Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

West Kelowna, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for couch fire at apartment complex

West Kelowna firefighters spent some of Sunday afternoon dousing a couch fire potentially sparked by an electrical charging device.

Reports of a fire alarm going off at the Harbor Ridge Apartments on Old Ferry Wharf Road prompted a crew to head to the building, where they found the sprinkler system activated and was holding a small fire in a couch on the first floor.

“Residents had evacuated the building and fire crews finished extinguishing the fire and stopping the flow of water from the sprinkler system,” fire chief Jason Brolund said in a press release.

“In this case, all systems and the residents of the building performed well. The fire alarm and suppression systems in the building functioned exactly as designed, alerting residents and holding the fire to a small size. The residents and building management did exactly as they should, evacuating the building and showing patience and understanding as firefighters took care of the emergency.”

Fire damage was contained to one unit and there was a small amount of smoke and water damage from the sprinkler system to five other nearby units.

“Most residents of the building were able to return home within two hours,” Brolund said. “The residents of six units have been offered Emergency Support Services while the status and damage of their units is further evaluated. Any residents with questions or requiring further assistance are directed to contact the building manager.”

The fire investigation has been completed. The cause of the fire has been deemed accidental, possibly related to an electrical charging device in the unit.

“This event is a great reminder of the importance of having an emergency plan including a grab-and-go kit for your self, your family and your pets. You never know when or why you may have to leave your home without notice and a few minutes of preparation can make this process much smoother,” he said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Skokie, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

People in one Skokie residential building are dealing with the aftermath of a fire that has left them in the dark.

About 140 people live in the 10-story building.

On the fifth floor, a small fire triggered the sprinkler system, and while the fire was quickly contained, those sprinklers did their job so well spraying water that it actually flooded parts of the rest of the building.

“There’s too much of it on five, and it’s all through the elevators and everything,” said resident Michelle Carelli. “My apartment’s got it through the hallway. I”ll have some cleaning to do in my apartment.”

There were no injuries as a result of the fire.

Skokie Fire said the fire actually got inside the electrical system, which can be dangerous, so they had to shut down power to the building. Saturday morning they were working with electricians and Cook County Emergency Management and hoped to have power restored within several hours.

Apartment Building, Residential

East Wenatchee, WA – Sprinkler system extinguishes cooking fire caused by oil

A Tuesday night structure fire in East Wenatchee left occupants displaced and was a result of oil left cooking on the stove.

According to public information officer, Kay McKellar, Douglas County Fire District 2 responded to the structure fire around 9 p.m. in the 500 block of 11th street. A man in the home was cooking oil on the stove and left to head to the grocery store. When he returned home, the oil had started a small fire.

The overhead sprinkler did put out the fire, however there was water damage from the sprinkler to both the unit and the one below. The Red Cross was called to assist with the displaced occupants.

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.