All posts by viking210

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Hastings, MN – Sprinklers make the difference in challenging fire at container manufacturer

All employees evacuated safely after a fire at Twin City Container in Hastings Thursday afternoon. The fire activated the building’s sprinkler system, which helped firefighters control the blaze. “The sprinkler system made a big difference in the result of this fire,” Schutt said.

The thick black smoke was caused by some of the products within the building.  “Any time you have anything petroleum or oil based you’re going to get that thick black smoke,” Schutt said.

Due to the intensity of the fire and smoke, firefighters took a defensive strategy at first, fighting the fire from the outside. Firefighters were lifted to the structure’s roof, where they created a vent hole, while the fire was fought on the ground. Once the fire was under control, crews moved inside to finish the work.

Twin City Container takes 55-gallon drums and tanker trucks and cleans them for reuse. Hastings utility crews inspected the sanitary sewer system to make sure none of the hazardous materials on site made it into the sewer system. No hazards were found, Schutt said.

An area of origin has been identified, but Schutt said the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. He said the fire was located in the center of the largest part of the building and spread through the exhaust ductwork.

Other - Retail, Retail

Yuma, AZ – Sprinklers contain fire at commercial building under renovation

A sprinkler system had mostly extinguished a fire in a commercial building in Yuma Wednesday night by the time firefighters arrived on scene.  Oily rags not disposed of properly are suspected of causing the fire. Yuma Fire Department spokesman Mike Erfert said that shortly after 10 p.m., a water flow alarm was received, indicating a fire sprinkler system had activated in a commercial building located at 475 W. 32nd St.

Erfert said arriving firefighters gained access to the building and found that a fire had been contained and mostly extinguished by an activated sprinkler head. Firefighters immediately began extinguishing some hot spots and ensured the fire was completely out.  A small display case and some wooden dividers sustained damage.  The building is being remodeled to open as a retail store. Lacquer finishing had been applied to wood panels during the work day. Oily rags not disposed of properly are suspected of causing the fire.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Sandy, UT – Quick work of sprinklers and firefighters save day spa from overnight fire

Sandy firefighters credit a sprinkler system, along with their own quick response, for limiting a potentially major early Thursday morning blaze inside a commercial area.

Crews were dispatched to the Sego Lilly Spa, 7475 S. Union Park Ave., at 4:19 a.m. Thursday.

Once the flames were doused, it was determined the fire was sparked by a malfunctioning commercial dryer. The fire-suppression sprinkler system kept the blaze to one room until firefighters arrived

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Belleville, ON, Canada – Electrical fire at small business held in check by sprinkler system

Upon arrival to a Bridge Street West business in response to a report of a structure fire, Belleville fire crews forced entry and quickly found the minor blaze late Tuesday night.

Fire Prevention Officer Tim Vanhecke stated the building’s sprinkler system helped “significantly” in preventing the fire to spread.  He determined the fire was electrical in nature, but damage to the building has yet to be determined.

 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Watsonville, CA – Sprinkler activates to help control possible arson fire at auto body shop

Authorities investigated a small, Sunday night fire in the doorway on the first block of East Lake Avenue as an arson, Watsonville fire and police officials said.

About 10:30 p.m., police received a report of a structure fire at Auto Tech Auto Body at 18 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville police Sgt. David Rodriguez said. Officers responded to the scene to confirm the fire and firefighters arrived shortly after to extinguish it.

A door to the business was on fire but firefighters doused it within 5 minutes, Watsonville fire Capt. Rick Pettigrew said. Though there was no fire damage inside the building, a sprinkler system was set off by the heat.  Initial investigations showed the fire started at the door, leading investigators to believe someone started the fire.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

McAlester, OK – Fire contained by sprinkler system at plastics manufacturing business

The Krebs Volunteer Fire Department also responded to a second fire was at Berry Plastics, 349 Taylor Industrial Park Road.  A fire broke out in a printing press at the business.

“I don’t know exactly how it started,” Brewer said. “The fire was contained to one of their printing presses. There were no injuries that we know of. The sprinkler system activated and our fire crews made sure everything else was extinguished.”

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Worcester, MA – Cardboard fire at recycling center held in check by sprinkler system

With mutual aid from the Sutton Fire Department, the Worcester Fire Department easily contained and knocked down a smoldering fire in a huge pile of cardboard Tuesday at Rand-Whitney Recycling, 2 Pullman St.

Deputy Fire Chief John Sullivan credited Sutton Fire Department’s Mobile Ventilation Unit-LD, a hydraulic blower capable of pushing up to 150,000 cubic feet per minute from its blades, with greatly assisting Worcester Fire in taking control of the scene.

In addition, Mr. Sullivan said the building’s sprinkler system did its job and held the fire in check.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Oakley, CA – Sprinklers keep fire from spreading at senior apartment complex

An automatic indoor sprinkler system kept a fire at an apartment complex for seniors from spreading, and fire personnel were able to evacuate residents before anybody was seriously injured, a fire chief said.

Fire Chief Hugh Henderson of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District said fire crews were called to the blaze at 4:18 p.m. and found light smoke coming from a hallway in the complex. Automatic sprinklers kept the fire contained to one room within a unit.