All posts by viking210

Department Store, Retail

West Des Moines, IA – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire at Kohl’s Department Store; No injuries reported

Two teens have been charged in connection to a fire at the Kohl’s Department Store over the weekend.

At around 2:04 p.m. Saturday firefighters with the West Des Moines Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the Kohl’s in the 6500 block of Mills Civic Parkway. When firefighters arrived on scene they found a merchandise rack had caught fire, but was extinguished by the sprinkler system. No injuries were reported.

A joint investigation between the fire department and the West Des Moines Police Department was launched after the cause of the fire was deemed suspicious. As a result of the investigation, two 15-year-old boys have been charged with first degree arson.

The fire department said the store sustained smoke and water damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

Residents from two Winnipeg apartment blocks evacuated their homes after fires started in each of the buildings.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service arrived at 207 Edmonton St. on Sunday after a kitchen fire in one of the building’s 40 suites activated the fire alarm, district chief Terry Kelly told CBC at the scene.

Crews arrived and found light smoke and water flowing from the building. Sprinklers put out most of the fire, but crews extinguished the rest of the flames, Kelly said.

Fire damage is limited to the one suite, but units below have extensive water damage, he added.

“The sprinkler activation puts a lot of water out very fast ,and that’s what we’re dealing with is cleaning up the water on the floors below,” he said.

Residents of the building — which houses single newcomer women and their children, according to its website — evacuated before crews arrived just after 1 p.m., a news release from the city says.

Crews had the fire under control within 45 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

The city’s emergency social services responded to help residents find temporary living accommodations.

The cause of the fire appears to be an accident, the city says.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Cedar Rapids, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in warehouse; No injuries reported

Firefighters responded to a fire at a warehouse in Cedar Rapids on Sunday evening.

In a press release, crews said they were alerted to the fire by a sprinkler alarm at about 7:30 p.m. at a multi-unit commercial warehouse, located in the 800 block of 33rd Avenue Southwest.

Crews forced entry through the door and found significant smoke. Water was also flowing from the building.

After extinguishing the fire, crews worked to ventilate the building.

There was fire and water damage to the contents of one of the units in the building, along with smoke damage to that unit and the adjacent units.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire.

Firefighters did not say what may have caused the fire. It remains under investigation.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Erie, PA – Sprinkler system contains dryer fire at Great Lakes Institute of Technology

It was reported around 12:30 a.m. Thursday at 5100 Peach St.

Firefighters found heavy smoke throughout the building, which was unoccupied at the time, officials said.

A fire sprinkler system contained the fire within the room, but the building suffered extensive smoke and water damage, according tot he department.

Apartment Building, Residential

Boise, ID – Sprinkler system extinguished apartment fire caused by cigarette

A man went to the hospital with minor injuries and 12 people were displaced after an apartment fire Monday afternoon, the Boise Fire Department said.

The fire began in a plastic trash can, after someone threw away a cigarette, and spread to a recliner, the department said in a Facebook post. It occurred at Capitol Plaza, a public housing building for seniors at 700 W. Cunningham Place in the North End.

Firefighters responded at 2:45 p.m. after a woman in an apartment near the unit where the fire began smelled smoke and called 911, according to the department. When crews arrived, they found the recliner on fire and a man on the floor in a fifth floor apartment. An ambulance took the man to the hospital with minor injuries, the department said, but a sprinkler extinguished the fire and stopped its spread.

“Working fire sprinklers saved at least one life and prevented significant structural damage,” the Facebook post said.

Boise Fire spokesperson Lynsey Amundson told the Idaho Statesman in an email that residents were displaced by water damage to the fourth and third floor apartments.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Santa Rosa, CA – Sprinkler system activated for structure fire in restaurant; No injuries reported

Firefighters are investigating a commercial structure fire early Wednesday in downtown Santa Rosa. 

The Santa Rosa Fire Department said the blaze, which was first reported shortly before 12:45 a.m., occurred in the 500 block of Fourth Street.

Upon arrival, firefighters found water coming from both floors of a two-story brick building that houses various businesses, the department said.

The blaze was raised to a two-alarm assignment after firefighters noticed a fire alarm was sounding inside the building and that windows of a second-floor establishment were stained with smoke, indicating there was fire inside.

Firefighters had to force their way into a stairway leading to the second floor, according to the fire department. Crews then found the fire inside the Thai House restaurant, just being checked by a sprinkler head that activated.

After firefighters extinguished the fire and cleared the area, they forced their way into Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Tap Room on the first floor, directly below where the blaze had started in the Thai House restaurant.

There was no smoke or fire from the first-floor establishment, but significant amounts of water were pouring down from the floor above it, the fire department said.

No injuries were reported by firefighters.

Only the Thai House restaurant and Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Tap Room were the building’s establishments damaged by the fire, according to the department, which added that the damage was estimated to be $150,000. Both businesses will be closed for an indefinite period.

The fire department noted the working fire sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading throughout the building.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, even though it looks accidental, according to firefighters.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Kansas City, MO – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at restaurant

A small fire broke out at the popular barbecue restaurant Q-39 South in Overland Park Wednesday night.

Crews responded to a kitchen fire about 9:45 p.m. and found smoke coming from the roof of the building.

Firefighters say the fire was coming from a gas appliance in the kitchen area.

They shut off gas to the building, extinguished the fire and made sure everyone got out safely.

The restaurant’s sprinkler system activated, helping knock down the fire, according Jason Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Overland Park Fire Department.

Fire damage was contained to the kitchen area, however because the sprinkler system activated, cleanup and repairs will be required.

The Overland Park Fire Department says the restaurant will likely be closed for those repairs.

The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

The Woodlands, TX – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex

Around 9 AM, Tuesday morning, residents at the Timbermill Apartments on Sawdust Road were alerted to a fire in their three story building when fire sprinklers activated over two separate fires in a 3rd floor apartment. The sprinkler activations triggered a water flow alarm and fire crews from The Woodlands and South Montgomery County Fire Departments soon arrived to find residents evacuating and smoke coming from the building.

Firefighters made their way up to the smoke filled apartment and began searching for the source of the fire and any remaining occupants. They quickly discovered that two of the building’s fire sprinklers had activated, one over a fire in the living room and one over a fire in a walk-in closet. Firefighters also observed evidence that the fire was intentionally set and immediately secured the area as the first of several fire investigators arrived on scene.

After insuring that the fire was out, firefighters shut down the fire sprinkler system and turned their attention to salvaging resident’s belongings on the floors below the fire. MCFMO Investigators spent several hours examining the scene and interviewing witnesses before placing the resident of the apartment, 28 yr old Jasmine Johnson, under arrest for setting the fires.

The investigation continues into the circumstances and motive behind the fire, but there is no further danger to the public at this time. MCFMO Investigators are currently booking Ms. Johnson into the Montgomery County Jail on 1st degree felony arson charges, where she will be held on a $250,000 bond.

MCFMO Inspection personnel worked with apartment management to insure that the building’s fire sprinkler system was restored to service and that the remaining residents would be protected once they are able to return to their apartments.

Montgomery County first enacted a County Fire Code in 2008 when Commissioner’s Court issued an order adopting the International Fire Code, a consensus safety standard that requires all new and remodeled apartment buildings be equipped with fire sprinkler and alarm systems.

Without these modern safety systems, a fire like this could easily have led to injuries and even deaths, as well as significant property damage. National fire sprinkler statistics reveal that approximately 90% of fires in sprinklered buildings are controlled by the first sprinkler head that activates.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Bettendorf, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at manufacturing company

The Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a fire Monday afternoon at a manufacturing company that left one person injured.

Crews say they responded to Greystone Logistics, 2600 Shoreline Drive, for a fire that was contained to a piece of manufacturing equipment and was extinguished primarily by the sprinkler system while firefighters checked for extension in and around the equipment.

Crews also said they performed search and rescue operations for the entire building because the fire and heat were significant enough to cause flow from eight sprinkler heads in the area.

All employees were evacuated to the outside where accountability was provided by management and confirmed by fire personnel through search operations, according to a media release. One employee was injured in the fire and was taken to a local hospital. No additional information on their condition is being provided at this time.

Crews say the factory is shut down from any manufacturing until the sprinkler system is restored to normal working conditions. Restoration efforts are underway.

According to the media release, Rock Island Arsenal Fire Department, Riverdale Fire Department, Local Restoration Company, and Local Sprinkler Company responded to the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Seattle, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in apartment complex; No injuries reported

The 911 dispatch call came in at 8:41 a.m. to the complex, located at 10670 14th AVE SW (map below).

Multiple crews were able to extinguish the flames and isolate the hallway sprinkler system.

At this time, there are no reports of injuries, but some residents will be temporarily displaced due to smoke, fire, and water damage. Red Cross was requested, and the King County Regional Housing Authority was on scene to coordinate assistance efforts for tenants.

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