Category Archives: Fire / Police Station

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Santa Maria, CA – Sprinkler system halts blaze after man sets fire to police department Christmas tree

A 23-year-old Guadalupe man was arrested when he allegedly set a Santa Maria Police Department Christmas tree on fire in their own lobby.

Santa Maria police say Steven Minami, 23, contacted police to report he was paranoid and believed someone had hacked into his computer.

The Santa Maria Police Department provided the following narrative on what happened next:

When Officers did not respond as quickly as Minami wanted, he grabbed a Department decorated Christmas tree and placed it on top of some chairs. Minami then lit the tree on fire, which caused the building’s fire protection sprinkler system to activate.

The emergency sprinkler system performed properly and quickly extinguished the fire; however, a large amount of smoke filled the front of the building. Minami was immediately located in front of the Department and arrested.

A part of the police department’s interior walls and flooring received water and smoke damage.

Minami was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of felony arson, vandalism, and public intoxication. His bail was set at $250,000.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Burbank, IL – Fire in locker room of police station controlled by building’s sprinkler system

No one was injured when the southwest suburban Burbank Police Station caught fire Sunday night. A small fire broke out about 7:25 p.m. in a locker room on the lower level of the police station, according to a statement from Burbank police. The Burbank Fire Department, as well as several other area fire departments, responded to put out the fire, which was confined to a couple of lockers.  Police said the building sustained heavy smoke damage, some fire damage and water damage. The fire was controlled by the building’s sprinkler system.  An early investigation suggests that the fire originated near an electrical outlet within a locker and does not seem to be suspicious in nature, police said. No injuries were reported, and no prisoners were inside the building at the time of the fire. Neither the communications or emergency operating systems were affected, so the fire will not impede police functions, police said

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Roanoke, VA – Fire in police station extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

The Roanoke Police Department’s Station had to be evacuated on Thursday evening because of a fire.  The fire broke out in a room on the third floor of the building, according to Tiffany Bradbury with Roanoke Fire EMS.  She said everyone was evacuated from the building and that no one was injured.  The sprinkler system was activated and the fire is now out; however, firefighters are currently checking the building to make sure everything is clear.  Campbell Avenue is still closed to traffic.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Sprinklers control engine/pumper fire at volunteer fire department (Vernon Township, PA)

“If it hadn’t been for the fire alarm system and the sprinklers, we’d have been in deep trouble,” said Tom Benak, a trustee and an assistant chief with Vernon Central Hose Co.  The fire, which occured around 11:45 PM on Tuesday night, was ruled accidental due to an electrical wiring malfunction in the crew compartment area behind the driver’s seat.