Category Archives: Nursing Home/Senior Living

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Pflugerville, TX – Sprinkler system contains fire to single unit at senior living complex

The Pflugerville Fire Department is crediting an effective sprinkler system and fire alarms in potentially saving many lives at a senior living apartment complex.

Firefighters responded to reports of the structure fire at 500 Grand Ave. Parkway, the HomeTowne at Picadilly active senior living apartments, Thursday around 12:52 p.m. A total of nine fire department units, including a fire department ambulance, arrived around seven minutes later.

Upon arrival, they discovered the fire was on the third floor with smoke showing. An employee on the scene was complaining of smoke inhalation, but they refused ambulance transport.

Firefighters said the fire was contained to just one apartment unit, thanks to fast action from the building’s sprinkler system. They also said smoke alarms alerted children in the apartment, who then told their grandmother, and they exited together.

“We consider this a huge success and shows the value that smoke alarms and fire sprinklers bring to the community with regard to saving lives and property, especially residents in multifamily dwellings and in a senior community such as this,” the fire department said. “This is a good reminder for everyone to check your smoke alarms frequently and to have a plan to escape a fire in your home, and to practice it. Fire can become inescapable in as little as three minutes.”

Officials said the residents will be displaced from the fire, but all other apartments will be reoccupied on Thursday. There was significant smoke and water damage to the unit below.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Langhorne, PA – Kitchen fire at four-story senior living building held in check thanks to sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system helped contain a Monday afternoon fire at a retirement community.

Firefighters were called to the Attleboro Village community off Winchester Avenue on the Langhorne Borough and Middletown Township border at 1:27 p.m. for an alarm. It was quickly determined that there was an active fire.

The fire was in an apartment and spread up the wall into the ceiling, said Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company Chief Frank Farry.

The four-story senior living building was cleared of residents and crews had to account for everyone, Farry said.

The Penndel-Middletown Rescue Squad and Capital Health Emergency Medical Services evaluated the residents. No injuries were reported.

The fire was declared under control by 1:43 p.m., but Farry said it was largely held in check by the sprinkler system.

Several nearby apartments suffered water damage from the sprinkler system, Farry said.

The chief said the blaze was caused by the resident who turned on the stove with a plastic toaster on it.

The fire happened around the same time as strong storms came through the area. Farry said the worst of the storm had passed by the building was cleared of residents.

Farry said fire crews were able to response so fast to the retirement community because they were returning from an unfounded downed wires call by Maple Point Middle School.

The Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company was assisted at the scene by the Middletown Township Department of Fire and Emergency Management, Parkland Fire Company, Penndel Fire Company, Newtown Fire and Emergency Services, and the William Penn Fire Company.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Chapel Hill, NC – Kitchen fire at senior living facility controlled by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A structure fire damaged a Chapel Hill senior living facility Tuesday night and displaced several residents.

According to a release from the town, the Chapel Hill Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at The Cedars of Chapel Hill at 6:03 p.m. When fire personnel arrived on the scene, 513 Cedar Berry Lane, they confirmed a working fire on the building’s first floor.

The fire, which originated in the kitchen of one of the residential units, was under control as of 6:23 p.m. The town said it caused damage to three additional units beyond the originating one, with eight total residents displaced. The residents of the unit where the fire originated were treated on the scene and did not need to be transported for additional treatment, according to Tuesday’s release. No other injuries were reported.

A sprinkler system in the senior living facility reportedly kicked into action with the start of the fire. While the sprinklers did not extinguish the fire, according to the town’s release, officials believed it gave residents time to safely evacuate.

Chapel Hill said the personnel response to The Cedars consisted of 23 Chapel Hill firefighters, including four engines. One Durham fire engine with three firefighters also responded as automatic aid.

The town’s release said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but it also gave advice on safety practices while in the kitchen. Chapel Hill Fire officials say it’s important to never leave stoves unattended and to keep flammable items away from stove units.

Staff for The Cedars will work with the displaced residents to find alternate living arrangements, according to Tuesday’s release.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Gardnerville, NV – Fire sprinklers put out box of hot dog buns that ignited at senior center

A steam table that ignited a box of hotdog buns resulted in an early morning kitchen fire at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center on Thursday.

A single sprinkler head in the senior center’s fire suppression system doused the blaze in the 4:20 a.m call.

Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies and the East Fork firefighters responded shortly thereafter.

The steam table was accidentally left on, causing the cardboard box containing the hotdog buns to ignite. No damage to the Douglas County Community and Senior Center kitchen was reported.

“Staff of the Douglas County Community and Senior Center are extremely thankful to the well-designed fire suppression system within the building and the first responders of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the East Fork Fire Protection District who prevented what could have been a very serious structure fire,” county officials said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Bennington, VT – Fire at senior housing complex contained thanks to fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

An emergency response was launched by firefighters, police and rescue personnel Wednesday afternoon after a fire was reported at the 50-unit Brookside Apartments senior housing complex on South Street.

Bennington Fire Chief James Wright said a fire in one of the apartments was called in at 2:55 p.m. The fire was confined to a closet area, he said, and did not cause significant damage.

However, the “sprinkler system did was it is supposed to do,” he said, resulting in smoke and water damage in the apartment on the building’s second level and damage on the ground level when water seeped through the ceiling near the front entrance.

Many residents evacuated when smoke alarms sounded, he said, while others were advised to shelter in place while firefighters dealt with the fire.

Residents standing outside near the parking lot at about 3:30 p.m. said some tenants likely would have required help evacuating because of limited mobility.

Wright said no injuries were reported, but the tenant where the fire occurred was not expected to be able to move back in for a few days. He said the Red Cross was called in the event temporary housing was needed.

Other tenants on the first level were temporarily kept out of their apartments while the water was cleaned up by Bennington Housing Authority personnel, he said.

As to the cause, Wright said, “We are looking at a candle,” which he said the woman said she had lit.

Firefighters were at the scene until shortly after 4 p.m.

The brick complex at 323 South St. has 26 one bedroom apartments and 24 efficiencies on five floors, according to the housing authority’s website. It was constructed in 1975.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Bel Air, MD – Supply room fire at senior living center kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Monday evening, Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company was called to the Brightview Senior Living Center for a reported fire.

When Firefighters arrived at the scene, they saw damage from a fire in the supply room.

The fire was kept in check by one fire sprinkler, preventing the fire from spreading.

The Department of State Fire Marshal determined an electrical outlet failed, igniting combustibles.

No injuries were reported at this time.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Iowa City, IA – Sprinkler system contains fire at assisted living facility

Officials said that one person was taken to the hospital after a fire in a unit at a west side assisted living facility on Saturday morning.

At around 12:42 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, the Iowa City Fire Department was sent to a report of a structure fire at Melrose Meadows Retirement Community, located at 350 Dublin Drive. The staff reported a fire in one of the assisted living units.

Firefighters arrived and located the fire, which was being kept under control by a sprinkler system. They were able to extinguish the flames within five minutes.

The person living in the unit was able to be evacuated safely by the staff, and nearby units were also evacuated.

Fire department officials said that one person at the facility was taken to the hospital via ambulance. There was no information given about their condition.

Officials estimate the damage to the building at around $20,000.

The Coralville Fire Department, Iowa City Police Department, and Johnson County Ambulance Service assisted in the emergency response.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Pahrump, NV – Sprinkler system controls fire at senior living facility; No injuries reported

The evacuation of a senior care facility was one of several emergency service calls for local first responders.

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services Chief Scott Lewis said crews were dispatched for a report of a structure fire at Inspirations Senior Living facility on Honeysuckle Street just before 7 p.m. on Monday, April 6.

“While responding, crews were notified of a laundry room fire, with an evacuation underway,” Lewis said. “Crews arrived on location and found white smoke coming from the open doorways. They completed a 360 size-up, risk assessment and determined that evacuations were underway and we had to coordinate that.”

As a result, Lewis also said additional crews were added to the assignment, including Nye County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

“We located a working fire in the laundry room with a sprinkler activation, so not only did we have to deal with the fire issue, but also the water that was pouring out of the sprinkler heads,” he said. “Crews quickly controlled the fire and the flow of water out of the sprinkler system at the riser. They were able to ventilate the smoke out of the building and return the residents back to their respective rooms. There were no injuries.”

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinkler system at nursing home controls fire caused by air conditioning unit

The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to a local nursing home early Saturday morning.

After arriving at the Sterling Place Nursing Home, BRFD says “they were directed to the second floor of the building where a window air condition unit was on fire.”

A sprinkler activated in the room where the air conditioner was on fire and prevented more damage from occurring.

Eight total units, four pumpers and two ladders were required to put the fire out.

The cause of this fire was most likely a bird nest caught in the AC unit.

At the time of the fire, there were 144 people and around 20 workers residing in the nursing home.

According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, “the second floor where the fire was is vacant, with no one living on that floor.”

That floor did sustain smoke and heavy water damage.

BRPD and EMS assisted the Baton Rouge Fire Department at the scene.

Sterling Place Nursing Home is located at 3888 North Blvd.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Midwest City, OK – (no media coverage) Fire sprinkler contained fire to area above bathroom at nursing home; No injuries reported

This morning at Emerald Care-Midwest City a fire started above the bathroom for one of the resident rooms.  The fire was caused by a faulting fan/lighting fixture which ignited just above the hard ceiling.  The space above the ceiling was protected by an upright sprinkler head which contained the fire to a small area above the bathroom.

The sprinkler system was under repair before the fire fighters were leaving the site.  (Shout out to Daniel Webster and Ryan Caldwell for helping the fire fighters, managers and building maintenance get the situation under control!).

The fire alarm correctly notified the authorities and activated audibles/visuals but did suffer some minor damage from water to the duct detector near the fire. (Another shout to John Deer for restoring the fire system to full service). 

There was some water damage due to the fire department and building maintenance not knowing where the sprinkler shutoff valve was located although I did see a visible note posted in the riser room and on the riser itself for its location.  Mostly standing water in rooms, corridor and a few ceilings in the rooms around the fire. (Took pictures to document and will post with report).  The maintenance engineer is 2 weeks new to the site and Anthony LaGrange was already talking with him about training before this incident occurred and he will stay with it and get them trained on their life safety systems.

Because of the quick response by the fire fighters, remediation team, electrical, mechanical, facility employees and of course our very own amazing team, many residents were able to return comfortably to their rooms late today.  This is an elderly nursing care facility and it was very important to get things normalized as fast as possible to relieve the occupants anxiety and fears.  No patients were noted to be injured during the fire, building evacuation or clean up.