Category Archives: Other Business

Other / Not Specified

Fargo, ND – Fire at FARGODOME indoor stadium doused by sprinkler system

A sprinkler did its job and put out a fire at the FARGODOME in north Fargo Monday night.  Firefighters got the call around 11 p.m. and discovered a dryer fire in a storage area on the lower level. They say a sprinkler head in the area had activated and had completely extinguished the flames, which kept damage to a minimum — about $3,000. The cause is under investigation, but is considered to be accidental.

Other Business

Fallston, MD – Fire that started in movie theater popcorn machine controlled with help from spinklers

A small fire inside a movie theater Tuesday, prompted an emergency response from local fire stations.  Just before 11:30 a.m., Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance along with the Joppa – Magnolia Fire Company responded to the Horizon Cinemas located at 2315 Bel Air Road in Fallston.  Upon arrival, units discovered one of the buildings sprinkler systems activated after a popcorn machine caught fire.  No injuries were reported according to Chief Dave Williams, of Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company.

Auto Dealership, Other Business

Bismarck, ND – Fire at auto body shop extinguished by sprinkler system; Business resumes operations quickly

A fire, caused by welding sparks which ignited the filters of a spray booth ventilation system at an auto body shop, was largely contained by the business’ sprinklers on Tuesday. The Bismarck Fire Department was dispatched at about 4:23 p.m. to the 1800 block of Commerce Drive, where heavy smoke was showing from the shop area of the single-story building.

Fire had spread to the roof top HVAC system, but flames inside the shop had been extinguished by the activation of two heads on the fire sprinkler system, according to Owen Fitzsimmons, a fire marshal with the Bismarck Fire Department, who deemed the incident was accidental. Fire crews removed a roof top ventilation fan and a portion of the roof to access and extinguish the blaze. Afterward, a thermal imaging camera was used to scan for any fire spread, and firefighters left the scene at about 7:24 p.m.

Bismarck Police Department assisted with scene control. Metro Area Ambulance was on scene to provide assistance. There were no injuries to building occupants or firefighters. The sprinkler system has been reactivated, the business remains in operation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Nanaimo, BC, Canada – Intentionally-set fire at credit union knocked down by sprinkler system

A man is in psychiatric care after being arrested in Nanaimo yesterday.

Police responded to a break-in alarm at the Island Savings Credit Union branch at Cedar Village Square, 1840 Cedar Rd., shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Police are not identifying the suspect other than to say that he is 54 years old and from the B.C. Interior, but allege he broke windows and lit a fire which led to his arrest.

“He lit a fire in the cardboard recycling area of the receiving bay of the 49th Parallel Grocery store,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “He also threw a brick through one of the … windows at the credit union and he also broke a passenger side window to a car.”

O’Brien said there was a warrant for the man’s arrest under Canada’s mental health act.

“He offered no resistance. He was arrested immediately.” O’Brien said. “It was apparent to the members that were mental health issues at play and he was taken for a psych exam.”

The man remains in care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Percy Tipping, North Cedar Fire Rescue chief, said the fire, that was started in cardboard, spread to some shipping pallets. The heat from the fire triggered the building’s automatic sprinkler system.

“Which was good because it could have been a lot more serious … the sprinkler system took care of the bulk of it for us,” Tipping said.

O’Brien said police are looking at recommending charges, but also are taking into consideration the man’s mental health issues.

Office Building, Other Business

Uwchlan Township, PA – Electrical fire at software company office put out with help from sprinkler system

An electrical fire forced the evacuation of an office building in the Eagleview Complex Thursday. Firefighters were called to Bentley Software at 685 Stockton Drive for a fire at 12:36 p.m.

Lionville Fire Company Deputy Chief Michael Holmes said the fire was contained to the electric room on the second floor of the building. All employees safely evacuated, the building sprinkler system activated and firefighters used dry power extinguishers to contain the fire until PECO was able to respond an turn off the power, Holmes said.

Holmes said the fire was under control in 20 minutes. He described the damage to the structure as minimal, but that there was extensive damage to the electrical system of the building, Holmes said. The company’s main computer servers were located in another building in the complex, he said.

Firefighters checked the roof for extension of hidden fire and fans to remove smoke.

Jeff Purcell, Pennsylvania State police Fire Marshal, said there was no information on the cause or amount of damage at this time. The fire is being investigated by the Chester County Fire Marshals office and the State Police Fire Marshal.

Lionville was aided by Minquas and West Whiteland Fire companies.

Other Business

San Carlos, CA – Fire at commercial building held in check by single automatic fire sprinkler

A two-alarm fire broke out in San Carlos early Wednesday morning, damaging a commercial building before crews got it under control, reports indicate.  Crews were called around 2:18 a.m. to the 1100 bock of Industrial Road, according to the Pulsepoint smartphone application.  San Mateo County Fire Department personnel were assisted by the Redwood City Fire Department, who indicated on Twitter that the fire was “held in check” by just one sprinkler. The agency said the first alarm companies put the blaze out.  Additional details on the fire were not immediately available.

Other Business

Tulsa, OK – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in putting out fire at linen company

Tulsa firefighters had to battle heavy smoke to put out a rubber floor mat fire at a Tulsa business Monday evening.  The fire happened just before 8:30 p.m. at Superior Linen Company in the 500 block of South Rockford.  Firefighters say they got the call after someone noticed heavy smoke pouring from the building. They arrived to find a roll of rubber floor maps on fire. Firefighters say it wasn’t the fire, but that smoke inside the business that caused them problems.

“The amount of smoke from those floor mats really made it tough for us to operate inside that building,” said Tulsa Fire Captain Jason Gilkison.  He said they had to use thermal imaging cameras once inside to help guide them through the smoke.  Gilkison says with the help of the building’s sprinkler system, they were able to put out the fire.  The business was closed at the time and no injuries were reported.

Office Building, Other Business

Chicago, IL – Parking garage fire at John Hancock Tower held in check by sprinkler system

A car caught fire Sunday morning at a parking garage inside the John Hancock Center on the Magnificent Mile. Over 150 firefighters responded about 9 a.m. to the two-alarm fire on the 7th floor of the parking garage at 149 E. East Delaware St., where heavy smoke conditions had been reported, according to Chicago Police and the Chicago Fire Department.

“The sprinkler system here did what it was supposed to do,” CFD District Chief Dan Cunningham told reporters “It kept the fire in check and it allowed us time to stretch a hose line to extinguish the fire.”

The fire was quickly struck out, but the “serious smoke conditions” on the 7th and 8th floors of the garage moved to other areas of the building, Cunningham said. People who were on the upper levels of the Hancock Center, including the 94th floor observation deck, requested help, but their calls were unfounded and no one was actually in distress. No injuries were reported, authorities said.

Ten people who were subjected to medical evaluations at the scene refused further medical treatment, Cunningham said. The Hancock Center was expected to reopen Sunday morning, Cunningham said.

“It will be business as usual as soon as we leave out of here,” he added.

Other Business

Pikeville, KY – Theater fire caused by pyrotechnics is put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

Firefighters were called to a small fire Saturday afternoon on the stage at Jenny Wiley Theatre.  Pikeville 911-Public Safety Director Paul Maynard says the fire occurred after a malfunction during a test of the venue’s pyrotechnics. The fire was contained to a portion of the stage, and the building’s sprinkler system worked as designed to put it out. The burnt portion of the stage was removed from the building. The theater sustained some smoke and water damage.

No one was hurt in the incident. Jenny Wiley Theatre released a statement about the incident, saying the fire occurred during preparations for the opening the youth program’s production of “The Tempest.” The statement said while the fire was minor, it did destroy the set for the production. The theater requested donations to offset the cost of repairs.