Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Huber Heights, OH – Unattended cooking fire contained to kitchen by fire sprinklers

A woman was rescued from an apartment fire Monday on Cloud Park Drive, according to District Fire Chief David Wright.

Crews responded around 4 p.m. to the 4100 block on a water flow alarm.

“When crews arrived, what they found was that they do have a water flow alarm, but the sprinkler system had activated in one of the apartments and we actually had a fire,” Wright said.

The occupant inside had fallen asleep and left food cooking on the stove.

Wright said the fire made some “good headway,” but the woman was rescued safely and only suffered some smoke inhalation.

The fire was contained to the kitchen, causing $5 to 6,000 in damage, and there is a significant amount of water on the first floor apartment due to the sprinkler.“Unattended cooking is one of the major reasons we have fires, so if you’re gonna put something on make sure you’re there to watch it at all times,” said Wright.

Apartment Building, Residential

Chattanooga, TN – Apartment sprinkler system extinguishes stove fire

Chattanooga firefighters were called to an apartment fire off East Brainerd Road on Tuesday.

It happened shortly after 5:00 p.m. at Reserve at Creekside in the 1300 block Reserve Way.

CFD spokesperson Lindsey Rogers says visible flames were initially reported but were put out by the sprinkler system by the time crews arrived.

Rogers says resident said she had put a pot with oil on her stove and fell asleep.

The resident and her pets were able to escape without being hurt.

Rogers says maintenance technician who went to check on the situation at the apartment suffered minor smoke inhalation.

Rogers says the damage to the apartment was minor.

Stay with the WRCB app for updates to this story.

Apartment Building, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire sprinklers keep grease fire from spreading at apartment

A grease fire was ignited by an overflowing pot at a Baton Rouge apartment complex Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews were called to 650 W. Mckinley St. around 6:15 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the kitchen of an apartment. The sprinkler system had activated and kept the fire from spreading. Another apartment received water damage from sprinklers activating. 

The fire was under control within 15 minutes. Investigators are estimating $120,000 in damages.

Apartment Building, Residential

Champaign, IL – Accidental cooking fire extinguished by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

An accidental cooking fire has displaced the resident of an apartment on Champaign’s west side.

Fire department spokesman Randy Smith said crews were called to the 2000 block of West White Street around 2:25 a.m. Friday for a report of a stovetop fire.

Smith said the flames were contained to the kitchen and were controlled and extinguished by the apartment’s sprinkler system.

He said firefighters ventilated the residence.

Smith said there was minor fire, smoke and water damage to the kitchen. Damages are estimated at $5,000.

There were no injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – (no media coverage) Fire sprinkler stops flames after explosion at apartment; No injuries reported

(Oct. 18, 2019) – The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded for a call about an explosion and fire at the Lakes of Eldorado apartments, 1400 Eldorado Pkwy., at 10:38 p.m. Thursday. MFD crews arrived to find the fire sprinkler system activated and a window and the patio doors blown out. Fire investigators determined that the resident had sprayed pressurized cans of insect killer in an enclosed area. When the clothes dryer was turned on, it caused the fumes to explode. Fortunately, a single fire sprinkler activated, putting out a fire in a trash can. The force of the blast pushed two walls back approximately 2-3 inches. Because of the potential structural damage, the residents of 8 units have been evacuated. The Red Cross is helping those people find places to stay. No one was hurt.
“This is a great reminder to always read the warning labels on pressurized cans,” said McKinney Fire Marshal Mike Smith. “This can clearly said not to use in confined spaces or near any active appliances.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Coralville, IA – Fire contained to 3rd floor balcony thanks to fire sprinklers

Coralville Fire Department responded to a fire in the 900 block of 20th Ave. around 5 a.m. on October 16.

Firefighters say the sprinkler system extinguished the fire, and damage was contained to the balcony of the 3rd floor apartment.

Firefighters stayed on scene until 6:30 a.m.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The damage was estimated at around $10,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Joplin, MO – Basement garage fire sprinklers keep fire in van from spreading to rest of apartment; No injuries reported

The Joplin Fire Department extinguished a vehicle fire Saturday night in the basement garage of a downtown loft apartment building.

Firefighters responded to a 10:45 p.m. report of fire alarms activated at the Ford Apartments, 228 S. Joplin Ave., and discovered a van parked in the basement garage with a fire in its engine compartment. Smoke from the fire had activated the building’s sprinkler system, which kept the fire from spreading prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to the firefighters.

The building’s fire alarm system alerted occupants to the danger, and the building was evacuated without any reported injuries. Fire crews ventilated the building and tested for carbon monoxide in the aftermath before allowing occupants back inside.

Apartment Building, Residential

Colorado Springs, CO – Sprinkler system kept fire from spreading after women set chair on fire for burglary diversion

One woman is in custody after police say she lit a fire inside an apartment building as a ploy to burglarize residents.

A lieutenant with the Colorado Springs Police Department says the suspect succeeding in stealing from multiple units before officers caught her.

The fire was reported at 4:20 a.m. Saturday at The Lodges of Colorado Springs, a complex near UCCS where many students live.

“Crews found a small fire in an upholstered chair on the third-floor hallway,” Capt. JJ Halsey told 11 News. “Fire had activated the sprinkler head above the chair and kept the fire from spreading.”

The third floor sustained moderate smoke and water damage, Halsey said.

According to police, the woman was using the fire as a diversion tactic to get residents out of the building.

She was found walking around the building and arrested. Police identified the woman as Tiosha Chitman.

Sgt. Alterae Rogers, from the Colorado Springs Police Department, said Chitman is facing a number of burglary charges. This is an ongoing investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hutchinson, KS – Third floor apartment fire contained to kitchen thanks to fire sprinklers

Fire officials say a sprinkler system prevented a kitchen fire from spreading in the Plaza Towers apartments in downtown Hutchinson early Saturday.

Firefighters responded to the five-story apartment complex at 17 E. Second Ave. just before 1:30 a.m. after fire alarms in the building were triggered by smoke.

An undetermined number of people evacuated the building while firefighters searched for the cause.

On the scene, crews traced the fire to the third floor from smoke in the hallway.

When they entered the apartment where the fire had occurred, they found an overhead sprinkler system in the kitchen had already doused the fire and damages were minimal.

Fire Chief Steve Beer could not say explicitly that food left on the stove caused the fire, but he said the occupant of the apartment had left the building, and the fire was limited to the kitchen.

“Sprinklers do save lives and property,” Beer said in a news release.

“The fuel loads in today’s structure plays a critical role in our fire operations,” he stated. “Petroleum-based plastics in furniture and accessories allow the fire of today to burn quicker and hotter than ever before. Remember, you only have three minutes to exit your structure when your fire alarm sounds. The Hutchinson Fire Department will be canvassing the immediate area to remind citizens and businesses of these safety facts.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Arlington, VA – Apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Firefighters are on scene of an apartment fire at the Quincy Plaza apartments in Virginia Square.

The fire was first reported just after 2 p.m., on the 12th floor of the apartment tower at 3900 Fairfax Drive. The fire is reported to now be out, controlled at least in part via a sprinkler system.

Firefighters are now checking for additional fire, smoke and water damage in adjacent apartments. Water can be seen streaming down the side of the building near where the fire was reported, and “extensive” water damage is being reported in parts of the building, according to scanner traffic.

No word yet on what caused the fire.

Police are also on the scene, helping to provide traffic control with the eastbound lanes of Fairfax Drive closed by the emergency response.