Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a report of a structure fire at the El Lago Apartments, 3400 Craig Dr., at 6:40 p.m., Monday, April 19.

The fire originated on the balcony and a single fire sprinkler head in the apartment’s living room area extinguished the fire and kept the flames from spreading into the apartment.

Fire investigators determined the fire was started by a child playing with a lighter. The child was referred to the MFD’s Youth Firesetter Program.

Here is information for teaching your child about fire safety:

  • Lead by example. You cannot expect your child to treat fire any differently than you do.
  • Explain why they cannot use fire.
  • Treat matches and lighters like tools. Give these items the same respect you would knives, kitchen appliances, hammers, etc.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of reach of all children.
  • Reward children for making right decisions with matches and lighters.
  • Make clear the punishment for the improper use of matches and lighters.
  • Encourage your child’s school to promote fire safety in the classroom.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 7,000 fires annually are started by children playing. More than half of those fires are started with a lighter.

Apartment Building, Residential

Stafford, TX – (no media coverage) Residential kitchen fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system

On 4/20/2021 at approximately 12:56 AM,
Investigators from the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office were dispatched to the scene of
an apartment fire with Stafford Fire Department. Upon arrival, investigators discovered that a
cooking fire had occurred in the kitchen of a residential living unit due to unattended cooking.
The fire was controlled with the single head activation and there was minor heat damage to the
adjacent area. No other units were affected by this fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Richmond, TX – (no media coverage) Apartment fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system

On 4/7/2021 at approximately 12:54 AM,
Investigators from the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office were dispatched to the scene of
an apartment fire with Richmond Fire Department. Upon arrival, investigators discovered that a
fire had occurred in a clothes dryer in the laundry closet of a residential living unit. The fire was
controlled with the single head activation and there was minor heat damage to the adjacent area.
No other units were affected by this fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Harrisonburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex

The Harrisonburg Fire Department (HFD) says a Broadway man has been arrested in connection with a recent structure fire that officials believe appears to be intentionally set.

Officials say units from HPD, the Rockingham County Fire Rescue, the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad were dispatched to the 2400 block of Silverbell Drive at approximately 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, April 18 for a reported structure fire.

Crews say smoke was coming from a ground-floor apartment. A fire was found inside, and had been controlled by a fire sprinkler.

Officials say no victims were found during a search, although two dogs were safely evacuated. During an investigation, officials say information was found that suggested the fire was intentionally set.

Officials say Marlon A. Organ, Jr., of Broadway, was arrested in connection with the fire and charged with burning or destroying a dwelling. Organ was committed to the Rockingham County Jail.

Due to the ongoing investigation, officials say specific information about the fire, including origin and cause, will not be released. Stay with WHSV for updates.

Apartment Building, Residential

Spokane, WA – Fire at apartment complex controlled by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived; No injuries reported

At least two residents of a 32-unit Spokane apartment complex were displaced Sunday by a fire caused by a candle placed “too close to combustibles,” according to the Spokane Fire Department.

The fire was reported at around 6:15 p.m. at the West 315 Apartments on Mission Avenue and Washington Street.

The caller reported smoke from a second-floor apartment window and a fire alarm going off, according to the fire department.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes to a blaze on the second floor of the three-story apartment building.

The building, according to the fire department, is equipped with a fire and life safety system that includes a commercial fire sprinkler system, which did help keep the fire’s growth under control until personnel arrived.

More than 30 firefighters were needed to search the burning apartment, evacuate nearby units and survey the damage, firefighters said.

Nobody was injured, while firefighters rescued three cats.

Those affected have accepted assistance from the Greater Inland Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross. Firefighters said Monday afternoon that up to six more disabled residents could be temporarily relocated.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental.

“The SFD reminds our community that when using lit candles, to place them in sturdy, safe candle holders that will not burn or tip over,” department officials said in a statement. “Although we prefer battery-operated flameless candles, if candles are used, please keep them at least 12 inches from materials that can burn and never leave a candle unattended.”

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

Richmond, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at high-rise; No injuries reported

Officials said a two-alarm fire at a high-rise in Shockoe Bottom started in a unit’s kitchen Sunday morning.

Crews were called to the Jackson Warehouse Apartments at 12 South 17th Street for an apartment fire just before 8:30 a.m.

When firefighters pulled up, they saw heavy smoke coming from the building’s sixth floor.

“A second alarm was declared, due to this being a high-rise building,” fire officials said. “Crews quickly got the incident under control and assisted evacuating occupants of the building.”

Firefighters credited the building’s sprinkler system in helping prevent the fire from spreading to other apartments.

Officials said the fire likely started in one unit’s kitchen.

Officials said one person was “briefly stuck in an elevator” when power to the building was shut off, “but our crews got them out with no issues.”

No one was injured, officials said.

The Red Cross is helping one person who was displaced, according to fire officials.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fredericksburg, VA – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at apartment complex

Two apartments were damaged in a fire Friday afternoon in Spotsylvania County.

The fire started in a unit of the Alexander Heights apartment complex along Salem Church Road, according to county Fire Chief Jay Cullinan.

He said the sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading, but residents couldn’t go back to two apartments. The apartment where the fire started sustained smoke damage and the apartment below that unit sustained water damage, he said.

The chief said a firefighter suffered smoke inhalation issues and was taken to an area hospital for observation, but is OK.

Apartment Building, Residential

Plainfield, IL – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by fire sprinkler system

On Thursday, April 1st, just before 4:00 pm a 9-1-1 call was placed to the Plainfield Fire Protection District for a kitchen fire in the 23600 block of Springs Court. The occupants of the apartment had safely escaped when the smoke alarms went off and the fire was extinguished by a single fire sprinkler head. The fire had started in a pan of oil heating on the stove and spread to the microwave and cabinets above the stove before being extinguished by the sprinkler. Firefighters credit the quick thinking of a teenage occupant who made sure everyone heard the alarm, waking up a sleeping sibling and getting everyone out of the apartment and calling 9-1-1. Remember to always stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop, put a lid on small grease fires while turning off the heat and leaving the lid on to cool the pan and smother the fire. Never put water on a grease fire and never try to move or carry a pan on fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building

A Winnipeg apartment building sustained “significant” smoke and water damage during an overnight fire on Monday, according to the City of Winnipeg.

Crews with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service were called to the fire at a five-storey building in the 100 block of Creek Bend Road just after 1:40 a.m.

When firefighters got to the scene, they found smoke and flames coming from the building.

The city noted the sprinkler system was activated, and crews extinguished the fire just after 2:20 a.m.

Paramedics treated one person at the scene, but they did not have to go to the hospital. The evacuated residents used Winnipeg Transit buses as temporary shelters.

Apartment Building, Residential

Stoystown, PA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building

Firefighters had to carry a Stoystown-area woman to safety late Sunday after a fire damaged a section of her apartment building.

According to Stoystown Fire Chief Dave Johnson, the woman was found semi-conscious in her bedroom and was taken to Pittsburgh’s West Penn Burn Center for treatment due to her injuries.

The late-night response meant evacuating all of the Hite House’s residents from the building to Stoystown’s fire station a block away.

“Some of the residents had to be assisted from the building, but everyone was evacuated,” Johnson said, adding that no other injuries were reported.

Stoystown fire was alerted about the blaze at 11:04 p.m., he said.

Crews arrived to find smoke inside the building and one apartment with fire damage. Fortunately, the building’s sprinkler system did its job, but crews inside had to eliminate hot spots, Johnson said.

The three-story building suffered smoke damage through much of the facility, he added.

A second evacuation had to be conducted after a fire alarm signaled inside the building at approximately 2 a.m. Monday, but firefighters determined the alarm was faulty – perhaps due to damage sustained in the fire.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, Johnson said.

A state police fire marshal is investigating.