue on Sunday evening, Jan. 12.

Smoke coming from hotel’s kitchen

What we know

The first call about the fire came in around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. A caller reported an activated fire alarm with smoke visible from the rear of the hotel.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found the fire was already fully extinguished in the hotel’s kitchen. This is thanks to the sprinkler system in the building. Officials say the system prevented the fire from spreading beyond the kitchen and minimized damage to the property.

The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire. Hotel management said eight registered guests were temporarily evacuated, but able to continue staying at the facility.

What we don’t know

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Source

The information in this post was provided by the Port Washington Fire Department.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Los Alamos, NM – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

January 17, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

A fire broke out this morning in a kitchen shared by Los Alamos Cantina at 157 Central Park Square and the Pyramid Cafe at 155 Central Park Square. There were no injuries to firefighters on scene and the building was searched concurrent to fire control assignments and no occupants were found, the building was empty at the time.

Los Alamos Deputy Fire Chief Wendy Servey explained that at approximately 8:17 a.m. today the Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) responded to a report of a structure fire at 157 Central Park Square. A fire detection system had alerted dispatch and a sprinkler system activated prior to LAFD’s arrival, she said, adding that within 40 minutes crews had thoroughly ensured there was no fire extension into adjacent businesses or the attic/roof area and reported “loss stopped” as the situation was under control.

Deputy Chief Servey said that Engine Company crews from Station 6 and Station 1 quickly forced entry and contained the fire found in the kitchen area. Due to the quick and coordinated fire attack along with the sprinkler system the fire was quickly controlled with minor to moderate damage to the interior to include smoke damage throughout both businesses. Structural/foundations and roofs/attic spaces appear not to be compromised, she said. Units dispatched to the scene were Battalion 1, Engine 6, Medic 6, Engine 1, Truck 1, Medic 1 and Rescue 1.

The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by fire investigators from LAFD.

The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce and the MainStreet programs are working with the owner and manager of these eateries to explore ways the community can support them during this difficult time. More information will be shared soon.

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Union, WV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at courthouse; No injuries reported

January 16, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

The Monroe County Courthouse caught fire on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

A state worker noticed smoke emanating from the courthouse’s windows at 3:30 a.m. This state worker, in turn, notified local authorities. Local fire departments promptly responded to the call and saved the courthouse. However, there were still some damages inside the building, according to County Commissioner Kenny Mann.

“We have been working on redoing the courthouse due to problems – just an old building. We finally got grant money and the governor’s office helped. We were just a few months away from from having this project completed. This will be a setback, but no lives were lost and nobody was injured. That was the greatest thing,” said Commissioner Mann.

The fire broke out between the second and third floors of the courthouse, even affecting the new courtroom that was under construction.

The building’s sprinkler system may have aided firefighters in putting out the fire, but its activation did additional damage to the building.

Minor water damages have been reported around the courthouse, as well as the new courtroom’s insulation in the ceiling. No damages were reported in the Upper Record Room – which is home to the county’s “precious records”.

The water from the sprinklers did make its way to the downstairs record room, housing older records.

“There was some water damage to them. [ServPro] has a technique that they use to where they they freeze the records and their dry-out process puts them back to where almost original state,” said Commissioner Mann.

ServPro is aiding in cleanup at the courthouse, thanks to the County Commission gathering shortly after the fire and voting to declare a County State of Emergency. This declaration helped them get quicker help as they bypassed the bidding process required by law.

“[The] government will not shut down here. We just have to maybe relocate to other places on our complex here, too, for a few weeks,” clarified Commissioner Mann. “Rather than that, business will [go on] as usual. We just have to maybe relocate to other places on our complex for a few weeks.”

The fire is under investigation, as its cause remains unknown.

Apartment Building, Residential

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

January 15, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

According to the Everett Fire Department, an early morning fire Thursday at the Station Place Apartments in Everett displaced seven residents but was quickly extinguished due to an effective sprinkler system.

The fire department responded to an automatic fire alarm at 3315 Broadway at 12:35 a.m.

After residents reported seeing smoke and flames from a third-story apartment, the call was upgraded to a commercial fire response.

Firefighters arriving on the scene found residents evacuating and a small kitchen fire in a third-floor unit.

The building’s sprinkler system was controlling the fire.

Crews stretched a hose line to the third floor while others assisted with the water supply and conducted searches of adjoining apartments and the building.

While no injuries were reported, the apartment where the fire originated sustained some fire and water damage.

At least two units on the second floor and a business space on the main floor also experienced water damage.

The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes of the first crew’s arrival due to the prompt action of firefighters and the sprinkler system, officials said.

Firefighters then spent several hours working on salvage and cleanup.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the seven displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Parma, OH – Sprinkler system controls fire at nursing home; No injuries reported

January 14, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

A fire that broke out in the basement of a Parma nursing home on Monday was swiftly controlled by the facility’s sprinkler system before firefighters arrived. Around 5 p.m., the call prompted the Parma Fire Department to respond to reports of smoke and a possible fire at Parma Care Center, located at 5553 Broadview Road. Fortunately, the nursing home and rehabilitation center, with a capacity of 96 residents, did not have to face any injuries or displacement from the incident.

According to a statement from Fire Chief Mike Lasky, as reported by FOX8 News, the fire was quickly identified as in the basement and contained by the sprinklers installed within the building. Firefighters could fully extinguish the flames upon their arrival, preventing further damage. The efficiency of the fire suppression system was praised, with Lasky pointing out that this is a “great example of well maintained as well as regularly inspected fire suppression and alarm systems working properly to mitigate the risk of fire spread.”

The incident was a close call for residents and staff at Parma Care Center but served as a testament to the importance of proper fire safety measures. Details regarding the cause of the fire remain under investigation. Despite the limited scale of the fire, the quick reaction of the building’s safety systems and the prompt response from the local fire department ensured that the blaze did not escalate, as posted by the Parma Fire Department on their social media.

“No one was hurt or displaced by the fire,” reads the social media post by the Parma Fire Department, underscoring the incident’s fortunate conclusion. Further reporting from local news outlet FOX8 echoed this sentiment, highlighting that no firefighters or any of the facility’s 96 residents were injured during the blaze. As local authorities continue to investigate and pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, the community breathes a sigh of relief thanks to the effective deployment of safety measures that helped safely contain the potentially dangerous situation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yorkville, IL – Sprinkler system extinguishes dryer fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

January 13, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

The Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District responded late Monday night to a dryer fire at an apartment complex in Yorkville.

No one was hurt, and the fire was extinguished by a sprinkler system before crews arrived. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m.

All residents were able to evacuate safely.

Firefighters removed the dryer, checked for any additional fires, ventilated the building, and assisted an adjacent unit with water intrusion.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it was contained to the single dryer. Fire crews were on the scene for about two hours.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Cudahy, WI – Sprinkler system contains fire at food processing plant

January 11, 2025 viking210 Leave a comment

A fire at Smithfield Foods’ legacy Patrick Cudahy plant in Cudahy, Wis., on Saturday, Jan. 4, resulted in one person being taken to a hospital and minor damage, according to local reports.

The fire department was called when smoke was discovered on the plant’s third and fourth floors Saturday morning. A sprinkler system contained the fire, and firefighters extinguished the fire after finding smoke coming from a piece of machinery on the fourth floor.

One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Although the fire caused minor damage, the news reports said it had little impact on facility operations.

Sprinkler Saves