Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Springfield, MA – Sprinkler system quickly extinguishes arson fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

The fire Tuesday morning at the former Indian Motorcycle building on State Street in Springfield was intentionally set, fire officials report. 

According to Captain Drew Piemonte, with the Springfield Fire Department, the fire was called in at 10:45 a.m. 

Piemonte tells Western Mass News the sprinkler system in the building quickly extinguished the flames.

“Sprinklers kept the fire in check,” Piemonte explained.

No injuries have been reported.

Firefighters were on scene checking for any extension of the fire to make sure there were no flare ups.

Piemonte confirms damage was contained to the room of origin…” it was a bedroom,” he noted. 

The Springfield Arson And Bomb Squad has been investigating this fire.

“..(the) Squad has determined that there was two separate fires in the apartment that were intentionally set,” Piemonte told us. 

The building, which was once part of the Indian Motorcycle Company, now houses apartments. 

At this time no arrests have been made and the investigation continues.

Apartment Building, Residential

Poughkeepsie, NY – Suspected arson fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

City of Poughkeepsie firefighters responded to an early morning sprinkler alarm at 60 Carroll Street at 4:10 a.m. on Monday morning.  The first arriving firefighters immediately observed a heavy odor of gasoline when they entered the building less than four minutes after receiving the alarm.

When the firefighters reached the second-floor of the building, with the gasoline odor even more noticeable, they observed a charred trail where a fire had been burning, until the sprinkler system had extinguished it.

Fire officials said that most of the building’s occupants had evacuated the building when the alarm activated in the building.  As they continued their inspection, firefighters discovered that an entry door to a specific apartment had sustained fire damage prior to their arrival.

The initial investigation indicates that an accelerant, presumably gasoline, was poured in the second-floor hallway, and intentionally ignited.  The sprinkler system extinguished the fire.  The City of Poughkeepsie Police were called to the scene to investigate the possible criminal act.

No injuries were reported.  Officials noted that ceiling tiles on the first floor had sustained water damage from the sprinklers and fell to the floor.

Over the past several weeks, the fire department has responded to several calls at the address.  On one occasion, a gas can was placed in the building and evidence indicates that an attempt to ignite it had occurred.  On another date, firefighters responded to a similar call.

City of Poughkeepsie Police have responded to the building several times in recent weeks as well.  On one date, they responded to a call of gunfire that resulted in bullets entering an occupied apartment.  More recently, a drug raid was conducted at an apartment in the building, resulting in a seizure of guns, drugs, and cash.  Arrests were made during that incident.

Sources have told Mid Hudson News that the police are investigating the Monday morning fire as a possible arson.  Anyone with information is asked to call 845-451-7577.

Apartment Building, Residential

St. Cloud, MN – Apartment fire contained and extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

No one was injured but thousands of dollars in damage occurred in an apartment fire Sunday evening in St. Cloud.

The St. Cloud Fire Department responded to a call for a kitchen fire around 8 p.m. Sunday. When firefighters arrived at the apartment building in the 1100 block of 7th Street Southeast, they found that the building’s sprinkler system had contained and extinguished the fire.

There were no injuries reported, but the department says it is investigating the cause of the fire that left $14,000 in damage. It is not suspicious in nature. Two adults and three children were displaced from the apartment and are receiving help from the Red Cross.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Fire at apartment complex extinguished by residential sprinkler system

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to the report of a water flow alarm at the Lakes of Eldorado apartments at 1400 Eldorado Pkwy. just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 18. Neighbors told 911 dispatchers that water was coming from one of the apartments. 

MFD firefighters arrived to find that the flames had been contained and extinguished by the residential fire sprinkler system. 

Nobody was home at the time of the fire. Fire investigators are looking into the cause. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Frisco, TX – Fire on 12th floor of apartment complex contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Fire investigators are investigating a fire that started in an apartment at the Twelve Cowboys Way Luxury Apartments. The fire was contained in the apartment due to the activation of the fire sprinkler system.

Dispatch was alerted by the alarm company of a “water flow” alarm at 12:13 p.m. Sunday. The first unit arrived four minutes later. Frisco Fire responded with one engine, one ladder truck, and one battalion chief on the initial assignment due to it being an alarm investigation.

During the investigation by the first arriving unit, smoke was found in the building.

Additional units were requested as a working fire was declared. The fire was found in an apartment on the 12th floor, was kept small, and was not allowed to grow as rapidly due to the fire sprinklers that had activated when the fire began. A total of 19 units and 43 personnel were used to help extinguish the fire.

The Frisco Fire Department announced 1:11 p.m. Sunday through social media that the fire was declared “out.”  Just after 2:30 p.m., the department announced that residents were being allowed back into the residences with restoration crews on scene.  

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Twelve Cowboys Way is a 17 story luxury high-rise building with garage and offices on floors one through five and residential apartments on floors six through 17.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lancaster, PA – (no media coverage) Microwave fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Sprinklers save lives and buildings. Sprinklers turn potential really big fires into very small boring fires. A single automatic sprinkler head saved a 3 story wood frame occupied apartment house in Lancaster Township Fire Department this morning. The microwave oven caught fire even though it wasn’t in use. The occupants fled the building as the fire started spreading. The kitchen sprinkler head went off and PUT OUT the fire. We spent 30 minutes cleaning up instead of 3 hours in a water battle. 30 people have a home and a million dollar apartment building has some water damage instead of being bulldozed into a rubble pile. Sprinklers save lives and property.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ithaca, NY – Sprinkler system kept apartment fire under control until fire crews arrived

The Ithaca Fire Department responded to a call for a fire alarm activation at Titus Towers, an apartment complex on South Plain Street just before 10pm Friday.

Smoke could be seen coming from the building outside but once inside, responders found that the fire was contained to one apartment. The fire was still burning when help arrived, but sprinklers were able to keep it under control.

Firefighters rescued one person  in the apartment as well as a neighboring tenant uninjured.

Responders credit the working smoke detector, fire alarm, and sprinkler system for keeping the fire contained and everyone safe. Following apartment damage the Ithaca Housing Authority is now helping the occupants with clean up and accommodations.

Apartment Building, Residential

Gainesville, FL – Sprinkler system contained apartment fire until fire crews arrived

Several people are displaced after a fire in a North Central Florida apartment complex this morning.

Gainesville Fire Rescue says the fire started in an air conditioning unit in the hallway at The Atrium of Gainesville located on north west 41st Street.

Everyone evacuated quickly when the alarm went off.

Firefighters say thanks to the fire doors closing and sprinkler system the fire was contained to the hallway.

Four apartments were damaged by heavy smoke.

The management company is working with displaced residents to find accommodations.

Gainesville Fire Rescue and Alachua County Fire Rescue crews responded to a fire Wednesday morning.

In a Twitter post, GFR said the fire was reported at the Atrium of Gainesville, a senior apartment building on NW 41st St.

They said the fire is under control and all residents have been safely located.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roanoke County, VA – Sprinkler system controlled apartment fire until fire crews arrived

Crews from the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department battled an apartment fire Saturday evening.

According to fire officials, crews responded to a report of a commercial fire alarm in the northern part of the county at approximately 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 in the 5300 block of Hawthorne Road.

When crews arrived on scene, they found smoke showing from a third story window of a large multi-story apartment building.

The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire by a single adult.

Everyone in the building was able safely evacuate the building without injury. In addition, the fire was knocked down within about 10 minutes.

The department says the building’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire controlled until firefighters arrived.

According to fire officials, damage is minimal but some water damage did occur in the apartment the fire originated as well as some of the units below.

The occupant of the apartment will be displaced and is being helped by the American Red Cross.

The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.