Other / Not Specified, Other Business Medford, OR – Fire at commercial laundry business contained with help from sprinkler system January 10, 2017 viking210 Firefighters battled both fire and ice Thursday night in northwest Medford when they responded at 8:50 to a blaze at Alsco Inc., 980 Ellen Ave. The building, a commercial laundry facility, sustained “moderate smoke damage,” with no visible damage to the structure, according to an agency Facebook post. An investigation showed the fire ignited in a large dryer that had been filled with mop heads and other textiles. The materials were left in the dryer by accident, fire officials said, likely leading them to smolder, ignite, then spread to some nearby linen bags. Alarms in the building began to sound and the facility’s sprinkler system kicked on. Fire crews initially responded to the scene with four engines, but quickly upgraded the response to a second alarm because of the amount of smoke and the fire’s location deep in the building. “Second alarm is actually used for resource improvement,” said Medford Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Erin Sawall. “It could be for any myriad of needs.” Six engines from Medford Fire-Rescue and Jackson County Fire District No. 3 responded, tangling with ice outside while they fought the fire inside. Thursday night’s low temperature in Medford dipped to 18 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, turning the roads outside into a skating rink for firefighters while they prepared hoses. “It was a very icy scene,” Sawall said. “Crews operated in a pretty dangerous atmosphere.” Crews deployed salt to help. One firefighter did slip, Sawall said, but he wasn’t seriously injured. No other injuries were reported. Firefighters had the flames extinguished within a half hour, but spent almost three more hours on scene venting the buildup of smoke. Fire officials said the building’s sprinkler system was a big help in snuffing the flames. “It had some serious potential,” Sawall said. “Under these conditions, that’s the best we can hope for.”
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Galesburg, IL – Restaurant fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system January 10, 2017 viking210 Galesburg firefighters responded to the report of a structure fire late Thursday morning at Crazy Buffet, 463 Grant Ave., in the Seminary Square retail development. No flames were visible upon arrival, however firefighters found light smoke coming from the roof. Dispatch received a call from the alarm company followed immediately by at least a half dozen calls from passersby saying a large volume of smoke was coming from the roof. Galesburg firefighters responded at 11:24 a.m. “Fire units found the kitchen full of smoke,” Fire Chief Tom Simkins said in a news release. “Fire had started in wok in the grill area. The manager attempted to extinguish the fire with three hand fire extinguishers. The hood system functioned properly and knocked the fire down on the grill. However, fire had extended outside the grill and was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system which had a single head flowing on our arrival. “Fire also extended upward into the hood duct system. It appeared the filters had not been cleaned in some time as they were packed with grease, fueling the fire. This caused extension to the roof. The aerial ladder was deployed and a hose line stretched onto the roof. âA hydrant was needed for additional water for extinguishment.” The Knox County Health Department was notified and the business was closed pending direction from KCHD officials. No injuries were reported. A call-back crew of five off-duty personnel handled at least three calls during the fire. Simkins said an alarm at the Pizza Ranch “most assuredly” activated due to the drop in incoming pressure in the sprinkler system due to the use of the hydrant across the street. The fire cause is listed as accidental. The fire department reported the scene under control at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, although fire officials remained on scene to investigate.
Retail, Shopping Mall Brampton, ON, Canada – Shopping mall fire held in check by sprinkler system; Fire started in clothes dryer January 10, 2017 viking210 Two burnt towels in a clothes dryer started a fire that forced the evacuation of a Brampton shopping mall on Thursday morning (Jan. 5), according to Brampton Fire and Emergency Services officials. A sprinkler kept the fire in check at Royal Crest Mall, at 50 Kennedy Rd. S., according to firefighters; but a significant amount of smoke was generated. Firefighters were called at 10:20 a.m., with reports of smoke coming from the mall at Clarence Street. Five trucks and a district chief initially responded, but the first alarm was quickly upgraded to a second alarm in response to the heavy smoke. Three more trucks and a platoon chief responded. The mall was evacuated, and a Brampton Transit bus kept evacuees out of the cold. Tenants and shoppers were allowed to return after the smoke was cleared.
Apartment Building, Residential Ocean City, MD – Fire Marshal credits sprinkler system for saving resident’s life in apartment fire January 10, 2017 viking210 The Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office is crediting fire sprinklers for saving the life of an Ocean City woman who just barely escaped a kitchen fire on New Year’s Eve. Just before 7:30 p.m., firemen were called to the area of 25th Street and Baltimore Avenue, for a building fire. The woman had been cooking when grease spilled over onto the stove burners, starting a fire that quickly spread. A single sprinkler head in the kitchen activated and extinguished the fire prior to the arrival of fireman. The unit suffered limited fire and smoke damage in the kitchen. The adjoining staircase and first floor restaurant area also experienced water damage. The cause of the fire is classified as accidental.
Apartment Building, Residential Bremerton, WA – Apartment fire caused by cigarette extinguished with help from sprinkler system January 9, 2017 viking210 A cigarette likely is the cause of a small fire that evacuated the Firs apartment complex Tuesday night, according to Bremerton firefighters. Crews were called to the 60-unit complex, at 183 Russell Road, about 8:45 p.m. and found the fire already mostly out. The building has a fire sprinkler system, which, with the help of a resident with an extinguisher, snuffed the flames. No injuries were reported. Residents took shelter in surrounding housing complexes as well as within Kitsap Transit buses called in to assist. The Bremerton Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the fire, but it appears a cigarette in one room lit a bag, which ignited a couch, firefighters said.
Apartment Building, Residential Omaha, NE – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling apartment fire January 9, 2017 viking210 Authorities are investigating a fire at an apartment complex. It broke out around 10 o’clock Wednesday morning. It happened at the Park West Apartments near 108th and Jaynes Plaza, near Fort Street. There were no reports of injuries but utility service was partly interrupted on a frigid morning. Firefighters initially responded to an automatic fire alarm system. They arrived to find a small fire in a coat closet in a third floor apartment. The fire was quickly brought under control but it triggered the sprinkler system resulting in damage to the first, second and third floor apartments. Residents were allowed back into the building shortly before noon.
Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail South Lake Tahoe, CA – Fire in attic mechanical room at Target store contained by sprinkler system January 8, 2017 viking210 A fire broke out in a furnace room at the South Lake Tahoe TJ Maxx store just before 7:00 p.m. Monday night, resulting in the store filling up with smoke and water. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue personnel responded, and found the store’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire from spreading and it was contained to the one room. The furnace was located above the store’s dressing rooms. With all of the water used to put out the fire, the ceiling collapsed and created quite a mess in that portion of the store. “Much of the floor is very wet,” said SLTFR Battalion Chief Tim Spencer. “There was light smoke inside so there may be some smokey clothing.” With the freezing temperatures in South Lake Tahoe, Spencer said they had concern about frozen water. As of 8:45 p.m., they are in clean-up mode and making sure the scene is safe. “We are ready to turn the store back to manager,” said Spencer. “It’s now up to the insurance and restoration companies.” Firefighters from Lake Valley Fire also responded to the store which is located at the Y.
Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse Assonet, MA – Sprinkler systems help keep fire at distribution center from spreading January 8, 2017 viking210 A late afternoon tractor trailer fire at the Stop & Shop Distribution Center Sunday temporarily ceased operations, but no injuries were reported, officials said. At about 3:53 p.m., the Freetown Fire Department was notified of an automatic fire alarm activation at the Stop & Shop Distribution Center at 136 South Main St. in Assonet, said Lt. Brent L’Heureux, a spokesman for the Freetown Fire Department. Upon arrival to the scene, Freetown Fire personnel found a refrigerated trailer on fire, and the blaze extended through the loading dock and into the warehouse. The building’s sprinkler system activated and prevented the fire from spreading further, L’Heureux said in a news release. Only a few employees were in the building at the time of the fire due to the holiday and they quickly evacuated when the fire alarm went off. The fire was under control in an hour and firefighters remained on scene for several hours to remove smoke from the warehouse, L’Heureux said.
Apartment Building, College/University (on campus), Residential Kelowna, BC, Canada – Overnight fire at university apartment complex doused by sprinkler system January 6, 2017 viking210 An apartment building at UBCO was evacuated early Monday as the result of a fire. The fire was reported at around 12 a.m. in a unit at Discovery Avenue at UBCO. “First in Engine reported smoke and sprinkler activation in a second floor unit at this location,” Platoon Captain Kelly Stephens said. He said the cause of the fire was bedding and a mattress placed against a baseboard heater, and added that fire sprinklers had doused the fire before it could spread. The lone occupant of the unit managed to escape unharmed. Water damage was contained to the second floor unit and six units below. All affected students have been allowed to return to their units.
Apartment Building, Residential Peoria, IL – Cooking fire at apartment building put out by sprinkler system; No injuries reported January 6, 2017 viking210 About 5:30 p.m., Peoria firefighters responded to a report of a fire that was prompting occupants to flee Apartment 8208 of 1808 W. Cherry Bud Drive. Firefighters arrived to the fire already out. The occupants had overheated cooking oil, which burst into flames and activated the unit’s sprinkler system, said Battalion Chief Aldo Scott. The sprinkler extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. The apartment complex was going to provide housing for affected residents, Scott said.
