Category Archives: Hotel / Restaurant
Vancouver, WA – Fire sprinklers keep fire from spreading at local restaurant
Staff has worked hard over the past two days, and the restaurant plans to reopen Friday morning.
“We were here from early morning (Wednesday) to 6 or 7 p.m., and then all day today cleaning everything up,” waiter Alex Armeta said.
The sprinkler system flooded the business with a couple inches of water but prevented the fire from spreading, Armeta said.
Vancouver firefighters were dispatched shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday to the Bridgeport Retail Center at 316 S.E. 123rd Ave., for a report of a water flow alarm.
The first fire crew to arrive found water on the floor and smoke in Lindo Mexico, Vancouver Fire Department firefighter Eva Scherer said. Crews requested an upgrade to a commercial fire response for additional resources, she said.
One occupant evacuated from the restaurant, and businesses adjacent to the restaurant were also evacuated as a precaution, Scherer said.
Firefighters extinguished a wood stove that was burning and noted several sprinkler head activations in the restaurant and water throughout the structure. They remained on scene to help with water removal from the building.
Fire damage was confined to a garbage can, pull station for a kitchen hood fire extinguishing system, nearby supplies and a serving counter, Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said. There was water and smoke damage throughout the rest of the suite, but no other businesses were affected, Scarpelli said.
The fire was caused when the business owner placed ashes from the wood pellet-fired stove into a garbage can in the kitchen. The owner then left the restaurant to get supplies and returned after fire crews had arrived, according to the fire marshal.
The incident caused $58,510 worth of damage, Scarpelli said. The sprinklers likely saved about $5.8 million in potential total loss to the building and its contents, she said.
Mt. Pleasant, MI – Hotel sprinkler system extinguishes fire in guest room before firefighters arrived; No injuries reported
Firefighters arrived on the scene and observed heavy smoke coming from a heating unit in Room 218. The room was unoccupied at the time and the sprinkler system within the room extinguished the fire before the firefighters arrived.
The entire building evacuated the premises after the building’s fire alarm went off. There are no reported injuries among the hotel guests, staff, or firefighters.
The MPFD escorted hotel guests to gather their belongings and all guests are being relocated to other properties.
The building’s lobby suffered water damage and Room 218 suffered extensive fire and smoke damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.
The Mt Pleasant Fire Department was assisted by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Fire Department, the Shepherd Tri-Township Fire Department and Mobile Medical Response.
Pearl River, NY – Sprinkler system contains fire at local pizzeria
Once on the scene, firefighters found heavy smoke conditions in the building and sprinkler activation inside the restaurant.
After forcing their way into the restaurant, crews were able to douse the flames in the kitchen area and return to the station by 5:30 a.m.
The building received heavy smoke and water damage.
No word on when the restaurant will be able to reopen.
Corpus Christi, TX – Fire sprinklers help put out fire at local restaurant
When firefighters got to the scene, they saw the smoke and had to track down the flames. The fire was contained to a storage room in the back of the restaurant. Fire officials say a ceiling sprinkler system helped to contain the fire to the area and ultimately helped firefighters put out the flames.
A fire investigator was called to the scene to try and determine a cause.
Some neighboring stores did have smoke damage. There is no word when the restaurant will open back up.
Rockland, MA – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading after women drives through front of pizza shop
The car ended up completely inside Mike’s Pizza at 315 Union St. after the crash, which happened around 11:50 p.m. The vehicle was on fire before firefighters doused the flames, authorities said.
The driver, identified as 40-year-old Rockland resident Lauren Hutcheon, was out of the vehicle by the time officers arrived. She received aid before being taken to a local hospital, police said.
Neighbors Jason Webb and his fiancee said they heard the crash and came running to help.
“I’m looking out my window and saw flames before I even got her out of the car,” Webb said. “It was instant flames.”
Before crews even arrived, the restaurant’s sprinkler system went off and helped keep the flames from spreading.
“She actually opened the driver side door herself, threw herself on the ground and screamed, ‘help me, help me,’ as we were running up there,” Webb said.
Hutcheon was charged with speeding, failure to stop, negligent operation and driving under the influence, among other charges.
Firefighters arrived at the pizza shop shortly after midnight and successfully extinguished the flames, searched the building and temporarily evacuated the apartments above the shop, according to the Rockland Fire Department.
Ron Lopes, the owner of the pizza shop, had to close Monday due to the damage. He said he’s just glad nobody was inside the restaurant when the crash happened.
“Glad nobody was hurt,” Lopes said. “It’s mostly just a mess.”
Lopes said he hopes to have the doors back open before Halloween.
Hutcheon is expected to appear in court sometime in the next few weeks.
“Luckily she wasn’t hurt more seriously. Three feet to the right she would have hit a steel beam,” Lopes said.
The incident remains under investigation.
Winter Park, CO – Kitchen ductwork fire contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported
The East Grand Fire District responded to reports of a fire on the roof around 11:40 p.m. Saturday and found smoke inside and outside the restaurant.
The smoke was coming from a small fire in the kitchen ductwork, and crews extinguished the blaze. The exhaust fan on the roof was damaged, but no cooking equipment was harmed by the flames.
However, the restaurant and the former location of Smokin’ Moe’s below it both suffered some water damage when the hood system discharged fire retardant and the sprinkler system came on.
East Grand Fire Chief Todd Holzwarth said the system worked as it was designed to and contained the fire. Crews had the sprinkler system and alarm back in service, as well as all flames out, by 1:10 a.m.
Firefighters suspect grease built up in the ductwork contributed to the fire, but they are not sure what ignited it. The restaurant closes at 10 p.m.
Owner Esteban Rocha said the restaurant would remain closed for repairs and wasn’t yet sure how long that would take. He said he is just glad no one was hurt.
Staff living on the third floor of the building were evacuated, but there were no injuries related to the fire.
Chicago, IL – Fire at high-rise contained by fire sprinklers; no injuries reported
Firefighters were called about 12:20 p.m. for a fire in the coffee shop in the lobby of the high-rise at 150 N. Riverside Plaza, according to Chicago Fire Dept. spokesman Larry Langford.
“The fire was contained to the Starbucks, and it looks like everything is under control,” Langford said. He said the sprinkler system was engaged and the fire was put out within the hour.
A preliminary investigation indicates the fire may have started in the brewing machine or dishwasher, Langford said.
Several ambulances and fire engines were called to the site as a precaution, and crews remained on scene after the fire was extinguished to douse the burned area, Langford said.
Employees in the building were ordered to shelter in their offices, since evacuating a building so large would be unnecessary in this case, Langford said. Some people, however, evacuated on their own.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Langford said.
San Antonio – Early morning hotel fire extinguished by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported
The fire started just after 2:30 a.m. at the Valencia Hotel on East Houston and Soledad.
Firefighters say it started in a utility closest on the second floor.
Everyone was evacuated from the building. The sprinkler system put the fire out, preventing any significant damage to the hotel.
Eventually, everyone was allowed back to their rooms.
Arson is now investigating.
Pekin, IL – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at local pizzeria
The Godfather’s Pizza in Pekin was damaged in an early morning blaze Monday.
Pekin Fire Chief Kurt Nelson said the call came in at 12:44 a.m. Monday from employees who lived in the area. Smoke was seen coming out of the building and first responders found heavy smoke conditions in the kitchen.
Firefighters found a small fire in a closet, which was contained due to the sprinkler system preventing the fire from spreading, Nelson said.
The cause is still under investigation and initial estimated damage is between $10,000 and $25,000.
In a Facebook post by Godfather’s, the company said it’s a landmark location and one of the oldest Godfather’s in the country.