Category Archives: Other Business

Columbus, IN – Sprinkler system extinguishes lithium-ion battery fire; No injuries reported

Columbus firefighters were sent to Dorel Juvenile, 2525 State St., on a report of a fire in the building at 5:08 p.m. Monday.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find that an evacuation of the building was in process, said Capt. Mike Wilson. As crews prepared to investigate the incident, representatives of Dorel advised firefighters that a lithium-ion battery had begun to smoke within an office space on the interior of the building.

An interior fire attack crew entered the building and found a large amount of smoke within the facility. Firefighters located the area where the lithium-ion battery was stored and reported that the building’s automatic sprinkler system had activated. Firefighters reported that a fire had occurred in the area of the battery but the fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system by the time firefighters reached the area involved. Firefighters located two additional lithium-ion batteries in that area and removed all three batteries to the exterior of the building.

After shutting down the water supply to the building’s sprinkler system, firefighters set up ventilation fans to aid in smoke removal from the interior of the building. Fire damage to the building was minor in the area where the fire occurred. The fire caused cosmetic damage to one wall near the origin but did not cause structural damage. Due to the activation of the sprinkler system, water damage to the area where the fire occurred was more significant. No damage estimate was provided. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported at the scene.

Roseville, MN – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Salvation Army Service Center

Officials say a Brooklyn Park Salvation Army Service Center was set on fire and vandalized Thursday night. 

A man police said is known to them was taken into custody in connection with the break-in and fire. The building’s chapel suffered damage from the arson, but the fire was “contained with the help of the building’s sprinkler system,” according to a press release. 

The suspect also reportedly destroyed the building’s windows and office areas. Officials say he was seen on security footage “piling a chair and new coats onto a pew in the chapel and lighting it on fire.”

“This has been devastating to our staff here,” said Captain Josh Polanco, who leads the Brooklyn Park service center. “Our food shelf here is fairly new, and membership at our church has been growing. But we will make the necessary repairs, because the families in the community rely on us for assistance.”

The service center was preparing to distribute winter coats, which would have taken place on Friday. The Salvation Army is asking for coat donations of all sizes, for adults and kids, to replace those that were damaged in the fire.

“We know at least 200 coats, which were damaged already– those we have to replace,” Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings said. “And we think more people will need coats as well, and today is a great reminder it does get cold in the Twin Cities.”

 The coats can be dropped off starting Monday, Nov. 7 at 10011 Noble Parkway. Or you can specific donate to the coat program here.

Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinkler system extinguishes chemical reaction fire

A building along North Boulevard was saved by its sprinkler system Tuesday afternoon when cleaning supplies had a chemical reaction and started a fire. 

According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the A1 Professional Services building along North Boulevard was saved by the sprinklers that completely extinguished the fire. 

When firefighters arrived, several floor mats, mop heads and other products were smoldering. 

Fire officials said the fire was contained to products inside the building. 

Oceanside, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at industrial building; No injuries reported

An Oceanside building that caught on fire Saturday night was spared thanks to its fire sprinkler system, an Oceanside fire official said.

“This goes to show the importance a working fire protection system,” Battalion Chief Wes McGee said in a statement.

The fire was reported shortly after 8 p.m. at the building on Ocean Ranch Boulevard near Maritime Way. After fire officials arrived, they assigned three more fire engines and a ladder truck to the commercial fire, with a total of 18 firefighters responding.

Items inside the business caught fire, McGee said, but the structure itself did not burn.

A damage estimate was not available, but officials said the items that caught fire included a pile of some kind of rags.

According to Google, the business at that address is a store that sells uniforms.

The department was still investigating the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Lapeer, MI – Sprinkler system contains forklift fire at commercial building

Lapeer Fire & Rescue, along with the Elba Township Fire Dept., were called out Monday afternoon at 3:12 p.m. to Hydraulic Tubes and Fitting at 434 McCormick Ave. to a report of a forklift on fire inside the building.

When the first Lapeer truck arrived on scene firefighters found the sprinkler system had activated which contained the fire to the forklift. Firefighters advanced into the building and extinguished the fire without incident, said Lapeer Fire & Rescue Chief Mike Vogt.

“Damage was limited to the forklift, however smoke did fill a majority of the building. One employee was evaluated by Lapeer County EMS for possible smoke inhalation, but was not transported to the hospital.

“This incident is an excellent example of how important sprinkler systems are to businesses,” said Vogt. “The sprinkler system was effective at containing the fire, allowed the employees to exit the building in safe conditions, and limited overall damage to the business. We also are thankful that employees called 911 quickly. Early notification is also a critical step in persevering life and property.”

Airdrie, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire in commercial building; No injuries reported

On Monday afternoon, September 26, Airdrie’s fire department received a call at 4:04 p.m. for a structure fire in Highland Park Green NE.

“On arrival, fire crews found fire in a large, commercial refuse container near the loading door of a commercial building. A nearby closed overhead door was damaged due to its proximity to the fire but prevented the blaze from spreading to the inside of the building,” stated a city press release.

A single fire sprinkler head inside was activated by heat and smoke and crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire and turn off the water to the building’s sprinkler system.

No injuries were reported and the fire is being investigated by the Fire Prevention Bureau. A total of four fire apparatus and 12 firefighters were on the scene.

Scarborough, ME – Sprinkler system activated for fire at collision center; No injuries reported

No one was hurt when a fire broke out at Moody’s Collision Center in Scarborough on Monday.

Crews were called to an all-hands fire at the business on Pleasant Hill Road around 12:40 p.m.

The building took only minor damage thanks to the sprinkler system, which put most of the fire out.

Officials said the fire started in the paint booth.

We’re expecting more details from fire officials.

Juneau, AK – Sprinkler system activated for fire in 130-year-old building; No injuries reported

An approximately 130-year-old building suffered water damage, but no one was injured following a Tuesday night fire on South Franklin Street, according to firefighters.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a water-flow alarm at about 10 p.m. in the 300 block of South Franklin Street, according to a CCFR social media post. Upon arrival, responders encountered smoke on the third floor of the building. A sprinkler system had been activated and occupants were evacuated, according to CCFR. Occupants reported hearing popping sounds, which led them to the fire, calling 911 and evacuating.

The amount of damage caused by the fire is undetermined, but an investigation identified a cause, according to CCFR.

It was determined a wood screw penetrating wiring on the third floor exterior deck made contact with copper wiring, which caused electrical resistance and enough heat to cause the wood to catch fire, according to CCFR. The fire was contained to inside the wall and ceiling spaces of the business.

When the fire traveled to the ceiling, near the point of ignition, a sprinkler head was activated and put out most of the fire, according to CCFR. Firefighters were then able to extinguish the remaining flames using little water.

San Diego, CA – Sprinkler system extinguished early morning laboratory fire; No injuries reported

A fire early Wednesday in a second-floor laboratory in a Qualcomm building in Sorrento Valley was put out by sprinklers before firefighters arrived, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said.

The fire was reported around 6:40 a.m. in a four-story building on McKellar Court off Pacific Center Boulevard called the Qualcomm Pacific Center Campus. When crews arrived, they didn’t see any smoke or fire showing from the outside the building but when they got inside, they found a fire that had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

After searching the building to check for any spread of the fire, crews worked to ensure the fire didn’t reignite. Just under 50 firefighters from San Diego and Chula Vista had responded to the fire.

No injuries were reported. No damage estimate was immediately available. A cause of the fire also wasn’t reported.

Saskatoon, SK, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at commercial building; No injuries reported

The fire Sunday in the 400-block Wellman Crescent was deemed accidental based on the investigation done by the Saskatoon Fire Department.

The fire investigator concluded the cause of the fire was accidental due to the internal heating of oil-soaked rags used for staining which ignited.

Construction materials that were also near the area of the oil-soaked rags also caught fire but the sprinkler system kept the fire small on the second floor of the commercial structure.

No civilians or firefighters were reportedly injured as a result of the fire, which had estimated damage of $10,000.

On Sunday, at 5:14 p.m. on Sept. 11, the SFD received a call from the alarm monitoring company that indicated a structure fire in the 400 block of Wellman Crescent

One fire engine was dispatched to investigate what might have triggered the alarm from the property.

Arriving fire crews indicated the fire alarm was ringing and water was flowing from the automatic sprinkler system on the second floor.

After further investigation, it was identified that there was smoke visible on the second floor and two more fire engines, a ladder truck, a rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched.

The fire was reported extinguished at 5:41 p.m. as the sprinkler system helped minimize the damage.