According to AFD’s Instagram post, black smoke was coming from a window on the fourth floor, and they quickly found one of the apartments on fire. They also received reports of occupants unable to exit on the second floor.
Many residents were displaced by the damage of the fire.
AFD and the help of the sprinkler system contained the fire before it spread, and they got the tenants out of the building, along with a cat and a dog; no injuries were reported to the occupants or firefighters.
Bend Fire & Rescue responded around 10:15 p.m. to the reported fire on a first-floor patio at the Stillwater Crossing apartment complex on SW Atwood Drive (near Highway 97 and Ponderosa Street), Battalion Chief Scott Wyman said.
Two fire engines, a medic unit, a ladder truck and a command vehicle went to the scene, where residents of the apartment building had evacuated.
The first engine crew to arrive found a smoldering fire that already had been extinguished by the fire sprinkler, Wyman said.
Firefighters confirmed the fire was fully out and shut down the sprinkler system. Wyman said all residents were able to return to their apartments.
Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering said, “This was an exterior fire that was held in place, held in check by an exterior sprinkler.”
“Commonly, when we see fires that start on an exterior side of a building, they can go up the siding into the eaves and spread into the attic space and turn into a very large and challenging fire,” Kettering said.
But in this case, she said, “There were fire sprinklers in this building. That single one sprinkler head activated and basically extinguished the fire before we even arrived on scene.”
An investigation determined the fire’s likely cause was improper disposal of cigarette smoking material, Wyman said.
Damage was limited to $2,000 worth of contents and minor damage to the structure.
“The sprinkler system prevented significant loss to the structure and displacement of multiple occupants,” the battalion chief said in a news release.
“National data show that the presence of fire sprinklers in residences drastically reduces the fire damage and potential for loss of life,” Wyman added.
Here’s what the Everett Fire Department reported:
The apartment occupants reported hearing a loud pop, followed by the activation of the smoke alarm.
The residents found a fire in the bedroom and attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher before the sprinkler system activated.
Firefighters arrived within minutes of the call and found the apartment’s sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading. The fire was contained in the apartment’s bedroom, and the second and third floors suffered water damage.
The Everett Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and concluded that lithium-ion batteries in the home likely caused the fire. They have ruled the fire as accidental.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used to power various devices such as smartphones, laptops, power banks, tablets, toys, e-cigarettes, smoke alarms, scooters, and vehicles. Since these batteries store a significant amount of energy, it is crucial to handle them with care. They can overheat, catch fire, or even explode if not treated properly. It is important to follow the recommended safety measures when using them. Everett Fire urges everyone to be cautious while handling lithium-ion batteries.
Here are some safety tips when using lithium-ion batteries:
For more information on lithium battery safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.org) website.
This incident serves as a good reminder to have working smoke alarms in your home. They are the first line of defense for early notification and evacuation should there be a fire.
The fire was reported at around 5:15 p.m. at Hanover Place, 16851 S. Harlem Ave. According to authorities, the fire occurred in the living room of a first-floor unit, though a cause remained unclear late Monday.
One woman was freed by firefighters and transported to an area hospital with slight burns.
“It’s kinda scary you know… especially I just moved in… you know you thought it would never happen here,” said resident Debbie Drackley.
One resident who moved in less than two weeks ago said she was startled to hear a fire alarm while cooking dinner.
An automatic fire sprinkler system contained the fire before firefighters arrived on scene, said Tinley Park Fire Chief Steve Klotz.
“The fortunate thing is the sprinklers hold the fire in check, but the water starts getting into other units,” he said.
Four units sustained water damage and were deemed uninhabitable for the time being, authorities said.
Staff and residents had to evacuate the building, but have since been medically cleared and allowed to return.
Residents and officials say they’re thankful the fire wasn’t worse.
“Kudos to the sprinkler system for saving, obviously, the room plus many, many other lives that could have been in danger,” Klotz said.
Wilmington firefighters made quick work of a kitchen fire in an apartment Saturday morning.
Crews arrived on-scene at 110 Towne Estates Drive at about 8:15 a.m. after a report of smoke coming from an apartment with alarms sounding.
Firefighters found flames in the kitchen, but the fire was being contained by the building’s sprinkler system.
The crews finished dousing the flames and turned off the sprinklers, and the situation was declared under control in about 10 minutes.
The apartment’s occupants weren’t home when the fire broke out, and no one was hurt.
The city’s Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire, and at this point, there’s no dollar estimate of the damage, which was said to be minimal due to the sprinklers activating.
Officials said just after 10:30 the Wilmington Fire Department was called to a residential structure fire in the 200 block of W 4th Street.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from the third-floor stairwell of a four-story, wood-framed apartment building situated at the intersection of W 4th Street and N Tatnall Street.
Firefighters quickly entered the building and located the source of the fire in a third-floor apartment. The blaze was being effectively managed by the building’s sprinkler system upon their arrival officials said. The fire department personnel extinguished a small fire located in one of the bedrooms and subsequently secured the sprinkler system to prevent further damage.
The activation of the sprinkler system played an important role in containing the fire. The apartment sustained only minor fire and smoke damage. The apartment directly below suffered water damage as a result of firefighting efforts. Officials said the quick containment of the fire allowed most residents to return to their apartments shortly after the fire was declared under control, about 15 minutes following the fire department’s arrival.
There were no reported injuries. The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation by the Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office.
Approximately 30 fire and EMS personnel were dispatched to the scene.
Ottawa firefighters received a call at 8:34 a.m. Wednesday to a second-floor apartment fire at 601 La Salle St., in which the resident still was inside the home. Before firefighters’ arrival, the sprinkler system had been activated, the fire department said in a news release sent Wednesday.
The resident of the apartment still was inside when fire crews entered the apartment. Despite minor injuries, she was assisted out of the apartment, received prompt medical attention and was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa for further care, the fire department said.
“The importance of the sprinkler system in preventing a more severe incident cannot be overstated,” Deputy Fire Chief Michael Mills said. “It unquestionably prevented a potential tragedy, ensuring the safety of both the apartment and its occupant.”
After gaining control of the incident, salvage operations were initiated to minimize additional damage to the property. The fire’s origin was attributed to bedding material ignited by a nearby candle. It was deemed accidental.
The Ottawa Police Department and Ottawa Water Department assisted at the scene.
Tuesday at approximately 9:38 a.m. the Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received an automatic alarm for a sprinkler system that was set off at the Harrison Lofts apartments, 1716 Bandag Drive, according to a media release from the fire department. Crews said they found a fire in the kitchen area of a third-floor apartment that they were able to quickly put out. Three dogs were rescued and residents were evacuated as a precaution during the investigation.
Crews say the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and direct fire damage is estimated to be about $5,000 and water damage is estimated to be an additional $20,000.
While crews were on their way to the scene, MUSCOM advised that someone on scene had called to report smoke in the hallway of the third floor, so the response was upgraded to a structure fire response at that time.
Crews said upon arrival the source of the fire was found to be in a third-floor apartment, but maintenance staff had put the fire out with fire extinguishers.
Crews then said they began to evacuate the third-floor, checking to make sure the fire was all the way out, and then beginning to mitigate water from the sprinklers that went off.
The fire was contained to the area above the stove and the cabinets above the stove, crews said. Smoke damage was limited to the kitchen area with some light smoke in the rest of the apartment. The sprinklers were successful in keeping the fire from spreading.
The Muscatine Police Department and the Animal Control Officer responded to help with evacuation and ensure the safety of the pets from the apartment. The Muscatine Fire Department had 15 staff members who responded to the scene.
The Muscatine County Emergency Manger responded as well to assist with relocation efforts along with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army of Muscatine County, Iowa.
A fire on the third floor of Ellis Place, a supportive housing building located at 1055 Ellis Street prompted occupants of the building to evacuate and a road closure between Recreation Avenue and Gaston Avenue.
The building was fully evacuated by the time 17 crew members responded to the blaze at around 10:40 a.m.
Everyone was accounted for and there were no injuries, said Capt. Corrie Lang from the KFD.
“It turned out to be a smoldering mattress in one of the units and the sprinkler system extinguished the fire,” Lang said. “Mostly smoke and water damage now.”
The road has since reopened, with crews currently cleaning up the scene.
Lang said the cause of the fire is unknown.
