Category Archives: Manufacturing

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Kingsport, TN – Fire sprinkler contains fire at food manufacturing facility; No injuries reported

The Kingsport Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a food manufacturing facility on Tri-Cities Crossing.

According to KFD Public Information Officer Barry Brickey, firefighters were called to Anita’s Snack Foods at 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

Crews had been alerted to a commercial fire alarm. They were later told the status of the alarm had been upgraded to a structure fire.

Brickey said employees at Anita’s Snack Foods attempted to put out the flames with fire extinguishers.

According to Brickey, the fire sprinkler system was able to contain the fire, with one sprinkler head dousing the flames.

When crews arrived, a smoldering fire and smoke in the building was all that remained due to the sprinkler system, according to Brickey.

Brickey told News Channel 11 that sprinkler systems are designed so that the closest sprinkler head to the fire reatcts to the heat. Often only one or two heads will react and contain a fire.

KFD extinguished the smoldering fire and hot spots and ventilated the building.

According to Brickey, there were no injuries reported.

Crews cleared the scene around 2:30 a.m. Friday. Brickey said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Prince George, BC, Canada – Fire sprinkler activated for fire at sawmill; No injuries reported

Volunteer fire crews responded to a fire at Carrier Lumber’s sawmill on Willowcale Road last night.

The Regional District of Fraser Fort-George says it broke out just before 10:30 p.m. and say the fire was mostly contained by the sprinkler system that was activated.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed and the cause is unknown.

There were no known injuries. The Buckhorn Volunteer Fire Department responded with mutual aid from Pineview Volunteer Fire Department and the Red Rock/Stoner Volunteer fire department.

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, Other - Manufacturing

Medina, OH – Sprinkler system contains industrial fire at chemical manufacturer; No injuries reported

The Medina Fire Department responded to an industrial fire Wednesday afternoon at FBC Chemical Company, 900 W. Smith Road.

All Medina fire stations were dispatched to the manufacturer just after 2 p.m. for a report of a structure fire involving chemicals.

The first crew to arrive found heavy smoke coming from the rear of the building. The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained to the room of origin, fire officials said.

All occupants were evacuated and no injures were reported. The Lafayette Township Fire Department and Erhart-York Fire Department also were called for mutual aid and Medina police officers and Life Support Team paramedics were on scene.

FBC, a distribution warehouse, sells the alcohols and commonly used chemicals to make hand sanitizers, hand soap and other cleaning products. Its website said it has provided specialty and commodity chemicals to the Northeast and Midwest United States for more than 50 years.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Antigo, WI – Sprinkler system helps prevent major damage to business; No injuries reported

Developing overnight in Langlade County, the Antigo Fire Department tells NewsChannel 7 that crews responded to a fire at Dejno’s overnight.

Fire Chief John Petroskey with the Antigo Fire Department says that there were no injuries reported but there was substantial damage to equipment inside the building. Crews say that a sprinkler system inside the building helped prevent major damage to its structural integrity.

The call came in at 7 p.m. Thursday night with crews battling the fire into the early morning hours of Friday. Chief Petroskey says Bridge Street will be open to traffic Friday morning.

The fire is under investigation with Chief Petroskey saying crews will be back on scene in the morning to check for hot spots.

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, Other - Manufacturing

Belle Plaine, MN – Fire at peanut roasting mill contained by fire sprinklers

On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Belle Plaine Fire Department responded to a Blakeley Township fire in a peanut roasting mill, which is used to produce birdseed. Fire Chief Steve Otto said that one of the dryers likely got too hot and the roaster started on fire. He said the owners previously added a sprinkler system to the cyclones, which activated on Thursday and prevented any serious damage. The Jordan Fire Department also responded to the scene.

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, Other - Manufacturing

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire inside paint spray booth; No injuries reported

A fire in an industrial building on Tuesday afternoon in Chilliwack could have been a lot worse if not for the interior sprinkler system.

Firefighters from Halls 1, 4 and 6 were called to the scene of a structure fire in the 43000-block of Progress Way on Tuesday, Sept. 22 shortly before 1 p.m.

Crews arrived to find a significant amount of smoke coming from the building. Firefighters entered the building, discovered the fire was located in the paint spray booth, and that it had been extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system.

There was minor fire, smoke and water damage and it is expected the business will be back in operation soon. The cause of the fire is accidental and is related to hot work processes in the paint spray booth.

All employees safely evacuated the building and there were no firefighter injuries.