Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Burnsville, MN – Suspected arson fire at apartment building doused by sprinkler system

Authorities are asking for the public’s help to find suspects of a suspected arson fire in Burnsville over the weekend. Burnsville Police and Fire departments say a fire at the Meridian Point Apartments, 51 McAndrews Road West, has been ruled suspicious. The fire, which happened on Sunday, was contained thanks to a single sprinkler head in the apartment building.

Fire crews arrived on scene to find smoke coming from a stairwell leading from the basement garage to the first floor. The building’s sprinkler system had already been activated and managed to keep the fire damage to a minimum. No building residents were displaced by the fire and no injuries were reported.

An investigation into the fire has led officials to believe it was intentionally set. Assistant Fire Chief Doug Nelson states in a release the cause appears to be suspicious and the circumstances of the fire remain under investigation. They ask any residents with information to call the arson hotline at 1-800-723-2020. A reward of up to $5,000 is available for information leading to the identity of the person or persons responsible.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fairbanks, AK – Sprinkler system contains cooking fire at downtown apartment building

A sprinkler system contained a small cooking fire in a downtown Fairbanks apartment building Tuesday evening.

The fire broke out about 5:30 p.m. in an apartment on the third floor of the Golden Towers building, said Assistant Fire Chief Ernie Misewicz with the Fairbanks fire department. The automatic sprinkler extinguished the fire. 

“Nobody was displaced and damage was kept to a minimum,” he said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Temecula, CA – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire to single room; No injuries to woman and infant occupant

The fire was reported at 5:35 p.m. Saturday in the 31200 block of Black Maple Drive in Temecula, said the department’s Jennifer Fuhrman.

The first arriving firefighters reported smoke showing from the second floor of a two-story apartment building.  A woman and an infant boy were displaced, Fuhrman said. The building’s sprinkler system contained the fire to a single room of one apartment at 5:51 p.m.

Firefighters remained on scene for an “extensive water salvage,” Fuhrman said, as two of the apartments sustained water damage due to the sprinkler activation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Watertown, NY – Sprinkler contain apartment fire while firefighters battle series of arson fires

… The car fires in the city were reported as firefighters worked at 308 Creekwood Drive,  Watertown. Crews were dispatched about 12:35 a.m. Saturday as flames shot from the building’s rear, which sustained major damage.

“The whole backyard was lit up,” said Hamilton A. Hewitt, who lives next door to the building’s apartment 6, where the fire began on a back patio and which sustained the most damage.

Nobody was injured in the apartment fire. Mr. Hewitt said several neighbors were checking

doors to ensure people had left the building and helped an elderly woman get out in time. Brittany A. Brady-Davis, who lived across the street, said she was initially worried about the children inside.

“It’s scary having it that close,” she said. At the scene, Battalion Chief Matthew R. Timerman said the building’s sprinkler system and firewalls prevented the damage from spreading to other portions of the building. 

“Without them, we lose at least three apartments, if not the whole building,” he said.

Fort Drum fire crews also aided at the apartment scene. Chief Herman’s statement Saturday about the fire said the cause is currently listed as undetermined.

Nobody was injured in the three vehicle fires. The city fire department asked that those with information about the vehicle fires contact them at 315-782-3211 or city police at 782-2233.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kalamazoo, MI – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in containing fire at large apartment building

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety received multiple 911 calls around 8:20 a.m. Friday morning regarding a fire at an apartment located in the 2700 block of W. Michigan Avenue. Police say the fire activated the sprinkler system which was able to contain the fire to the apartment where it started. No one was injured.

When officers arrived on scene, they saw smoke coming from a second floor apartment on the north side of the building and residents already evacuating. The fire was contained in about a half hour; however, due to the large number of apartments in the building, a second alarm was called which brought more emergency crews to the scene. A total of eight fire apparatus and about 35 firefighters responded.

Police closed W. Michigan Avenue near Howard Street while they were on scene, but everything has reopened. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Shakopee, MN – Single sprinkler controls fire in apartment building laundry room

A single fire sprinkler contained a dryer fire in the second floor laundry room at White Pines Apartments in Shakopee Sunday morning, and Fire Marshal Tom Pitschneider credited it with preventing a significant blaze that could have displaced several residents.

Firefighters were called to the apartment complex located at 1364 Eagle Creek Blvd. at 10:50 a.m. Pitschneider said when Shakopee police arrived they reported there was a dryer on fire in the second floor laundry room. When firefighters arrived a single fire sprinkler in the laundry room had already activated due to heat from the fire.

The sprinkler controlled the fire and kept it from spreading both within the room and through the building, Pitschneider said. Firefighters removed the dryer and ventilated the building to remove smoke.

There was smoke and water damage to the second floor in the area of the laundry room and water damage to the first floor directly below. There were no injuries reported and all residents were able to return to their units.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fairfield, CT – Sprinkler system credited with keeping apartment fire in check

On Sunday, Aug. 23, at 2:48 p.m. the Fairfield Emergency Communication Center received a report of a fire alarm at 130 Fairchild Avenue. Engine 2, Engine 3, Ladder 2 and Car 3 were dispatched. While responding, FD units were advised that there was a fire in one of the kitchens. Fairfield Engine 2 arrived first and reported heavy smoke on the second floor of the 54 unit apartment building and a smoke condition on the third floor.

Engine 1, Engine 4, Engine 5, and Ladder 1 we additionally requested to the scene to support the fire ground effort. Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood arrived Car 3 and took command. Upon gaining access to the apartment, Engine 2 determined the fire had been controlled by the building sprinkler system. On scene fire units began an extensive search and ventilation operation. High levels of carbon monoxide were found on multiple floors of the building.

The occupants of the fire apartment were evaluated for smoke inhalation by AMR. The building was ventilated and all 54 units searched. Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood stated, “The occupants of the building were extremely lucky that this building had a sprinkler system and that the sprinkler system kept the fire in check. The damage would have been much worse had there not had been a working sprinkler system.” Assistant Chief Sherwood went on to say that “He would like to remind people of the importance of evacuating a building when the fire alarm system sounds as occupants were found in the building after the fire who did not evacuate and in fact there were high levels of carbon monoxide in the area of their apartments”.

Fire Units remained on scene for about two hours. Two apartments in the building were damaged and will not be able to be occupied.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hartford, CT – Apartment kitchen fire contained by sprinkler system

A family of four has been relocated after a fire in their Hartford apartment on Tuesday morning, officials say. Firefighters were called to 4 Vine Street after a fire alarm activation notification. They found the sprinkler system contained the fire to the kitchen area and kept it from spreading in the second-floor apartment.

No one was injured. Fire officials say cabinets sustained moderate smoke and water damage. The fire marshal says the fire was accidental and originated from the stove.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wichita, KS – Sprinkler system keeps fire at apartment complex from spreading

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Fire crews have knocked out a fire at an apartment complex in Wichita. The fire started around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex located at 324 N. Emporia. Fire crews say the sprinkler system helped get the fire out and keep it from spreading.

Upon arrival, fire crews discovered the fire on 3rd floor of the building. Residents had self-evacuated. So far, there is no cause of fire. Some residents are being displaced and Westar Enegry is also shutting down power for time being as well.

Apartment Building, Residential

Rochester, MN – Sprinkler system prevents apartment fire from spreading; No injuries reported

An apartment sprinkler system is being credited for preventing a more serious fire — and possibly injuries, officials said today.

A sprinkler activation alarm at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday sent Rochester fire crews to 2350 Valleyhigh Drive NW. The family, including children ages 4, 2 and 1, was outside when trucks arrived, said Larry Mueller, assistant fire marshal.

A woman in the home had been making pastries in an oil-filled pot on the stove, Mueller said. She left the kitchen for a moment, and when she returned found three- to four-foot flames coming from the pan.

The sprinkler system above the stove extinguished the fire, Mueller said, leaving only slight water damage to cabinets and nearby carpet.

“The sprinkler saved thousands of dollars in damage, and possibly the family,” he said.

Though the home was habitable, the Red Cross put the family up for the night because of the age of the children and the clean-up necessary, the report says.