All posts by viking210

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Santa Ana, CA – Sprinkler system helps minimize damage in fire at aluminum manufacturer; No injuries

Fire crews extinguished a fire inside an aluminum manufacturing business Thursday in Santa Ana, authorities said.   Fire Authority officials were called at 2 p.m. to a fire at Aluminum Precision Products in the 2600 block of South Susan Street, said Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority.

The company makes die aluminum forgings for the aerospace industry.  Twenty employees were near a forging press machine when it caught fire. The blaze quickly spread to the roof where a sprinkler system was activated.

“An oily residue kept igniting the fire on the ceiling,” Concialdi said.   The fire was under control by 2:40 p.m.  A Fire Authority hazmat crew contained the runoff mixture of water and chemicals.

Fifty employees were inside the building when the fire broke out, but were able to exit safety. No one was reported injured.  Around 55 firefighters with OCFA and the Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Huntington Beach fire departments responded to the building.

The cause of the fire was an unknown failure of the forging press machine. Damages were at least $50,000, Concialdi said.  It was not clear if the business would reopen Thursday. More to come.

Office Building, Other Business

Honolulu, HI – Sprinkler system activates to suppress flames in office fire

A two-alarm fire in the Waiakamilo Business Center was reported just after 10 p.m. Tuesday. Nine fire companies responded and 35 firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the five-story building in Kalihi. The fire was located and contained to a ground floor unit. The building’s sprinkler system activated and helped suppress the flames. The fire was fully extinguished by 10:55 p.m. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation. A damage estimate is not available yet

Apartment Building, Other - School / University, Residential

Greeley, CO – Off-campus apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

Four students were displaced from their homes Tuesday after a fire in one apartment touched off the sprinklers at the Arlington Park Apartments. Greeley firefighters were called around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday to a fire at the Arlington Park Apartments, Building No. 3, 2315 9th Ave.

Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke showing. The fire was contained to one apartment and was put out by the building’s sprinkler system. But students living in two rooms would be displaced because of smoke and water damage, said University of Northern Colorado spokesman Nate Haas.

Students were evacuated and there were no injuries, reported Greeley Firefighter Battalion Chief Rick Hinchcliffe.  Firefighters were clearing the building as of 8:30 p.m., and the fire was out minutes later. Custodians were called in to clear the water.

The immediate damage was contained to the apartment with a fire, with water damage to the apartment immediately below, Hinchcliffe said.  Haas said university residence officials were working Tuesday to find temporary housing for the students in the college’s residence halls.

Hinchcliffe said three fire trucks, one ladder truck and one heavy rescue truck responded, with a total of 15 firefighters on scene. There is no word yet on a cause or a damage estimate.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Johnstown, CO – Restaurant fire at truck stop held in check by sprinkler system

A gas leak and small fire temporarily shut down the restaurant portion of Johnson’s Corner Sunday night through Monday morning.  Front Range Operations Chief Bernie Covillo said crews from both his department and Loveland Fire Rescue Authority responded to a small kitchen fire at the restaurant around 6:40 p.m. Sunday.

“Loveland Engine 6 was the first arriving unit,” he said. “They discovered a small fire that was being kept in check in the kitchen. The fire was quickly extinguished and there was minimal damage.” Covillo said the restaurant was shut down because the sprinkler system had been activated. Johnson’s Corner employees had to clean the restaurant to pass an inspection from the Larimer County Department of Health.

The restaurant, which never closes, is located at 2842 SE Frontage Road just off Interstate 25. Employees were stationed at the front of the restaurant Monday morning turning customers away and offering them complimentary cinnamon rolls and cookies.

“This is a really bad thing,” Christy Hall, a Johnson’s Corner cashier said. “So many people come here. I know another month we had a tiny fire — but (the restaurant) was definitely not closed for this long.”

Employees confirmed later on Monday that the restaurant reopened at 12:30 p.m. However, they directed further questions to the restaurant’s corporate office, TravelCenters of America. Requests for comment were not returned.

“It just so happens there was a fire the same day they are remodeling,” Hall said.  Covillo said that Johnson’s Corner officials and their insurance agency would be investigating the cause of the fire.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Richland, WA – Fire in university laboratory is put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

Several students and staff had to be evacuated Monday at WSU Tri-Cities after a small explosion and fire. It happened just before two in the afternoon inside the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory.

The school says there was a minor fire after a cylinder of compressed gas exploded unexpectedly. The Director of Marketing and Communications at the school says the building’s sprinkler system put the fire out and no one got hurt.

Students were evacuated from the east and west buildings but were allowed back in shortly after. Firefighters say they’re now looking into what happened.

Richland Fire Department Chief Tom Huntington said, “the sprinkler system activated, alarm system activated everybody was able to get out safe. Our initial response and activity were here was to make sure the buildings were clear and everybody was out. Right now what they’re working on then is to make sure there is no secondary spills chemical spills things like that associated with the explosion make sure the building is secure then we will start the investigation and figure out what happened.”

Staff at the school says the BSEL labs are now canceled until further notice, and students should log on to Blackboard to check if lectures have been moved to a new location.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Bridgeport, WV – Fire at TownePlace Suites hotel contained to 3-by-3 foot area by sprinkler system

The TownePlace Suites on Platinum Drive in Bridgeport caught fire Monday morning. Crews were dispatched to the hotel at approximately 9:20 a.m. after receiving a fire alarm activation notification and a call from the front desk advising there was something on fire on the fourth floor.

The Bridgeport Fire Department Chief said a candle left unattended in one of the rooms caught fire. The fire was contained in a 3-by-3 foot area on the fourth floor.  The third and fourth floor rooms are uninhabitable due to water damage. The fire chief said the sprinkler system kicked on as it should have, and the hotel is trying to get a water restoration company to come in and get the water cleaned up.

The Bridgeport Fire Department responded. The Anmoore, Nutter Fort, Clarksburg and Mount Clare Fire Departments, Harrison County EMS and Bridgeport Police assisted on scene.

Other - Residential, Other / Not Specified, Other Business, Residential

Mount Prospect, IL – Two recent fires highlight importance of automatic fire sprinklers

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

October 24, 2015 at approximately 5:58 p.m., the Mount Prospect Fire Department responded to an activated fire alarm in the building at 1751 Linneman Road. As firefighters were investigating the activated fire alarm, they discovered an activated sprinkler was controlling a vehicle fire inside the building. Firefighters extinguished the fire, limiting fire damage to the vehicle.

On October 28, 2015 at approximately 3:43p.m., the Mount Prospect Fire Department responded to a report of an oven fire at 290 Westgate Road. As firefighters entered the dwelling unit they discovered that one activated fire sprinkler was controlling an oven fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire, limiting fire damage to the stove area.

No injuries were reported as a result of these fires. Without the automatic fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems, the loss to both of these buildings could have been much more significant. The estimated fire damage for both of these fires was $125,000 with a total property value saved in excess of five million dollars.

“The positive result of these fires represents the excellent work that our entire fire department does on a daily basis,” stated Interim Fire Chief Brian Lambel. “The fire suppression was extremely effective due to the training and professional operations of our firefighters. The automatic fire sprinkler systems performed as designed due to the inspections, code enforcement and the development review role our Fire Prevention Bureau performs. The outcome of these fires could have been much different if all of these components had not come together.”

Fire sprinklers work because they do not rely on human factors. Unlike the common myth that all sprinklers in the building activate at once, only the fire sprinkler above the actual fire activates. Automatic fire sprinklers operate in the area where a fire starts, preventing it from growing uncontrolled to a dangerous size while simultaneously sounding an alarm and notifying the fire department.

Because of the proven effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers and the enhanced life safety features they provide, the Village of Mount Prospect requires all new construction be protected by automatic fire sprinklers. This requirement includes new townhomes and single-family residences. For more information regarding automatic fire sprinklers, or the requirements for testing and maintenance of sprinkler and fire alarm systems, please contact the Mount Prospect Fire Prevention Bureau at (847) 818-5253.

 

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Belmont, CA – 4 a.m. fire at senior residential complex controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Firefighters battled to get a blaze under control Friday morning at a senior living community complex where 35 people were evacuated and was likely started by some cardboard boxes set near a wall heater, a fire captain said.

The San Mateo County Fire department said the 2-alarm apartment fire in Belmont in the 2400 block of Carlmont Drive. started about 4 a.m. on the second floor. No one was injured.

Capt. Patrick Halleran credited the building’s sprinkler system for saving lives. He added the boxes were in the apartment because an older gentleman had recently moved in.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Hibbing, MN – Kitchen fire at community college dormitory suppressed by sprinkler system

A dorm at the Hibbing Community College was evacuated Thursday due to a grease fire in one of the rooms.  A student was reportedly cooking with oil on the stove when the pan caught fire around 4 p.m.  When the fire wouldn’t burn out, the student placed the pan in the shower.   Authorities say when water hit the oil there was a flash grease fire which set off the sprinkler system in the bathroom, suppressing the fire.

The student received minor burns to his left hand and was treated and released from the Hibbing Hospital.  The building sustained smoke and water damage estimated at $10,000.

From 2009-2013 U.S. fire departments responded to almost 4,000 dormitory fires and 86% of them were kitchen fires, according to the Hibbing Fire Department.  Fire crews are reminding people make sure to use a tight fitting lid when cooking with oil and to remember to never pour water on a grease fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lynchburgh, VA – Overnight trash chute fire at apartment building is put out by sprinkler system

Everyone made it out safely after a fire broke out at Jefferson House Apartments in Lynchburg. It happened around midnight.  Officials say the fire started in a trash chute that connects all of the floors.  The fire was put out by the sprinkler system before crews got there.

About 30 people evacuated from the apartments, but were allowed back in around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday after each floor was cleared.