Just before 8 p.m. Sunday, the department was called to the store and found it had been evacuated. They were told the fire broke out in the middle of the building and “many sprinkler heads had been activated.”
Crews were able to find the fire and put it out within minutes, the department said. No one was injured.
The fire, smoke and sprinklers caused enough damage to close the store indefinitely, the department said.
Concord Fire was dispatched just after 9:20 a.m. and smoke was reported in the building. Firefighters were able to quickly locate a small fire in the basement of Generations Dental Care offices at 9 Triangle Park Drive. The modern building’s sprinkler system had been activated, keeping the fire in check, according to Chisholm. There were no injuries.
Firefighters dragged hoses into the building and cleared the offices of smoke while employees and patients were evacuated.
A preliminary investigation determined that the fire started in the area of a trash can and that it was accidental, though its exact source remains unclear, Chisholm said.
When crews arrived to the scene, they found smoke coming from the structure. The fire was quickly brought under control, having been contained by the building’s sprinkler system.
There were no occupants in the building at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The building sustained smoke, fire, and water damage. Damage estimates are not available at this time.
Engines 1, 4, and Tanker 3 were dispatched to 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy at 3:47 a.m. following the alarm.
The first officer on the scene, a Litchfield Fire lieutenant who lives nearby, reported smoke on the first floor of the three-story building.
A working fire assignment was immediately requested, bringing additional support from Londonderry, Hudson, and Merrimack, including a ladder truck, an engine, an ambulance, and a battalion chief.
Upon the arrival of Litchfield C1, command was established for the incident.
Fire crews meticulously searched the large building for the source of the smoke, a process that took significant time due to the building’s size.
The four occupants of the building were safely evacuated, and all floors were checked.
Light smoke was found on the third floor, but there were no conditions on the second.
The fire, located in a first-floor back laundry room filled with storage items, had been extinguished by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived.
Once the fire was confirmed to be out, the building was ventilated, air quality was monitored, and the area of the fire was isolated to prevent any further incidents.
The building was then cleared and turned back over to the property representative, allowing all occupants to return.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by authorities.
All fire companies involved cleared the scene at 5:30 a.m.
According to AFD’s Instagram post, black smoke was coming from a window on the fourth floor, and they quickly found one of the apartments on fire. They also received reports of occupants unable to exit on the second floor.
Many residents were displaced by the damage of the fire.
AFD and the help of the sprinkler system contained the fire before it spread, and they got the tenants out of the building, along with a cat and a dog; no injuries were reported to the occupants or firefighters.
Bend Fire & Rescue responded around 10:15 p.m. to the reported fire on a first-floor patio at the Stillwater Crossing apartment complex on SW Atwood Drive (near Highway 97 and Ponderosa Street), Battalion Chief Scott Wyman said.
Two fire engines, a medic unit, a ladder truck and a command vehicle went to the scene, where residents of the apartment building had evacuated.
The first engine crew to arrive found a smoldering fire that already had been extinguished by the fire sprinkler, Wyman said.
Firefighters confirmed the fire was fully out and shut down the sprinkler system. Wyman said all residents were able to return to their apartments.
Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering said, “This was an exterior fire that was held in place, held in check by an exterior sprinkler.”
“Commonly, when we see fires that start on an exterior side of a building, they can go up the siding into the eaves and spread into the attic space and turn into a very large and challenging fire,” Kettering said.
But in this case, she said, “There were fire sprinklers in this building. That single one sprinkler head activated and basically extinguished the fire before we even arrived on scene.”
An investigation determined the fire’s likely cause was improper disposal of cigarette smoking material, Wyman said.
Damage was limited to $2,000 worth of contents and minor damage to the structure.
“The sprinkler system prevented significant loss to the structure and displacement of multiple occupants,” the battalion chief said in a news release.
“National data show that the presence of fire sprinklers in residences drastically reduces the fire damage and potential for loss of life,” Wyman added.
Here’s what the Everett Fire Department reported:
The apartment occupants reported hearing a loud pop, followed by the activation of the smoke alarm.
The residents found a fire in the bedroom and attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher before the sprinkler system activated.
Firefighters arrived within minutes of the call and found the apartment’s sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading. The fire was contained in the apartment’s bedroom, and the second and third floors suffered water damage.
The Everett Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and concluded that lithium-ion batteries in the home likely caused the fire. They have ruled the fire as accidental.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used to power various devices such as smartphones, laptops, power banks, tablets, toys, e-cigarettes, smoke alarms, scooters, and vehicles. Since these batteries store a significant amount of energy, it is crucial to handle them with care. They can overheat, catch fire, or even explode if not treated properly. It is important to follow the recommended safety measures when using them. Everett Fire urges everyone to be cautious while handling lithium-ion batteries.
Here are some safety tips when using lithium-ion batteries:
For more information on lithium battery safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.org) website.
This incident serves as a good reminder to have working smoke alarms in your home. They are the first line of defense for early notification and evacuation should there be a fire.
Fire crews responded to the Amvets thrift store around 7:30 a.m. near Cedar and Shields avenues.
Investigators say when fire crews arrived they found a fire inside the garage area. The fire sprinkler system helped to put out the fire.
It’s unknown when the store will open but management say the fire caused minimal damage to the store itself. Officials add that the store should be able to reopen when repairs are complete.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire was reported at around 5:15 p.m. at Hanover Place, 16851 S. Harlem Ave. According to authorities, the fire occurred in the living room of a first-floor unit, though a cause remained unclear late Monday.
One woman was freed by firefighters and transported to an area hospital with slight burns.
“It’s kinda scary you know… especially I just moved in… you know you thought it would never happen here,” said resident Debbie Drackley.
One resident who moved in less than two weeks ago said she was startled to hear a fire alarm while cooking dinner.
An automatic fire sprinkler system contained the fire before firefighters arrived on scene, said Tinley Park Fire Chief Steve Klotz.
“The fortunate thing is the sprinklers hold the fire in check, but the water starts getting into other units,” he said.
Four units sustained water damage and were deemed uninhabitable for the time being, authorities said.
Staff and residents had to evacuate the building, but have since been medically cleared and allowed to return.
Residents and officials say they’re thankful the fire wasn’t worse.
“Kudos to the sprinkler system for saving, obviously, the room plus many, many other lives that could have been in danger,” Klotz said.
