Category Archives: Government/Military

Government/Military, Public Library

Stroudsburg, PA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in public library’s bookmobile

A small fire temporarily closed the Eastern Monroe Public Library on Wednesday. No one was injured, according to a series of statements on the library’s Facebook page.

“The fire was contained to the bookmobile and there is no damage to the Hughes Library Building,” it said in an 11:30 a.m. revision to an earlier statement. “We need to recharge our sprinkler system before reopening and a crew is on the way to complete that work. We hope to reopen this afternoon.”

The bookmobile was parked inside the library garage when the fire began, according to the same statement. The building’s sprinkler system extinguished the flames before the fire could spread.

“Rest assured everyone is fine,” the library page posted in a response to comments. “No one was in the building at the time and there is no damage to the building.”

“Yes, we intend to open this afternoon once the sprinkler system is reset. Thank you for your support.”

The building had reopened by 2:16 p.m., according to a later post.

“The Hughes Library has reopened and we will be open until the regular closing time of 9 p.m. today,” it said. “Thanks to the Stroud Township Fire Department and the Harrel Sprinkler Company for helping us to reopen quickly.”

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Toronto, ON, Canada – Arson fire at historic building controlled by sprinkler system

Police have taken over the investigation into a fire at Old City Hall on Monday night after investigators determined that it was deliberately set.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg told CP24 on Tuesday morning that investigators with the Ontario Fire Marshal and Toronto Fire Services made the ruling after wrapping up an extensive investigation at the historic building at around 4:30 a.m.

“I can confirm that the fire was intentionally set. It is now in the hands of the detective at Toronto police,” he said.

The one-alarm blaze broke out in the southeast corner of Old City Hall at around 8 p.m.

Pegg said that crews first became aware of the fire after the building’s sprinkler system went off.

He said that the damage from the blaze is estimated at about $100,000, which he called “extraordinarily low” given the circumstances.

“We are very fortunate that that this building has sprinklers and that the system worked as designed. It would have been a much different scenario had that not been the case,”: he said. “We had three sprinkler heads activate last night. The sprinkler system controls the growth, development and spread of the fire so in essence it keeps it in check until our firefighters arrive and can suppress the fire.”

Pegg said that there is smoke and water damage from the fire but no structural damage.

According to a spokesperson from the Ministry of the Attorney General, the fire impacted the Provincial Offences Act appeals office but did not damage any paperwork related to criminal cases.

“The Provincial Offences Act appeals office and matters scheduled in one courtroom have been moved within the building. The courts remain operational at this time,” Brian Gray said.

No information has been released about potential suspects at this point.

Government Office

Moulton, AL – Fire in office cubicle at county courthouse is extinguished by sprinkler system

An overnight fire has caused damage in a north Alabama courthouse, and leaders are trying to figure out what to do next.  Local media reports that Moulton firefighters located the fire in a cubicle on the second floor after receiving an alarm.  Firefighters say it was an electrical fire that was put out by the sprinkler system.

Lawrence County officials announced on social media that the county courthouse in Moulton sustained fire, water and smoke damage from a blaze late Monday.  The building is closed indefinitely, and commissioners are meeting Tuesday to discuss the next step.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Terre Haute, IN – Arson fire at correctional facility contained by sprinkler system

The surveillance pictures clearly show a man walking around the offices but he took steps to hide his face and disguise his identity. 

Wearing dark clothing, gloves, and a ski mask, the suspect broke into the Community Corrections Center and then wandered the halls and offices spreading an accelerant with a spray bottle.

“The fire itself placed a lot of people in danger. There was approximately 56 offenders, 54 in the building at the time. I also had 3 or 4 staff here.” said Bill Watson, Executive Director of Community Corrections. 

Smoke alarms alerted everyone to get out, which they did safely, and the building’s sprinkler system poured water on the blaze. Firefighters arrived to finish the job.

Vigo County law enforcement has a message for those who commit these types of crimes:

“People out there that do bad things need to know that they’re not going to get away with it. We’re going to keep looking for you and trying to find you to bring you to justice. This is another example of a law enforcement agency being targeted.” says Norm Loudermilk, Fire Investigator.

Damage was mostly caused by smoke and water. Officials were able to get cleaning crews inside to immediately start putting things back in order.

“A lot of people came together this morning to resolve a bad situation that could have been a lot harder”, Bill Watson.

Even though the suspect covered his face, investigators hope someone will recognize his build, walk, or some other characteristic.

 Anyone with information is asked to call the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.

Government Office, Government/Military

Terre Haute, IN – Arson fire at corrections facility contained by automatic sprinkler system

A man used a portable weed sprayer full of flammable liquid as he set fire inside multiple offices of the state parole office of Vigo County Community Correction early last Wednesday. Arson investigator Norm Loudermilk of the Terre Haute Fire Department said surveillance video shows the man – dressed in black and wearing a face mask – use a pry bar to open a locked public access door of the building and carry the container into the building. Minutes later, fire alarms sounded.

Multiple offices were entered and sprayed with the accelerant, then set ablaze, Loudermilk said.  The building sprinkler system suppressed the fire, but the building sustained smoke and water damage.  Loudermilk described the suspect as a white male about 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighing about 230 pounds. He is seen on video walking up to the building from the south, and exiting about a half-hour later.

“It was obvious that the fires were set in each of the offices. Not all of the offices were burned, but each office had been gone through and then several offices were set on fire,” Loudermilk said of the state parole office, where firefighters found heavy smoke when they arrived.  Loudermilk said no one saw the suspect enter or exit the building, though one staff member was on break outside the building at the time the suspect left.  The alarm sounded about 3:43 a.m.

About 60 people were inside the building, which houses the work release center for community corrections.

Those people were evacuated safely with no injuries, and held outside the building. The fact that people were inside the building asleep in dormitories at the time the fire was set makes the arson even more serious, Loudermilk said.

Tips about the suspect can be submitted to the Terre Haute Police Department at 812-238-1661 or through Crime Stoppers at 812-238-STOP.

Firefighters entered the building to find the fire supression system had worked.

Bill Watson, executive director of community corrections, said the door entered by the suspect was not alarmed because it is a public access door used daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., when it is locked by staff.

Video shows the staff locking and checking the door to make sure it was secure, Watson said.

Water and smoke damage occurred throughout the building, he said. Ceiling tiles were water-soaked and must be removed.

Teams from ServePro were cleaning up the dormitory area and control room of work release Wednesday morning. Watson said he expected to have residents moved back into two dormitories today.

About 54 to 56 residents and 4 staff were in the buildling when the fire alarm sounded, Watson said. All exited the building without injury.

“We had protocols in place and those were followed,” Watson said. “They shut down our systems so that damage was minimized, so we should be able to get the security system back online.”

The second floor of the building houses offices for the Title IV-D court, county probation, state parole and Choices Consulting Center, which offers drug and alcohol counseling services.

Community corrections, which includes work release and electronic monitoring, are housed on the first floor of the building.

Forensic teams from THPD were at the scene processing evidence, including collecting fingerprints and liquid believed to be accelerant.

Government Office, Office Building

Ponoka, AB, Canada – Fire in recycle bin at government building extinguished by sprinkler system

Ponoka RCMP are investigating a small fire that occurred at the Ponoka Provincial Building Wednesday around lunch. Along with police, the Ponoka County East District Fire Department were called to the scene where a blue recycle bin appears to have burst into flames. The building’s fire sprinkler system was set off, which extinguished the fire, and also covered a portion of the main floor. What was left of the bin was moved outside while RCMP investigated. A small amount of water was left on the floor near the sprinkler that went off.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Fairbanks, AK – Fire inside fire department headquarters garage controlled by sprinkler system

A fire ignited inside the Fairbanks Fire Department headquarters over the weekend. FFD says the engine compartment of a light duty SUV, which is used by the Battalion Chief, caught fire while sitting inside the garage bay. The fire station’s sprinkler system activated, keeping the blaze under control until an available fire engine could respond from Station 3, the Aurora station. FFD says all personnel stationed at the headquarters were out of active medical calls when the car fire began. Two personnel in quarters began taking measures to attack the fire but could not engage until additional support arrived.

The cause remains under investigation, though no foul play is suspected. No injuries were reported. FFD says the extent of the damage to the station is still being determined, but direct fire damages were limited to the bay. Some smoke damage extended into other areas of the building. In a Facebook post, the Fairbanks Firefighters Union, blamed short staffing, saying “Every year the number of simultaneous EMS calls in the city increase. When crews are on multiple EMS calls the City has almost no fire protection… Short staffing is a major issue for the safety of residence (sic) in Fairbanks.“

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other-Government/Military

Quincy, IL – Fire in pool pump room at community center extinguished by sprinkler system

A chemical fire Friday that led to a temporary evacuation of the Kroc Center was the first fire in the building’s six-year history. An automatic fire alarm went off around 9:30 a.m. at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center, 405 Vermont, and employees immediately began evacuating patrons as a precaution. When the fire was confirmed, the automatic alarm was upgraded to a general alarm and multiple fire trucks responded.

“Every time we show up, and we see that a proper evacuation has taken place, it takes a lot off our shoulders,” said Quincy Fire Department Capt. Mark Bigelow. “Then we get down to the business of extinguishing the fire and controlling it.” The fire, believed to be chemical in nature, broke out in a pump room near the swimming pool area, Bigelow said. The cause is still being investigated, but Bigelow said construction equipment in the pump room, like propane tanks, may have been involved. No construction was being done at the time.

Bigelow said damage will likely be minimal. Most of the equipment in the pump room is designed for moisture, he said. The fire was extinguished by a sprinkler. “Another win for automatic sprinkler systems,” Bigelow said. No injuries were reported.

Carolyn Carpenter, Kroc Center marketing manager, said the facility regularly practices fire drills with its employees.

Several dozen people were left outside for about 30 minutes in the single-digit temperatures because of the evacuation. Staff members began transporting some patrons to the Salvation Army Family Store, which is used as a warming center. Patrons who were evacuated from the pool were outside in swimsuits and shoeless. Staff members began loading them into vehicles and handing out blankets and socks.

“Everybody here did an outstanding job,” Bigelow said.

As soon as firefighters cleared the building, patrons were allowed to return but remained in the Kroc Center’s Worship Theatre while the investigation was conducted.

Bigelow said that while the department has responded to the Kroc Center many times for false alarms, he believes this was the first actual fire.

Government/Military, Military Facility

Fort Hood, TX – Fire at Fort Hood dining facility suppressed with help from sprinkler system

A fire caused minor damage to a dining facility on north Fort Hood Wednesday afternoon.  Directorate of Emergency Services personnel were dispatched around 2:20 p.m. after a fire was reported at the DFAC facility.  “As a safety precaution, the building manager had already evacuated personnel in the building due to the sprinkler system discharging water and possible interaction with the electrical system,” a Fort Hood spokesperson said.  When emergency personnel arrived, the fire was already extinguished.  It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

Government/Military, Public Library

Dallas, TX – Sprinkler system protects downtown public library from overnight fire

An overnight fire damaged the main public library building in downtown Dallas.

Firefighters were called to the Erik Jonsson Central Library at 12:15 Sunday morning on a report of smoke inside the building.

Dallas Fire Rescue called in backup crews because of the size of the building.

The source of the smoke was a light fixture, which experienced an electrical short in a lower storage area of the library, according to Dallas Fire Rescue.

The fire was extinguished immediately after the sprinkler system activated, which limited the damage to the light fixture and the ceiling nearby, Dallas Fire Rescue said.

No one was injured.