Category Archives: Residential

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Caldwells, NJ – Sprinkler system activated for fire at university residence hall

A fire was extinguished at a Caldwell University residence hall on Monday, authorities said.

According to the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department, their peers in West Caldwell got a call about an active fire alarm at the Mother Joseph Residence Hall at 5:17 p.m. The Caldwell Fire Department was immediately dispatched to the scene.

On arrival, firefighters found the alarm sounding and the building evacuated. Firefighters soon found “heavy smoke” coming from the second floor and an activated sprinkler system. Arriving fire crews stretched a line to extinguish the fire in the second floor recycling area, officials said.

Caldwell firefighters got mutual aid from Essex Fells, West Caldwell, Cedar Grove, North Caldwell, Roseland and the West Essex First Aid Squad.

All units were clear of the scene at 7:07 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation, authorities said.

Officials said that fire damage was limited to the room of origin, but smoke and water damage was found throughout the building.

“The sprinklers and fire alarm system did their job and kept the fire in check until fire units arrived to completely extinguish the fire,” Chief Andrew Pollara said.

Caldwell University staff relocated students to other residence halls on campus, authorities said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Frisco, TX – Fire on 12th floor of apartment complex contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Fire investigators are investigating a fire that started in an apartment at the Twelve Cowboys Way Luxury Apartments. The fire was contained in the apartment due to the activation of the fire sprinkler system.

Dispatch was alerted by the alarm company of a “water flow” alarm at 12:13 p.m. Sunday. The first unit arrived four minutes later. Frisco Fire responded with one engine, one ladder truck, and one battalion chief on the initial assignment due to it being an alarm investigation.

During the investigation by the first arriving unit, smoke was found in the building.

Additional units were requested as a working fire was declared. The fire was found in an apartment on the 12th floor, was kept small, and was not allowed to grow as rapidly due to the fire sprinklers that had activated when the fire began. A total of 19 units and 43 personnel were used to help extinguish the fire.

The Frisco Fire Department announced 1:11 p.m. Sunday through social media that the fire was declared “out.”  Just after 2:30 p.m., the department announced that residents were being allowed back into the residences with restoration crews on scene.  

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Twelve Cowboys Way is a 17 story luxury high-rise building with garage and offices on floors one through five and residential apartments on floors six through 17.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lancaster, PA – (no media coverage) Microwave fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Sprinklers save lives and buildings. Sprinklers turn potential really big fires into very small boring fires. A single automatic sprinkler head saved a 3 story wood frame occupied apartment house in Lancaster Township Fire Department this morning. The microwave oven caught fire even though it wasn’t in use. The occupants fled the building as the fire started spreading. The kitchen sprinkler head went off and PUT OUT the fire. We spent 30 minutes cleaning up instead of 3 hours in a water battle. 30 people have a home and a million dollar apartment building has some water damage instead of being bulldozed into a rubble pile. Sprinklers save lives and property.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ithaca, NY – Sprinkler system kept apartment fire under control until fire crews arrived

The Ithaca Fire Department responded to a call for a fire alarm activation at Titus Towers, an apartment complex on South Plain Street just before 10pm Friday.

Smoke could be seen coming from the building outside but once inside, responders found that the fire was contained to one apartment. The fire was still burning when help arrived, but sprinklers were able to keep it under control.

Firefighters rescued one person  in the apartment as well as a neighboring tenant uninjured.

Responders credit the working smoke detector, fire alarm, and sprinkler system for keeping the fire contained and everyone safe. Following apartment damage the Ithaca Housing Authority is now helping the occupants with clean up and accommodations.

Apartment Building, Residential

Gainesville, FL – Sprinkler system contained apartment fire until fire crews arrived

Several people are displaced after a fire in a North Central Florida apartment complex this morning.

Gainesville Fire Rescue says the fire started in an air conditioning unit in the hallway at The Atrium of Gainesville located on north west 41st Street.

Everyone evacuated quickly when the alarm went off.

Firefighters say thanks to the fire doors closing and sprinkler system the fire was contained to the hallway.

Four apartments were damaged by heavy smoke.

The management company is working with displaced residents to find accommodations.

Gainesville Fire Rescue and Alachua County Fire Rescue crews responded to a fire Wednesday morning.

In a Twitter post, GFR said the fire was reported at the Atrium of Gainesville, a senior apartment building on NW 41st St.

They said the fire is under control and all residents have been safely located.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sergeant Bluff, IA – Sprinkler system activated for dumpster fire next to senior living center; No injuries reported

No one was injured when a dumpster caught fire at a senior living center Monday afternoon.

Fire officials said a dumpster caught fire at Floyd Place Senior Living in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

A neighbor made the 9-1-1 call and pulled the dumpster away from the building.

Before fire crews could arrive, officials said police put the dumpster fire out.

However, the fire damaged part of the building’s siding.

“We had the sprinkler system going off helping extinguish the fire, we did a secondary search making sure everyone was out of the building. They’ll have the fire sprinkler company coming up to reset their fire sprinklers. It was a great case they maintained their fire protection systems well. And the fire sprinkler system saved their building,” said fire chief Anthony Gaul.

As a precuation, resident were evacuated. They were allowed back inside after fire crews checked out the damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roanoke County, VA – Sprinkler system controlled apartment fire until fire crews arrived

Crews from the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department battled an apartment fire Saturday evening.

According to fire officials, crews responded to a report of a commercial fire alarm in the northern part of the county at approximately 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 in the 5300 block of Hawthorne Road.

When crews arrived on scene, they found smoke showing from a third story window of a large multi-story apartment building.

The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire by a single adult.

Everyone in the building was able safely evacuate the building without injury. In addition, the fire was knocked down within about 10 minutes.

The department says the building’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire controlled until firefighters arrived.

According to fire officials, damage is minimal but some water damage did occur in the apartment the fire originated as well as some of the units below.

The occupant of the apartment will be displaced and is being helped by the American Red Cross.

The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to water flow alarm on Saturday, April 24 at the Times Square at Craig Ranch apartments located at 7551 Collin McKinney Pkwy. Neighbors reported heavy smoke coming from a single apartment. 

Firefighters arrived to find a fire in the kitchen that was extinguished by a single fire sprinkler head which kept damage from spreading into the rest of the apartment. No one was injured.

Fire investigators called to the scene determined the fire was started when a stovetop burner was turned on while a box was sitting on top of it.

According to the NFPA, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

St. Johnsbury, VT – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at senior care facility; No injuries reported

Senior residents of the Canterbury Inn Residential Care facility in St. Johnsbury are being housed in a hotel after a fire this weekend.

Fire officials say the fire started Sunday night in the laundry room and was contained to only that room.

After interviews with the building owner, officials say he started a gas fired clothes dryer and 15 minutes later, the fire alarm went off.

Crews are now working on removing residual smoke from the building.

No one was injured during the fire.

Officials say if the building didn’t have functioning fire sprinkler and fire alarms systems, it could have been a different outcome.

According to the facility, residents are staying at the Comfort Inn and will be back as soon as it is deemed safe.