Other Business, Place of Worship Amherst, NY – Sprinkler system activates to contain church arson fire September 8, 2015 viking210 A Molotov cocktail was thrown into a chapel early Saturday morning in Amherst. Amherst Police say that around 5:30 a.m. they responded to a fire alarm at the Chapel at Crosspoint. When they arrived they found that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown through a glass door and started a fire. A sprinkler system contained the fire. Damage was estimated to be $10,000. Amherst Police and the A.T.F are investigating the incident, including checking security cameras belonging to the Chapel and nearby businesses. Anyone with information is asked to call (716) 689-1364.
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.
Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system controls fire at go kart race track August 18, 2015 viking210 Pole Position Raceway remains open after fire — Firefighters are investigating a blaze that occurred at the Las Vegas branch of Pole Position Raceway on Saturday evening. There is a second Pole Position location in Summerlin. Thirty-nine firefighters arrived at 4175 S. Arville St. to find smoke, according to the Clark County Fire Department. The building’s sprinkler system held the fire in check until crews were able to extinguish it. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. A damage estimate was not immediately available, but the business remains open.
Office Building, Restaurant Fort Lauderdale, FL – Sprinklers activate, assist firefighters in extinguishing restaurant fire at downtown high rise August 14, 2015 viking210 2 Comments The Bank of America building in downtown Fort Lauderdale was evacuated Thursday after a fire broke out in a restaurant located inside the building. A Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue representative said the grease fire began on the first floor of the building inside the grill at Grille 401. He said firefighters could see black smoke coming from the restaurant upon arrival. “When crews arrived, they found heavy black smoke coming from the upper part of the parking garage,” Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Capt. Greg May said. “The sprinkler heads activated like they were supposed to, but the fire got in the duct system and traveled the length of the building which is several hundred feet.” “We looked out the side window here, and it was just covered in smoke,” Britny Alexander, who was inside the building at the time, said. All 23 floors of the building were evacuated for several hours. No injuries were reported. Firefighters said Grille 401 would be closed for the remainder of the day. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility Nantucket, MA – Sprinkler system helps knock down landfill fire August 13, 2015 viking210 A construction debris fire this morning at the town landfill was slowed by a new sprinkler system, Nantucket Fire Chief Mark McDougal said. “Having a system that activated right away saved us a lot of time and effort,” McDougal said. Fires at the town landfill have, in the past, taken hours and even days to douse but a new building for the construction and building debris that included the sprinkler system made a big difference, he said. “This wasn’t a big one,” McDougal said about the fire. No one was injured. The fire department was called at around 9 a.m. to the town property at 188 Madaket Road, McDougal said. The fire started in the far right corner of the building, and the cause has not yet been determined, he said. Possible causes include oily rags, discarded smoking materials or internal combustion, he said. The fire department was on the scene for two and one-half hours.
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.
Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business Newnan, GA – Potential arson fire at pilates studio controlled by sprinkler system July 27, 2015 viking210 Authorities with the Newnan Fire Department and the Newnan Police Department are investigating a suspicious fire that severely damaged a Newnan business early Tuesday. The fire started about 4:20 a.m., shortly after someone was seen banging on the door of The Pilates Loft on Field Street, located in the historic cotton mill, witnesses told detectives. According to Sgt. Brent Blankenship with the police department, witnesses said they saw a Caucasian person carrying a red container, possibly a gasoline can, and they thought they saw the person pour the can around the business. The person then fled in a white vehicle, and flames soon appeared inside the building. The fire inside The Pilates Loft did not last very long because the sprinkler system in the building kicked on quickly from the heat. By the time the Newnan Fire Department arrived, the fire was mostly contained and firefighters were able to quickly control the fire, but the business sustained heat and smoke damage. During the investigation, detectives found one of The Pilates Loft’s windows had been shattered, which is possibly where the suspect poured the can into the building, Blankenship said. Because of this, authorities are treating the fire as an arson investigation. According to Blankenship, witnesses said the person may have been a man, but detectives are not certain of that at this time. Evidence gathered by authorities is also being sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab to determine if an accelerant was used to start the fire, Blankenship said. If so, the crime will be considered arson.
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.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Virginia Beach, VA – Sprinkler system contains HazMat fire at business July 17, 2015 viking210 The Virginia Beach Fire Department HazMat teams responded to three separate HazMat incidents Thursday. Around 2 p.m., fire crews were dispatched to a reported commercial fire at a business in the 2700 Block of Sonic Drive. Crews found smoke showing from the warehouse area of the business that contained cleaning chemicals. The fire progressed to the ceiling, and sprinkler heads in the building activated to contain the fire. The fire involved cleaning solvents (mineral spirit) and floor wax. HazMat crews monitored the business and surrounding area to ensure the water run-off and atmosphere was not hazardous. Fire officials said the building suffered minor to moderate fire damage. There are no hazards to area businesses and no one was injured. The fire was ruled accidental and unintentional.
