Category Archives: Manufacturing Plant

Apartment Building, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler systems kept weekend fires in check

Firefighters are crediting automatic sprinklers with keeping weekend fires under control over the weekend.

Officials with the Madison Fire Department said crews were first dispatched to a building on Research Park Boulevard Friday evening for a report of a machine on fire. When they made it to the fire, firefighters found it had been contained to the machine it started in thanks to an activated sprinkler just above it. Crews fully extinguished the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher.

All of the employees at the facility safely evacuated when the fire alarm first sounded. No one was injured.

On Sunday morning, firefighters responded to the 5600 block of Black Onyx Drive after a caller reported seeing flames coming from a balcony.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire had been extinguished by a sprinkler on the second-floor balcony. Crews made their way to the balcony and confirmed there was no active fire, but they did find evidence there was one.

The fire didn’t extend past the siding into the building. Officials determined it was caused by a candle that had been burning on the balcony above.

No one was displaced by the fire.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Fire sprinkler activated in commercial building fire; No injuries reported

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to a fire in a commercial building on Mazenod Road around 6:47 am on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

When crews arrived on the scene heavy smoke was seen throughout the structure and the internal fire sprinkler system was active. Firefighters launched an offensive attack and were able to contain the fire to an industrial compacting unit. The fire was declared under control at 7:26 am.

All staff in the building at the time of the fire were able to self-evacuate before emergency crews arrived.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental due to a bearing failure of a conveyor belt.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Racine, WI – Fire in aluminum sample shop contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

The Racine Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Modine Manufacturing, 1500 DeKoven Ave., shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Upon arrival, personnel from Engine 6 reported discovering a light haze inside the building and were directed to the complex’s “aluminum sample shop” where automatic fire sprinklers heads had activated.

Due to the smoke conditions, Quint 4 and Med 1 were tasked with search and rescue and assisting employees out of the building. 

“As a reminder to the general public, please treat all fire alarm activations as if there is a real fire. Please proceed to the nearest exit and reassemble with co-workers or family members in a preselected meeting spot,” the release advised.

The fire was brought under control in about an hour, RFD reported. 

The fire was fought by 24 RFD firefighters and no additional help was needed to suppress the blaze, the release said. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported. 

The fire was contained to an aluminum particle collection machine, according to a release. Damage is estimated to be at $35,000. 

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Salem, VA – Sprinkler system controls fire at tire company; No injuries reported

The Salem Fire & EMS Dept. is crediting a sprinkler system with helping to control a fire at a tire company Tuesday night.

Around 9:20 p.m., crews were dispatched to Yokohama Tire Corp. in the 1500 block of Indiana Street.

A moderate amount of smoke was coming from the building when the first unit arrived on scene. Within seven minutes of arrival, the fire was under control.

All personnel was safely evacuated from the building and no injuries were reported.

The fire was determined to be accidental; it caused about $10,000 in damage, according to the Salem Fire & EMS Fire Marshal’s Office.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Wahpeton, ND – Fire at sugarbeet factory contained thanks to fire sprinklers

Fire departments from Dwight, Wahpeton, and Breckenridge put out a fire at the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Sugarbeet Plant just north of Wahpeton Tuesday morning.

Dwight Fire Chief Andy Gregor told KFGO News firefighters responded about 5:30 a.m. to the fire in the boiler building, the highest part of the factory. Sprinklers helped contain the fire inside. Firefighters used hoses to put out the fire on the building’s roof.

A statement from the cooperative said damage appears to be superficial and normal operations have resumed.

Richland County Sheriff Larry Leshovsky says there were two minor injuries to employees but no hospitalization was required.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Hodges, SC – Fire sprinkler system puts out fire at pet food plant; No injuries reported

No one was injured Wednesday morning after a fire sparked in one of the storage silos at the Diana Pet Food plant in Hodges, according to Greenwood County Fire Chief Steve Holmes.

Holmes said the fire sparked inside the silo, with the damage contained mostly to the product stored there. The plant’s fire suppression systems worked as intended, putting the fire out without anyone being injured.

Firefighters arrived on scene and verified the fire was out and the sprinkler system was reset properly, Holmes said.

A representative from Diana Pet Food could not immediately be reached for comment.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Elizabethtown, KY – Manufacturing plant fire held in check thanks to sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Emergency responders were called Monday morning to an industrial fire at the Hendrickson plant in Elizabethtown.

According to information released by Elizabethtown Fire Department Deputy Chief Everett Roberts, the department was alerted to a fire at 940 N. Black Branch Road, at 8:48 a.m.

Roberts said the battalion chief was first to arrive and reported heavy black smoke coming from the west side of the production area. The battalion chief quickly confirmed with plant supervision that all employees had been evacuated.

Roberts said a rescue pumper crew made entry with hose lines to extinguish the fire, which was being held in check by the plant sprinkler system. Another crew gained access to the roof but found the fire was not extended.

Roberts said it was determined the fire originated near a hydraulic oil storage vessel causing a flash fire and heavy smoke.

Initially, there were reports of several employees needing medical attention. Hardin County EMS sent several ambulances and a supervisor to the scene. Roberts said it later was determined only one employee was checked on by EMS on scene and that employee did not need medical treatment or transport.

The fire was extinguished, overhauled and ventilation of the structure was completed and all EFD units were clear by 10:55 a.m.

“Fortunately, there were no injuries or major damage to the building,” Roberts said in the statement. “This incident does bring out an opportunity to remind folks to be careful not to block any fire lanes or fire equipment such as sprinkler connections. It is important for fire crews to have immediate access to these areas.”

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Lexington, KY – Fire sprinklers controls piece of machinery that caught on fire

Crews responded to a fire at a Lexington business Tuesday morning.

Just before 8:15 a.m., the Lexington fire Department says they responded to the 1500 block of Mercer Road for the report of a structure fire at the Trane plant.

When firefighters got there they found a piece of machinery on the manufacturing floor on fire. They say the sprinkler system had activated, containing the bulk of the fire.

The firefighters were able to extinguish the remaining fire that was found.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Guymon, OK – Fire inside large steel cooker contained thanks to sprinkler system

Sunday afternoon, Guymon firefighters were called to a reported fire at the Seaboard Plant. The fire was reported at 12 p.m. to 911 dispatch from workers reporting a grease fire inside the large rendering room area. Upon firefighters’ arrival, “they found heavy smoke coming from the back portion of the plant and flames from inside and atop one of the main cookers just inside the building,” said Guymon Fire Chief Grant Wadley.

The fire was located inside a large steel cooker that is approximately two to three stories tall and held an estimated 18,000 gallons of animal fat. Firefighters had to use multiple fire lines to knock down the fire then begin cooling the equipment and the entire room down. Flame damage was present to the roof and insulation from the immediate area above the cooker. “Automated sprinkler system in this area played a huge part in containing this fire and prevented any spread to the rest of the plant,” said Chief Wadley. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to just the large room of the plant where the cooker was located. No fire extended into any other area of the plant. Two Seaboard employees were treated at the scene by Guymon Fire Department paramedics for minor smoke inhalation and heat exposure. Both were treated and released. Firefighters were on scene for nearly five hours.

The cause of the fire is under investigation along with damage assessment. Guymon Fire Department worked closely with Seaboard Plant officials in handling this fire and situation. This fire was not expected to interfere with normal operations Monday morning.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

McHenry, IL – Processing machine that caught fire controlled by sprinkler system

A processing machine caused a fire at PolyOne Corporation in McHenry over the weekend.

According to a news release from the McHenry Township Fire Protection District, crews were dispatched at 8:12 p.m. on Saturday for an activated fire alarm at 833 Ridgeview Drive in McHenry.

When they arrived at the scene, the responding personnel were able to enter the building using the Knox Box System key.

Firefighters used water pump cans and a dry chemical extinguisher to completely put out the fire before ventilating the building.

Because the corporation had an activated sprinkler system, the machine fire was controlled before fire crews arrived. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District said this prevented a more devastating outcome to the commercial business.

“This was a textbook example of exactly the manner that sprinklers are designed to work. The sprinkler system suppressed the main body of fire until the firefighters arrived and completely extinguished the fire,” said MTFPD Fire Chief Tony Huemann. “The activation of the sprinkler system protected the business that produces plastic petroleum products that could have easily become out of control that would have destroyed the entire business and building.”

A damage estimate was not immediately available.

The MTFPD crews were assisted with auto aid from the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District and the Crystal Lake Fire Department, according to the news release.