Other / Not Specified, Other Business Petaluma, CA – Fire at animal shelter controlled with help from sprinkler system October 2, 2015 viking210 Fire calls, week of Sept. 21 through Sept 27 — SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 – 2:19 p.m. — Light smoke was coming from the rear of the Petaluma Animal Shelter at 840 Hopper Street when Petaluma firefighters arrived at the scene. A fire was found burning inside of a commercial-style dryer inside of the shelter, where a fire sprinkler was functining. Firefighters finished extinguishing the fire and stayed on scene to help remove water and smoke from the premises.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Thousand Oaks, CA – Arson fire at Planned Parenthood facility is extinguished by sprinkler system October 1, 2015 viking210 Authorities today are investigating the arson fire late Wednesday night in the lobby of the Planed Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks. The fire alarm sounded at 11:28 p.m. in the building at 1200 Hillcrest Drive, said Capt. Mike Lindbery of the Ventura County Fire Department, and only one engine responded because it was a commercial building and not a residence. “When they arrived on scene, they found a window broken out and a fire sprinkler system functioning,” Lindbery said. “Upon further investigation, they discovered the smell of gasoline in the room, and it appeared a small fire had broken out and it had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.” Firefighters shut off the sprinkler system and called the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the investigation. Investigators have a brief video of a suspect but they cannot tell if it was a man or woman. “One suspect approached the clinic and used the rock to break the glass and tossed an accelerant inside and ignited it,” said Capt. John Reilly of the sheriff’s department. “We have a brief video of someone walking by the location wearing a hoodie and face mask completely concealing (their) identity. Judging by the walk, they think it was a male.” The broken window has been boarded up and a Planned Parenthood official said the office was closed but will open again, although no date was given, Reilly said. The damage to the facility is still being assessed. Reilly said fire officials told him that the water from the sprinklers did more damage than the fire. The fire comes as the organization is the focus of a contentious nationwide debate about government funding of Planned Parenthood. This week Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards faced tough questions from Republicans at a congressional hearing about the organization’s business practices. The battle broke out in July when videos were released by a group of anti-abortion activists who claimed Planned Parenthood has illegally profited from the sale of fetal tissue. Wednesday night’s attack drew a sharp response from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. “The toxic rhetoric directed at Planned Parenthood has dangerous consequences. It sends a signal that using violence to close clinics and intimidate health care professionals and women is ‘OK.’ It is not,” she said in a statement. “I’m grateful that no one in Thousand Oaks was hurt. My thoughts today are with the clinic’s staff, who provide compassionate care in spite of challenges no health care provider should have to face.” Amy Everitt, state director at NARAL Pro-Choice California, also castigated the arson attack. “This is domestic terrorism, plain and simple. Extremists who will stop at nothing to deny women legal abortion services. We have seen numerous examples of violence against abortion providers across the country over the last few years and we call on all, no matter what side of this debate you may fall on, to condemn this horrendous action.”
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Mesa, AZ – Single sprinkler prevents fire from spreading at large business complex September 29, 2015 viking210 A sprinkler system kept a fire from spreading through a large Mesa business complex Monday morning. Crews from Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix and Chandler responded to the fire near Broadway and Alma School roads at around 6 a.m. The fire started in an area of the building that was packed with auto parts. Firefighters were able to gain control of the fire pretty quickly thanks to a working sprinkler system. “We know that sprinklers of course save lives but we also know, importantly for a business, that it saves a building and a business in itself,” said Deputy Chief Forrest Smith with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department. Smith said it appeared that one sprinkler head kept the fire in check. Officials said hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise and property were saved. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Waynesboro, VA – Sprinkler system activates to keep fire small at Moose Lodge September 25, 2015 viking210 Waynesboro Fire Department Deputy Chief James Bradley said the alarm company called the fire department around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. “It started in the bar area,” he said. “It’s a sprinkler building, so it was a relatively small fire, but there was a considerable amount of damage.” This is the second time a fire has damaged the building. The first fire was in 1978, Kochis said. She said the employees left the lodge around 11 p.m. and no one was there when the fire started. Firefighters were able to contain the fire within 30 minutes, but remained at the scene until 3 a.m., clearing the building of smoke. The damage is covered by insurance, and Kochis said they may be unable to open for a week or two. “We always have bingo every Sunday afternoon with at least 110 people and sometimes 120 or 130,” Kochis said. “It just depends on what is going on, but we won’t have bingo this Sunday.” Bradley says the fire remains under investigation.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Cumberland, RI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at business caused by charged batteries September 21, 2015 viking210 Charged batteries shipped to a company that refurbishes electronic equipment “heated up to ignition temperature” and started a fire in the Cadillac Mills complex Thursday, Cumberland Fire Chief Kenneth A. Finlay said. The fire, at Aztek Technologies, 30 Meeting St., Cumberland, was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system before firefighters arrived, Finlay said. Firefighters were called to the mill, which has entrances on Meeting Street and Titus Street, at 5:16 p.m. Thursday. They found only smoke, water and a 24- by 36- by 18-inch cardboard box of batteries where the fire apparently started. Some of the company’s product near the box of batteries had been damaged, he said. Usually the company receives shipments of batteries that haven’t been charged, but the box contained live batteries, which Finlay attributed to a packing error. Employees of the many businesses in the mill complex evacuated when the alarm sounded, including 10 from Texcel Industries, which makes military and camouflage webbing. No one was injured. The building sustains some water damage because firefighters had trouble turning off the sprinkler system, Finlay said. Firefighters from the Saylesville fire company in Lincoln assisted with a ladder truck.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Carbondale, CO – Suspected arson fire at non-profit organization is suppressed by sprinkler system September 18, 2015 viking210 A fire apparently set on purpose at Carbondale’s Third Street Center early Wednesday may be linked to a fruitless bank break-in that also happened overnight. “The fire was suspicious in origin, and we don’t think it was accidental,” said Rob Goodwin, Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District deputy chief. Linda Taylor, executive director of the Center for Independence, based in Grand Junction, said officials told her that the fire at her organization’s Carbondale office was set on purpose. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation was helping Carbondale fire and police officials with the investigation. In a twist, Police Chief Gene Schilling said authorities think the fire may be related to a break-in at the ANB Bank at 409 Dolores Way. Here’s how the night unfolded Firefighters and police responded at 1:30 a.m. to the Third Street Center, 520 S. Third, to find smoke coming from a window on the east side of the building. Audible alarms and flashing lights were going off, and a neighbor had already extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived. “It was pretty much out, but the building was full of smoke” when the Fire Department got there, Goodwin said. A couple hours later, at 3:55 a.m., police responded to an alarm at ANB Bank to find glass broken in both sets of entry doors. “It appears that a suspect entered the bank but did not take anything,” police said in a statement. The break-in suspect is described as tall and thin and was wearing black clothing. At the Third Street Center “there’s more water damage than fire damage,” Goodwin said. “This fire reinforces the fact that fire sprinkler systems really do work,” he said. “Having a sprinkler system in place prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the Third Street Center and causing further damage.” The fire did not spread beyond the center’s office, but it was unknown when the nonprofit will be able to reopen. No one was injured, and no loss amount had been determined.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Portland, OR – Early morning fire at commercial laundry business controlled by sprinkler system August 24, 2015 viking210 Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a fire in a commercial laundry at 14321 N.E. Whitaker Way early Sunday. No one was injured in the fire, although additional resources were called in because of the potential for a large fire load due to the number of garments, towels, and chemicals — including detergents and cleaners — in such a business. According to PF&R, initial reports at 6:12 a.m. were that smoke and flames had been seen inside the building and employees had evacuated it. Additional calls came in from neighboring businesses with reports of heavy black smoke coming from the roof. When firefighters arrived at the UniClean building, they quickly gained access to it and began searching for the area of the fire. A second alarm was called because of the size of the structure and the nature of the business. Within minutes of arrival, crews were able to locate the area of the fire in the southwest corner of the building. The sprinkler system had activated and played a key element in keeping the fire at bay until fire fighters were able to gain access and knock it down. Truck crews were able to ventilate the building efficiently by removing the sky lights on the roof of the building. A PF&R Investigator determined has the fire to be accidental, caused by a laundry bin full of oil soaked rags that had a chemical reaction. This type of fire can occur when an oil soaked towel or rag is slowly heated to its ignition point through oxidation. No damage estimate was immediately available. Additional resources that responded to the fire included: eight Engines; four Trucks; one Squad; one Investigator; five Chiefs; and one Rehab rig.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Seattle, WA – Sprinklers activate to help limit damage in arson fire August 9, 2015 viking210 The Seattle Police Department’s Arson Bomb Squad is investigating after the alley entrance door to gay dance club Neighbours was set on fire Friday morning. Seattle Fire arrived to the scene just after 11:30 AM to find water pouring from the back of the Broadway nightclub after the venue’s fire sprinkler system was activated by the small fire. The club’s alley doors were burned in the fire but there was no other damage reported beyond the flooding. There were no reported injuries. The club has not announced any closures related to the fire. The Seattle Fire Marshal has determined that the door fire was intentionally set. SPD is now investigating the incident.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Lexington, KY – Truck fire inside FedEx facility suppressed by sprinkler system August 1, 2015 viking210 FedEx was forced to suspend operations after a panel truck caught on fire inside a building. Lexington Fire officials say it happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The panel truck was inside the building when it caught fire to the engine and set the sprinkler system off. When firefighters arrived the sprinklers had contained the flames. The truck is totaled and FedEx was forced to cease operation until the scene is cleared. The truck was empty, except for a couple of boxes that didn’t catch fire. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials are ventilating the building to get the smoke out. The truck will be towed.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Eden Prairie, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire at business with hydrofluoric acid July 20, 2015 viking210 Six firefighters were taken to a hospital after they were exposed to hydrofluoric acid on Wednesday, July 15, during a business fire call in Eden Prairie. Eden Prairie Fire Chief George Esbensen said the call of a commercial building fire at SVT Associates, 7620 Executive Drive, came in around 4:37 p.m. and the first arriving engine and chiefs got there in less than five minutes. The fire was in one room of an office space occupied by the company. “The fire sprinkler system was holding the fire in check and fire crews were able to make short work of the remaining fire. After the fire was knocked down and as overhaul was beginning several firefighters began to experience symptoms consistent with a chemical exposure,” he said. “Five firefighters from EP and one from Bloomington were transported to Methodist Hospital where it was determined they had been exposed through their skin with hydrofluoric acid.” Esbensen said the acid is commonly used in metal etching and stripping. All six firefighters were treated and released by 11:30 p.m. the same day. They have since returned to duty. There was some loss of equipment as a result of the chemical exposure. Turnout gear that was exposed to the chemical will not be able to be cleaned and there are 13 sets that need to be replaced. Additionally the department is waiting to hear what parts of the self contained breathing apparatus can be cleaned as well as other tools. The department doesn’t have exact replacement costs yet on the gear, but the estimate is around $50,000, Esbensen said. “There are other items that were impacted but we haven’t determined the best course of action on those yet,” he said.
