Category Archives: Residential

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Forest Hill, MD – Sprinkler system activated for microwave fire in condominium

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A microwave started a fire at a condominium building in Harford County, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

A neighbor of the occupant heard a smoke alarm and later discovered the occupant inside her apartment with heavy smoke, fire officials said. Another neighbor assisted her out of the apartment.

Neighbors exited their units after the fire alarm sounded, according to fire officials. One fire sprinkler activated and contained the fire within and around the microwave in the unit with minimal fire damage.

Water damage affected two units, including the unit of origin and the unit directly below, fire officials said.

Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray stated, “Residential fire sprinklers are proven to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect property and valuables. This is yet another example of how the presence of an automatic fire sprinkler system protected occupants and prevented substantial fire damage to residential property.”

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Highlands Ranch, CO – Sprinkler system activated for laundry fire at senior living facility; No injuries reported

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At 16:50 on April 14th, 2024 South Metro Fire Emergency Communications Center dispatched South Metro Fire Rescue to reported smoke and flames visible form the laundry facility inside Vi at Highlands Ranch, located at 2850 Classic Dr. While crews were responding, an alarm company also notified dispatch of a water flow alarm. When Firefighters arrived, they found the alarm system activated with residents evacuating and no visible signs of smoke or fire from the exterior. Once inside, Firefighters discovered a laundry bin fire being controlled by the fire sprinkler system. Due to the large population of seniors who live in the building and might need extra assistance safely evacuating, a 2nd Alarm was called. The large response brought a total of 83 personnel from South Metro to the incident scene and nearby staging area. The fire was quickly extinguished and searches of all floors in the building were conducted to check for fire extension, smoke and occupants who might need help. The fire was contained to a small area, no injuries or smoke inhalation occurred. Fire Investigators determined the fire was accidental, related to normal laundry operations and the sprinkler system activated as it was designed to do. Additional information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at apartment complex

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At 5:11 a.m., April 13th, Madison’s Fire Station Eight was dispatched to 4016 Nakoosa Trail for an activated fire alarm.

While the firefighters were en route, a 911 call came in, detailing smoke in the hallway, which elicited a full structure fire response.

Residents were evacuating the area when Engine 8 arrived at 5:17 a.m. One of the outside occupants stated that a fire had broken out in their unit. Upon investigation, the firefighters confirmed the fire was extinguished by the automatic sprinkler system.

The fire team shut down electricity to the apartment and assisted with water removal from the first-floor hallways. Three other units were affected by the water, though its occupants were not displaced.

The occupant of the fire unit was taken to the hospital, evaluated, and has since been released.

The apartment where the fire occurred is currently deemed uninhabitable, and the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupant.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Battle Creek, MI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

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A fire ravaged three apartments in Battle Creek Saturday night, though the Battle Creek Fire Department confirmed there were no injuries.

According to reports by WZZM 13, the fire broke out at around 10:20 p.m. at an apartment building located at 111 West Street.

Upon arrival, smoke was observed in the hallway of the building.

The department’s investigation led to the discovery of a blaze that originated from a vent fan in a first-floor apartment, firefighters had to remove drywall from the ceiling to tackle the inferno.

“Crews pulled drywall from the ceiling to access the fire and put it out,” detailed the report by WZZM 13. The fire managed to extend its reach to the second floor, prompting the activation of a sprinkler system.

All residents were reported safe and, while the fire itself was contained, the aftermath saw disruption for the residents.

As noted by FOX 17, the American Red Cross stepped in to assist those who were unable to return to their apartments following the incident.

The repercussions of controlling the blaze included collateral damage; the apartments sustained fire-related harm and the water supply had to be cut to facilitate repairs of a damaged sprinkler reported MLive. Although the intrepid response from fire personnel contained the situation, residents faced the inconvenience of water outage.

The cause behind the harrowing event was identified as an “electrical shortage,” yet investigations continue, the Battle Creek Fire Department told reporters. The exact number of individuals displaced by the catastrophe has not been provided, but the quick response of emergency services prevented any physical injuries from being sustained.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Lansing, MI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at senior community center

Twin Oaks Senior Community residents have been displaced after damage from a fire and a sprinkler system affected multiple units.

The Lansing Fire Department reports that 13 apartment units were impacted, leaving 26-30 displaced people.

Local authorities collaborated with the Red Cross to provide safe shelter for those in need.

According to the crew, the fire started in the hallway but was contained by the building’s sprinkler system.

As of Monday morning, the Lansing Fire Department said they are investigating the fire as suspicious.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Plymouth, MA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at senior living facility

Chief Neil Foley reports that the Plymouth Fire Department responded to a fire at a senior living facility earlier today where a sprinkler system played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading.

On Tuesday, April 2, at 9:51 a.m., Plymouth Fire received an alarm and several phone calls reporting a fire at a housing complex located at 128 Court St., the Cherry Hill Apartments.

Residents, alerted by the building’s alarm system, were actively evacuating the building as firefighters arrived on scene.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from a unit on the fourth floor. Firefighters determined that a single activated sprinkler head had kept the fire from spreading until firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire.

A preliminary investigation determined that the fire originated in a closet where the unit’s washer and dryer machines are located. The fire was contained to a single apartment on the fourth floor.

Two residents were transported by ambulance to an area hospital as a precaution.

As a result of the fire, two residents are displaced at this time.

“The sprinklers at this location played a crucial role in preventing the fire from causing more severe damage, which demonstrates the importance of having fire suppression systems in commercial properties,” said Chief Foley. “If this building did not have a properly designed and maintained sprinkler system, it is likely that this incident could have resulted in significant injuries, widespread costly damage and more residents displaced.”

The fire remains under investigation by the Plymouth Fire Department.

Other - Residential, Residential

Auburn, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at low-income community; No injuries reported

Firefighters extinguished a fire at the Mercy North Auburn at Rock Creek complex on Sunday night.

CAL FIRE/Placer County firefighters responded to the multifamily structure on First Street before 9 p.m. According to CAL FIRE, first arriving personnel reported smoke showing from the third floor of the three-story complex.

Placer County Sheriff’s deputies evacuated 10 adjacent apartments on both sides of the fire. CAL FIRE reported the affected unit was fully charged with smoke, with a fire in the back corner and an active fire sprinkler.

“The modern building construction and sprinkler systems held the fire in check for the short time prior to firefighters extinguishing the fire,” CAL FIRE reported on its Facebook on Monday afternoon.

CAL FIRE confirmed the fire was extinguished 10 minutes after dispatch and three apartments sustained major fire and water damage. CAL FIRE also replaced the sprinkler and recharged the system.

There were no injuries due to the fire. The cause remains under investigation.

Mercy North Auburn at Rock Creek is a community of 79 homes for low-income and special-needs families. Located on 3 acres of county-owned property on First Street at the Placer County Government Center, Mercy North Auburn at Rock Creek includes 32 two-bedroom apartments, 25 three-bedroom apartments and 22 one-bedroom apartments.

Residents began moving in Jan. 24, 2022, and a ceremony was held in mid May 2022, which included a ribbon cutting and speeches with several area officials attending.

Doug Shoemaker, president of Mercy Housing California, said that day all 79 homes were occupied by working people and about 20 others who were homeless at one time. They were to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent. A few residents stood outside their new homes watching the ceremony.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kennewick, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

UPDATE April 1

According to the Kennewick Fire Department, the fire from Friday displaced as many as 24 people.

The Red Cross reportedly started the process of helping a family of nine, which lived in one of the damaged apartment units and had nowhere else to go over Easter weekend.

Disaster Response Team supervisor Terry Liikala said they were able to help the predominantly non-English speaking family thanks to the help of their bilingual eldest son.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE March 29

An apartment in Kennewick caught fire Friday afternoon and was kept from spreading by fire sprinklers, according to Kennewick Fire Department Chief Chad Michael.

Michael says the fire, located on the 1000 block of West Fifth Avenue, was contained with fire sprinklers to a fourth floor apartment unit before crews arrived.

All residents of the apartment building are allowed to reenter the building except the apartment which caught fire, according to Michael.

The cause is currently unknown and is under investigation by KFD. No injuries were reported from the fire, which is now out.

More information will be revealed later in a press release.

Other - Residential, Residential

Marshalltown, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at veterans home; No injuries reported

The Marshalltown Fire Department was called to battle a small blaze on the fourth floor of the Dack Building on the Iowa Veterans Home campus Tuesday morning, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.

At 4:41 a.m., the MFD was dispatched to IVH for a fire alarm with smoke observed and sprinkler activation reported, according to a press release. Crews arrived to find light smoke and an active sprinkler in a room on the fourth floor of the Dack building.

One resident had been removed from the room prior to the fire department’s arrival. Residents were also evacuated from the wing and several rooms on the floor below.

Fire personnel, assisted by IVH staff, were able to control the sprinkler and did a brief overhaul of the room. It was found that a small fire involving an overheated electronic device as well as a basket, papers, and a window shade had set the sprinkler off and caused a moderate amount of smoke to spread throughout the wing.

Damage from the fire was contained to the room of origin however water from the sprinkler system contributed to damage on several floors. No injuries were reported. Fire personnel were on scene for approximately two hours and were assisted by the Marshalltown Police Department and IVH staff.

Mayor Joel Greer and Commandant Todd Jacobus were both highly complimentary of the fire department’s response to the situation, with Jacobus opining that the MFD “has a great team.” Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the MFD at 641-754-5751.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Bowie, MD – Sprinkler system activated for fire at condo building; No injuries reported

Four residents and multiple dogs had to be rescued from a burning condo building in Prince George’s County on Monday afternoon.

Prince George’s County Fire and EMS first tweeted about the fire around 1:40 p.m. The fire burned through a condo building in the 15600 block of Everglade Lane in Bowie.

The fire department responded just after 1 p.m. Heavy flames were showing through a second and third floor balcony and spread to the roof.

Percy Jacobs was working on a friends apartment across the street when it happened.

“I heard a loud sound, it sounded like a gunshot,” Jacobs said. “I looked out the window and saw a man leaving. Then I saw the flames on the first floor porch, then spread to second floor, then to the third floor.”

Jacobs said he called 911, then noticed people still inside the building.

“I asked 911, ‘Should I go over there? Should I knock on doors and get people out?’ They said, ‘No, stay where you are,'” he said.

“But that is hard. It’s hard to not help when lives are in danger.”

Fire crews got to the scene within minutes.

Four residents and multiple dogs had to be rescued from two different balconies, but no injuries have been reported.

The American Red Cross is on scene to help the affected residents. As many as 12 families were seeking assistance from the Red Cross. It’s not clear if there were more people displaced who didn’t need their help.

The building was equipped with a sprinkler system.

Eighty firefighters were involved in putting out the blaze.

No other details have been released.

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