Category Archives: Residential

Apartment Building, Residential

Mother, two daughters escape apartment fire thanks to sprinkler system (Ithaca, NY)

An unattended pan left on the stove caught fire Wednesday evening in the West Hill Circle apartment complex but was quickly knocked down by the unit’s sprinkler system, according to Ithaca firefighters. A mother was home with her two young children when she left the kitchen. Firefighters said cooking oil left in an unattended pan ignited, causing a flash fire on the stove and the surrounding cabinets. The apartment was equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, and the head in the apartment’s kitchen immediately activated, extinguishing the fire.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Arson fire in college residence hall controlled by sprinklers (Pueblo, CO)

A Colorado State University-Pueblo student was arrested late Sunday on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting fire to a residence hall on campus. At about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday police were dispatched to Culebra Hall on the CSU-Pueblo campus. When officers arrived they discovered an alarm was activated and sprinklers were going off inside the residence hall.

According to the affidavit, Cunningham said the man created a fireball by lighting a can of body spray and fuel he had on hand.  The fire eventually spread to a futon in the room and the fire activated the sprinkler system.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinklers prove effectiveness in apartment fire (Charleston, SC)

Fire crews were alerted to a fire at a downtown Charleston apartment the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9. When they arrived, they found that the fire had been controlled by two sprinkler heads, and firefighters only had to use less than five gallons of water to douse the remaining flames thanks to the fire sprinkler system.

“Fire sprinklers are an invaluable tool to improve life safety and have the potential to reduce property damage,” said Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh. “These systems are designed to control the fire or reduce the growth of the fire until the fire department can intervene. The sprinkler system in this case preserved the building and limited damages.”

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in fraternity house fire (Medford, MA)

A fire began on the third floor of a college fraternity house on Wednesday, October 9, and fire crews are crediting the home’s fire sprinkler system with saving the building.

Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said, “It’s a very old house, and without the fire sprinkler system, the fire would likely have spread to the roof.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but early reports indicate that it was an electrical fire. There were no injuries reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinklers control fire at assisted living facility (Mystic, CT)

An early morning fire on October 7 brought the Mystic Fire Department to an assisted living facility. According to reports, a malfunctioning heating pad caused a mattress to catch fire, and the building’s fire sprinkler contained the fire to that room until fire crews extinguished the remaining flames. All of the residents were able to evacuate safely and without injury.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Sprinklers make the difference in a condo fire on the 17th floor (Grand Rapids, MI)

Fire sprinkler system quickly extinguished a cooking fire on the 17th floor of the River House Condos on Tuesday. A grease fire on the stovetop spread to kitchen cabinets in a condo about 4:30 pm. The sprinkler system put out the flames. Firefighters had to reach the 17th floor to shut off the water, said Grand Rapids Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Sehlmeyer.

***Blog Editor’s Note – Please let us know what you think of the coverage by MLive, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in assisted living facility fire (Seattle, WA)

Fire sprinklers are being credited for the safe evacuation of residents of an assisted living facility during a fire which began in the basement the morning of October 7. Firefighters arrived and were able to put out the remaining flames, which were centered around a clothes dryer, within four minutes of arriving to the scene. There were no injuries reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Fire sprinkler douses dryer fire in group home (Las Vegas, NV)

Las Vegas and North Las Vegas firefighters responded to the adult assisted care group home after clothes in a dryer caught fire. The clothes dryer was in a laundry room with an automatic fire sprinkler in it. When the dryer caught fire, the sprinkler activated and kept the fire confined to the dryer. The eight elderly residents were able to escape without injury.