Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Fenton, MO – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Two residents at the Sugar Creek Apartments complex have been displaced due to a fire that started Thursday night, Dec. 18.

The High Ridge Fire Protection District was called to an apartment building at the 4200 block of Jade Way Court in the Jefferson County portion of Fenton about 7 p.m. Fire Chief John Barton said the fire started near an outdoor storage closet attached to a first-floor apartment.

He said none of the complex residents were injured in the fire.

“When we arrived, there were residents outside the building, and there was a fire on the first floor that had extended to the second floor,” Barton said. “There was also a sprinkler that had activated, so there was a lot of water flowing from the sprinkler already, which we believe helped keep the fire in check, so to speak, and prevented it from extending into the second floor or into the void space.”

The fire was extinguished by 7:24 p.m. and crews left the scene by 9:20 p.m., Barton said. The cause of the fire is still unknown, he said, but likely will be ruled as accidental.

“I spoke with the investigator this morning, and the cause will probably be listed as undetermined,” Barton said today, Dec. 19. “We can’t rule out an electrical problem with something in that apartment, but I don’t think they were able to identify a specific outlet or circuit that would have been responsible for it.”

Barton said the first-floor apartment has significant damage due to the fire. However, because the fire originated outside the residence, he said most of the residents’ belongings should be undamaged. He said the second-floor apartment was vacant at the time of the fire.

Barton said High Ridge Fire was assisted on the scene by the Valley Park, Eureka, Saline Valley and Fenton fire protection districts, along with the North Jefferson County Ambulance District.

Barton said this incident was a good example of how effective sprinkler systems can be. In general, Barton said apartment sprinkler systems are checked annually by the fire district and when completing occupancy inspections.

“This certainly would have been a much more significant incident with more residents and apartments affected, but the activation of one single sprinkler head was enough to prevent the fire on the first floor from moving up and causing serious damage on the second floor,” Barton said. “That, combined with residents calling 911 right away and evacuating the building instead of wasting some time trying to put the fire out themselves, is what made the difference.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Austin, TX – Fire caused by charging e-bike knocked down by sprinkler system

AFD is at the scene of a second floor apartment fire in east Austin. It is the fire department’s third major fire response this morning after an apartment fire in southeast Austin and a fire at a liquor store in east Austin.

Fire crews are at the scene of smoke coming from an apartment at 1700 E. Third St. AFD initially reported the fire at around 5:50 a.m. Friday morning.

AFD says that fire crews entered the apartment to find that the sprinkler system knocked down the fire. Crews extinguished the fire, including hot spots, and worked to shut off the water flow from the sprinklers.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by an electric E-bike being charged in the apartment.

One apartment sustained fire and water damage, while another apartment sustained water damage. Crews remained at the scene to limit further water damage from the sprinkler system.

Apartment Building, Residential

Essex, VT – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A small apartment fire in Essex was extinguished Wednesday evening before spreading to the rest of the building.

Emergency crews responded to an apartment complex on Susie Wilson Road at around 6:30 p.m.

According to the Essex Fire Department, the unit’s sprinkler system had stifled most of the fire by the time crews arrived to put out the rest.

Residents were evacuated from the building as a precaution, and the power was shut off in one wing of the building to avoid electrical damage.

Nobody was injured.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charleston, SC – Sprinkler system contains kitchen fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

The Charleston Fire Department is reminding residents to stay attentive to cooking food after a fire broke out in a West Ashley apartment kitchen early Saturday.

CFD said emergency personnel responded to a 911 call that came in shortly before an automatic alarm notification off off William E. Murray Boulevard in West Ashley just after midnight. Firefighters entered the first-floor apartment where the fire was reported, and found that the automatic fire sprinkler system had contained the blaze.

Fire marshals determined the fire started due to unattended cooking, damage was contained to the one unit, and no injuries were reported.

CFD said it is important to stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food, regularly check simmering, baking, or roasting food and remain home while food is cooking, and to keep combustibles away from the stove top.

Apartment Building, Residential

Jefferson City, MO – Apartment fire controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Jefferson City Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in the 500 block of East Elm Street at 6:21 a.m. Thursday, according to a JCFD Facebook post.

Occupants of a multistory apartment building reported smoke and fire coming from a wall near an electrical outlet inside their unit. No injuries were reported, according to the post.

Upon arrival, firefighters found light smoke conditions and confirmed a fire contained to a bedroom within the apartment, according to the post.

The building’s fire sprinkler system and smoke alarms activated and successfully controlled the fire before it could spread beyond the room of origin, according to the post.

JCFD said the American Red Cross was contacted to assist the people displaced by the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the post.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system prevents fire from spreading at apartment complex; No injuries reported

The Peoria Fire Department said “multiple” people have been displaced after a trash fire in a hallway at New Hope Apartments in Downtown Peoria.

The fire department was called about 6:35 p.m. where a fire was on the fifth floor of the building at 301 NE Jefferson.

All residents were safely evacuated, and there were no injuries, said Battalion Chief Josh Maroney.

The chief also said the building’s sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading. The water damage, however, caused “multiple” residents to be displaced.

According to the chief, restoration work is underway, and residents will be able to return to their homes when repairs are done.

This is the second time in recent weeks that firefighters were called to put out a fire at New Hope. Investigators determined the fire that happened about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 20 was intentionally set and caused an estimated $200,000.

Total damage of Tuesday evening’s fire is estimated at $60,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Silver Spring, MD – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

A Monday night fire at the Turnberry Court Apartments in Leisure World was quickly contained thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, according to MCFRS chief spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The incident was initially dispatched around 9pm to the multi-story residential building on South Leisure World Boulevard. Upon arrival, firefighters located a fire on the second floor of the eight-story complex. Piringer reported at 10:42pm that the blaze had been contained by the residential sprinkler system, preventing it from spreading beyond the immediate area.

No injuries were reported at that time, though six adult residents from three apartments were displaced due to water damage created during the suppression effort. An update provided by Piringer at 11:38 p.m. revealed that the origin and cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, stemming from an unknown malfunction or failure of a cordless rechargeable vacuum.

One adult resident sustained minor burns while throwing a fire blanket over the flames and assisting in evacuating an elderly mother. Estimated damage from the incident is placed at $110,000, and a total of six people remain displaced across the three affected units.

Apartment Building, Residential

Myrtle Beach, SC – Kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

This incident is under control.
A small fire in the kitchen was extinguished by a sprinkler system.
The one involved unit sustained smoke and water damage.
There are no reported injuries.
Apartment Building, Residential

Moscow, ID – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at apartment complex

Fire crews responded to a second-floor apartment fire on North Main Street Monday night, where a lithium battery malfunction is now being identified as the cause, according to the Moscow Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched at 9:44 p.m. on November 24 to 436 North Main Street after reports of smoke and an activated sprinkler system inside an upstairs unit. The first engine arrived in under four minutes.

Although no smoke was visible from outside, crews found moderate smoke conditions throughout the apartment. Firefighters shut down the sprinkler system, cleared smoke from the building, and removed water affecting both the second-floor apartments and the commercial space below.

No one was home in the affected apartment at the time of the fire. According to the department, working smoke alarms alerted neighbors, and the building’s fire sprinkler system significantly reduced the extent of the damage.

An investigation determined the fire was caused by the thermal runaway of a portable lithium battery device.

Apartment Building, Residential

Richmond Heights, MO – Sprinkler system activated for single unit apartment fire

People in a Richmond Heights apartment complex were displaced Sunday following a small fire in a single unit.

The fire happened around 2:30 p.m. at The Arrive Brentwood complex, located along Eager Road just south of Interstate 64.

According to Richmond Heights Fire Department spokesman, the sprinkler system was activated in the building and firefighters quickly extinguished the small fire.

There was some smoke and water damage to approximately 30 units. The people in those units had to find housing with friends or go to hotels.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers