All posts by viking210

Apartment Building, Residential

Langford, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fourth floor apartment fire

At least one person was left homeless on Christmas Eve after a fire badly damaged one suite and water damage rendered others temporarily uninhabitable at an apartment building on Treanor Avenue in Langford.

View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst said at least one person was displaced as a result of the midday blaze, a kitchen fire on the fourth floor, which drew firefighters from Langford, Colwood and View Royal.

The fire was contained to the suite after the sprinkler system activated, controlling the blaze, he said.

“But unfortunately, you know what happens when a sprinkler system goes off on the fourth floor — everybody on floors three, two and one [is affected] — it makes for a pretty wet experience all the way around.”

Hurst couldn’t say exactly how many people were displaced, but the unit where the fire started is uninhabitable due to flame, smoke and water damage. He expected at least a handful of other units would have been hard to live in as a result of water damage.

“We got the water shut off as quickly as we could, but still they flow at 20 to 30 gallons per minute,” he said. If it takes 10 minutes for the fire department to shut off the water, that amounts to 300 gallons, “a lot of water in a small apartment.”

The occupant of the suite on the fourth floor was not in the unit at the time of the fire.

The province confirmed Wednesday afternoon that one person is receiving a shelter allowance through Emergency Support Services.

Hurst said if it was any other time of year, more people could have been displaced.

But because it was Christmas Eve, the crews on scene used “vacuums and all kinds of stuff to get up as much of the water as we could to make the suites somewhat habitable.”

Apartment Building, Residential

San Marino, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire on fourth floor of apartment building

On Thursday, Dec. 4, the San Marino Fire Department’s Battalion 9 assisted the Pasadena Fire Department on a mid-rise apartment house fire on the fourth floor. The fire was isolated to the primary apartment unit, and due to the activation of the building’s fire sprinkler system, damage was kept to a minimum. BC9 provided Command Support throughout the incident.

 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Jamestown, ND – Sprinkler system activated for fire at event center; No injuries reported

The Jamestown Fire Department responded on Monday, Dec. 22, to a report of a sprinkler system being activated at Hidden River Acres Event Center, according to Lt. Grant Christianson.

Four units and 18 firefighters responded to 901 4th Ave. NW at about 12:45 p.m. Monday.

When firefighters arrived, they found smoke inside the Hidden River Acres Event Center, Christianson said.

“Two guys went in and noticed it wasn’t hot in there, and then saw the sprinkler head was going off, so they shut the sprinkler system down and then just ventilated the structure from smoke,” he said. “The system put the fire out. It did what it was supposed to do.”

Christianson said the building received minor smoke damage, and the ice machine was also damaged.

Christianson said the cause of the fire was from the ice machine malfunctioning.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were on scene for about an hour.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fort Frances, ON, Canada – Late night arson fire at tire shop contained by sprinkler system

Rainy River District OPP have a youth offender in custody following an arson investigation that resulted from a late night fire at the Fort Frances Canadian Tire store.

In a post made to their Facebook page early this morning, Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services noted that they responded to the retail store at approximately 11:04 p.m. last night, Thursday, December 18, 2025. OPP officers were already on scene upon arrival at Canadian Tire, and firefighters noted heavy smoke and low visibility when they entered the store.

Canadian Tires’ sprinkler system had activated and contained the fire to a limited area, and firefighters were able to make “a quick interior attack” to bring the fire under control.

A primary and secondary search were performed to ensure no occupants were within the building, and it was subsequently ventilated to help clear hazardous smoke.

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services noted that firefighters and other first responders faced “extreme cold conditions” during the effort to put out the fire.

As of this morning, the Fort Frances OPP had carriage of the scene to conduct an investigation.

As a result of the investigation, an OPP spokesperson confirmed a 15-year-old youth from Fort Frances has been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code with:

  • Arson – damage to property
  • Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
  • Break and enter
  • Uttering threats – cause death or bodily harm
  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 – 2 counts
  • Fail to comply with probation order
  • Mischief – destroy or damages property

The accused cannot be identified as they are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Fort Frances on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services shared that sprinkler systems can make a big difference in local homes and businesses when it comes to protecting from, or lessening, the damage caused by fires to both property and human life.

“Fire protection systems like sprinklers help protect our community, businesses, and first responders,” Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services said in their post.

”Thanks to all responding agencies for their coordinated efforts.”

The OPP said members of the Fort Frances Crime Unit continue to investigate alongside the Office of the Fire Marshal.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fenton, MO – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Two residents at the Sugar Creek Apartments complex have been displaced due to a fire that started Thursday night, Dec. 18.

The High Ridge Fire Protection District was called to an apartment building at the 4200 block of Jade Way Court in the Jefferson County portion of Fenton about 7 p.m. Fire Chief John Barton said the fire started near an outdoor storage closet attached to a first-floor apartment.

He said none of the complex residents were injured in the fire.

“When we arrived, there were residents outside the building, and there was a fire on the first floor that had extended to the second floor,” Barton said. “There was also a sprinkler that had activated, so there was a lot of water flowing from the sprinkler already, which we believe helped keep the fire in check, so to speak, and prevented it from extending into the second floor or into the void space.”

The fire was extinguished by 7:24 p.m. and crews left the scene by 9:20 p.m., Barton said. The cause of the fire is still unknown, he said, but likely will be ruled as accidental.

“I spoke with the investigator this morning, and the cause will probably be listed as undetermined,” Barton said today, Dec. 19. “We can’t rule out an electrical problem with something in that apartment, but I don’t think they were able to identify a specific outlet or circuit that would have been responsible for it.”

Barton said the first-floor apartment has significant damage due to the fire. However, because the fire originated outside the residence, he said most of the residents’ belongings should be undamaged. He said the second-floor apartment was vacant at the time of the fire.

Barton said High Ridge Fire was assisted on the scene by the Valley Park, Eureka, Saline Valley and Fenton fire protection districts, along with the North Jefferson County Ambulance District.

Barton said this incident was a good example of how effective sprinkler systems can be. In general, Barton said apartment sprinkler systems are checked annually by the fire district and when completing occupancy inspections.

“This certainly would have been a much more significant incident with more residents and apartments affected, but the activation of one single sprinkler head was enough to prevent the fire on the first floor from moving up and causing serious damage on the second floor,” Barton said. “That, combined with residents calling 911 right away and evacuating the building instead of wasting some time trying to put the fire out themselves, is what made the difference.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Austin, TX – Fire caused by charging e-bike knocked down by sprinkler system

AFD is at the scene of a second floor apartment fire in east Austin. It is the fire department’s third major fire response this morning after an apartment fire in southeast Austin and a fire at a liquor store in east Austin.

Fire crews are at the scene of smoke coming from an apartment at 1700 E. Third St. AFD initially reported the fire at around 5:50 a.m. Friday morning.

AFD says that fire crews entered the apartment to find that the sprinkler system knocked down the fire. Crews extinguished the fire, including hot spots, and worked to shut off the water flow from the sprinklers.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by an electric E-bike being charged in the apartment.

One apartment sustained fire and water damage, while another apartment sustained water damage. Crews remained at the scene to limit further water damage from the sprinkler system.

Apartment Building, Residential

Essex, VT – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A small apartment fire in Essex was extinguished Wednesday evening before spreading to the rest of the building.

Emergency crews responded to an apartment complex on Susie Wilson Road at around 6:30 p.m.

According to the Essex Fire Department, the unit’s sprinkler system had stifled most of the fire by the time crews arrived to put out the rest.

Residents were evacuated from the building as a precaution, and the power was shut off in one wing of the building to avoid electrical damage.

Nobody was injured.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lawrenceburg, TN – Fire at hotel contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Lawrenceburg Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the Best Western Plus on Sunday, December 14, at 11:00 p.m. Upon arrival, crews found active fire in the pool mechanical room. The building’s fire sprinkler system contained the fire, preventing it from spreading.

Lawrenceburg Police assisted with evacuating hotel occupants, while fire crews extinguished the fire and ventilated the area. Investigators determined the blaze was caused by a pool heater pump catching fire. No injuries were reported, and guests were allowed to return to their rooms.

The department highlighted the incident as a clear example of the importance of maintaining fire alarm and sprinkler systems, which can alert occupants early and limit damage.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Milwaukee, WI – Fire at assisted living center quickly contained by sprinkler system

A fire in one unit of an assisted living facility occurred on Milwaukee’s north side on Dec. 12.

The fire took place at an assisted living facility at North 46th Street and West Hampton Avenue in one unit of the building around 5 p.m. First responders took one person to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and another for a separate medical need.

The fire was contained by the building’s sprinkler system and responding firefighters, said Milwaukee Fire Department Deputy Chief Travis Jones.

“If it weren’t for the sprinkler system, it probably wouldn’t have turned out the way it did,” Jones said.

Firefighters were able to force the door open to the unit with the fire and rescue the one occupant, he said.

The fire department received its first call for the fire at 5:05 p.m. and an initial unit arrived four minutes later, he said. By 6:03 p.m. the department completed its initial response to the fire.

Department fire investigators and the Milwaukee Police Department were called to the scene to determine the fire’s cause and the extent of the damages remains under investigation, Jones said.

The department called on the Red Cross for assistance for at least one resident, Jones said. A spokesperson for the Red Cross did not immediately respond to comment on the extent of the organization’s work.

In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said “all other occupants able to return.” He credited the building’s sprinklers and firefighters for the outcome.

“Fantastic outcomes,” his post said.

Sprinklers in Milwaukee’s residences have taken on increased focus in the last year, after one of the worst fires in the city’s history took place and killed five in May. That fire occurred in an old apartment building that did not have sprinklers, which is allowed due to its age.

Nearly 70% of Milwaukee’s high-rise buildings were constructed before sprinklers were required by state law, city officials said previously.

Lipski has pressed for changes to state law that would require sprinklers in these buildings. However, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican from Rochester who owns rental properties in Whitewater, said it’s unlikely lawmakers would mandate sprinklers after that fire.

State Sen. LaTonya Johnson introduced a package of bills in November that would allow the city to mandate them and offer landlords grant funds to help pay. Those bills have been referred to assembly committees, but it remains to be seen if they move any further.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Hudson, NH – Sprinkler system activated for classroom fire at school

Alvirne High School students and staff were evacuated Thursday morning to the nearby Hills Garrison Elementary School after flames broke out in a first-floor classroom, School District Superintendent Dan Moulis said.

Nobody was in the classroom when the fire, which Moulis described as an “oil fire,” ignited, triggering alarms and the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters arrived within minutes and promptly called for a “working fire” response, which brought additional Hudson crews to the scene and a request for mutual aid companies to respond either to the scene or to cover Hudson stations.

First-arriving crews conducted a search to make sure nobody was still in or near Classroom 108, the room in which the fire is believed to have originated.

The first-responding crews and other firegighters quickly extinguished the flames, and were able to contain them to that classroom, according to Moulis.

The incident was reported under control within a few minutes, and some students and staff began returning to Alvirne at about 9:20 a.m., roughly an hour after they were evacuated, according to Will LeBlond, the school district’s communications coordinator.

LeBlond said district officials decided shortly after 10 a.m. to dismiss school for the day “to ensure that the building could be properly cleaned.”

Classes will resume Friday as scheduled.

A section of Derry Road (Route 102) was closed for a period of time to give crews plenty of space to operate and to lay hoses across the road.

LeBlond said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers