Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Evanston, IL – Functional sprinkler system keeps apartment fire from spreading or causing harm

A quick response from firefighters, a functional sprinkler system and working alarms kept a fire in an apartment building from causing any harm or spreading beyond a single bedroom, according to the Evanston Fire Department.

“The fire alarm and sprinkler system worked exactly as designed, saving both lives and property,” Chief Brian Scott said in a release.

Fire crews arrived at a three-story apartment building at the corner of Barton Avenue and Cleveland Street shortly after 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, according to the release.

The first firefighters to arrive could hear fire alarms going off and see residents evacuating from inside, it said. The crew from Engine 24 went inside and headed down a hallway filled with smoke to the burning bedroom.

A sprinkler had been spraying water on the fire, keeping it in check and allowing the firefighters to extinguish the remaining fire without any further loss of property.

Every new apartment and condo building built in Evanston must include an audible alarm and a sprinkler protection system, according to the release.

The rehabbed five-unit brick building was built in 1928, according to a listing for the property, which was offered for sale for $975,000 in October 2015.

The management company of the more than nine-decade-old apartment building retrofitted it with sprinklers, according to the fire department, bringing it up to code with current city ordinances.

Apartment Building, Residential

Colorado Springs, CO – Fire sprinklers limit interior fire damage to apartment after patio fire erupted; No injuries reported

A fire that erupted on the patio of an apartment complex early Friday morning is being investigated as suspicious.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to a call for a possible structure fire at the Vineyard Apartments on 7239 Bodega Pt. near Woodmen and Rangewood around 12:05a.m.

First arriving companies found a fire on the outside patio on the ground level apartment. This fire was quickly extinguished by fire crews and the interior fire damage was limited by activated fire sprinkler heads.

All residents in the three story building were able to be notified of the fire by the existing alarm system. The combination of fire sprinklers and general smoke alarms averted a possible loss of life and a high dollar loss to this structure. The damage was limited to the outside patios/balconies with only interior water damage to the first floor apartment due to the sprinkler discharge.

A total of 12 firefighters were able to extinguish this fire in a few minutes with no injuries. One family of two adults and one dog were displaced due to damage and the Red Cross was activated to assist in the family needs.

The cause and damage estimates will be determined by the on scene investigator.

Apartment Building, Residential

Boise, ID – Dryer fire at apartment quickly put out by fire sprinklers

A sprinkler system in the Fowler apartments in downtown Boise was triggered early Friday morning by a dryer fire, according to Boise Fire Department officials.  

The fire occurred shortly after 9 a.m. and was put out quickly by the sprinklers. However, several apartments on four floors incurred water damage, Boise firefighters said. 

One lane was closed on Myrtle Street while crews responded to the incident.

The Fowler located on West Broad Street between Trader Joe’s and WinCo Foods in Boise is one of the more recent housing developments in the past few years.  

The side of the apartment that faces Myrtle Street displays one of Idaho’s largest murals painted by David Carmack Lewis. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes fifth floor apartment fire

Fargo firefighters responded to a report of fire alarms sounding at 400 Broadway this afternoon.  On arrival, firefighters found smoke coming out of an apartment window on the fifth floor.  Upon entry to the apartment, firefighters found the sprinkler system in operation and the fire extinguished.  The tenant had safely evacuated the apartment prior to the fire department’s arrival.  One cat was located in the apartment and returned to the tenant. 

Due to the sprinkler activation, fire damage was limited.  Several apartments sustained water damage but the management company had a contractor on scene to begin cleanup before firefighters departed.  A monetary damage estimate is not available at this time.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  The Fargo Fire Department responded with a full dispatch of 16 personnel on 4 engines, 1 ladder truck, and 1 command vehicle.  The Fargo Police Department and FM Ambulance also responded and assisted with the scene.

A fire sprinkler system can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Oklahoma City, OK – Sprinkler system immediately puts out second floor apartment fire

Firefighters responded to an apartment fire Thursday morning in northeast Oklahoma City. 

According to authorities, the fire was near North Kelley Avenue and Northeast 23rd Street. 

Fire officials said it was a small fire that started on the second story of the apartment. The Sprinkler system immediately put out the fire. 

There is small smoke damage on the inside of the apartment, firefighters said. There is also some sprinkler damage on the inside of a first story apartment.

Apartment Building, Residential

St. John’s, NL, Canada – Fire sprinklers extinguish fourth floor apartment fire; No injuries reported

A fire at an apartment building in St. John’s has displaced thirty people from their units at least overnight and possibly longer in some cases.

Platoon chief Paul Chaytor of the St. John’s Regional Fire Department told the Telegram that the fire in one of the fourth-floor apartments set off the sprinkler system, which extinguished the fire but sent water through the ceilings of the second and third floors of the building.

He said due to an electrocution concern and water damage, power was shut off to the area and the residents were told they would not be able to stay overnight.

The Red Cross was called in to help the people affected with alternate accommodations and with any needs they might have until they could return.

Residents of the building could be seen milling about near the entrances as emergency personnel dealt with the situation.

The RNC was also called in to investigate and assist other first responders. There were no injuries but an Eastern Health ambulance was on scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Fire sprinklers stop dumpster fire in underground residential parking garage

A dumpster fire that ignited inside an underground residential parking garage was put to a stop by an automatic fire sprinkler early Saturday morning.

Just after 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, engine Co. 3 responded to the Carbon Apartments on Winnebago Street to investigate a general fire alarm.
Several tenants approached firefighters as they arrived to tell them there’s smoke coming from one of the doors of the underground parking garage.

The crew entered the garage and found an automatic sprinkler activated.

Underneath was a dumpster where a fire occurred. The fire was already extinguished and had not spread beyond its area of origin.

Apartment Building, Residential

Murfreesboro, TN – Sprinkler system prevents stove top fire from spreading through apartment

Sprinklers prevented a stove fire from spreading after dousing flames at The Blue Apartments, 2707 S. Rutherford Blvd., Thursday afternoon, Dec. 12, causing water damage to several units.

When Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) firefighters arrived on the scene around 2:30 p.m., the building’s fire suppression system had already triggered, which extinguished the flames.

The preliminary investigation revealed the tenants may have accidentally turned on a burner while cleaning. A pot with grease heated up, causing it to catch fire.

The 500 building was evacuated as a precaution.

Fire crews were able to shut off the sprinkler system and used fans to blow smoke out of the unit and overhaul the apartment.

“Sprinklers do save lives and property. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of sprinklers,” said Fire Marshal Carl Peas. “We also encourage residents to never leave food on a stove unattended.”

Several apartments sustained minimum water damage from the sprinkler system. Electricity was turned off to several units while the maintenance crews restored the units.

Apartment Building, Residential

Des Monies, IA – Single fire sprinkler prevents fire from spreading at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A single fire sprinkler prevented possibly another tragedy at Eddy Apartments.

The call came in at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday where a small fire broke out on the first floor in the laundry room.

Resident Myra McNeary said, “It was pretty scary because you really couldn’t see because it was up and ground level was clear. I was walking bent down so I didn’t get any smoke.”

It was a single fire sprinkler that contained the fire until crews arrived on scene.

Des Moines Fire Marshal Jonathan Lund said, “[A] sprinkler head typically activates 60 to 90 seconds after the fire starts and that provides valuable time for us to get there.”

A fire sprinkler is heat reacted and responds only when the fire is directly above a specific sprinkler.

“Residential sprinklers and like light hazard occupancy so like businesses and stuff typically about 13-17 gallons. Not a ton of water, but enough to get the job done,” Lund said.

The apartment complex fell victim to a fatal fire back in 2017.

“The building code that we had adopted at the time and fire codes say that repairing fire damage or a damaged building does not necessarily require you to put sprinklers in. It requires you to build it back the way it was,” Lund said.

After the 2017 fire, the owners renovated the building adding a fire sprinkler system.

“It’s much better now and they’ve got all the sprinklers and smoke alarms and stuff in place,” McNeary said.

No major injuries were reported. The fire is still under investigation.

Eddy Apartments is located at 1120 Polk Boulevard, Des Moines.

Apartment Building, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX – (no media coverage) Cooking fire put out thanks to fire sprinklers

On November 27, 2019, at approximately 11:08 am,  the Farmers Branch Fire Department and Addison Fire Department responded to an automatic fire alarm – water flow alarm at Jefferson Landmark Apartments, located at 14650 Landmark Blvd.  Farmers Branch Medic 132, Addison Battalion 101, and Addison Engine 101 arrived on scene at 11:13 am with nothing showing from the exterior.  Crews were directed to apartment #1209.  Occupant stated that she was heating food on the stove and she had turned away for a brief minute.  Later she observed the pan of food on fire.  Occupant grabbed the pan to carry to the sink to put the fire out.  During this time, the single station smoke alarm  activated in the apartment and startled her.  Occupant dropped the pan on the floor and the fire increased in size.  The heat activated one sprinkler head above the sink and stove.  The fire was extinguished.  Sprinkler floor control valve was shut off and water was removed out of the unit. Fire loss was estimated to be $10,000.   Units cleared the scene at 11:54 am.