Firefighters were sent to the 600 block of East 16th Street, near San Pedro Street, about 4:15 p.m., according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The exterior fire was extending into a commercial building, activating the building’s sprinkler system, but fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze before it burned more than a couple of boxes at the unidentified business, he said.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire was under investigation, he said.
Crews entered to the smoke filled service area and located a fire in a commercial truck. The sprinkler system had activated over the truck and contained the fire to the vehicle. Crews completed extinguishment of the fire inside the truck and removed the smoke from the building. A search of the entire building confirmed it was unoccupied. The incident was under control by 5:09 a.m.
Fire damage was contained to the truck with smoke damage to the remainder of the service area. Closed doors kept the smoke out of the offices. The fire is believed to have been caused by an undetermined failure within the vehicle.
The fire was generally contained to a popcorn machine in the concessions area of the movie theater. Though the fire was contained to the popcorn machine, sufficient heat was created that it activated a single sprinkler head.
There did not appear to be any damage directly caused by the fire due to it being contained by the machine which itself did not appear to be damaged.
The South Montgomery County Fire Department responded Friday to an automatic fire alarm at Dosey Doe’s location at 25911 Interstate 45 North. The first arriving fire crew reported smoke visible inside and immediately entered the building where they found that a commercial dryer had caught fire. The building was unoccupied at the time the fire broke out, but was equipped with a fire sprinkler and alarm system. The heat from the growing fire activated a single fire sprinkler which quickly contained the fire before it could spread, preventing any significant damage.
Firefighters cleared the building of smoke and secured the sprinkler system, preventing any disruption of business. According to the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office, the presence of the fire sprinkler system prevented what would have been a catastrophic fire had it spread to the rest of restored 165 year old barn, famous for its ambiance and regular events featuring nationally recognized artists.
Although some wooden elements of the barn’s foundation are estimated to be as much as 600 years old, MCFMO officials stated in a press release, the venue is protected throughout by modern fire safety systems installed in accordance with national safety codes. With these systems in place, business was able to continue without interruption.
The Montgomery County Commissioner’s Court adopted a county fire code in 2008 after a series of large fires in commercial buildings. Since that time, fire marshal’s office plans examiners have reviewed and approved plans for approximately 75 million square feet of new construction.
“In addition to reviewing plans for new construction and renovations, we are working together with our partners in the South Montgomery County Fire Department to inspect and insure continued public safety in the thousands of commercial and public buildings located throughout Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 8,” said the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office in a statement.
Crews responded to the one-story building with smoke showing in the 300 block of East 18th Street near Maple Avenue, just south of the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway at 2:44 a.m., according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The building contained clothing and boxes in packrat-like conditions, Prange said.
“Fire attack searched for the seat of the fire in heavy smoke conditions in the large building, eventually finding it and extinguishing it, with help from the ventilation group on the roof to help with smoke conditions,” Prange said.
Fire sprinklers inside the building kept the flames from spreading, he said.
A total of 55 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and knock down was declared at 3:33 a.m., Prange said.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
The fire occurred in the SeaLife Center’s avian curatorial on the second floor of the facility around 6:37 p.m. Wednesday night, according to the release. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the building upon arrival and discovered that the fire sprinkler system had already extinguished what was believed to have been a small electrical fire.
Staff from the avian curatorial recovered two long-tailed ducks that were being held in the curatorial. SeaLife Center veterinary staff and avian staff treated the birds, and the animals seem to be recovering, according to the release. No staff or other animals were injured in the fire.
The SeaLife Center sustained water damage in the avian curatorial as well as the first floor BP Theater and Exit Exhibit/Donor Recognition area. The SeaLife Center was closed to the public on Thursday for cleanup and to replace the sprinkler heads and sensors, and resumed normal operating hours on Friday.
“I’m so proud to work with this staff who, as a team, are willing to take on the challenges, learn from the experiences and go on with the important mission of the Alaska SeaLife Center,” center Chief Operating Officer Chip Arnold said in the release. “Thank you Fire Chief Clinton Crites and the Seward Volunteer Fire Department for handling the situation with speed, professionalism and tact.”
Firefighters rescued a man from a fire at an auto repair shop in Burien Saturday morning.
The fire happened at the Kansai Collision Center in the 15200 block of First Avenue South at about 8 a.m.
“Looks like we had a car fire inside of a paint booth inside the repair shop,” said Chief Mike Marrs of King County Fire District #2.
KIRO 7 talked to a woman named Miriam who works nearby.
“Suddenly I just heard this alarm but I didn’t know where it was coming from,” said Miriam.
Miriam said she and another coworker quickly realized it was coming from the repair shop.
“I was kind of scared and she said, ‘Miriam there’s smoke coming from the collision center.’ So right away I called 911,” she added.
Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke coming from the building. Fortunately, the building had a working sprinkler system. Marrs said it not only kept the fire from spreading; it was a lifesaver.
“The activation of the sprinkler system probably saved this building as well as saving the occupant’s life,” Marrs explained.
The man suffered smoke inhalation.
He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
KIRO 7 also learned the shop was closed at the time. A manager told KIRO 7 the man did not work there but was allowed to stay there because he had no other place to go.
The cause of the fire is unknown right now.
The Rochester Fire Department said in a statement, they responded to a call for a general fire alarm at 3780 Marketplace Dr. NW around 7:16 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived at the scene, firefighters say they heard alarms sounding outside the building and found heavy smoke in Suite 107 where Polished Nail Salon is located. Crews say they found a small fire at one of the workstations inside the nail salon that was being held in check by a single sprinkler head. Firefighters put out the flames using a fire extinguisher and the building was completely ventilated.
The sprinkler system was shut off until the sprinkler head could be replaced and the water that had accumulated was removed. A Rochester Fire Marshal was called to investigate the cause and origin of the fire, which is standard procedure.
Fire damage can be seen to a workstation and smoke damage throughout the business suite. No smoke, flames, or water extended beyond the original business affected.
RFD says “this is another excellent example of a sprinkler system keeping a fire at bay before it could do further damage or cause potential harm to humans. Quick notification of the fire department through on-site monitoring as well as the early activation of a sprinkler head was what kept this fire as minimal as it was.”
Experts say a fire doubles in size every 60 seconds and that sprinklers have been proven to effectively control fires where they are installled.
The fire started sometime around 12 p.m. Saturday according to Malinda Beiler, a customer who says she was there when the theater was evacuated. Beiler says she saw at least 75 people evacuated by emergency responders.
The theater reopened on Sunday. MSB Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley says they have cut off power to the tool room and as far as he knows there is no other safety threat at this time.
“The sprinkler system did as designed,” Barkley said. “The only damage is water damage. The fire department got there and secured the sprinkler system, shut it off, and really that was all they had to do.”
A Valley Cinemas recorded message said the theater would honor the movie tickets of anyone evacuated Saturday.
“If you have purchased a ticket for Saturday, or if you were here earlier in the day when the fire alarm went off, we will still honor that,” the recorded message said, “as long as you have the booking collection code or the ticket stub.”
Valley Cinemas opened in 2011, and is owned and operated by the Coming Attractions Theaters chain. KTUU reached out to the chain for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
MSB says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
