Category Archives: 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.

Cape Girardeau, MO – Trashcan fire in casino bathroom put out by fire sprinklers

A fire at the Century Casino, formerly Isle Casino, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri caused the building to be evacuated.

It happened early Wednesday morning on Dec. 18 at 777 N. Main St.

Chief Travis Hollis said crews were called out just before 3 a.m.

When officials got to the scene the building was being evacuated. They smelled smoke in the front lobby.

Firefighters found the source of the smell in the men’s restroom in the front lobby. Officials said a small fire was in a trashcan.

This activated the building’s sprinklers.

Hollis the building only suffered water damage.

The sprinkler system puts out around 13 gallons of water each minute.

Hollis said without the system, the situation could have been much worse.

The fire was contained within minutes after firefighters got to the scene.

The incident is under investigation.

Easton, MA – Fire sprinklers keep fire at bay after candles set advent wreath on fire; No injuries reported

A candle-lit wreath caught fire Monday morning, triggering an evacuation at the Museum of Family Prayer at the Father Peyton Center.

An evergreen Advent wreath, which was inside the museum’s chapel, ignited shortly after multiple candles were lit on candle holders within the center of the wreath, Fire Chief Kevin Partridge said in a press release. The wreath was located near the altar and three people were inside the chapel at the time of the fire.

The Easton Fire Department received an alarm around 11:15 a.m. and a 911 call reporting a fire inside the chapel at the museum at 518 Washington St.

Upon arrival of firefighters, the building had been evacuated and the fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system and a maintenance worker who used a fire extinguisher, according to Partridge.

No injuries were reported.

Once the fire started, the sprinkler system in the chapel activated and a maintenance worker heard people yelling about a fire and grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher to help put out the flames, Partridge said.

Firefighters arrived minutes later and shut down the sprinkler system and helped to carry wet furniture and other items out of the chapel.

The fire was contained to the wreath, but the chapel had a significant amount of water inside from the sprinkler, Partridge said. Firefighters used wet-vacs to remove as much of the water from the floor as they could before clearing the scene at approximately 12:20 p.m.

The chapel will be closed temporarily until the water can be completely dried.

“Thankfully the sprinkler system activated and kept the fire at bay and the maintenance worker sprung into action prior to our arrival,” Partridge said, “We are glad that no one was hurt and this incident should serve as a reminder that evergreen is extremely flammable and should never be kept near an open flame. Many churches use Advent wreaths this time of year, but we recommend that they use fake wreaths and keep a close eye on any candles with open flames.”

Partridge also reminded residents to regularly water their Christmas trees and to keep them away from any heat sources or open flames.

In addition, Chief Partridge would like to share some candle safety tips from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

Burn candles within a 1 foot circle free of anything that can burn.

Before you leave a room or the house, blow out candles. Never leave candles burning unattended.

Always extinguish candles after use.

Use a non-combustible saucer or candle holder.

Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.

To be safe, consider using flameless candles. Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage instead of candles.

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.

Farmers Branch, TX – (no media coverage) Sprinkler system contains fire caused by overheated machine

On November 18, 2019, at approximately 5:41 pm, the Farmers Branch Fire Department responded to an automatic fire alarm – water flow alarm at RMAX, located at 13524 Welch Rd..  Farmers Branch Engine 132 arrived on scene at 5:45 pm with nothing showing.  Upon further investigation, building personnel directed the crew to a manufacturing processing machine.  The product within the machine overheated  causing one internal sprinkler head to activate.  Fire loss was estimated to be $0.  Engine 132 crew shut off the control valve.  Building occupants notified their fire protection company to replace the sprinkler head and recharge the system.  Engine 132 cleared at 5:55 pm.

Stamford, CT – Sprinkler system helps contain fire on Thanksgiving at commercial building; No injuries reported

Stamford firefighters extinguished a pair of structure fires Thanksgiving night, according to fire officials. No injuries were reported.

The first blaze was reported just before 10 p.m. at a large, multi-business commercial building on Union Street in the Glenbrook section of the city, the cause of which remains under investigation.

“Upon arrival, Engine 6 from the Glenbrook fire house found the building sprinkler system activated and a strong odor of smoke from the exterior,” wrote Stamford Deputy Fire Chief Eric Lorenz in a statement. “Fire fighters discovered a heavy smoke condition inside the building in a tenant space utilized as a wood-working shop. Fire fighters stretched hose lines, and deployed search ropes to overcome maze like conditions. The source of the smoke was determined to be from a fire involving a dust collection unit in the shop. The fire was held in check by one activated sprinkler head. Fire fighters extinguished the remaining fire and ventilated the building using mechanical fans.”

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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.

Oregon City, OR – Fire sprinkler systems keeps fire from spreading at recycling center; No injuries reported

While Canby and many other communities were gathering to honor, remember and celebrate our nation’s veterans, firefighters were responded to a two-alarm fire that broke out at the Metro South Transfer Station in Oregon City.

The fire was reportedly shortly after noon. The first crews on the scene reported a 400-square-foot area of garbage burning in Bay One of the facility, with approximately 15 employees and 20 customers being evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Hose lines were quickly deployed and the sprinkler system was supported to extinguish the fire and keep it from spreading to the building. A second alarm was called due to the potential for fire spread, however the fire was brought under control in 40 minutes and the second alarm units were canceled.

The cause of this fire is undetermined, according to Clackamas Fire.

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.”