Category Archives: Manufacturing

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire sprinklers limit damage at manufacturing facility (Davenport, IA)

At about 8:45 a.m. on February 24, a fire was reported at a John Deere manufacturing facility. The incident began in the dust collection unit for a plasma cutting machine, and the fire sprinkler activated in that area, containing the fire until fire crews arrived. 

The plant was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Personnel in the unaffected work areas were able to return within 20 minutes.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Chemical fire controlled by sprinkler system (Mansfield, TX)

A fire that began in a chemical vat at a manufacturing facility after 2 a.m. on Monday was contained by the building’s fire sprinkler system. A small amount of acid was released, which was quickly contained. Firefighters arrived to extinguish the remaining flames with foam. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial reports indicate that it may have been electrical. No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire at manufacturing plant extinguished thanks to fire sprinklers (Chattanooga, TN)

NWA Plastics Company reported a fire on the afternoon Wednesday, January 8, when a motor used to power an air compressor overheated and caught on fire. The heat from the fire then activated a sprinkler head from the facility’s fire sprinkler system which then completely suppressed the fire prior to the arrival of six fire companies. No injuries were reported, and the damage was minimal.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire at manufacturing plant halted by sprinkler system (Lititz, PA)

A fire broke out at a manufacturing plant that makes over 2,500 products, including rodent traps, on Wednesday morning. The flames began close to a piece of machinery which makes papier-mache items, and two employees attempted to put them out with a fire extinguisher. When this proved unsuccessful, the heat from the fire activated the building’s fire sprinkler, containing the blaze until fire crews arrived.

According to Lititz Fire Company Deputy Chief Mike Smith, the fire could have easily spread to other area of the building through oven ducts if the sprinkler system had not been turned on.

No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinkler keeps fire from spreading at industrial facility (Grand Rapids, MI)

Grand Rapids firefighters responded to an afternoon fire which began on the afternoon of November 26. A compressor inside of the building came in contact with oil on the floor, which ignited the flames. Grand Rapids firefighters said that the fire continued up the wall, which had foam insulation, and despite employees’ efforts, they were unable to extinguish the flames. The facility’s fire sprinkler system then activated, suppressing the fire from growing any further; fire crews then arrived and put out the rest of the fire within 10 minutes. No one was injured in the incident.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinklers contain fire at business after holiday shutdown (Fort Wayne, IN)

Firefighters were sent to business at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a fire inside the building. When crews arrived, they found extensive smoke throughout the building. A manufacturing machine and a pallet of the product were on fire, according to a statement issued by the Fort Wayne Fire Department. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly. The fire department said the fire was contained because of the sprinkler system activating.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Sprinkler system handles fire at Hormel Foods (Fremont, NE)

A fire in the rendering section at Hormel Foods Corp. did minimal damage Thursday afternoon.
The Fremont Fire Department was called at about 3:45 p.m., and was on the scene for less than an hour. Lt. Doug Backens said some rendering grease caught fire, but the plant’s sprinkler system kept the fire in check. Firefighters encountered mostly smoke and steam by the time they arrived, he said.
Nobody was hurt in the incident.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire controlled by sprinklers at manufacturing plant (Grand Haven, MI)

Fire crews were called to a fire at a Sara Lee plant around midnight on November 19. The fire, which began in the boiler room, was contained by the building’s fire sprinkler system until the authorities arrived and put out the remaining flames by 12:30 a.m. There were no injuries, and production at the plant did not stop during the incident.