Unattended cooking appears to be the cause of a fire Sunday morning in St. Cloud.
According to a critical incident report from the fire department, they responded to an alarm at 9:20 at an apartment on the 4000 block of 12th Street North. They arrived to find a sprinkler controlled fire in a kitchen. Firefighters put out the rest of the flames and helped the person evacuate.
The Red Cross also responded to assist the resident.
Nashua Fire Rescue responded to Arel Manor at 165 Pine St. just after 2 p.m. after receiving an automatic alarm from the building’s fire detection system, according to Deputy Chief Kevin Kerrigan, who was incident commander.
Engine 2 crews arriving from the Lake Street station found signs of sprinkler activation on the third floor. Engine 4 crews from Crown Hill station located the fire in a third-floor apartment. The fire was being suppressed by the building’s sprinkler system, officials said.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the remaining flames using hose lines. Fire crews remained on scene for more than an hour conducting salvage operations and clearing smoke from the building, according to a news release.
Two residents were displaced by the fire. The affected section sustained smoke and water damage, while apartments on lower floors received water damage from the sprinkler system, officials said.
The American Red Cross responded to assist displaced residents. No injuries were reported.
The Nashua Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. In all, 30 Nashua Fire Rescue personnel responded with four engines, two ladder trucks and support vehicles. Merrimack Fire provided station coverage during the response.
The Virginia Beach Fire Department said crews were dispatched around 6:16 p.m. to the 5600 block of Infinity Lane. When firefighters arrived, they found light smoke coming from an electrical box outside the four-story building.
While crews worked to mitigate the issue, officials said a catastrophic failure occurred inside the electrical room, activating the sprinkler system. Dominion Energy immediately secured power to the affected units due to the dangerous combination of water and electricity.
The number of residents displaced remains unclear. Property management is working to help tenants find temporary housing if needed.
No injuries to residents, firefighters, or pets were reported, and there was no fire damage to the building.
The incident is under investigation.
An apartment fire broke out in Dauphin County early this morning.
Fire crews say the fire broke out at Steel Works Apartments on August 9 at around 4:30 a.m. in Steelton, Dauphin County.
“When we arrived on the scene, the smoke was coming from the third-floor apartment,” said Kyle Sultzaberger, Steelton’s battalion fire chief.
George Drees, part of the Dauphin County fire investigation team, classified the fire as accidental.
“The origin of the fire was stove top unattended cooking,” Drees said.
While no one was hurt, there is some damage to the building which holds 42 apartments.
“There was seven people displaced, one child and six apartments affected,” Sultzaberger added.
Officials on scene say the situation could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the new construction, specifically the new sprinkler system.
“They’re quick acting sprinkler heads. So, when that sprinkler gets that right temperature and lets loose, it puts the water exactly across the room to put the fire out,” Drees said. “The heat sets off the sprinkler system fast. Works great.”
Other Dauphin County fire and emergency crews assisted in their response.
While some displaced residents are staying with family – the American Red Cross has assisted others with hotels while the scene gets cleaned up.
The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) is investigating two fires that happened over the weekend.
One of the fires started late Saturday afternoon at La Mirada Apartments near Cibola High School close to Avenue C and 20th Street.
The fire started on the patio of the first floor of the apartment complex.
“Yuma Engine 4 arrived on scene and found a first-story patio apartment that was fully involved. They quickly deployed a bumper line and started an aggressive transitional attack limiting damage to the fire just to the exterior,” said Fire Captain Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD.
While the patio was damaged, YFD says the interior only suffered water damage.
The sprinkler system inside the building was able to help prevent further damage.
“Sprinkler saves happen a couple of times a year. They do limit the damage of the fire to the confined area, [and] they confine it to the room that the fire started in. It’s very important to keep those sprinkler systems maintained by a professional company,” says Capt. Leon.
Firefighters responded to a report from an occupant of a fire in this two-story apartment building. Once on the scene, crews reported smoke coming from a second-story apartment. Firefighters extended a single hose line to extinguish this sprinkler-controlled fire.
The cause of this fire has not been determined as fire investigators remain on scene conducting their investigation. There were no firefighter or occupant injuries reported. The occupants of two units will be displaced because of this fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that the sprinkler system had activated, containing a small fire in an area within the affected unit. An investigation found that the cause of the fire was malfunction or overcharging of a wireless charging bank, and it has been ruled accidental.
The quick response of the sprinkler system limited damage to items in the immediate vicinity and prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the building. The Meridian Fire Department emphasized the importance of sprinkler systems in early fire suppression, noting that they are one of the most effective methods in multi-unit dwellings.
“Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute—even small fires can pose serious risks to people and property,” said a department spokesperson. “Contrary to what is often portrayed in movies and TV, sprinkler systems do not all activate at once. Only the sprinkler head closest to the heat source will discharge, targeting the fire directly at its origin.”
The department urged residents to exercise caution with electronic devices and avoid leaving items charging unattended for extended periods. “This incident is a strong example of how sprinkler systems save lives, prevent injuries, and protect property,” the spokesperson added.
Two people and a dog are displaced following an apartment fire Saturday night.
Monona Fire Department responded to the 800 block of West Broadway for a waterflow alarm at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. When MFD arrived, there was an active fire inside the building.
The fire was put out quickly, according to MOFD. They say a single sprinkler head had contained the fire to the kitchen before they arrived on the scene.
No one was home at the time of the fire. One dog was rescued by crews. The apartment was deemed temporarily uninhabitable. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
Fire crews responded to 1 Roosevelt Drive around 1:30 a.m., after receiving a fire alarm and multiple calls from residents reporting smoke on the fourth floor of a building.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered smoke conditions and activated sprinklers on the fourth floor. A small fire in one of the apartments had been extinguished before crews arrived, likely by the building’s sprinkler system, the fire department said.
As a precautionary measure, numerous residents were evacuated from the building during the incident.
Fire companies remained on scene conducting ventilation, cleanup, and safety checks until approximately 4:30 a.m.
The West Fargo Fire Department says no one was hurt after a fire early Sunday morning.
Firefighters responded to the Northern Lights Apartments at 2920 Sheyenne Street around 6:30 a.m.
Smoke was coming from a fifth-floor unit, and the sprinkler system had been activated.
The initial cause of the fire is suspected to be related to cooking. The damage has not been determined. There were no injuries to emergency personnel or bystanders.
One resident will be displaced, and several apartment units sustained water damage.
Fargo Firefighters provided mutual aide.