Other Business, Restaurant Wauwatosa, WI – Small businesses spared damage after water heater catches fire January 20, 2016 viking210 An automatic fire sprinkler system Monday spared three businesses in Wauwatosa from a potentially devastating blaze that would have closed the businesses for a significant length of time, according to the city’s fire department. Shortly before 9 a.m., a gas-fed water heater near a ceiling started on fire at Jersey Mike’s Subs, 2571 N. Mayfair Road, according to a news release from the Wauwatosa Fire Department. According to the release, an employee who noticed the fire warned workers in a neighboring business to evacuate but the fire was controlled by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived. Water damage occurred in the three businesses. However, there was little fire damage and the neighboring businesses were expected to reopen within hours, according to the release.
Primary / Secondary School Dallas, TX – Sprinkler system activates to help control early morning fire at school January 19, 2016 viking210 Some classes at Parish Episcopal School’s Hillcrest campus are canceled Tuesday and Wednesday due to damage suffered while crews put out a fire at the school Sunday morning. Minor fire damage was done by the flames, which broke out in the attic of Building E — home to the Lower School’s main office, library and several classrooms — around 5:30 a.m., but water from firefighters and the building’s sprinkler system did “extensive” damage. The fire was “quickly extinguished,” according to a Parish Episcopal School spokesperson. David Monaco, the Head of School at Parish Episcopal, wrote on Twitter that anything lost in the fire was “replaceable.” Students in Pre-K through second grade will not have class Tuesday or Wednesday following the MLK holiday Monday. The after-school program was also cancelled for those days. Updates on any additional cancellations or relocations would be provided Wednesday. School officials have asked people to avoid going to the campus during the cleanup process, which began Sunday. The Church of the Transfiguration, which shares the campus, did not suffer any damage to its buildings.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Centennial, CO – Fire caused by faulty heater at Towne Place Suites hotel contained with help from sprinkler system January 19, 2016 viking210 A faulty heater has been blamed for igniting a fire inside an unoccupied room at a hotel that sent three deputies to the hospital. The fire started at the Towne Place Suites located at 7877 S. Chester St. about 4:30 p.m. Saturday. South Metro Fire Rescue confirmed three deputies with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office suffered smoke inhalation after helping people evacuate the hotel. A malfunctioning heater in an unoccupied room started the fire. “The building has smoke alarms and a sprinkler system which is helpful but smoke is really very dangerous so getting people out quickly was the number one priority for everyone on scene,” said South Metro Fire Rescue spokeswoman Becky O’Guin. The fire was contained to one room. No one else was hurt.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Fargo, ND – Single sprinkler puts out dryer fire at hotel; No injuries reported January 19, 2016 viking210 A dryer fire forced guests outside Monday morning at Expressway Suites, 4303 17th Avenue South in Fargo. Fire Department Battalion Chief Lee Soeth says the smoke was limited to the first floor of the hotel, but as a precaution, guests were evacuated for about 20 minutes. The small fire set off one sprinkler and put out the fire quickly. Soeth says crews stayed on scene to clear out the smoke and mop up water. A damage assessment is not available.
Other Business Caledon, ON, Canada – Fire in dust collection system controlled with help from sprinklers January 18, 2016 viking210 Caledon firefighters are working to put out a fire this morning (Jan. 18) at a commercial property fire at Highway 50 and Healey Rd. Firefighters found light smoke conditions inside the building and a working fire in the dust collection system. No injuries were reported and the internal sprinkler system has been activated. Crews are attempting to bring the fire under control. Bolton, Palgrave, Caledon East and Caledon Village Fire Stations, OPP and Peel EMS are currently on scene.
Apartment Building, Residential Niagara Falls, NY – Sprinklers assist firefighter in controlling fire in multi-family residential building January 18, 2016 viking210 Downtown fire crews received a report of a working structure fire on Main Street in a large, multi-family dwelling. Engine 3, Platoon 4 was first into the building and dragged a hose line to the third floor while notifying residents to evacuate the building. Between the building’s sprinkler system and firefighter hoselines, significant water damage was sustained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Apartment Building, Residential Estero, FL – Fire caused by man burning love letters is controlled with help from sprinkler system January 17, 2016 viking210 The Florida Everblades hockey player facing arson charges was burning love letters from a girlfriend last month when the blaze got out of control, according to an arrest report that reveals new details in the Dec. 30 arrest of Justin Agosta. The 25-year-old told firefighters who responded to his apartment along the 11200 block of Everblades Parkway in Estero that he was upset with his girlfriend when he bought gasoline at a nearby gas station to douse the letters. Agosta said he tried to put the fire out with water and a towel when it got out of control near the entrance of his apartment and caused damage to the front of his building and walls where soot collected. The fire sprinkler went off and Agosta dialed 911 to alert firefighters. Agosta was arrested and taken to the Lee County jail about 1 p.m. that Wednesday. Agosta’s next court appearance is Feb. 1. He has not missed a game playing for the team since his arrest.
Other - Retail, Retail Bellingham, WA – Overnight arson fire at Goodwill store extinguished by sprinkler system January 16, 2016 viking210 Three arsons have been set in three mornings behind a Goodwill store, according to police. Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying who has been setting the fires. The first fire was reported at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in a Dumpster near the donation drop-off of the Goodwill at 1115 E. Sunset Drive, said Bellingham Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hewett. Firefighters responded to a second arson at 5:08 Thursday, in another Dumpster. And a third fire was reported at 3:25 a.m. Friday. This time someone set up debris against the building itself, and lit it on fire. By the time firefighters reached the scene a sprinkler had extinguished the flames, but it was damaged in the process. So far most of the damage has been limited to the sprinkler, two waste disposal units that are now warped, and the garbage. Police would like it to stay that way. Tips should be directed to Bellingham Police Detective Dan Kelsh at 360-778-8690.
Residential, Residential High Rise Austin, TX – Fire in downtown residential high-rise held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries January 15, 2016 viking210 Two people have been displaced after a Wednesday night fire in a high-rise in downtown Austin, fire officials said. Firefighters responded at 10:22 p.m. to a fire that started on the stove of an eighth-floor unit at 85 Trinity Street, the Austin Fire Department said. No one was injured. The sprinkler system activated and held the fire in check until firefighters arrived and extinguished the remaining fire, the department said. The apartments were evacuated, and everyone returned to their homes except the two displaced residents. The Austin Housing Authority is assisting the two residents, firefighters said.
Apartment Building, Residential Chevy Chase, MD – Sprinkler system holds high rise apartment fire in check January 14, 2016 viking210 Dozens of Montgomery County firefighters responded to the blaze at the Willard Apartments at 4701 Willard Avenue. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer said the fire originated on the 16th floor of the high rise building. According to Piringer, hundreds of residents were evacuated and some residents with mobility issues had to be assisted out of the building by firefighters. A sprinkler system held the fire in check until firefighters could put 14the blaze out, Piringer said. The fire originated in the sunroom of a 16th floor apartment and damages are estimated at $25,000, according to Piringer. He said the fire was electrical in nature and the cause was related to an extension cord. Two residents were transported to a local hospital for exposure to the fire and smoke. Their injuries are not life threatening, Piringer said. According to Piringer, the fire has displaced six residents from their homes.
