Category Archives: Residential

Other - Residential, Residential

Smyrna, DE – Laundry room fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that a building fire in Smyrna was accidental.

On March 4, 2026, shortly before 11:30 PM the Citizens Hose Company of Smyrna along with mutual aid fire companies were dispatched to the unit block of Malvern Lane, Sunnyside Village Apartments, in Smyrna for a reported multifamily dwelling fire. Fire fighters arrived to find a fire in the second-floor laundry room.

Investigators from the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. Investigators determined that the fire originated within an operating clothes dryer, causing the contents to ignite. The building’s fire alarm and fire suppression system both activated. The fire was contained to the laundry room by a single sprinkler head until the fire department arrived and fully extinguished the remaining fire.

No injuries were reported and damage is estimated at $5000. The residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Apartment Building, Residential

Seattle, WA – Sprinkler system extinguished fire at apartment complex

The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) has put out an apartment fire in Bitter Lake.

SFD responded to the call just before 1 pm Monday at Linden Ave N and N 130th St.

The first crews on scene reported fire coming from a bedroom of an apartment.

SPD is asking people to avoid the area.

Apartment Building, Residential

Henrico County, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in bedroom at apartment complex

A family was displaced after a fire broke out in a bedroom at a Henrico County apartment complex Friday morning.

Firefighters responded to the 2200 block of Park Trail Lane, just off Mechanicsville Turnpike near the Henrico-Hanover County line, just after 8 a.m.

Battalion Chief Justin Madren said crews arrived to find an active bedroom fire, which was brought under control quickly.

“What they found was a fire in a bedroom,” Madren said. “They quickly extinguished it with their resources and the automatic suppression system, that’s the sprinkler system, that’s in the apartment complex.”

The fire was contained to one apartment. Management at the complex is working to rehouse the displaced family, Madren said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Residential, Single Family Home

Germantown, MD – Fire at residential home quickly contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A kitchen fire Saturday afternoon at a home on Bubbling Spring Drive in Germantown was quickly contained after the residence’s sprinkler system activated, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) PIO Pete Piringer.

MCFRS units were dispatched around 4:15pm to the 14700 block of Bubbling Spring Drive for a reported kitchen fire. Crews encountered light smoke conditions, but the fire had already been controlled by the home’s sprinkler system. Four occupants safely evacuated the home, and no injuries were reported. Responding units included multiple engines, trucks, rescue squads, and battalion chiefs.

In a later update provided at 7:52pm, Piringer confirmed the fire was accidental in nature. Damage to the home is estimated at approximately $25,000. No additional hazards were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Essex, VT – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at apartment complex

Firefighters responded to a reported fire at the Susan’s Place Apartments Tuesday, February 17.

Essex Fire Department says they were dispatched to Susie Wilson Road at about 3:41 p.m. That call was upgraded to a dual response also from Essex Junction Fire Department.

Upon arrival, crews discovered the fire at an apartment on the second floor. More specifically, the fire was on the stove.

Fire crews say that the sprinkler system had kept the fire from spreading quickly. The fire was contained to the single apartment. Authorities later confirmed that the fire was cause by “unattended non-food items left rendering on the stovetop.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Princeton, WV – Sprinkler system contains fire at apartment building

Update: According to Mercer County Emergency Manager Keith Gunnoe, the fire took place at Princeton Towers. The building’s sprinkler system contained the fire, however it flooded the building in the process. Residents of the apartment building have been temporarily relocated to the Karen Preservati Center.

At this time, no fatalities have been reported.

Original:

A structure fire has been reported at an apartment complex in Princeton.

According to Mercer County 911, multiple agencies were dispatched at 5:55 p.m.

Those responding agencies include: Princeton City Fire Department, Mercer County Emergency Management, Athens Volunteer Fire Department, Princeton Police Department, East River Volunteer Fire Department, and Princeton Rescue Squad.

Apartment Building, Residential

Portland, ME – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

Several tenants of an apartment building in Portland relocated Saturday afternoon due to a fire.

The Portland Fire Department responded to an apartment building at 100 State Street at 2:39 Saturday afternoon.

A dryer fire in a second-floor laundry room activated the sprinkler system, according to chief Dale Dyer. The sprinklers contained the fire and allowed crews to extinguish what was left with a water can, the department said in a social media post.

Several tenants were moved to different apartments in the building due to water damage, Dyer said.

There were no reported injuries, according to Dyer. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The department had advised people to be cautious in the area as crews worked at the scene. Police were diverting traffic at the intersection of State and Spring streets.

Apartment Building, Residential

Merrimack, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

On Friday, Merrimack Fire crews were dispatched to the Halstead Apartments in Merrimack for a fire alarm activation.

Upon entering the building, crews were met with representatives from building maintenance stating that they observed smoke coming from a unit on the fourth floor.

Crews observed smoke beginning to fill the stairwell as they were trying to reach the fourth floor. When crews finally arrived at the scene, they observed smoke banked down to the floor and the fire sprinkler system operating inside the apartment.

Fire officials began a search of the apartment to find any occupants who may still be there. Officials located one handicapped occupant in a fourth-floor apartment and evacuated them from the building.

The incident resulted in fire damage to the apartment, and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Merrimack Fire Marshal’s Office.

Merrimack Fire Crews are fortunate that this building had a properly installed automatic fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems which, once activated, provided an immediate alarm to the occupants of the building and to the emergency communications center. The building’s fire sprinkler system operated and extinguished the fire as designed. If these systems were not present and properly maintained, this incident could have resulted in far greater damage and possible injury to occupants.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Geneva, IL – Fire in garage of townhouse contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

No one was injured in a fire that started Thursday evening in the garage of a townhouse on the west side of Geneva, officials said.

The incident happened at about 5:13 p.m. in the 2000 block of Vanderbilt Drive.

When firefighters got to the two-story, multi-unit townhome building, they found light smoke showing from the two-car attached garage. The garage sprinkler system had activated and helped contain the fire before first responders arrived, officials said in a news release Friday.

All residents had evacuated before firefighters arrived. Crews brought the fire under control in less than 20 minutes.

The townhome remains habitable, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The St. Charles, Batavia, and Elburn and Countryside fire departments helped Geneva crews at the scene, as did the Geneva Police Department. The West Chicago Fire Protection District provided station coverage during the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Boulder, CO – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex

A woman has been arrested and is suspected of intentionally setting a fire Thursday morning at a Boulder apartment complex.

Boulder Police Department and Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to the fire in the 3700 block of Canfield Street at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The building’s automatic fire sprinkler system activated and helped contain the fire to a single unit, although two units sustained smoke and water damage, according to Boulder Police. Residents of the two damaged units were displaced, but other residents have been cleared to reenter the building.

A Boulder Fire-Rescue firefighter was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The investigation indicates that the fire was intentionally set, with evidence suggesting multiple items were ignited within the suspect’s apartment unit.

The specific method used to start the fire remains under investigation.

Officers arrested Ranita Ezeonu at the scene. She was booked into the Boulder County Jail on suspicion of the following charges:

  • First-degree arson
  • Reckless endangerment
  • Harassment

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers