Category Archives: Residential

Other - Residential, Residential

Petaluma, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at tiny home community; No injuries reported

One resident was displaced by a fire Friday at Petaluma People’s Village, a community of 25 tiny homes for the unsheltered.

Firefighters were dispatched at 4:09 p.m. Friday to a report of a structure fire at the tiny home community located behind the Mary Isaak Center, 900 Hopper St., according to the Petaluma Fire Department.

Firefighters found smoke coming from one of the units, along with the fire bell sounding and the fire sprinkler system activated in one unit, Petaluma Fire Marshal Jessica Power said in a news release.

A smoldering fire was found inside the unit but was mostly extinguished due to the sprinkler system activation, Power said.

Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire and searched for victims.

A single resident escaped the fire in the unit without injury.

There were no injuries to firefighters.

The Petaluma Building Department and PG&E responded to evaluate the next steps for making the unit inhabitable again.

“During the planning and construction of People’s Village many important safety features, including an automatic fire sprinkler system and alarms were included,” Power said. “As intended and designed, in this incident the sprinkler system and corresponding alarm bell notified the residents and gave them time to evacuate safely, kept damage to that unit at a minimum, and prevented fire damage to other units, saving vital housing for some of those most vulnerable.”

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system extinguishes kitchen fire at apartment complex

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to an apartment fire, only to find that a fire sprinkler head had extinguished the fire.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at approximately 6:17pm at Cielo Verde Apartments, near the Walmart on S. Avenue 8E.

After responding to a fire alarm, YFD confirmed that the fire sprinkler head had activated and put out the fire near the stove.

YFD also said that there were two people inside the apartment and both were able to safely evacuate the apartment. Additionally, they said that the cause of the fire started when a pan was left on the stove.

Fortunately, the fire damage was minimal due to the fire sprinkler head, according to YFD.

Other - Residential, Residential

Boise, ID – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in multi-family home; No injuries reported

Crisis averted when a multi-family home was ultimately saved by its sprinkler system after catching fire on Wednesday.

Caldwell Fire Department said in a release that on the morning of Feb. 8, Canyon County Dispatch received several reports of a fire alarm having been activated inside of a home. 

Caldwell Fire crews were dispatched to the two-story multi-family fourplex. Upon arrival, no smoke nor flames could be detected, however, the audible water flow alarm was activated.

No one was home at the time of the incident.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that a fire had indeed broken out in one of the bedrooms. Crews concluded that the fire suppression system had activated, effectively extinguishing the fire that erupted in the back bedroom of one of the first-floor apartments. 

The statement iterated that if not for the sprinkler system, damages could have been exponential. They said the fire would have grown much larger, moving into the adjacent units and buildings, potentially displacing several families.

Let this serve as a reminder to keep fire and smoke alarms updated; and next time you reach for those batteries to replace your dying remote control…don’t.

“This is a good reminder that fire suppression systems work,” said Deputy Chief Alan Perry, Fire Marshal, Caldwell Fire Department. 

“The need for fire suppression systems in residential settings is paramount as high-density living situations become more and more common.”

Residential, Single Family Home

Charles County, MD – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire in home

A Charles County man was arrested Saturday after deputies say he set a fire inside his parents’ Waldorf home, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Around 10:30 p.m., Saturday deputy state fire marshals responded to the 9200 block of Misting Court after the owner believed his son had set a fire.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office told the arriving investigators that the homeowner had been having issues with his son, 21-year-old Jordan Christopher Robinson, over the past few days and that he asked Robinson to leave the house earlier in the day.

At around 8 p.m., the homeowner received an alert on his phone for his home security cameras, where he saw Robinson enter the home, authorities said.

“He returned home and discovered Robinson had left the house and the remains of a fire inside his bedroom that the fire sprinklers had extinguished,” deputies said in a news release. Investigators credit the sprinkler system containing the fire and minimizing damage to around $6,000.

Officials said Robinson was arrested Sunday morning and was taken to a local hospital for injuries he had sustained earlier in an altercation with a family member.

After being released from the hospital, deputies said Robinson was transported to Charles County Detention Center, where he was charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, home invasion, and malicious destruction of property over $1,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Naperville, IL – Sprinkler system activated for residential kitchen fire; No injuries reported

At 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday February 8th, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received an alarm on their board for an activated fire alarm in the 1800 block of North Naperville Road. Naperville 911(PSAP) dispatched a general alarm assignment consisting of 10 pieces of fire apparatus and 24 personnel including an Incident Commander and Incident Safety Officer to the reported address. 

At 1:45 a.m. the first vehicle arrived on scene and noted many of the occupants were in the process of evacuating. As the crews began investigating the alarm, they encountered light smoke and an activated sprinkler head in the kitchen. Fire companies located a trash can that was burning in the cooking area. The sprinkler system kept the fire in check until it could be fully extinguished by fire service personnel. At 1:52 a.m. the fire was fully extinguished. Crews remained on the scene another 30 minutes assisting the building management with the sprinkler system.  

The cause is fire was ruled accidental.  There were no injuries to any occupants or firefighters while operating on scene and the building was deemed to be habitable, however, the kitchen will remain closed until it can be inspected by county health department The fire is estimated to have caused less than $500 in damages.

Apartment Building, Residential

College Station, TX – Sprinkler system activated for fire caused by electric skateboard battery

Several residents at a College Station apartment complex were temporarily displaced after a fire Monday night.

A resident at the Woodlands of College Station complex on Harvey Mitchell Parkway called 911 around 8:30 p.m. after he heard a pop in his bedroom, according to a College Station Fire Department spokesman.

A fire started to spread into a bedroom wall, but the sprinkler system kept the flames from spreading until firefighters arrived.

The College Station Fire Department said an electric skateboard battery caused the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Clarkesville, GA – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire in apartment

Investigators say a cat is the cause of an apartment fire that occurred Sunday afternoon in Clarkesville.

Clarkesville Fire Department along with other emergency services was called to the Cameron Apartments at 3:10 p.m. for a fire alarm.

According to the release, when fire crews arrived they forced entry into the apartment and found smoke with one sprinkler turned on.

The sprinkler system was reportedly able to put out the fire in the kitchen area. Firefighters were able to contain the fire in the apartment. Officials say the fire did not spread throughout the building or to other apartments.

During the investigation, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire was caused by a cat that was inside the apartment.

The cat allegedly jumped on the refrigerator and knocked a bag off, onto the toaster.

Clarkesville Fire Chief Jason Poole said the cat in question had a history of jumping on the counter to get on top of the refrigerator.

The residents were not home at the time of the fire and all the pets in the apartment were saved by the firefighters.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Richland, WA – Sprinkler system activated for possible arson fire at senior citizen apartment complex

Richland Fire and Police were dispatched to the Tri-Cities Terrace Apartments around 2:30 a.m. on January 24 for a fire alarm.

Residents of the apartment complex for senior citizens reported seeing smoke and flames.

According to an RPD press release the sprinkler system in the building did its job and prevented the fire from spreading. Most of the damage from the incident was from the sprinklers rather than fire.

67 residents were either evacuated or sheltered-in-place. One resident was transported to the hospital for a medical evaluation according to today’s press release.

The Richland Fire Marshal Investigator and the RPD Arson Investigator are working to determine the cause of the fire. Multiple suspicious fires were reportedly lit in the building. There are currently no suspects.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Muscatine, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at nursing facility; No injuries reported

No one was injured after firefighters were called to a nursing facility in Muscatine on Monday night, according to a news release.

The Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received a 911 call about 6:30 p.m. Monday for a possible electrical fire in a room at Addington Place, 3515 Diana Queen Drive, a nursing facility in Muscatine, the release says.

“All of our first responders did a great job,” Battalion Chief Ted Hillard said. “I just cannot say enough about them along with the great support we received from the Fruitland firefighters especially since we had to break off some of our crew to answer other calls.”

Upon arrival at Addington Place, fire crews found smoke in a resident’s room with smoke starting to fill up the hallway. The fire sprinkler system activated when fire crews entered the room and the fire was extinguished. The resident was checked for any injuries and the firefighters on scene ensured that the fire was completely out.

All residents were evacuated and accounted for during the fire suppression effort, a news release says.

The sprinkler system for that hallway of the facility was shut down until the sprinkler company was able to respond and make needed repairs to the system. A recovery company was on scene to mitigate water damage. The fire was contained to a heating unit and the area directly above. 

Because the sprinkler system responded exactly as designed there were no injuries and the damage was limited to the one residential unit.

The on-scene investigation is complete. A final cause has yet to be determined but it does appear to be an accidental fire, the release says. The initial fire loss estimate is $10,000. The resident in that room was moved to another room in the facility and “was not externally displaced,” the release says.

The Muscatine Police Department and Muscatine County EMA responded with the initial call. The Muscatine Fire Department was also assisted by fire crews from the Fruitland Fire Department. Approximately 20 firefighters responded to the fire. There were no injuries to any of the responders.

It was a busy evening for the fire department starting with a medical call before the response to Addington Place, the release says. Just 20 minutes after arriving at the fire scene, the Muscatine Station Two engine and firefighters were cut loose from Addington Place to a vehicle fire in the 2100 block of Hershey Avenue, according to the release.

Other - Residential, Residential

Victoria, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at former hotel; No injuries reported

About 20 residents of a former Port Alberni hotel converted into residences were out of their homes Saturday after a fire ripped through a suite, causing smoke, water and electrical damage to the building.

The fire department arrived to the Angus Street building, located between Third and Fourth avenues, at 9:20 a.m. with an engine and ladder truck.

Port Alberni Fire Chief Mike Owens said the blaze was contained to one suite and proved difficult to fully extinguish due to what he called a “hoarding environment.” But he said the sprinkler and alarm systems in the two-storey structure worked properly and alerted residents inside.

No one was injured in the blaze.

However, the department had to ask B.C. Hydro to cut power to the building as water from sprinklers seeped into suites on the lower floors.

Emergency Support Service providers were notified and temporary accommodations are being found for the residents. The B.C. SPCA was called to care for several cats and dogs, said Owen.

Owens said an investigation into the fire is ongoing and could not say when residents would be able to return to the building.