All posts by viking210

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

New Bedford, MA – Sprinkler system contains fire at mill complex; No injuries reported

Thursday morning at 9:55am, 911 calls were received reporting a possible explosion inside the mill complex located at 46 Harbor Street.

First arriving crews reported the sprinkler system was flowing and a smoke condition on the first floor. This is a three-story, Type 4 mill building measuring over 900’ long and 100’ wide. The fire originated in the office space of a machine shop on the first floor. The fire was contained by one sprinkler head.

Fire crews performed overhaul, conducted ventilation operations, and assisted in restoring the sprinkler system.
The cause of the fire was investigated by the NBFD Fire Investigation Unit and determined to be a heat gun left too close to combustibles. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

New Bedford EMS, City of New Bedford Police Department (Official), City of New Bedford Emergency Management assisted on scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charlotte, NC – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters rescued two dogs from an apartment fire in north Charlotte Wednesday, officials said. 

Charlotte Fire responded to a fire at an apartment complex on Waterford Valley Circle, which is just off West W.T. Harris Boulevard and West Sugar Creek Road, around noon on Wednesday.

The fire was quickly put out by the building’s sprinkler system and no one was hurt during the incident, according to Charlotte Fire officials. Two dogs were rescued from inside the building and are expected to be OK.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. CFD posted photos and videos from the scene and there wasn’t any apparent damage to the building.

No further information was released.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Lawrence, KS – Sprinkler system activated for electrical malfunction at law enforcement center; No injuries reported

There were no injuries from a fire at the law enforcement center in Lawrence late Tuesday.

Just before 11p.m. crews responded to a fire alarm at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center at 111 East 11th Street in Lawrence, according to Fire Chief Richard Llewellyn.

This facility houses several Douglas County departments, including the District Attorney, Emergency Communications Center (ECC), Court Services and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

While initial units were responding, the incident was upgraded to a “Confirmed Structure Fire” and additional resources were dispatched.

First responders encountered significant smoke in the basement of the building.  Following a thorough search in low visibility conditions, firefighters located a fire that was contained by a single activated fire sprinkler head.

Crews put the fire out and then searched the rest of the building for fire extension and to ensure that no victims were present.

Douglas County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) continued to operate throughout this incident, both receiving incoming 911 calls and dispatching resources as appropriate. Dispatchers monitored ongoing fire operations in the building and worked through an audible fire alarm which remained activated for an extended time period.

Investigators determined the fire occurred in the jury deliberation room for the Division 7 Court Room in the basement of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

The room had experienced water damage from a sprinkler head that was damaged during recent freezing temperatures. The fire was determined to be accidental due to an electrical/mechanical malfunction of a fan that had been left running in the room to assist with the drying process. No injuries were reported.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Mason City, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Ag Processing plant; No injuries reported

Mason City firefighters responded to a call of an equipment fire at Ag Processing, located at 1605 19th Street SW just before 3 a.m. Wednesday.

According to a press release, one ladder truck, two ambulances and three command units with total of 14 firefighters/medics responded to the scene.

Upon their arrival, fire department personnel found the fire sprinkler system was activated in the building where the process equipment was located. The fire sprinkler system assisted with containing the fire until the fire department gained access to the interior of the equipment and extinguished the fire, the release said.

The majority of the units cleared the scene by 5:58 a.m., with the exception of one engine company remained on scene most of the day to assist plant staff with overhaul.

MCFD personnel were also assisted on scene by Cerro Gordo Emergency Management. No injuries were reported The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Leominster, MA – Sprinkler system suppresses lithium-ion battery fire at manufacturing facility

The sprinkler system in a Leominster business controlled a lithium-ion battery fire yesterday, preventing what could have been serious damage in the early-morning hours, said Leominster Fire Chief Robert A. Sideleau II and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.

The Leominster Fire Department responded to an alarm activation at a manufacturing business at 501 Lancaster St. shortly before 5:00 yesterday morning. On arrival, they observed smoke but no fire. Firefighters made entry, searched for any injured parties, and ensured that the fire was fully extinguished. On further examination, they found that an overhead sprinkler head had activated, suppressing the fire.

An investigation by the Leominster Fire Department, Leominster Police Department, and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office determined that the fire was accidental started with lithium-ion batteries that had overheated on a workbench.

“If they’re abused, overheated, or overcharged, lithium-ion batteries can start a fire that explodes in smoke, flames, and toxic, flammable gases,” said Chief Sideleau. “These batteries power devices we use at home every day, from phones and laptops to power tools and outdoor equipment. It’s important to charge, use, and store these devices safely. Always use the manufacturer’s charging equipment. Charge the device on a hard and stable surface, not a bed, couch, or pillow. Disconnect the device when it’s fully charged, and store it at room temperature, not in direct sunlight, a hot car, or freezing temperatures.”

“The sprinkler system at this site operated exactly as intended,” said State Fire Marshal Davine.  “It effectively extinguished a fire and prevented serious damage or injury. Tragically, none of the 31 Massachusetts residents who died in fires at home last year had that protection. If you’re buying or building a home, choose one with fire sprinklers. There is no faster or more efficient way to control a serious fire until firefighters arrive.”

Yesterday’s incident was the second lithium-ion battery fire to be extinguished by a sprinkler system in recent weeks. On January 4, the Woburn Fire Department responded to a commercial site for an alarm activation to find that the building’s sprinkler system had effectively suppressed a fire that started with a chemical reaction involving lithium-ion batteries.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Milwaukee, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Holiday Inn Express & Suites; No injuries reported

Fire crews responded to a fire at a Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

The fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. at the hotel on Park Place, near 107th and Good Hope.

Fire crews said the fire was on the first floor. The hotel’s sprinkler system put out the flames.

Crews said no injuries were reported.

Office Building, Other Business

Mountain View, CA – Sprinkler system activated for lithium ion battery fire at Google office building

A malfunctioning battery lit a chair on fire in a Google office building Monday morning, causing some damage but no reported injuries, according to the Mountain View Fire Department.

Mountain View dispatchers received a 911 call at 11:37 a.m. on Jan. 22, reporting a fire alarm going off in a commercial building at 2011 Stierlin Court. When fire crews arrived, 25 Google employees had already exited the building, according to the statement.

Firefighters entered the one-story building saw smoke coming from a computer lab, and found that a sprinkler head in the affected area had been activated, according to fire officials. Firefighters turned off the flowing water and removed a burnt office chair from the building. They also used thermal imaging cameras to make sure that the fire was fully extinguished and had not spread to other parts of the building, according to the statement.

The fire was started by a lithium-ion battery that had been left in a cardboard box on an office chair. The estimated damage to the building and its contents was $50,000, the fire department said.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Erie, PA – Sprinkler system contains fire in building; No injuries reported

A fire broke out in the 200 block of West 9th Street overnight Monday.

Calls went out just after 2:40 a.m. on Monday for reported heavy smoke. Upon arrival, crews found a small fire which had been contained by the sprinkler system in the building.

Fire crews used fans to clear the building of the heavy smoke. Minimal damage was reported, and no one was injured.

Residential, Single Family Home

California, MD – Sprinkler system contains fire in 2-story single family residence

On Friday, January 19, 2024, at approximately 11:05 a.m., firefighters from Bay District, NAS Patuxent River, and Hollywood responded to the 43000 block of Sweetbay Street in California, for the reported basement fire in a residence.

Crews arrived on the scene to find a 2-story single-family residence with smoke coming from the front door.

Firefighters entered and located fire in a utility room, which was being contained by a sprinkler system. Personnel extinguished the remaining fire and secured utilities to the residence and found no extensions.

Preliminary investigation by firefighters suggest that the fire was caused by a Lithium-Ion battery that was in the process of charging.

No injuries were reported and the occupants were not displaced by the fire.

This is the 2nd fire this month for our St. Mary’s County firefighters responding to a house fire caused by a charging Lithium Ion battery.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Charlottetown, PE, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at clinic

Health P.E.I. clinics at the Polyclinic Professional Centre in Charlottetown will remain closed on Thursday following a small fire in the cafe earlier this week. 

The Charlottetown Fire Department said it received a call just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The department said the fire was caused by a pot of grease sitting on a stove that was left on accidentally.

“There was smoke and flames visible in a window on the first floor and we managed to extinguish the fire fairly quickly,” said Kent Mitchell, the deputy chief.

“It wasn’t a great big fire, but it doesn’t take much of a fire to create a lot of smoke.”

This is the second day in a row that Health P.E.I.-run clinics are closed in the building. According to a news release from Health P.E.I., crews are still cleaning the area and working to remove the smell of smoke.

This means patients are being contacted about new times and locations for their appointments.

The director of community specialty services with Health P.E.I. said staff were able to get into the building after everything was extinguished to get the information they needed to continue with service.

Mitchell said there were people in the building when the fire started but they all got out when the alarm went off.

“This building had a fire alarm system, sprinkler system, so that’s all good. But in any other building we certainly encourage you make sure you test your smoke alarms,” he said.

“It’s a lesson for everybody because it’s the smoke that really causes damage not necessarily the the size of the fire.”

He estimated it could take a few days minimum to have the building all cleaned up.