The blaze was effectively contained by a sprinkler head, preventing further spread.
Emergency Medical Services transported one patient from the scene.
Residents were instructed to shelter in place as smoke removal efforts are currently underway.
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Watertown, NY – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at university dorm; No injuries reported
Canton firefighters rushed to a third-floor laundry room at Whitman Hall late Sunday afternoon.
Officials said they found the remnants of a fire in a dryer. The sprinkler system had activated, keeping the flames from spreading.
“Had the sprinkler system not been in place, the fire would have gained a much more significant foothold, resulting in much more damage to the building and the potential for injuries to the residents. The benefits of fire sprinklers was realized today, even though there was some water damage. Everything will dry out, nothing unburns,” the fire department said on its Facebook page.
Officials said students were evacuated from the dorm. There were no injuries.
Firefighters checked rooms on all three floors of that wing of the dorm for water damage before turning over the building to SLU for cleanup.
SLU said approximately 20 students have been displaced by the damage.
“The affected area of the building remains secured while the University continues to assess smoke and water damage. Students who were living in the north wing have been temporarily relocated to alternate rooms or other accommodations within Whitman Hall,” said university spokesperson Kim Asch in a statement.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Front Royal, VA – Fire suppression system activated for propane gas leak fire; No injuries reported
Authorities that arrived on scene identified a sprinkler head that was activated and water that was flowing into the building in a utilities control area on the second floor.
It was determined after an investigation that a propane gas leak occurred and ignited.
The fire was extinguished prior to the arrival of authorities by the buildings fire suppression system.
Units successfully secured water and electrical service to the area affected.
Both the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office and Warren County Building Official’s Office conducted an assessment ensuring the safety of the building for continued occupancy.
After two hours the fire suppression system was functional and all hazards were isolated.
There were no injuries to report.
Charleston, SC – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported
Crews with the Charleston Fire Department were called to the Element at Carolina Bay Apartments just before 7 p.m. after automatic sprinklers were activated, Deputy Chief Michael Julazadeh said.
Firefighters arrived to find an extinguished fire in one of the apartments in the three-story building. Julazadeh said the fire was suppressed by a single fire sprinkler head.
Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office were called to review the incident. They said the fire started on a mattress in a bedroom of the unoccupied apartment. Remains of an electric blanket in the debris.
The cause remains under investigation. No injuries were reported at the scene.
Levittown, PA – Sprinkler system contains warehouse fire
Firefighters were dispatched to a business in the 5000 block of Bristol-Emilie Road shortly after 2 a.m. for a water flow alarm activation, according to Levittown Fire Company No. 2.
Crews used a key from a Knox box to enter the unoccupied industrial building.
Once inside the building, they encountered heavy smoke and an active sprinkler system that had successfully contained a blaze involving two pallets of wood pallets, the fire company said.
Bristol Township Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito said an investigation determined the wood had been slowly burning for some time.
According to Dippolito, the wood caught fire after being placed in a kiln. Company staff pulled out the wood, didn’t see any signs of fire, and left the facility around 1 a.m.
The wood ignited after the staff left and led to the fire call, Dippolito said.
Firefighters extinguished the remaining hot spots and ventilated the warehouse.
Levittown Fire Company No. 2 was assisted at the scene by the Edgely and Third District fire companies.
Caribou, ME – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex
Initial crews arrived to find smoke conditions in one wing of the building and an activated sprinkler head. A partial evacuation was already underway, and firefighters immediately completed evacuation of the remaining residents. The fire was determined to be out prior to fire department arrival due to the sprinkler activation and the quick actions of a resident who used a fire extinguisher. The source of the fire was identified as a malfunctioned battery powered string lights device, located in a decorative item in the hallway.
A total of 36 residents were displaced from their apartments. The Caribou Fire Department says the area of origin sustained extensive water damage as a result of the sprinkler activation. RSU 39 provided a heated school bus for affected residents to remain warm during below-zero temperatures until fire department operations were completed.
The Caribou Fire Department says properly working smoke detectors and sprinkler systems played a critical role in preventing the fire from spreading beyond its area of origin.
Assistance was provided by the Caribou Police Department, the Caribou School Department and the Presque Isle Fire Department for providing station coverage during the incident.
Harborcreek Township, PA – Apartment fire quickly stopped by sprinkler system; No injuries reported
The fire was contained to a bedroom thanks to the apartment’s sprinkler system. No one was hurt, but a few residents are displaced, and the Red Cross is helping.
The fire chief reminds everyone to take extra precautions during cold weather to help firefighters respond quickly and safely.
James Hawryliw Fire Chief and EMT at Fairfield Hose Company VFD stated, “Always make sure your fire hydrants are clear of snow, so that when we arrive, if we need to access that hydrant, and also have a plan for this cold of weather.”
Harrisonburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported
According to a release, Harrisonburg firefighters were called to the Walmart on Burgess Road at approximately 4 AM with what was initially dispatched as an automatic fire alarm. The incident was upgraded by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center when they received a 9-1-1 call from the store reporting a fire in the warehouse area.
Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed the presence of a fire and an activated sprinkler system actively containing the fire. A second-alarm assignment was requested, bringing a total of approximately 40 firefighters to the scene. The fire was contained within 15 minutes and completely extinguished within 30 minutes. Personnel remained on location for an extended period of time clearing smoke from the 207,000-square-foot facility.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental as a result of button-cell (or coin-cell) lithium-ion batteries that ignited inside combustible packaging within a heavy-duty wire framed storage unit.
“The presence of a properly functioning fire sprinkler system contained what could have otherwise been a catastrophic fire,” HFD Fire Chief Matthew Tobia said. “Lithium-Ion batteries, even properly stored, have the potential to fail, causing a fire. As we are seeing globally, these batteries are posing new challenges for firefighters in an ever-evolving technologically driven marketplace. Firefighters did an outstanding job of completing extinguishment, preventing further damage.”
The building was evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters, and there were no injuries to employees, community members or responders. A damage estimate has not been set while clean-up and recovery efforts are underway. HFD was assisted at the scene by units from Rockingham County Fire Rescue, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg Police Department and the Merck facility (located in Elkton).
The majority of fire department personnel cleared the scene by 7:30 AM, and the last fire department unit left the scene at approximately 8:45 AM.
Clearfield County, PA – Sprinkler system contains fire at Walmart distribution center
According to the Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Company, crews arrived at the scene to assist the BJW Volunteer Fire Company after a robotic machine had caught fire.
Emergency officials said crews were on scene for approximately one hour.
Officials also said that, after emergency crews cleared the scene, they were immediately paged back to the same location after another fire had broken out.
According to the Morris Township Volunteer Fire Company, the sprinkler system contained the second fire to the second and third floor racking systems, and crews were able to quickly extinguish the blaze.
Beaumont, TX – Sprinkler system controls fire at restaurant; No injuries reported
Firefighters were called to Two Amigos, located at 2308 Lutcher Drive, shortly after 7:30 a.m. As firefighters arrived at the fire they reported “light smoke showing from the outside” of the building. They determined the fire started in the dining area just outside the kitchen and was caused by electrical problems, according to the fire department.
The fire was quickly brought under control by the restaurant’s sprinkler system, preventing further damage, according to firefighters at the scene.
Firefighters also confirmed there was a small fire at the same restaurant the day before. As a result, the business has been closed until proper repairs can be completed. Officials said Entergy and the gas company were called to the scene and were “pulling the meters” as part of the response.
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.