Category Archives: Hospital/Care Facility

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Muskogee, OK – Fire caused by malfunctioning popcorn machine controlled by sprinkler system

A Sunday afternoon fire in the concession area of Apex Cinema, 2812 W. Shawnee Bypass, caused the theater’s evacuation and sent two people to the hospital.

The fire began shortly after 5 p.m. due to a malfunctioning popcorn machine, which in turn set off the building’s sprinkler system, said Muskogee Fire Captain Brian Fuller.

“The system extinguished the fire and flooded the front part of the building there with water,” Fuller said. “We got the sprinkler head shut down, removed the smoke from the building and shut the power off to that area.”

Fuller estimated the theater would be shut down for “several days” while cleanup takes place.

Muskogee Emergency Medical Service Community Relations Coordinator Trish German said two people were transported from the scene in ambulances. Their conditions and the nature of their injuries remain unknown, German said.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Oxford, NJ – Mattress fire at Rehabilitation and Nursing Center extinguished by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A mattress fire Tuesday inside Warren Haven Rehabilitation and Nursing Center was extinguished by the facility’s sprinkler system, authorities said.

It was reported at 12:07 p.m. on the second floor at the 350 Oxford Road facility in Mansfield Township, according to township police Chief Michael Reilly.

It occurred in Room 243, which was unoccupied at the time and in an unoccupied wing, said Warren County Fire Marshal Joe Lake.

No one was injured, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation by township police, Lake and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Upon activation of a fire alarm, staff initiated their evacuation protocol, police said. Residents there were allowed to remain inside, behind closed doors, according to Lake.

Firefighters vented smoke from the building, and residents were allowed to go about their day, police said. 

Responding to the incident along with township police, Lake and the prosecutor’s office were the Mansfield Township Fire Department, Tri-County Fire Department, Oxford Township Fire Department, Independence Township Fire Department, Oxford Rescue Squad, Washington Borough Rescue Squad, Hackettstown Rescue Squad and Warren County Hazmat.

Privately owned, Warren Haven says it offers respite, short-term sub-acute rehabilitation and long-term care stays, as well as a secured memory care unit.

The facility was fully operational immediately following the incident and is working with local officials and the New Jersey Department of Health to investigate what happened, Warren Haven CEO Amy Austin said in a statement.

“Warren Haven remains committed to providing a safe environment of care for all of its residents/patients, employees, families, and visitors, and will continue to follow the guidance of the New Jersey State Department of Health and local authorities as necessary and appropriate,” Austin stated.

Apartment Building, Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic, Residential

Kalamazoo, MI – (Fire Marshal Reported) Two fires suppressed by fire sprinkler systems across Kalamazoo

On Wednesday May 15, 2019 sprinklers save the day for two different locations in Kalamazoo. A kitchen fire was quickly doused with limited  damage at a multistory multifamily residence. A full alarm assignment was quickly reduced to a single engine company upon learning the fire was quickly suppressed by the sprinkler system as Kalamazoo was battling another structure fire. 

Later in the night a fire in the sterilization unit of Bronson Methodist Hospital was quickly suppressed by a single sprinkler head limiting direct fire damage.

Office Building, Other - Hospital/Medical

Pasadena, CA – Overnight fire at commercial medical building extinguished by sprinkler system

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Pasadena firefighters responded to a fire alarm at 39 Congress Street early Wednesday at a multi-story commercial medical building. The sprinkler system activated in response to the fire authorities that believed was caused by an electric cup warmer left plugged in, and placed in a wooden box with coffee break items, according to the Pasadena Fire Department. During the course of the night, heat from the device warmed surrounding materials enough to ignite a fire that burned the box and cabinet above, the report said. When firefighters on Engine 31 arrived at about 1:37 a.m., they found water from the sprinkler had put out the fire.

The fire crews helped clean up the water damage on the third and second floors, and reset the fire alarm to normal operations, before releasing control of the scene at about 3:46 a.m. The Pasadena Fire Department also issued a reminder that small accessories, such as the cup warmer in this case, can lead to bigger fires, activated sprinklers, and water damage.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Residential

Calgary, AB, Canada – Mattress fire at homeless shelter controlled by sprinkler system

Two hundred people were cleared out of a downtown Calgary homeless shelter after a mattress caught fire on Tuesday. Crews responded to a triggered alarm system in the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope, located in the 400 block of 9 Avenue S.E., at around 3:30 p.m., according to the Calgary Fire Department (CFD). A mattress in a third-floor room caught fire and activated the sprinklers, the CFD said.

“The sprinkler successfully contained the fire to that unit until fire crews could get on scene and finish extinguishing it,” said Carol Henke, the CFD’s public information officer. After firefighters ventilated the building and ensured the air quality was safe, staff and residents were allowed back inside just before 6 p.m., the department said. Several residents were displaced due to fire and water damage and will be allowed back in their suites after they are cleaned, officials said. It is unknown if the resident of the unit was inside at the time the fire started. The fire’s origin and cause are under investigation.

Child Care Facility

Appleton, WI – Sprinkler system prevents further damage in day care stove fire

A single sprinkler head was able to extinguish fire from a stove top at an Appleton child care facility on Monday. At around 11:45 a.m., the Appleton Fire Department was sent to Appleton KinderCare on S. Oneida Street for a report of a fire in the kitchen. All staff and 65 children at the day care were able to safely evacuate the facility. When crews arrived, they had found that a sprinkler head was able to completely extinguish the fire, which had only damaged some nearby cardboard boxes. Officials say the fire started when a worker had placed empty boxes on top of the stove and a burner may have been inadvertently turned on. According to the Appleton Fire Department, this is the second incident in the past two months in which a sprinkler extinguished a fire in an Appleton building.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Canton, OH – Sprinkler system extinguished fire at hospital; No injuries reported

Canton Firefighters were called about 11 p.m. Wednesday to Aultman Hospital’s Bedford Building in response to a fire.

Jason Clevenger of corporate communications at Aultman said the fire occurred on the first floor in the office area.

Clevenger said no patients or staff members were injured.

The hospital issued the following statement Thursday:

“Around 11 p.m. last night, the fire alarm system was activated by a fire in a first floor Bedford building office area. The sprinkler system activated, extinguishing the fire, and the Canton Fire Department quickly arrived at the scene. No patients or staff were injured, and no services were affected.”

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Davenport, IA – Overnight fire at memory care center put out by sprinkler system

A fire was sparked inside a resident’s room at the Country Manor Memory Care in Davenport on West 46th Street. It happened around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, Fire Chief Paul Hartman said. The fire was contained and put out quickly by the building’s sprinkler system. Everyone in the building is safe. It’s unclear what started the fire.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Brockway, PA – Fire at health care and rehabilitation center held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

In Jefferson County, a fire at a health care and rehabilitation center is still under investigation.

Fire officials say the fire was contained to the kitchen of the Highland View Healthcare Center.

According to the Brockway Volunteer Hose Company, the fire had been held in check by the sprinkler system.

Officials say the fire was ruled incendiary in nature.

They estimate damage totaled about $5,000.

No injuries were reported and the owner does have insurance, officials say.

Hospital/Care Facility, Other - Hospital/Medical

Columbia, MO – Fire at Planned Parenthood extinguished by sprinkler system

Police believe somebody intentionally set fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic early Sunday in Columbia, Mo. 

Firefighters first arrived at Planned Parenthood-Columbia Health Center, at 711 North Providence Road, around 4 a.m., according to a press release.  

An investigation showed that a sprinkler system put out the fire. Officials said the “small fire” was suspicious. Other details of the fire were not released, and authorities did not discuss a possible motive.

The clinic no longer offers abortions after new requirements went into effect last year. It provides birth control, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and the morning after pill.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the fire to contact the Columbia Police Department at 573-874-7652.