Category Archives: Apartment Building

Apartment Building, Residential

Saco, ME – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire

The Saco Fire Department responded to a 911 call last week and arrived to find an extinguished apartment fire, thanks to a fire sprinkler system.

The Saco Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call shortly before 8 p.m. Dec. 26 from the occupant of an apartment who discovered a fire in a bedroom, which was being contained by the building’s fire sprinkler system at the time of the call. The occupant alerted her daughter, and the family safely evacuated outside.

Fire crews arrived on the scene and saw no smoke or fire but did confirm the fire in the bedroom was fully extinguished by the fire sprinkler system, which was then shut off and drained to prevent any additional and unnecessary discharge of water.

The apartment is part of a complex consisting of two, three-story buildings connected by an enclosed breezeway with 24 units in total.

An investigation determined that a candle on top of a bookshelf ignited decorative items nearby and that some of these items dropped onto a plastic tote below, causing the ignition of the tote. The single side-wall sprinkler head in the bedroom performed as designed, and when it operated, water flowed in an umbrella-like fashion, wetting the bedroom and extinguishing the fire.

The Saco Fire Department is happy to report that the quick activation of the building fire sprinkler system prevented a developing fire from extending beyond the first few items ignited.

The department reminds everyone never to leave a burning candle unattended and that when in use, a candle should be at least 12 inches away from anything that can catch fire and that it is on a stable and heat-resistant surface.

Apartment Building, Residential

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system contains third floor apartment fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters quickly doused a blaze that erupted in an Exposition Park apartment building this morning, officials said.

The fire, which was contained in a single unit on the third floor of the four-story structure at 3671 S Western Ave., was subdued by the building’s sprinkler system before the fire department arrived.

Upon receipt of a 9-1-1 call at 9:07 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department was dispatched to the scene.

According to LAFD, firefighters made entry and were able to extinguish the fire completely within 16 minutes, preventing the spread of flames and ensuring no injuries were reported.

The buildup of water from the sprinklers led to salvage operations by the crew to mitigate damage to the property.

The unit, part of a modern apartment complex comprised of three residential floors over parking, showed light smoke when the first responders arrived.

“Firefighters located fire in one unit on the 3rd floor being held in check by sprinklers,” stated LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart.

As a precaution, crews conducted thorough investigations to ensure that there were no remaining threats. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and details as to the extent of the damage have not been disclosed. According to the fire department’s estimate, the swift action of the sprinkler system and the efficiency of the responding teams curtailed what could have been a much more severe incident, a testament to the importance of fire safety systems in residential buildings.

Apartment Building, Residential

South Portland, ME – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building

Firefighters in South Portland are crediting a sprinkler system for minimizing the damage to an apartment building at 340 Clarks Pond Parkway.

The fire department was alerted to a fire at the Latitude apartment complex by a building’s fire alarm system. The building is a six-story apartment building  housing 64 units.

The automatic sprinkler system had contained a fire on a third floor balcony.

The building was evacuated while firefighters checked the structure.

The damage was minor, and there was no smoke or water damage inside the building, according to the department.

“This is a perfect example of why fire codes and safety systems are vital,” Fire Chief Phil Selberg said.

Without the activation of the sprinklers, damage could have been substantial and people may have been harmed, according to the chief.

Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth fire departments assisted.

Apartment Building, Residential

Bend, OR – Sprinkler systems activated for two separate apartment fires

Bend firefighters responded to two apartment fires over the long weekend. The first was on Atwood Drive, Thursday. Everyone evacuated the building after the batteries of an electric skateboard caught fire while charging in a bedroom. The building’s sprinkler system extinguished the flames and damage was limited to the bedroom.

Friday evening, a new tenant moving in to a newly constructed building in southwest Bend inadvertently turned on a burner while setting something on the cooktop. They quickly used a hallway fire extinguisher before the sprinklers activated.

Apartment Building, Residential

New London, CT – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

Nov. 19—NEW LONDON — A fire at an apartment complex on Jefferson Avenue displaced a family of five Sunday.

At 11:41 a.m., New London firefighters responded to a call for a kitchen fire in apartment B7 in Jefferson Commons, 432 Jefferson Ave., Battalion Chief Mark Waters said.

When firefighters arrived, they evacuated the family, and cleared smoke and water from the apartment, he said.

The American Red Cross provided assistance to the family and caseworkers will be working with them to come up with a long-term recovery plan.

The fire had been controlled by the apartment’s sprinkler system, he said. Crews were at the scene for about half-an-hour.

The fire caused damage to the stove, cabinets and range hood, as well as smoke damage to the ceiling, Waters said, adding that repairs will have to be made.

Waters said the cause of the fire is being investigated by the fire marshal’s office.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cross Lanes, WV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

A sprinkler system in a Kanahwa County apartment is credited with preventing a horrible tragedy early this morning.

Firefighers from Kanawha and Putnam County responded to the blaze around 4:30 a.m. at the Unity Apartments in Cross Lanes.

The fire broke out in the bedroom of one unit, but the sprinkler quickly had the fire under control even before the fire department arrived. Nitro Fire Chief Casey Mathes said had it not been for the sprinkler, the early morning fire very likely would have claimed several lives.

Twenty-seven residents of the apartment building located on Big Tyler Road were evacuated. They were allowed to reurn home after about an hour.

Investigators said the fire is blamed on smoking in bed.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charlotte, NC – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Charlotte Fire officials say they responded to an apartment fire in the SouthPark area Monday morning.

First responders said the fire originated in a living room at the Allure apartment complex in the 5700 block of Carnegie Boulevard. They said upon arrival, smoke was coming out of the 350-unit structure.

The fire was contained by a sprinkler head at the apartment of origin, and was under control in 34 minutes.

First-floor apartments around unit sustained some water damage. Firefighters said the estimated property/content loss was $55,000.

Medic also responded to the incident and said they did not transport patients.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fayetteville, NC – Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

An investigation is underway after an apartment fire in Fayetteville forced multiple people of their homes.

Crews responded to the three-story complex on Bunce Road and Cliffdale Road around 1:23 a.m.

Fire officials say smoke was found coming from a unit on the third floor.

They say crews found a kitchen fire that was extinguished by the sprinkler system.

The power had to be turned off to multiple units due to water damage from the sprinklers.

Officials say Red Cross is helping multiple residents because of that damage.

No one was hurt.

The cost of damages are estimated to be around $15,000.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Champaign, IL – Sprinkler system activated for apartment complex fire; No injuries reported

No one was hurt in an apartment fire in Champaign Saturday afternoon.

A release from the fire department said firefighters were called to the Providence Circle apartment complex just north of Bradley Avenue about 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

They found fire in a bedroom at the two-story building at 1210 Providence Circle, most of which had been put out by an automatic sprinkler system.

Firefighters remained there for about an hour to put out hot spots, using just an extinguisher.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Apartment Building, Residential

Morgantown, WV – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Firefighters in Morgantown responded to a kitchen fire Wednesday at the College Park Apartments.

The Morgantown Fire Department responded to 80 Newton Avenue at 5:10 p.m. and promptly extinguished the stovetop fire. Firefighters found a sprinkler-controlled fire in the living room and also extinguished and shut down the flow to the sprinkler system.

No injuries were reported.