Category Archives: Other Business

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Amherst, MA – Fire at Eric Carle Museum is extinguished by sprinkler system; Damage contained to water heater closet

The water heater closet at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book art Tuesday caught fire but was doused by the sprinkler system before the fire spread to the museum. Fire Chief Tim Nelson said combustibles like plastic buckets and brooms were stored around the heater, which shorted out and then the combustibles caught fire.

“It’s a good thing the sprinkler head was in the closet,” Nelson said. He said people forget that a water heater closet is for the heater, not general storage. He said the museum was allowed to reopen to staff and that fire crews got most of the smoke out, however, he said the smell of burnt plastic lingered.

According to the museum’s Facebook page, the museum is closed for the day. The heater will need to be replaced, Nelson said. “The sprinkler did what it was supposed to do,” Nelson said. “If they followed good housekeeping practices, we wouldn’t have been there at all.”

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Philadelphia, PA – Sprinkler system activates to help contain fire at iconic welcome center in Fairmount Park

Crews were sweeping up shattered glass Tuesday morning, cleaning up after a fire at the Fairmount Park Welcome Center at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard. The iconic building was built in 1960 and is known as an example of mid-20th century modern architecture.

“It’s a rather unusual architecture style in Center City,” said Mark Focht of Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department, “but goes with the Penn Center office buildings that surround it. It’s a unique, iconic building.”

Arthur Shinholster says he was in Love Park with his friends when the fire broke out just after 3 a.m. He called 911. The building’s alarm and sprinkler system activated. Smoke was coming from the basement.

“It was a whole bunch of smoke coming out of it,” Shinholster told Action News. “It was coming from underneath. No sooner I pulled over but Michael Nutter, Mayor Michael Nutter, pulled up. I was calling the fire department, and his crew was calling at the same time.”

40 firefighters were able to get the fire under control within 15 minutes. Officials say the worst of the damage is in the basement, though firefighters were forced to break about 20 windows for ventilation.

You can see windows broken out,” said Philadelphia Fire Department Capt. William Dixon. “There’s obvious damage, smoke and water damage throughout the building.”

“We are coming up into our very busy season with the Holiday Village here in Love Park,” said Focht. “So we will figure out over the next 24 hours how we will utilize building over next several months.”

The welcome center was already set to be closed in April for extensive renovations.

James Cuorato, President and CEO of the Independence Visitor Center, says the welcome center is an important satellite location.

The hope is to get it back up and running as soon as possible.

 

“We have a big weekend coming up with the Temple-Notre Dame football game,” said Cuorato. “We are anxious and hopeful to get it back and running by then.”

 

The fire marshal is working to determine what caused the blaze.

Office Building, Other Business

Washington, NJ – Fire in records storage area at corporate building contained by sprinkler system

The cause of a fire in a storage area of the Albea Americas Corp. in Washington on Sunday remains under investigation, a fire official said. The blaze broke out around 6:15 a.m Sunday at 191 Route 31 in what the company refers to as its “tech area” on the building’s main floor, said Washington Fire Chief Bob Cammarota. He said the room mostly contained a storage area of paper records.

Once the sprinkler system went off, it helped keep the fire contained to the single area, Cammarota said. “It was a fire that could have been much worse,” he said. “The sprinkler system helped out a lot.”

About 20 employees on the overnight crew were evacuated safely and eventually were allowed back in the building, Cammarota said. He said they could work inside, but were told by fire officials to avoid entering the storage area.

Cammarota said the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate.  An Albea Americas spokesman did not immediately return an email request for information. Albea is a global leader in personal care and cosmetic packaging, according to the company’s website.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

South Lake Tahoe, CA – Fire at refuse center confined to garbage truck by sprinkler system

Fire agencies responded to a fire at South Tahoe Refuse on Ruth Avenue earlier Tuesday  evening.  According to South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jeff Meston, the fire started at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The city called in assistance from Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Fallen Leaf Fire Department and CalFire.

“The fire was controlled by fire suppression sprinkler system and we were able to confine it to the garbage truck itself,” Meston said.

The department suspects the fire was caused an accumulation of materials between the truck’s cab and body.

 

Office Building, Other Business

Madison, WI – Overnight fire at downtown office building extinguished by sprinkler system

The building that houses the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development (WHEDA) is closed Wednesday due to a fire that broke out overnight according to a release from WHEDA. Madison Fire Department said they were called to the Tommy Thompson Commerce Center around 1:06 a.m. for an activated alarm.

Fire officials said when firefighters arrived the fire was out. They say a high-voltage power supply to the building shorted and caused sparks to shower down on some plastic materials underneath. A small fire ignited, and the automatic sprinkler system in the room caught the fire early.

A representative from WHEDA says there is no power in the building, and it’s completely closed at this time. Power is not expected to be restored until Thursday. Employees have been told not to report to work until they are notified.

Fire officials say there’s limited fire damage to the room and a small amount of smoke damage in the area where the fire took place.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Educational Approval Board, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Tourism also have offices located in the Tommy Thompson Commerce Center.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Palm Beach, FL – Fire at Bath & Tennis Club quickly extinguished by sprinkler system

Traffic was rerouted this evening around the Bath & Tennis Club in the 1100 block of South Ocean Boulevard due to a small fire from a garbage can in the paint shop that was extinguished quickly, said Palm Beach Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Sean Baker. The road was open again by 7:15.

“Some paper products caught fire and the sprinkler system held the fire in check,” Baker said. “It was out pretty quickly.” Baker said there was no smoke damage, only water damage

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Akron, OH – Sprinklers help control fire and limit damage in fire at funeral home

Akron firefighters are investigating the cause of a Wednesday-morning fire at a South Main Street funeral home. The fire broke out about 9 a.m. at the Anthony Funeral Home in the 1900 block of South Main Street. A smoke alarm alerted firefighters.

Several employees were inside the building when the alarm sounded. No one was injured.

Akron Fire Department Capt. Don Klein said firefighters arrived and found smoke coming from the roof. Firefighters found the fire burning in the attic near the side of the building. Firefighters attacked the blaze from the inside first, then put the rest of the fire out from the outside, Klein said.

The fire was under control within about 10 minutes, and it took about 40 minutes to completely extinguish the blaze. “About 10 more minutes it would have been really bad,” Klein said. “These guys got here really quick and did a great job.”

Officials have no estimate of how much damage the fire caused. The attic sustained smoke and fire damage. Water from the firefighters and the building’s sprinkler system caused most of the damage, Klein said.

Fire investigators said it’s too early to tell the cause of the fire. They are investigating several possibilities, including an electrical problem or that the fire was started because of a new crematorium recently installed in the building.

Eric Anthony, an employee of the funeral home, said the fire would not interrupt business. He said they expected to reopen soon.No funerals will be affected by the fire, he said.

 

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Fitchburg, MA – Recycling plant fire contained by sprinkler system

Crews returning from a box alarm call noticed smoke pouring out of AKS Recycling and reacted quickly, extinguishing a fire in the Cobbler Dr. building early Sunday morning.

Fire fighters were on the way back to the station after checking in on an alarm at Steel-Fab on Crawford St. just before 6 a.m. when they saw smoke coming from AKS Recycling, according to Deputy Chief Dave Gravel. The building’s sprinkler system had activated, containing the fire and keeping it from spreading, he said.

With crews immediately at the scene, the fire was put out without any injuries. There has been no determination on what caused the fire at the recycling plant, but Gravel says it’s not believed to be suspicious.

Office Building, Other Business

Richmond, VA – High-rise office fire put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire inside the James Madison Building in downtown Richmond caused smoke but no reported injuries Thursday. Firefighters were called at 1:28 p.m. to the building at 109 Governor St., which houses the Virginia Department of Health, said Richmond fire Lt. Chris Armstrong. Hundreds of employees gathered outside after the building was evacuated.

Investigators determined the fire was accidental and the result of a malfunctioning microwave, Virginia State Police said in a news release. The fire started on the third floor, Armstrong said. The sprinkler system put out the fire, and crews were working to clean up the water, he said.

The building was closed Thursday and will remain closed today. The state hopes to reopen the building Tuesday, after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Petaluma, CA – Fire at animal shelter controlled with help from sprinkler system

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.