Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

New Milford, CT – Apartment grease fire extinguished with the help of sprinkler system

1 Comment

A kitchen fire drove four families out of their apartments on Monday.

The sprinkler system and homeowner extinguished the grease fire that started around 9:15 p.m. Monday in the kitchen of an apartment at Brookside Commons, said Kevin Reynolds, deputy fire marshal.

But the water from the sprinkler dripped down and damaged the three apartments below, Reynolds said. The apartment where the fire occurred also suffered water damage, he said.

“Sprinklers are great things, but boy they can do some damage,” Reynolds said. “One way or another, they are positive thing.”

Red Cross is helping the eight residents, which includes five adults and three children, by providing tips on how to recover and comfort kits with supplies the families lack, the organization said.

Water Witch Hose Co. 2 and New Milford Ambulance responded, Reynolds said.

There are 12 apartments in Brookside Commons, which is on Thomas Lane.

Apartment Building, Residential

Davenport, IA – Sixth floor apartment fire contained by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Davenport firefighters battled a small apartment fire at the Heritage high rise Thursday.

The fire started in a sixth floor apartment, but the sprinkler system held it in check.

There were no injuries, and no one had to be evacuated from the building. Asst. Fire Chief Robb MacDougall tells TV6 there are sprinklers throughout the building to protect residents.

The fire is under investigation.

Heritage is located at 501 W. Third St. in Davenport.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cedar Falls, IA – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment kitchen fire; No injuries reported

A minor kitchen fire at 4430 Ashworth Drive was extinguished by sprinklers before firefighters arrived Saturday afternoon.

“The fire was 100 percent put out by the sprinkler system,” said Public Safety Director Jeff Olson.

At 2:21 p.m. Saturday Cedar Falls firefighters were dispatched to a kitchen fire. When they arrived they found the apartment complex’s sprinkler system had extinguished the fire.

Capt. Mike Buhrow radioed back that additional assistance wasn’t needed, Olson said.

The apartment complex residents were evacuated when firefighters arrived.

The fire was caused by a cardboard box left on top of stove, which was accidentally turned on, Olson said.

There were no injuries. The stove was damaged and may need to be replaced and cabinets above the stove were burned as well.

The resident was in the process of moving out.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Apartment sprinkler system controls fire started by charcoal grill on balcony

City of Madison firefighters were dispatched to an apartment fire when a passerby called 911 to report seeing flames on a balcony in the 1600 block of Waldorf Boulevard at the Mid Town Commons Apartments just after 9:00 pm on Wednesday.

The fire was reported to have started when a charcoal grill caught the third floor apartment’s balcony on fire. Before fire crews arrived, the apartment’s fire sprinkler system activated on the balcony.

A resident of the apartment told firefighters he was grilling bacon on the balcony. It was found that heat from the flare up caused the activation of the sprinkler system. No smoke or fire damage was found to the interior of the apartment.

City of Madison fire code prohibits the use of natural gas or charcoal grills on decks or balconies or within ten feet of combustible construction unless the balcony or deck is protected by automatic sprinklers. The automatic sprinkler system limited damage to the grill, and the residents of the complex were able to stay in their apartments.

Apartment Building, Residential

Whitman, MA – Grease fire at apartment contained to kitchen by fire sprinklers, avoiding widespread damage; No injuries reported

A grease fire inside an apartment building was minimized by a sprinkler system Wednesday night, averting possible widespread damage.

The Fire Department responded to the Bostonian Loft Apartments, at 7 Marble St., about 10:20 p.m. after receiving a sprinkler water flow alarm for a first-floor apartment.

Firefighters learned there was a grease fire on the stove inside an apartment and quickly extinguished the flames after arriving on scene.

Fire Chief Timothy Grenno said investigators later learned that a resident of the apartment had attempted to extinguish the grease fire with water, which caused the fire to “rapidly intensify” and extend to the kitchen cabinets.

That caused the sprinkler system inside the kitchen to activate, which helped keep the fire from spreading before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters used smoke ejectors to clear heavy smoke from the building and residents were allowed to return to their apartments about 11:30 p.m.

The family living in the apartment – a husband, wife and their two children – were displaced due to the fire, as well as water and smoke damage inside the apartment. The fire is estimated to have caused about $30,000 worth of damage, Grenno said.

No one was injured as a result of the fire and the Red Cross responded to assist the displaced family.

Hanson firefighters provided mutual aid by covering the station in town during the incident.

Grenno said it is important to never use water to attempt to extinguish a grease fire. The reaction causes the fire to intensify and spread faster, he said. Grease fires should be covered with a metal lid or smothered with baking soda or salt, Grenno said.

The fire chief also said that several of the building’s residents did not immediately evacuate when the alarms were sounding and said people should always leave a building when alarms sound.

“Thankfully the sprinkler system activated and was able to contain the fire to the kitchen area,” Grenno said. “I want to commend our firefighters for quickly putting out the flames. This is a very large building with several apartments and we were able to successfully contain it to the one unit.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison Twp, MI – Fire sprinkler system helps put out apartment kitchen fire; No injuries reported

The residents of four apartments in the Woodbury Estates apartment complex in Madison Township had to be relocated Tuesday as a result of water damage caused by a fire suppression sprinkler.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at 10:23 p.m. to a fire in a third floor apartment in one of the buildings.

“When we arrived, it appeared to be some food on a stove that had caught fire,” Madison Township Assistant Fire Chief Nick Wilson said.

Wilson said the apartment’s fire suppression sprinkler system was activated, helping put out the fire, but leading to other problems for the residents.

“A lot of water comes with that and we have some water damage to the apartments below on the second and first floor,” Wilson said.

Residents from the apartment in which the fire originated, as well as residents of three other apartment units had to be relocated, with the American Red Cross being called to provide temporary housing.

Wilson said there were no injuries due to the fire.

Assisting the Madison Township Fire Department at the scene was the Adrian Fire Department and Madison Township police.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Williamsport, PA – Fire at senior apartment home triggers fire sprinklers, containing fire to one apartment; No injuries reported

A three-alarm fire broke out late Wednesday night at the Williamsport Manor, 450 Center St., forcing the evacuation of the apartment building’s nearly 100 residents.

There were no reports of any fire injuries, but a few residents were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion or medical-related issues.

Many of the residents are elderly or have to cope with minor medical problems or disabilities.

The fire erupted in a kitchen in an apartment on the fifth floor, the top floor, about 9:15 p.m., fire officials said.

The fire triggered both the building’s fire alarm and sprinkler systems.

A team of city police officers helped more than a half a dozen residents down flights of stairs.

“The fifth floor was starting to fill up with smoke,” one officer said.

The second and third alarm brought additional firefighters and ambulances from South Williamsport, Old Lycoming Township and Montoursville.

The fire was confined to the one apartment, but two apartments on the fourth floor sustained some water damage.

The majority of residents were expected to be allowed back in their apartments by the end of the night, for officials said.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Aurora, IL – Fire at assisted living facility extinguished by single fire sprinkler head; No injuries reported

No injuries were reported in a fire that caused $1,000 in damage to an apartment building in Aurora on Wednesday.

According to the Aurora Fire Department, fire fighters were dispatched to the 1300 blk. of E. Indian Trl. at around 1:09 p.m.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a wood frame multi-unit assisted living apartment building with nothing showing from the exterior.

Further investigation found moderate smoke in the common hallway of the building.

The smoke was discovered to be coming from an end unit where a sprinkler head had activated and extinguished a fire that started in the living area.

Staff members attempted to put the fire out, but were unsuccessful.

All residents were able to evacuate when they heard the fire alarm; no injuries were reported to civilians or to fire fighters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

Officials say the unit where the fire occurred sustained minor damage and is still habitable.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Apartment fire started by TV set put out by fire sprinklers

Firefighters believe a bedroom television set triggered a fire inside a home at La Posada Apartments Tuesday night. 

According to the Yuma Fire Department, firefighters responded to the apartment located 900 West 30th Street. Authorities arrived at the scene and found that a fire sprinkler head had extinguished a fire inside the bedroom. Two people were inside the apartment at the time of the fire and were able to evacuate safely.

Fire officials believe the fire started in a bedroom television set. The damage reported was limited to items in the immediate area and wall behind the set. 

The American Red Cross assisted the two residents with temporary accommodations. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Secaucus , NJ – Sprinkler system puts out fire at apartment started by 12-year-old boy

A 12-year-old Secaucus boy suffered minor burns and he was charged after police say he set fire to the bathroom of his family’s apartment, Secaucus officials said.

Secaucus firefighters responded to 120 Park Plaza Dr., a new apartment complex near the Walmart and Sam’s Club shopping area, at 10:30 p.m. on June 26, Secaucus police Capt. Dennis Miller said.

By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Miller said. The apartment suffered severe water damage and three apartments on the floor below also suffered water damage, Miller said.

An investigation, conducted with the assistance of the Hudson County Regional Fire Task Force, revealed that the fire was set on purpose, Miller said.

The boy, whose name was withheld because he is a minor, was charged on July 1 with arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage.