Category Archives: Manufacturing

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Burnaby, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system helps minimize fire damage at Serta mattress factory

A long-time Burnaby warehouse suffered extensive smoke and water damage last week after a small fire broke out in the building. It was an automatic fire alarm ringing from inside the Serta mattress factory on Winston Street that alerted firefighters of an incident shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, assistant Fire Chief Bryan Kirk told the NOW.

When firefighters arrived, there were two employees standing outside, but neither could say why the alarm was going off. “(The firefighters) went inside, and they realized there was something going on, the whole place was full of smoke, so they upgraded it to a second alarm,” Kirk said. The origin of the fire appeared to be a gluing table inside the warehouse, he added. “Between the mattress, the glue and this wooden table, (there was) enough combustibles – that started the fire,” Kirk said.

There wasn’t significant fire damage inside the warehouse, thanks to the sprinkler system. Because of the size of the facility, the fire was upgraded to a two-alarm blaze that required about 28 firefighters. Fire crews were on scene until 10 p.m. trying to clear out the smoke. “The whole place was full of smoke, and it makes it that much more difficult to ventilate that much smoke,” he said. “(Firefighters) were there for a good six hours or so, just because it was work intensive getting rid of all the smoke, not so much fighting a fire.” The NOW contacted the manager at the warehouse for more details on the extent of the damage, but calls haven’t been returned yet

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Eau Claire, WI – Overnight machine fire at paper plant controlled by sprinkler system

An early morning fire at the Cascades Tissue Group plant on Forest Street was quickly brought under control by Eau Claire firefighters.

The fire was reported at 1:11 a.m., and firefighters arrive to find heavy smoke in a building. The fire in a machine had activated the building’s sprinkler system, which kept the fire under control until crews arrived.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about 20 minutes. One plant worker was evaluated at the scene by paramedics.No damage estimate is available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Columbia, MO – Sprinklers suppress fire at rubber products manufacturer; Damage minimized, No injuries

The Columbia Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Gates Rubber Corporation Saturday morning at about 10:30. When crews got to the scene, they found that the fire had already been put out by the sprinkler system. Fire officials say the fire was contained to a small area and didn’t cause much damage. Nobody was injured in the fire. The assistant fire marshal was able to determine that the fire was caused by friction on some hand tools. He believes the damages are about $2,000.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Hickman, CA – Sprinklers activate to help stop fire originating in almond roaster

Employees at the Rolling Hills Nut Co. plant south of Hickman were able to extinguish a fire that began on an almond roaster early Wednesday.

At about 2:15 a.m., crews from the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District and Ceres and Modesto fire departments responded to a report of a structure fire at the plant on the 3000 block of Montpelier Road. The report was of almonds on fire in a warehouse.

First crews on the scene saw light smoke from a warehouse. An almond roaster had been on fire but was extinguished by employees. The sprinkler system also had activated as it should, said Stanislaus Consolidated Battalion Chief Eric DeHart.

Firefighters checked and confirmed that the fire was out, and remained on the scene to help clear smoke, he said.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Burlington, IA – Sprinkler system credited with containing fire at printing company

Firefighters responded to a fire at Doran & Ward Printing Company, located at 2811 Mt. Pleasant St. on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016. The fire reportedly started in an office. It activated a sprinkler head, which fire officials say kept the fire from spreading.

Employees evacuated the building and firefighters used a fire extinguisher to put out the remaining flames. The fire was out by 3:51 a.m.

The investigation revealed that the fire started in a light fixture in a small office located in the plant, causing melting plastic to drop down onto a desk and chair.
Damage was contained to the office area and is estimated to be less than $4,000. Employees returned to work a short time later.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Salina, KS – Compressor fire at cabinet manufacturer put out by sprinkler system

A fire in the compressor room at Crestwood caused employees to be evacuated Monday morning and shut down the cabinet-making plant for half the day.Capt. Roger Soldan said firefighters with Rural Fire Department No. 2 responded to the call about 9:10 a.m. at the plant at 601 E. Water Well.

Crestwood president Mike Junk said the bearings in the motor of one of three air compressors went out, sparking the fire, which was put out right away by an automatic sprinkler system.

Junk said firefighters came through to check for flames and hot spots, and the electricity was shut off while the system was assessed for damage.

Junk said the plant was back up and running Monday afternoon, with just the other two air compressors. He said parts have been ordered to repair the third compressor

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Lincoln, ME – Sprinklers help contain fire at Lincoln Wood Shavings Mill

A fire broke out at LMJ Enterprises in Lincoln around 6 a.m. The mill, located in the former Haskell Lumber facility on Main Street, makes wood shavings for animal bedding.

There was extensive heat and water damage inside the building, according to fire fighters.

Authorities tell TV-5 the fire was burning for several hours before they arrived. The building’s sprinkler system kept the flames from 15doing more damage.

The fire is not considered suspicious and the Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to determine a cause.

 

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Port Moody, BC – Sprinkler system contains fire at sawmill; No injuries

No one was injured following an explosion and fire at a Port Moody sawmill early Tuesday morning.

Firefighters received a call at 2:30 a.m. that there was a fire at the Flavelle Sawmill. It turns out that a nitrogen tank that was part of a hydraulic system had exploded, due to a nearby fire.

When crews arrived, there was a small fire at the mill, but the sprinkler system had activated and contained the fire.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause.

The explosion did blow a “significant hole” in the sawmill wall, according to the PMFD.

Workers were on break at the time so there was no one in the area.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Gorham, ME – Machinery fire at tool company held in check by sprinkler system

A tool company in Gorham had to evacuate Tuesday morning after a fire broke out inside the building. It happened at Irwin Tools on Bartlett Road just after 7 a.m. Crews from several different departments assisted Gorham in fighting the flames

Gorham’s fire chief says employees were inside working at the time. No one was hurt. The chief says the building’s sprinkler system kept the fire under control until crews arrived. “No question, the sprinkler system kept the fire in check inside until the crews could get in and get it knocked down,” Chief Robert Lefebvre, Gorham Fire Department, said. “There’s metal filings from machines that make tools and such, at this point not sure what machines in the area that caused it. We’ll be looking into that down the road.”

Chief Lefebvre says it appears the fire started near the ceiling level. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Loudon, TN – Fire at ceramics plant controlled with help from sprinkler system

A fire Monday afternoon at a ceramic tile plant in Loudon started when a motor began burning and then ignited hydraulic fluid, fire officials said. The Loudon Fire Department was alerted about 1:15 p.m. Monday to the blaze at the Del Conca USA Plant.

According to Mike Brubaker, chief of the Loudon Fire Department, the fire started in a machine that presses and forms the ceramic tiles. The fire grew in intensity and seriousness once the hydraulic fluid caught fire, according to Brubaker. No injuries were reported.

The plant’s sprinkler system activated, which helped to suppress the fire. It took crews about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, according to Brubaker.  The Lenoir City Fire Department worked with the Loudon Fire Department to fight the fire.