Category Archives: Other / Not Specified

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Mount Pearl, NL, Canada – Suspicious fire at commercial business controlled by fire sprinklers

A suspicious fire at a Mount Pearl commercial business is under investigation following a blaze early Thursday morning.

The St. John’s Regional Fire Department responded to the fire at Funderdome, off Corisande Drive, At about 1a.m.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they noticed smoke inside the building and after making entry, they found some fire in one of the rear rooms of the building. Most of the fire had been extinguished by sprinklers and firefighters took care of the remnants.

An RNC forensics Identification vehicle arrived shortly after the fire was extinguished and firefighters led them to the rear of the building where several emergency doors to the business were located.

Officers could be seen taking photos of the area as well as parts of the Trailway walking trail that passes within just metres of the building.

The building received fire, smoke and substantial water damage from the sprinkler system.

This was the third suspicious fire in Mount Pearl since Chistmas night. The first two fires both damaged and then destroyed the Hotel Mount Pearl.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Augusta, ME – Fire sprinklers extinguish fire at hair salon after hair vacuum caught on fire

A fire that started in a hair vacuum at a Bangor Street hair salon was largely extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

The Bangor Street Barbersalon, one of multiple businesses located at 10 Bangor St., sustained minor fire damage but more extensive water and smoke damage from the fire reported at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday.

Battalion Chief Steve Leach said a vacuum unit at the business, used to suck up hair that has been cut, caught on fire. The building’s sprinkler system kicked in and had the fire all but out when firefighters arrived.

“The operating sprinkler system put the fire out prior to our arrival. It was smoldering when we got there, it did its job,” Leach said. “There was no damage to any of the other businesses.”

The building, which Leach said is owned by Mike Karagiannes, is also home to Aubuchon Hardware.

Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours. Leach said the salon will need repair work before reopening.

The 11,944 square-foot building, according to city records, was built in 1923 and is assessed, for tax purposes, at $571,000.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Wenatchee, WA – Single sprinkler head controls commercial fire between two businesses

Chelan County Fire District 1 was dispatched to a commercial fire a little after 9 a.m. at the corner of 5th and Mission. Locals may know the area as the strip of businesses such as Garlinis, Jimmy Johns and others.

“Crews arrived to find light smoke coming from a vacant occupancy as well as the EarthWise pet store,” said Chief Brian Brett. “We were able to make access, get in and locate the fire.”

According to Chief Brett, the sprinkler system had been activated and one head was controlling the fire. The sprinkler pretty much extinguished it and crews may have had to use one water can to complete the job.

“Now we’re just clearing out the smoke and to get the water mitigated so we can get these businesses on both sides back open,” said Chief Brett.

The cause is still under investigation. Nobody was inside at the time of the fire. Douglas Fire District 2 also responded with an engine.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Missoula, MT – Fire sprinklers help limit fire to single appliance at local business

A West Yellowstone business has minor damages following a combustion fire.

Hebgan Rural Firefighters say they were able to limit the fire to just an appliance Wednesday night, because the business has sprinklers installed.

The firefighters say it’s a good time to remind everyone how important sprinklers are to fighting fires.

They recommend everyone installs them and inspects their sprinkler systems regularly.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Manhattan, KS – Fire sprinklers extinguish unattended kitchen fire

The Manhattan Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at the Flint Hills Job Corps Center, located 4620 Eureka Drive, on Saturday evening around 7:30 p.m. Upon arrival, crews found that thankfully the building was equipped with a fire sprinkler system that had extinguished the fire leaving $2500 in damage. Without the fire sprinkler system, the damage could have been much worse. The cause was found to be an unattended pan of grease catching fire on the stove, a fire cause that firefighters in Manhattan know all too well.

“The leading of cause of residential fires in Manhattan and across the nation continues to be from unattended cooking,” said Manhattan Fire Chief Scott French. “It only takes a second to leave the kitchen to check on something in another room, and when you come back your stove and kitchen cabinets are on fire.”

Thanksgiving is the day that has the highest number of home cooking fires nationally, followed by Christmas Day, with unattended cooking being the leading factor according to the National Fire Protection Agency.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Ramona, CA – Sprinkler system quickly extinguishes fire at Boys & Girls Club; No injuries reported

A small fire that broke out in the kitchen of the Conrad Prebys Ramona Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego on Friday, Oct. 25, was quickly extinguished by the facility’s sprinkler system.

Ramona Fire Capt. John Sena said the fire started at about 5 p.m. when a small box was set on top of the kitchen’s stovetop. The box may have hit the stove’s knob and inadvertently turned on the burner, igniting the box, Sena said.

“Upon arrival at the scene we determined the fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system, but our dispatch was not delayed,” he said.

He said several firefighting units, including firefighters from Ramona, Deer Springs and Cal Fire, were able to respond quickly because they were nearby fighting the Sawday fire. That fire started at 9:20 near Sawday Truck Trail and Littlepage Road, but was 100 percent contained by 7 p.m. on Oct. 25. Sena said crews had just been released from the Sawday fire and were returning to their stations when they were dispatched to the Ramona Boys & Girls Club at 622 E St. in Collier Park.

Sena said there was an undetermined number of occupants inside the Boys & Girls Club but all of them were safely outside the building when firefighters arrived and there were no injuries reported. He said the children were placed away from the building and accounted for. As the parents arrived to pick them up, club Manager Simone McCune released them to their parents, he added.

The crews spent 45 minutes removing one inch of water left over from the sprinkler system.

Through a thermal imaging device, Sena said firefighters determined there was no heat in the walls and that the fire was contained to the stovetop and box, which was removed.

“The fire marshal had the building officially closed until the manager contacted the sprinkler company to replace the sprinkler head,” Sena said. “The Boys & Girls Club was closed on the weekend. By Monday, they had a company out to mitigate the water issue and replace the sprinkler head and then they were allowed to open back up.”

He said the Boys & Girls Club opened by mid-afternoon Monday. Club activities had resumed after the Monday opening, with some of the activities taking place outdoors as weather permitted.

However, flooding of the facility, along with high winds and power outages, contributed to the cancellation of the club’s Haunted House scheduled for Halloween evening, Oct. 31.

“We had flooding in our facility and are unable to operate inside or set anything up for the event,” said McCune on Facebook the day before Halloween. “We considered a last-minute outdoor event, but with the high winds and power outages we were unable to secure vendors and inflatables. We apologize for the late notice. We were putting in our best effort to try and salvage the event (and the money spent), but couldn’t prolong the possibility of cancellation any longer. Please spread the word, and again, we sincerely apologize.”

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Knoxville, TN – Sprinkler system helps extinguish fire at gas station; No injuries reported

Officials are investigating after crews responded to a fire at a gas station early Saturday morning.

Rural Metro crews said they arrived on the scene of a reported structure fire on the 2000 block of East Governor Highway and found the sprinkler system activated and flowing water.

Crews were already working a house fire in East Knoxville, so assistance was requested from the City of Knoxville and Seymour Volunteer Fire Department, according to reports.

Officials said crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire with the help of the sprinkler system.

The Marathon gas station was not open at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Lompoc, CA – Fire held in check thanks to sprinkler system after break in at dentist office

Lompoc Fire crews responded to a fire at a local business Monday morning.

At around 6:11 a.m., Lompoc Fire crews responded to a report of smoke coming from a commercial strip mall at 1133 North H Street. 

Fire units arrived on scene to find smoke coming from within the building along with the fire sprinkler system active. 

Fire officials located the fire in the office area of a dental office. 

The fire was held in check by the sprinkler system. 

The fire sprinkler system was shut down and the fire overhauled. 

The business sustained extensive damage from the fire along with water damage from the sprinkler system. 

Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed that the property had been broken into. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Officials say they are currently classifying this incident as arson. 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Weston, FL – Fire sprinkler activation reduces fire damage to local business; No injuries reported

She received that dreaded phone call about 3 a.m. Wednesday alerting her to a fire in her business and when Eliana Ruiz arrived at Green Wave Body Waxing she saw fire engines everywhere.

“It could be worse,” she said. “I’m so happy and grateful it wasn’t worse.”

About 30 firefighters saw smoke pouring from the business in the 2200 block of North Commerce Parkway in Weston when they arrived shortly before 3 a.m., said Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael B. Kane.

“Firefighters were able to quickly contain the small fire which was already mostly extinguished by the business’s fire sprinkler,” he said. “The direct cause is unknown but may be related to a piece of waxing equipment.”

Ruiz said all the equipment is usually unplugged at the end of the day, but she thinks one of the waxing pots was overlooked.

“I’m thinking someone forgot,” she said. “It was turned on because they didn’t unplug it.”

The fire alarm and fire suppression system activated, reducing fire damage to the building and adjacent businesses, Kane said.

“Without proper fire protection, this fire could have grown considerably and quickly devastated the strip mall,” he said.

There were no reported injuries and damage to the adjacent businesses was minor.

Ruiz and husband Carlos Arango were boarding up some glass doors and cleaning up the water inside the business before dawn. She expects to be reopen in a couple of days.

“I’m very optimistic and I know I can push to get it done,” she said.