Category Archives: Other Business

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Salem, VA – Structure fire at landfill mostly extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Crews have extinguished a structure fire at a landfill in Roanoke County.  The fire, which was determined to have been sparked by a welding operation, was burning at the Smith Gap Regional Landfill, according to Roanoke County Fire & Rescue.  The welding was taking place on a garbage tipper machine when combustible materials ignited in that area, causing a fire in the garbage tipper.  When the first crews arrived, they reported heavy brown smoke coming from the side of the building, according to Jennifer Conley Sexton with Roanoke County Fire & Rescue.  A call for the fire came in shortly after 4 p.m. from staff at the landfill and told dispatchers they evacuated the building.

Crews at the scene marked the fire under control in about 30 minutes, according to Sexton, who also say there were no injuries reported.  The fire department said the facility’s sprinkler system extinguished most of the flames.  Damage estimates are between $5,000-$10,000.  The landfill is owned by the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority.  Firefighters from the Masons Cove, Catawba and Fort Lewis stations responded to the fire.  Fire investigators are now on scene.

Other Business

New Orleans, LA – Fire at nightclub on Bourbon Street is kept from spreading by sprinkler system

The Oz nightclub on Bourbon Street caught on fire this afternoon after DJ equipment sparked a blaze.  The New Orleans Fire Department arrived at the club just after 12:15 p.m. to see heavy black smoke billowing out of the second floor roof line.  The club was open, but no one was in the building other than the manager and the bartender, according to the NOFD.  The manager told firefighters he heard popping noises coming from the second floor and saw flames coming from the DJ equipment and attached wires.  The building’s sprinkler system was activated and helped keep the fire from spreading, according to the NOFD.  Twenty-two NOFD personnel in seven units responded to the fire, which was placed under control by 12:30 p.m.  No injuries were reported.

Government Office, Office Building

Ponoka, AB, Canada – Fire in recycle bin at government building extinguished by sprinkler system

Ponoka RCMP are investigating a small fire that occurred at the Ponoka Provincial Building Wednesday around lunch. Along with police, the Ponoka County East District Fire Department were called to the scene where a blue recycle bin appears to have burst into flames. The building’s fire sprinkler system was set off, which extinguished the fire, and also covered a portion of the main floor. What was left of the bin was moved outside while RCMP investigated. A small amount of water was left on the floor near the sprinkler that went off.

Office Building, Other Business

Trenton, NJ – Sprinkler system helps control fire after SUV crashes into building

A woman was injured after her vehicle crashed into a Trenton building that is home to the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission headquarters. The crash took place at 10:10 a.m. last Tuesday at 225 East State Street, said Trooper Alejandro Goez, a spokesman with the New Jersey State Police. A Honda CRV driven by 40-year-old Jennifer Rosa of Plainsboro crashed into the building. Trenton Fire Battalion Chief Todd Willever said the vehicle caught fire after crashing through the plate glass window and was partially extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters took care of the rest.

The building is also home to Blimpie Subs & Salads and The Renaissance Grill, among other offices and businesses. Rosa was taken to a local hospital with injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening, Goez said. No other injuries were reported.

The building was briefly evacuated, Willever said. The driver was removed from behind the wheel by good Samaritans, before first responders arrived. Mairin Bellack, a spokeswoman with the MVC, said operations at field offices around the state were not interrupted Tuesday. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Houston, TX – Fire below concourse level of Toyota Center arena put out by sprinkler system

Arson investigators as of Monday had not determined the cause of a fire over the weekend at the Toyota Center. The Houston Fire Department was alerted to a fire around 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the lower level of the building under the concourse level. When units arrived, the fire was out due to the sprinkler system. The fire was contained to a small area of the facility. The sprinkler system was put back in service and the building is safe to use, according to officials. Officials said there is no structural damage.

Other Business

Crystal Lake, IL – Firefighters; Sprinkler system control potentially dangerous fire at chemical supply company

A fire last Friday night inside a Crystal Lake chemical supply company caused about $35,000 in damage and required a large emergency response. Crystal Lake firefighters responded to an activated fire alarm about 6:50 p.m. at the Rita Corporation, 850 S. Route 31 in Crystal Lake, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department. When crews arrived, they noticed smoke inside the building, but the building’s sprinkler system helped control the spread of any flames. Firefighters extinguished the blaze. It was limited to one office and its contents, the release stated. The fire’s cause was under investigation as of Saturday morning. No one was injured in the incident.

Crews from Algonquin-Lake in the Hills, McHenry, Cary and Nunda also responded to assist Crystal Lake firefighters in fighting the fire and investigating its cause. An individual from the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to investigate.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Morris, IL – Fire at electronics recycling facility suppressed by sprinkler system

There were no injuries reported Monday afternoon at a fire on Armstrong Street in Morris. Fire crews received a call about a sprinkler activation at 4:34 p.m. at First America Metal, Morris Deputy Chief Bob Wills said. “The sprinkler system did exactly what it was supposed to,” Wills said. The fire began in an area where the facility stores the crushed remains of electronics before being recycled. Wills said it seemed that a battery had gotten into one of the boxes and ignited. About 10,000 pounds of the recyclable material were destroyed, Wills said. Although the fire was contained, the building filled with smoke. A ventilation truck from Lyons had to be called in to help clear the smoke out of the building.

“It’s a very large fan that pressurizes the building,” Wills said, blowing the smoke out. Fire crews from Morris, Minooka, Channahon and Dwight responded to the fire and Lisbon-Seward crews manned the Morris station. Crews were on scene until about 7:15 p.m. The business opened up again Tuesday.

Other - Retail, Other Business

Plainfield, IL – (No Media Coverage) Bathroom fire at auto repair business extinguished by single sprinkler; Business remains open

** No Media Coverage – Fire Dept Reported **
“On 4-3-18 at 12:21 pm the Plainfield Fire Protection District responded to an alarm at the Merlin Muffler Shop, 14120 S. Route 30 in Plainfield, IL. Fireworks had started a fire within a restroom at this business and 1 fire sprinkler head extinguished the fire. It is estimated that $350,000 was saved due to the fire sprinkler system extinguishing the fire and making it possible for the business to remain open.  “The fire sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading and causing extensive damage to the building and its contents as well as preventing anyone from getting injured by the fire. The business was able to open the same day.”

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Brockton, MA – Fire at recycling and waste management facility doused by sprinkler system

The sprinkler system at Champion City Recovery did its job early Sunday morning, containing a fire at the transfer station before firefighters arrived. Fire officials responded to the scene at 138 Wilder St. at 2:23 a.m., discovering smoke and fire from a debris pile within the main building. There was minimal damage to the building, and no one was injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, fire officials said Sunday afternoon. The sprinkler system was already activated when firefighters arrived at the transfer and recycling station on the city’s north side, containing the fire to the debris (comprised mostly of construction materials). Firefighters used multiple hoses to douse the pile, and a heavy equipment operator from Champion City Recovery helped move the pile around for firefighters. The owner was on scene, the Fire Department said. Champion City Recovery is a rail-served transfer station managing construction and demolition waste. The fire was extinguished before 4 a.m. The city’s Building Department was called to survey any structural damage. The facility also had two fires in 2014: a smoky blaze within the building in June, then an excavator fire in November.

Place of Worship

Lithia Springs, GA – Arsonists ignite donated food at church; Sprinkler system contains fire

A Georgia church is asking for food donations after an unknown number of people broke into its gym, started a fire and ruined donated food. The incident was reported last Saturday at the Lithia Springs Church of God, according to the Douglas County School System. The church’s Gift of Love ministry had collected food intended to feed thousands of students in need over spring break. Instead, a group of vandals tagged the gym with gang graffiti and mixed chemicals in a trash can to start the fire, a district official said on Facebook. They also made themselves a meal before dousing all the tables with food on them with the chemical mixture, school authorities said.

The church’s sprinkler system contained the fire, but not before it destroyed enough food for 459 students to eat for nine days in 21 Douglas County schools. Also lost was a special donation of boxed meals for 2,000 students at four additional county schools that have a high number of students on free and reduced lunch, the school district reported. Anyone who wants to help restore the donations is asked to bring them to the church at 3900 Veterans Memorial Highway by Thursday, when the items need to be delivered. Needed donations include canned meats, pasta, soups, instant oatmeal and grits, cereal packs, Ramen noodles and packaged snacks For more information, call Brenda Kirk at the Gift of Love at (770) 672-4707.