Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Hillsboro, OR – Sprinkler system activated for fire in apartment building

Firefighters say two people had to be rescued from an apartment fire in Hillsboro Wednesday morning.

At 10:08 a.m., a commercial fire alarm alert was received at the Washington County 911 dispatch center indicating fire sprinkler activation at 722 Northeast Autumncreek Way. Additional information to 911 reported white smoke coming from a third-floor apartment and that a person may be inside the unit.

The first fire engine arrived to find smoke showing from an upstairs unit and audible fire alarms. When firefighters made entry into the unit, they found heavy smoke, fire sprinklers flowing, and two persons inside the unit. Both people were rescued and taken safely down to awaiting paramedics.

The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to the single unit. The fire did not extend to any additional units but the apartment immediately below the fire was impacted by water from the sprinkler system.

A fire investigator determined the cause of the fire to be improper storage of smoking materials.

Apartment Building, Residential

Quincy, MA – Apartment balcony fire kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A woman and her two dogs were kept safe from harm Monday morning after a pile of trash on her apartment’s third-floor balcony caught fire.

Quincy firefighters responded to a fire alarm Monday morning in Building F of the apartment complex at 500 Falls Blvd. A fire sprinkler was right above where the fire started and kept it under control until firefighters arrived, officials said. 

“They were storing some rubbish out on the deck on the third floor and it caught fire,” Quincy Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Gorman said. “They don’t know what was in there that could have caught, they don’t smoke or anything, but it just caught fire.”

Gorman said the woman was home with her pets when she smelled the smoke. She immediately left the building with her dogs and called the fire department. Firefighters were already on their way when she called because an alarm had come into the station, Gorman said. 

The building was evacuated, nobody was injured and damage was minimal. 

“There was very little damage. … The cards all lined up and everything came out right. Nobody got hurt and there was no damage, it was a best-case scenario,” Gorman said. 

The deputy chief said those living in the apartment were lucky for the outcome.

“It was the exact same scenario as the building across the street a few years ago that actually burned down,” he said. “It was the same thing. … They were very lucky.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Minot, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire; No injuries reported

Crews responded to a small fire in a fourth floor unit of the Artspace Lofts apartment complex in downtown Minot Wednesday afternoon, and a person was detained in the investigation, according to the Minot Fire Department.

Capt. Aaron Peterson said the call came in at 1:15 p.m. of the fire, and the apartment’s sprinkler system put the fire out.

Crews ventilated the building for smoke. Peterson said one tenant on the third floor was temporarily displaced due to water damage and is being set up in a hotel.

Peterson said no one was hurt.

Your News Leader has reached out to Minot Police for more information on the person detained and the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Temple, TX – Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Temple Fire & Rescue responded to a fire that almost displaced a family this Wednesday morning, July 21.

At 3:27 a.m. Temple Fire & Rescue dispatched to an apartment complex located on 2012 S. 31st St.

Three residents occupied the apartment, 2 adults and a child, and 16 personnel arrived on the scene along with The Temple Police Department and Temple EMS.

It was determined that the unit’s sprinkler system had extinguished the blaze. Additional apartment units received water damage from the sprinkler system as well.

Investigation revealed that the fire began with an unattended candle, and the fire department issued a warning on candle safety:

• Always keep a burning candle within sight.
• Keep candles away from anything combustible.
• Put candles out of reach of children.

“Fortunately, this situation did not result in further harm to anyone inside the home,” Public Information Officer Santos Soto said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tallahassee, FL – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Tallahassee Fire Department says it responded to an apartment fire and duplex fire within a roughly six-hour period.

The call for the first fire came in around 6 p.m. Monday, and crews were sent to an apartment on the 400 block of West College Avenue, TFD says. As they arrived, firefighters realized the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire. TFD says the crews worked to remove smoke and water from the apartment.

All the people escaped from that fire safely. TFD determined the fire started from cooking in the kitchen.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roseburg, OR – Cigarette fire at apartment extinguished by sprinkler system

A discarded cigarette started a fire at the Rose Apartments and caused the complex’s sprinkler system to flood the fourth floor, according to the Roseburg Fire Department.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Monday, firefighters responded to a water alarm at the apartments in the 800 block of Southeast Stephens Street, Roseburg. When they arrived, they found water flowing from the upper floors, into the stairwell and out of the front doorway.

When firefighters searched the building they discovered remnants of a fire that had likely started inside an upstairs closet where a used cigarette had been tossed into a garbage bin, according to a press release.

The apartment complex had an automatic sprinkler system installed and when it sensed smoke from the fire it activated and extinguished the fire. The sprinklers caused water damage throughout the building, including several rooms and common spaces, but quickly doused the flames and prevented it from growing, said Fire Marshal Brian Jewell.

“This is a great reminder that sprinkler systems can not only save lives, it can reduce damage to property if functioning properly,” he said in a press release.

Jewell said it’s important to check wastebaskets and cushions in rooms where people have been smoking and look for embers that are still burning.

“Cigarettes can smolder longer than most bedding materials can upholstery can resist igniting,” he said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Atlanta, GA – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters have put out a blaze at a building on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.

Officials say crews found a small fire inside the roof of an apartment building on the 30 block of Peachtree Street around 6:30 Thursday morning.

They say a sprinkler system contained the fire and kept it from spreading.

No one was hurt in the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Spokane, WA – Sprinkler system controls apartment fire; No injuries reported

An early-morning apartment fire was largely controlled by the building’s sprinklers before the Spokane Fire Department arrived and finished extinguishing the flames.

A fire broke out at the Wolfe Apartments, 240 W. Sprague Ave., at about 1:30 a.m. Monday morning, according to Julie O’Berg, deputy chief at the Spokane Fire Department.

The fire was small and primarily controlled by a sprinkler system in the building, she said. Residents were able to exit the building safely, and no injuries have been reported, O’Berg said.

“Our crews helped with smoke removal and just making sure there’s no extension (of the fire),” O’Berg said.

The number of apartments damaged was not available Monday morning, but O’Berg said most of the damage was caused by the water from the sprinklers. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roseburg, OR – Apartment fire extinguished by single sprinkler head

A residential structure fire in Roseburg displaced an adult and several of their pets on Monday morning.

At 9:46 a.m. the Roseburg Fire Department personnel responded to a reported residential structure fire at 2665 NW Van Pelt Drive, #15. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find smoke inside apartment #15. The occupant and her dog were found to be outside of the residential structure.

The building had an automatic fire sprinkler system installed. A single sprinkler activated when exposed to the fire, effectively extinguishing it and preventing the fire from spreading.

Firefighters ensured the fire was completely out and conducted a primary search, locating and rescuing two birds that were inside the home. A secondary search found no victims and an overhaul was completed. One adult, one dog, and two birds were displaced due to the fire; however, no one was injured in the fire.

A fire investigator was on scene and the fire was determined to be caused by cooking and found to be accidental in nature.

Apartment Building, Residential

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system activated for apartment fire

Firefighters, with an assist from an indoor sprinkler system, knocked down a fire inside a Westchester apartment building Sunday.

The blaze inside a building at 7140 S,. Flight Ave. was reported at 4:48 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange said.

The department sent 28 firefighters to the scene and extinguished the flames in under 25 minutes, Prange said.

Firefighters used covers to protect belongings from water damage from the sprinklers, he said. Firefighters will remain on site to air out the building with mechanical blowers, he said.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remained under investigation.