Category Archives: Apartment Building

Sprinkler system makes the difference in apartment fire (Colorado Springs, CO)

A neighbor called 911 after hearing children crying and seeing smoke coming from the apartment unit. Firefighters say a neighbor was able to safety evacuate two children from the home. It’s unclear where the parents/guardians were at the time of the fire. The fire sprinkler system in the apartment contributed to the safe outcome of this fire, authorities said. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

Fire sprinklers limit fire damage at apartment building (Madison, WI)

A late night fire that began in the garage of an apartment building was quickly contained by two sprinkler heads located within a few feet of the car in which the fire began. According to Madison Fire Department spokesman Eric Dahl, “This contained the fire and kept it from spreading until firefighters arrived to finish extinguishing the fire.”
No injuries were reported, and once conditions were safe, all of the residents were allowed to return to their appartments.

Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire (Asheville, NC)

Crews arrived on the scene of the apartment complex and reported that a mattress, which had been on fire, was now extinguished thanks to the activation of the sprinkler system. The apparent accidental fire originated in the bedroom at the mattress and was also extinguished in the same location minimizing any further smoke or fire damage. There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Sprinklers extinguish apartment fire before fire department arrives (Edina, MN)

The Edina Fire Department was dispatched to the apartment fire at approximately 6:15 p.m. Sunday, arriving to find a fire on the stovetop of a first-floor unit had already been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. “The building’s sprinklers saved countless lives and property,” Assistant Fire Chief Darrell Todd said. “This really shows the impact sprinklers have on fires by keeping it from spreading to other units. Had the building not been sprinkled, the fire could have spread quickly, endangering lives.”

Apartment electrical fire contained by sprinkler system (Novato, CA)

A stacked washer-drier unit in an exterior closet caught fire next to a downtown Novato apartment, and the only loss was a few clothes. Firefighters responded to the call and found that a sprinkler system had done most of the work on the electrical fire, which took place on the patio of an apartment. Battalion Chief Jeff Veliquette said the fire remained contained to the exterior closet. “The sprinklers knocked it down,” Veliquette said. “The take-home message is that sprinklers did their job and held it off long enough for us to do our job. Otherwise this could have easily spread into the apartment.”

Fire sprinklers and working smoke alarms save child playing with matches (Salisbury, MD)

Fire crews were called to a two-story five unit apartment building just before 8:30 a.m. for a report of a fire. When firefighters arrived they found the fire was already extinguished in the four-year-old child’s bedroom. Fire Marshals investigating the scene concluded that the child had been playing with matches and set a bed on fire. Working smoke alarms alerted the parents to the blaze and they were able to escape with the child and warn neighbors. A sprinkler in the child’s bedroom put out the fire.

“This is yet another example of the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers in residential occupancies. The presence of not only sprinklers but working smoke alarms and a home escape plan undoubtedly prevented a more tragic outcome” stated William E. Barnard, Maryland State Fire Marshal.

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at apartment complex (Happy Valley, OR)

Firefighters are crediting a residential sprinkler system for putting out a two-alarm apartment fire. Brandon Paxton, Clackamas Fire District 1 spokesman, said the sprinklers in the Town Center Station Apartments worked so well that the fire already was out when firefighters arrived after receiving a 10:22 p.m. 9-1-1 call. Firefighters found combustible materials on a kitchen range that ignited when the stove was turned on accidentally. “The key here was early detection,” Paxton said. “The sprinkler system already in place did its job.” Paxton said the fire was contained to one apartment, but easily could have spread to other units if the sprinkler system hadn’t controlled it. No injuries were reported.

Sprinkler system contains apartment fire (Perryville, MD)

The quick containment of a Monday morning laundry room fire in a Perryville apartment building is evidence that sprinkler systems save lives, according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The cause of the 5:30 a.m. fire is still under investigation, although it is not considered suspicious, said Deputy Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire. Firefighters evacuated residents from the eight apartments in the building, including one elderly woman who was confined to her bed.