Category Archives: Residential

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Amherst, MA – Sprinkler system activated for high-rise dorm fire at university; No injuries reported

On Sunday, Amherst fire crews were called to the Coolidge Dorm at UMass after a fire alarm activation.

Shortly after 11 p.m., smoke was seen on the 20th floor, where the building’s sprinkler system had activated.

Firefighters found moderate smoke and discovered a fire in a dorm room that had been extinguished by the sprinkler system. The fire, which started due to an unattended candle left on a desk, caused damage to the desk and surrounding items. While the flames were contained, the sprinkler system caused flooding on the 20th floor and several floors below.

The entire dormitory was evacuated for approximately three hours. Residents on floors one through 18 were allowed back inside by 2 a.m., while those on floors 19 to 22 had to wait until the sprinkler system was restored. By 4 a.m., all but the occupants of the affected room were permitted to return. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Portland, OR – Sprinkler system activated for fire at eight-story building; No injuries reported

Firefighters have extinguished a blaze at an eight-story building in Southeast Portland’s Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood.

Just after 8 p.m., Portland Fire and Rescue stated via a post on X that they and Clackamas Fire were on the scene of the building, “with fire showing from the 5th and 6th floors” and that a second alarm was requested.

Joint Office of Homeless Services touts housing increase

After 20 minutes, PF&R made another post saying the fire was extinguished and that no injuries were reported.

A KOIN 6 News videographer was on the scene where black soot could be seen marking multiple balconies on the building’s upper level.

“This fire began on the on balcony of a 5th occupancy that extended up to the 6th and dropped fire embers to have active fire on the 3rd and 4th levels,” PF&R said in a subsequent post. “Hand held hose lines and the fire sprinkler system extinguished the flames.”

Officials said there were three people who were displaced because of water damage and other damage caused by the fire.

PF&R is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Charlotte, NC – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at retirement home; No injuries reported

CMPD arrested and charged a man with first degree arson after he deliberately set Barringer Gardens, a retirement home, on fire, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

A commercial fire alarm at Barringer Gardens alerted Charlotte Fire to the retirement home on August 20 at approximately 2:40 a.m.

Upon arriving on the scene, firefighters say they found smoke in the hallways and an activated sprinkler system and soon got the fire under control.

An investigation shows the fire was intentionally set and Johnny Mack was identified as a suspect.

Mack was arrested and charged with first-degree arson and malicious damage use of an explosive or incendiary device to occupied property.

There were no reported injuries. The fire caused an estimated $15,000 in damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Portland, OR – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A scooter caused an early morning fire in an apartment complex in Northwest Portland on Monday.

Fire crews were dispatched to the scene around 8:00 a.m. on the report of an explosion and an internal fire protection sprinkler was activated.

When Portland Fire and Rescue arrived, they said light smoke was coming from a window on the backside of the structure. After crews surveyed this inside of the complex, they discovered an electric scooter stored in a primary egress route that had caught fire.

Crews quickly put out the fire with a handheld water extinguisher. Officials say there were no injuries reported and no one was displaced.

The scooter used a lithium-ion battery that entered a state fire official label as a “Thermal Runaway.”

A thermal runaway is a phenomenon in which the lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state. Fire officials say it can result in extremely high temperatures, violent cell venting, smoke, and fire.

PF&R says a similar fire incident happened about three and a half months ago, and it can be prevented. Portland Fire & Rescue officials remind people that lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly.

These batteries are found in electric bikes and scooters, cars, laptops, tablets, phones, and common household devices. According to officials, some of these batteries can be defective and can overheat, catch fire, or explode.

If using any devices powered by lithium-ion batteries:

  • Be sure any equipment has the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) mark.
  • Follow manufacturers’ instructions for charging and storage.
  • Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
  • Keep batteries/devices stored at room temperature. Do not place it in direct sunlight.
  • Store batteries away from anything flammable.
  • Do not charge or store battery-operated devices or scooters in stairways/stairwells, exit pathways, or in front of exit doors. We recommend actively charging this equipment only while you are home.
  • If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, cracks, leaking, or odd noises coming from a device, discontinue use immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.
  • Inspect all lithium-ion battery-powered equipment and chargers for frayed or cracked cords and replace if necessary.
Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

The Madison Fire Department said Saturday crews were dispatched to an apartment fire on Madison’s west side, only to find that the fire had already been extinguished by a sprinkler head in the unit.

The MFD said crews responded to a fire alarm report at Segoe Terrace Apartments, an 8-story building. While MFD units were on the way, several residents from the building called 911 and reported there was smoke visible on the 4th floor.

Upon arrival, the MFD said firefighters immediately checked the 4th floor and reported heat and water coming from inside one of the dwelling units. Engine 9 reported upon entry that not only had the resident evacuated the affected unit, and other residents had evacuated theirs, but the fire in the unit was already extinguished by a sprinkler head.

The MFD said fire damage was contained to only one unit. However, water from the sprinkler system seeped into several units and offices on the first, second, third, and fourth floors. The building’s property management and maintenance team, along with a property restoration company, responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the MFD said no damage estimate is available at this time. No injuries were reported.

Other - Residential, Residential

Coralville, IA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at multi-family residence

A fire broke out at a multi-family residence on Russell Slade Blvd. in Coralville late Monday afternoon, but thanks to a sprinkler system, the blaze was quickly brought under control.

The Coralville Fire Department responded to the scene at approximately 5:15 p.m., discovering that the fire had started in the kitchen of one of the apartments.

The sprinkler system activated immediately, containing and extinguishing the fire before it could spread to other parts of the building. As a result, the apartment suffered only minor smoke and water damage.

Sprinkler systems are designed to automatically respond to fires, either controlling or extinguishing them before they have a chance to grow. They reduces fire damage and give people extra time to evacuate safely.

The Coralville Fire Department say a well-maintained sprinkler system can be the difference between a minor incident and a catastrophic event.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Frisco, CO – Sprinkler system activated for fire at condominium; No injuries reported

Fire crews responded to a fire at a condominium off Frisco Main Street around 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, according to Summit Fire & EMS.

The fire protection district responded after it received an alert of sprinkler water flow at the Bear’s Den Condos Building B on Granite Street in Frisco, Summit Fire & EMS spokesperson Steve Lipsher said. A battalion chief arrived on scene moments later to find that all of the occupants had evacuated the building and one unit on the upper floor was filled with smoke, Lipsher said.

The fire had triggered a single sprinkler head, which “did its job perfectly” and kept the fire from spreading, Lipsher said. No one was in the unit at the time, so “if it weren’t for that sprinkler, the fire certainly could have become a more significant problem,” he said.

Three engines, a fire truck and two medic units responded to the scene and checked for any extension of the fire but found none, Lipsher said. Power, gas and waterflow to the buildling were turned off. It was determined that the fire had been limited to the one condominium unit but that two units below it had been damaged by water, he said.

No one was injured. Fire crews could not provide an immediate estimate on the extent of property damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation but it is not believed to be suspicious, Lipsher said.

“All things considered, these sprinkler systems when they do work as they’re designed, they really do make a big difference,” Lipsher said. “We’re really thankful there was no injuries.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Arcata, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at multi-unit apartment building

On August 6, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. Arcata Fire District units along with multiple other fire, law enforcement and EMS agencies were dispatched to a reported commercial structure fire at 4975 Valley West Boulevard.

Arcata Police officers in the area had arrived first and reported smoke coming from a single apartment of a two-story multi-unit apartment building. The police officers immediately began evacuating occupants of the building. Arcata Fire District units arrived on scene and found an apartment with heavy smoke and active fire. The automatic sprinkler system had activated and was preventing the fire from spreading beyond the original apartment.

Due to the size of the structure and potential for threat to life, Arcata Fire District requested Humboldt Bay Fire, who already had an engine responding to assist, dispatch their ladder truck for additional specialized equipment and staffing. The Arcata Fire District units that were at scene attacked the fire, performed secondary searches and confirmed the building was completely clear.

The fire was controlled in about 10 minutes. Arcata Fire personnel ventilated smoke from the building.

While evacuating the structure, Arcata Police officers located an occupant who was suffering from smoke inhalation. The patient was assessed and treated by ambulance personnel at the scene.

The Arcata Fire District Volunteer Logistics responded with salvage equipment to allow fire personnel to remove water, expediting the ability of occupants to re-enter the building. Arcata Fire District personnel conducted an investigation of the cause of the fire, which is undetermined at this point and remains under investigation.

Damages to the building are approximately $10,000. Arcata Fire District would like to thank its allied partners for all of their assistance as the fire had potential to develop into a major incident. Arcata Fire was assisted by Blue Lake Fire, Fieldbrook Fire, Humboldt Bay Fire, Arcata Police Department, Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, Cal Fire Emergency Command Center in Fortuna, and Pacific Gas and Electric.

Arcata Fire would also like to recognize the importance of smoke alarms and automatic extinguishing systems. Combined, these systems allow for early notification which most certainly saves lives and reduces fire spread.

Apartment Building, Residential

Brownwood, TX – Sprinkler system contains structure fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

The Brownwood Fire Department issued the following press release Monday morning:

The Brownwood Fire Department responded to a structure fire call at 9:58 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2131 Indian Creek Drive, Apt. 1602. Upon arrival the fire had been contained by the fire sprinkler system. Firefighters performed a primary search and removed one dog and returned it to its owner. The apartment was ventilated and the apartment was checked for fire extension. One occupant was displaced and received assistance from Red Cross. There were no reported injuries. The structure sustained smoke, water, and fire damage and the apartment manager and maintenance staff were on scene to begin clean up of units unaffected by the fire.

Chief 9, Chief 92, Chief 93, Truck 9, Rescue 9, and Engine 92 responded to the scene with assistance from the Early Fire Department, Lifeguard Ambulance, Brownwood Police Department, and the Red Cross.

It took 10 minutes to extinguish the fire and units were on scene 1 hour and 10 minutes. The fire cause an estimated $25,000 worth of damage.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at senior housing facility; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system helped save lives and limit property damage after a fire broke out in a senior housing facility on Tuesday, according to the Madison Fire Department.

Firefighters were called around 3 p.m. to the 900 block of North High Point Road for a smoke detector going off and smoke in an apartment.

Spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said the 3-story 170-unit apartment building has a fire sprinkler system, which activated in a second floor apartment.

As firefighters arrived, residents were evacuating, Schuster reported. A sprinkler was activated in the kitchen area, which controlled the fire. Moderate smoke conditions were present.

Firefighters used their water can extinguisher to complete extinguishment and ventilated the apartment.

Schuster said fire sprinkler systems save lives, and reduce injuries and property loss.

No one was hurt as a result of the fire.