Category Archives: Hotel / Restaurant

Casper, WY – Single sprinkler contains shopping mall restaurant fire until firefighters arrive

At approximately 12:00 AM Sunday morning, February 4th, Casper Fire-EMS responded to a fire alarm at the 600 block of Southeast Wyoming Boulevard, the Eastridge Mall. Firefighters say that they arrived and found a fire in a storage closet area of a restaurant in the building. The fire was accessed and extinguished a short time after arrival. There were no occupants of the building at the time of the fire.

No injuries were reported as a result. A cause is yet to be determined and remains under investigation. Prior to arrival of firefighters, a single head in the fire sprinkler system in the building activated. The action of the system controlled the fire until firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. Officials say in a written statement to media, that the fire was contained to the storage area and damage was minimal. A value of damage to the building and contents has not been determined. 5 units of Casper Fire-EMS initially responded. They were assisted by Casper Police and the Wyoming Medical Center.

Casper Fire-EMS says that the fire illustrates the value of fire sprinkler systems. “The presence of the system in this case limited spread of the fire to other areas of the structure. What could have been a well-developed and growing fire was controlled in the area of origin until arrival of firefighters,” officials say in the written statement. “These systems represent an important life safety and property protection component of modern structures.

Marysville, MI – Sprinkler system holds fire at Burger King in check

No one was injured in a fire at the Marysville Burger King this afternoon.  Marysville Public Safety Director Tom Konik said the fire broke out in a fryer. He said the ventilation system kept smoke out of the area and the store’s sprinkler system was activated.  “It kept it in check, but it wasn’t able to put it out,” he said.  Konik said crews entered the building and were able to extinguish it.  Employees and customers had evacuated the building prior to the arrival of first responders.  The fire was reported about 2:30 p.m.

Palo Alto, CA – Restaurant fire controlled with help from sprinkler system

A restaurant fire in Palo Alto led to street closures in downtown last Monday afternoon.  Crews responded to multiple reports from passersby of a structure fire at Three Seasons restaurant at 518 Bryant St. shortly before 2:30 p.m., when smoke and flames were visible from the two-story building, according to emergency-radio dispatches. When firefighters arrived, a restaurant manager told them the restaurant was empty and they made their way inside, according to dispatch radio.

Plumes of smoke were coming from the roof. Palo Alto Fire Battalion Chief Bobby Davis said the fire started in the kitchen and spread over the stove and other equipment. Flames in the kitchen went up the flue to the roof. Two of three vents burned up, he said. The blaze was extinguished about 20 minutes later. No one was injured and no other buildings were damaged. There was some smoke and water damage where the sprinkler system turned on, Davis said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately apparent, and fire officials are still doing a formal investigation, he said. Police had blocked off University and Hamilton avenues between Bryant and Ramona streets until about 4 p.m., the agency said on Twitter.

Parsippany, NJ – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in extinguishing laundry room fire at Hampton Inn

Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire District 2 along with the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire District 1 were dispatched to the Hampton Inn & Suites, 3737 Route 46 for an activated fire alarm at 11:33 a.m. on Monday, January 15.  While responding the dispatcher got a call stating there was a fire on top of the water heater in the laundry room.  Mutual aid was requested and prior to getting water on the fire the sprinkler activated extinguishing the bulk of the fire.  The building was evacuated and the evacuation of the above floors was ensured by members of the Parsippany Police Department.

The building was checked to ensure the fire did not spread. Members on scene ventilated the entire building as smoke had spread throughout the common areas on all floors. There were no injuries and the hotel resumed operations.

In addition to Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire District 2, Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire District 1, Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 5, Parsippany Volunteer Fire District 4 Rapid Intervention Team, Boonton Township Fire Dept Rapid Intervention Team, Parsippany Police Department, Par-Troy Emergency Medical Services and Parsippany Fire Prevention were dispatched to the scene.

Union City, CA – New Year’s Day restaurant fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Employees and patrons evacuated a popular Filipino restaurant in Union City on New Year’s Day, and no injuries were reported after a water-heater fire broke out, according to the Alameda County Fire Department. Crews responding Monday at 4:33 p.m. to Gerry’s Grill, at 31005 Courthouse Drive, where the eatery’s sprinkler system extinguished the blaze, isolated the water flow to prevent flooding throughout the restaurant, the agency said. The fire was contained to the area around the water heater in the rear of the building, the department said, adding that although the fire extended to a wall, it did not spread inside the wall.

“As a result of the quick actions of firefighters to prevent further water damage and a functioning sprinkler system, Gerry’s Grill sustained minor damage,” fire officials said. There were no reports of injuries to firefighters, restaurant employees or guests, but Gerry’s was temporarily closed. In addition to the Union City locale,Gerry’s, which serves traditional Filipino dishes, has locations in Artesia, Hawaii and Manila, Philippines. No cost estimate for the fire damages was available.

Myrtle Beach, SC – Arson fire at hotel contained to room of origin by sprinkler system

The Horry County Police Department arrested and charged a man in connection to a fire that displaced dozens of hotel guests in Horry County. According to J. Reuben Long Detention Center booking records, Tracy William Nelson, 45, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with second degree arson. Horry County Fire Rescue responded to the fire Tuesday evening at City Studios Hotel, located at 401 Hospitality Lane in Myrtle Beach. Responding crews say the fire was confined to a room on the second floor. A sprinkler system activation helped keep from spreading.

An official report from the Horry County Police Department says officers were “informed that it appeared a fire was started intentionally, due to a stove-top burner being left on with a box on top of it.” According to the report, officers were told no one was staying on the second floor because of ongoing renovations, with the exception of people hired to help with the project. Guests at City Studios Hotel were relocated to different hotels in the area, according to Horry County police. No injuries were reported. Nelson remains in jail Wednesday night on a $10,000 bond.

Colorado Springs, CO – Hotel sprinkler system activates in response to dumpster fire started outside

A man was arrested Sunday for allegedly setting several dumpsters on fire and vandalizing cars in downtown Colorado Springs.

Police responded about 7 p.m. to a call about a man starting dumpster fires and damaging cars. One fire was so big that it triggered the sprinkler system at a local hotel. Witnesses followed the suspect, later identified as Steven Roche, 51, to East Bijou and North Tejon streets.

Police say Roche became difficult when they tried to contact him. Police said Roche apparently used a rock to damage several cars.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony criminal mischief as well as resisting arrest and two counts of fourth-degree arson, all misdemeanors.

Lake Delton, WI – Fire at Great Wolf Lodge contained to one room by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Emergency crews and firefighters were dispatched to a fire at Great Wolf Lodge around 6:15 on Sunday morning.

Firefighters arrived to discover guests evacuating the hotel and encountered smoke on the second floor. The fire was contained to one unoccupied room by the building’s sprinkler system, but five rooms sustained significant water damage.

At the time of the fire, 400 of the 435 rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge were occupied. There were no injuries to hotel guests or first responders.

Crews remained on scene for three hours putting out hot spots and investigating.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but foul play is not suspected.

Preliminary damage to the hotel is approximately $100,000.

Austin, TX – Sprinkler system controls car fire in W Hotel parking garage

A car fire at a downtown parking garage has prompted the closure of a portion of 3rd Street Sunday afternoon.

Austin Fire Department officials said crews were called to the W Hotel parking garage at 200 Lavaca St. at around 2:45 p.m. Firefighters made quick work of the blaze as it was confined to a single vehicle and a sprinkler system helped dampen the flames before emergency workers’ arrival.

But the fire set off a series of related events led by the road closure at 3rd Street between Guadalupe and Lavaca streets. A nearby Starbucks at 3rd and Lavaca streets reportedly was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system keeps restaurant dumpster fire from spreading

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 8 p.m. Thursday at Spring Creek Barbeque, 1993 U.S. 75, where first responders saw smoke and heard the fire alarm upon arrival.

An investigation revealed the fire sprinkler system had activated and suppressed a fire within the dumpster. A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage and reinforced the value of fire sprinkler systems in commercial structures.

Twenty five MFD personnel and investigators from the fire marshal’s office responded to the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was determined to disposal of ashes into the dumpster.

“This successful sprinkler save continues to demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a commercial environment. Had a fire sprinkler system not been present, the outcome may have been very different,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.