All posts by viking210

Apartment Building, Residential

Savannah, GA – Fire sprinkler extinguishes apartment kitchen fire; No injuries reported

A Savannah resident was displaced after firefighters responded to a kitchen fire in the Sustainable Fellwood complex, according to a Savannah Fire Department press release issued Thursday, March 26.

At 1:31 p.m. on Thursday, the Savannah Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in the 1400 Block of Barnes Drive in the Sustainable Fellwood residential complex. Engine 4 was first on scene.

The firefighters discovered that a kitchen fire triggered the sprinkler system inside an apartment. The sprinklers extinguished the fire, but flooded the apartment.

No one was injured, but the resident was displaced due to water damage. Firefighters made sure the fire was completely out and removed excess water from the apartment.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wallingford, CT – Apartment fire controlled by fire sprinklers

More than two dozen people were displaced from their homes after a fire at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon in Wallingford. The fire occurred at the Parker Place apartment complex at 53 Parker St., according to the Meriden Record-Journal.

The Record-Journal reports several apartments were water damaged when a fire broke out in a fourth-floor apartment, which activated several sprinklers. The sprinklers prevented the fire from spreading beyond the apartment unit where it originated, according to the Record-Journal.

The American Red Cross said Tuesday night that it is helping 14 families — 27 adults — after the fire. One resident suffered a burn injury, according to fire officials.

On arrival, the battalion chief “upgraded to a structure response bring all career and some units from the two volunteer stations as well as Meriden fire for mutual aid,” according to fire officials.

“Multiple sprinkler heads were activated holding the fire in check until companies could make their way in fully extinguish and ventilate building,” officials wrote in a post on Facebook.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Red Cross provided assistance to meet the families’ immediate needs. Responders included: Joyce Bullock; Elizabeth Webster; Susan Shaw; Evan Gailey; John Glendon; Patricia Breen.

“The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits containing personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant; shaving supplies and other items a resident might need when suddenly displaced from their home by a fire,” officials said in a news release. “In addition, a recovery envelope containing information helpful to families recovering from a fire, including tips on cleanup; notification of important contacts; dealing with damaged items and more was provided.

“Those affected will connect with Red Cross caseworkers in the coming days to work on a longer-term recovery plan. The Red Cross is able to provide assistance through the generosity of our donors and commitment of our volunteers.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Winston-Salem, NC – Sprinkler system keeps stove fire from spreading throughout apartment

Four adults and three children were displaced after an apartment fire on Wednesday night.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 185 Willow Oaks Drive at 10:22 p.m. and had the fire under control by 10:26 p.m.

One minor injury was reported.

The Winston-Salem Fire Department said a cooking fire got out of control.

A sprinkler system and stovetop countermeasures kept the fire from spreading to other apartments.

Apartment Building, Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant, Residential

Kamloops, BC, Canada – Fire sprinklers keep fire under control at hotel; No injuries reported

A fire last night at the Sandman Inn and Suites left 65 people without a place to sleep.

Around 8:20 p.m., Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) was called to the hotel (which also has apartments), says Platoon Capt. Troy Grant.

“Arriving a couple of blocks away, we could see flames on the roof of the building,” he tells KamloopsMatters. “The fire was in the attic and going through the roof in a couple of spots.”

KFR was able to quickly knock the fire down, using hoses from the outside and a ladder truck. They did have to remove a six-foot-by-12-foot section of the roof to get to it.

No injuries were reported, but the building remained empty overnight.

“65 residents were displaced,” Grant says. “Those have been taken care of by emergency support services.”

He adds that some will likely be able to return to their homes tonight, but others won’t be so lucky. The fourth floor, where the fire took place, has apartments, he adds. Along with some smoke damage and the removed section of the roof, he says there’s extensive water damage in some units, and likely more below.

“The cause of fire was in the attic itself; it appears electrical in nature,” Grant says. “The fire was kept small by the sprinkler system — the sprinklers were on for some time.”

Because of that, the roof collapsed in one unit and is sagging in others.

While the fire was knocked down relatively quickly, Grant says KFR stayed on the scene for a couple of hours to help guests and residents move out of the building.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Wayne, NJ – Fire sprinklers contain fire in manufacturing area of business

On Sunday morning, March 22, Wayne Fire Companies #1 and #2 were dispatched to Mane USA on Demarest Drive in response to smoke and water flow alarms. Mane USA is a global flavor and fragrance manufacturer with a facility in Wayne.

“When the units entered the building, they encountered a moderate smoke condition,” said Wayne Fire Commissioner Bob Minarick. “At that point fire command requested a second alarm which brought Company #5 to the scene.”

Further investigation found a fire in the manufacturing area that was contained by the sprinkler system. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire and requested Fire Inspection to the scene.

“The fire was contained to a pallet of supplies and also a commercial storage rack that contained production items,” said Minarick. “After viewing security footage, the fire was deemed accidental. Oil and chemical soaked rags and gloves that were stored in a large closed bucket spontaneously ignited and spread to the pallet and rack before the sprinklers held the fire in check.”

Firefighters overhauled the fire area to make sure that all embedded fire was extinguished. Multiple smoke ejectors and the building’s in-house ventilation system were used to clear smoke from the warehouse.

According to Minarick, five fire engines responded to the call with twenty firefighters. The fire was declared under control in 30 minutes.  All units cleared the scene by 10:30am.

“I’d like to thank the Wane Police Department for providing scene and roadway control,” said Minarick. “Also, thanks to the Wayne First Aid Squad for standing by on scene ready to render assistance should one of my firefighters get injured or need medical treatment,”

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Danville, VA – Machine fire contained by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A piece of machinery caught fire inside Unarco Industries in Danville Friday morning.

The Danville Fire Department responded to the business along Stinson Drive at 8:04 a.m.

The machine had caught fire during maintenance and was contained by an overhead sprinkler until crews arrived to extinguish it.

There was no damage to the building, Battalion Chief Brian Alderson said.

There was a large amount of smoke inside the work area of the building, so crews spent the next hour clearing the smoke, before workers returned.

No one was injured.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Bullhead City, AZ – Sprinkler system limits damage to restaurant after fire starts on range; No injuries reported

A properly working fire suppression system is being credited for limited the damage at a Bullhead City restaurant Wednesday morning.

Units from the Bullhead City Fire Department were called to the Hibachi Buffet, in the 2200 block of Highway 95, around 11:18 a.m. Arriving crews found smoke coming from the rooftop and an audible fire alarm sounding.

According to a news release from the Bullhead City Fire Department, firefighters confirmed that all employees and diners had left the building before gaining access to the roof. Additional firefighters went inside, going to the kitchen area

“Fortunately, this building is equipped with a fire sprinkler system that properly activated when the fire broke out, keeping the blaze contained with minimal damage,” the news release said.

No injuries were reported.

Investigators determined the fire started on the cooktop range, activating the hood extinguishment system and one sprinkler head, confining the damage to the immediate area.

“Contrary to many movie portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate,” the release said. “Having a fire sprinkler system can keep a fire from spreading and aid with extinguishment. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damages to property and endanger those nearby.”

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Plainfield, NJ – Fire contained thanks to fire sprinklers at waste facility; No injuries reported

Early Tuesday a fire was reported at the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority transfer station at 95 Rock Avenue. Breaking News Network reported that smoke was seen coming from a trailer structure and Union County hazmat teams were requested to assist in the investigation.  

According to the PMUA website, the Plainfield Environmental Resource Center (PERC) is the city-owned and PMUA-operated transfer station used to facilitate the proper disposal of all solid, recyclable, electronic, bulky and vegetative wastes collected from local residents, Plainfield’s Department of Public Works, private businesses and other municipalities. It is unknown what specific materials were contained in the trailer.

TAPinto Plainfield reached out to PMUA officials, and received this statement from Director Eric Jackson:

“Please be advised at approximately 12:40 pm we had a small fire at the Transfer Station in the Big House.  The Fire Department was immediately called. The sprinkler system did activate and contained the fire. There were no injuries and no customers involved.  The fire was inside the trailer in the big house. Under fire personnel supervision, the trailer was removed from the big house and was being examined for the cause of the fire.  The transfer station will remain closed until the fire department completes their work and the sprinkler system is re-set.”

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Goodyear, AZ – Fire sprinkler system extinguishes fire at Amazon warehouse

Employees were safely evacuated early Wednesday morning following a fire at an Amazon facility in Goodyear.

The Goodyear Fire Department says the warehouse’s sprinkler system helped extinguish the fire at the facility near Cotton Lane and Elwood. Crews from Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Buckeye Valley, and the Phoenix Fire Department all responded to the scene.

It’s unknown if any merchandise inside the facility was damaged in the fire.

Earlier this week, Amazon announced they are working to hire 100,000 people to help with orders because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Single sprinkler head saves apartment after cooking fire

The McKinney Fire Department responded to a fire alarm Monday at Greenhaven Apartments at 8690 Virginia Parkway where units determined that the fire was extinguished by one sprinkler head.

The resident told firefighters she had left food on the stove and it caught fire. Everyone was able to get out safely. Smoke and water damage was contained to one apartment unit. The action of this one sprinkler head saved lives and an extensive financial loss of property.

According to the NFPA, there are hundreds of fires reported every day in the U.S., but cooking fires are by far the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

“With the COVID-19 concerns people are staying home and cooking more,” MFP spokesperson Merit Ossian said. “The best way to protect your home and family is to stay alert and keep an eye on what you are cooking. Take it off the heat if you have to step away.”