Category Archives: Residential

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Midwest City, OK – (no media coverage) Fire sprinkler contained fire to area above bathroom at nursing home; No injuries reported

This morning at Emerald Care-Midwest City a fire started above the bathroom for one of the resident rooms.  The fire was caused by a faulting fan/lighting fixture which ignited just above the hard ceiling.  The space above the ceiling was protected by an upright sprinkler head which contained the fire to a small area above the bathroom.

The sprinkler system was under repair before the fire fighters were leaving the site.  (Shout out to Daniel Webster and Ryan Caldwell for helping the fire fighters, managers and building maintenance get the situation under control!).

The fire alarm correctly notified the authorities and activated audibles/visuals but did suffer some minor damage from water to the duct detector near the fire. (Another shout to John Deer for restoring the fire system to full service). 

There was some water damage due to the fire department and building maintenance not knowing where the sprinkler shutoff valve was located although I did see a visible note posted in the riser room and on the riser itself for its location.  Mostly standing water in rooms, corridor and a few ceilings in the rooms around the fire. (Took pictures to document and will post with report).  The maintenance engineer is 2 weeks new to the site and Anthony LaGrange was already talking with him about training before this incident occurred and he will stay with it and get them trained on their life safety systems.

Because of the quick response by the fire fighters, remediation team, electrical, mechanical, facility employees and of course our very own amazing team, many residents were able to return comfortably to their rooms late today.  This is an elderly nursing care facility and it was very important to get things normalized as fast as possible to relieve the occupants anxiety and fears.  No patients were noted to be injured during the fire, building evacuation or clean up.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Holland, MI – Laundry room fire at nursing home contained by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Holland Department of Public Safety Fire Services announced on its Twitter feed late Tuesday, Feb. 18, crews responded to a fire at Medilodge of Holland, 1212 E. 16th St.

Crews arrived on scene and encountered the fire in the facility’s laundry room where it was contained by the fire sprinkler system,

No injuries and little damage are being reported as of late Tuesday.

Firefighters remained on scene searching for any remaining fire, venting smoke and checking the sprinkler system.

“Although the fire was limited, our department will continue to remain on scene and work with Medilodge staff to get back to normal,” said the department’s Twitter feed.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Kingstowne, VA – Sprinkler system puts out fire at condo caused by overheated computer processing unit; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system put out a fire at a condo building Friday, Feb. 14 in Kingstowne, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

The fire happened around 6:58 p.m. in the 6800 block of Brindle Heath Way. Firefighters arrived to find a sprinkler had already extinguished the fire. There were no injuries.

Investigators determined an overheated computer processing unit caused the blaze. Damages were estimated to be $1,500.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire sprinklers can save lives and property by reducing the heat, flames, and smoke caused by a fire. While fire sprinklers have been a longtime method for commercial buildings, fire officials recommend installation in homes as well.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

La Crosse, WI – Fire sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at downtown condo; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system and fast-acting firefighters keep a fire in a downtown La Crosse condo unit from spreading further Monday morning.

The La Crosse Fire Department was called to the Gateway Terrace Condominiums at 100 North 6th Street at 9:18 a.m. after a fire alarm was reported.

Crews found smoke and fire in one of the units.

Battalion Chief Jeff Schott said the sprinkler system in the condo was working properly and is believed to have kept the fire from spreading to other units.

The condo itself had moderate smoke, fire, and water damage according to Chief Schott.

Other condos in the building were also damaged by the water from the sprinkler system.

No one was injured in the incident.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Asheboro, NC – Apartment’s fire sprinklers help put out kitchen fire; No injuries reported

No one was injured in an Asheboro apartment fire Thursday evening.

According to Chief Danny Floyd with the Asheboro Fire Department, firefighters responded to the West Pointe Apartment Homes, located at 635 Oak Leaf Road, at approximately 5:40 p.m.

The fire, which was caused by items burned on a stove top, was out by the time firefighters arrived on scene.

There was minor fire damage to the kitchen, Floyd said, but the majority of the damage was caused by water from the apartment’s fire sprinklers.

The water damage also impacted two other apartment units.

Firefighters remained on scene for two hours for ventilation, salvage and investigation.

Sarah Israel, who lives in an apartment unit beside the one that caught fire, said she came outside of her apartment and noticed that her neighbor’s door was drenched with water.

“I live right beside her and I heard an alarm,” Israel said, “but that alarm sounded so distant that it didn’t alarm me to come outside and say ‘what is that?’ ”

It wasn’t until Israel wandered outside that she noticed the damp door and was able to tell that the alarm she was hearing was coming from the unit right beside her own.

“I think if I wouldn’t have come outside, it would have been a lot worse because I was the first one to hear.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Allouez, WI – Apartment closet fire put out by fire sprinklers

The Green Bay Metro Fire Department says 38 residents of an assisted-living facility were evacuated during a fire Friday evening.

The sheriff’s office tells us there was a fire in a resident’s room at Bishop’s Court on E. St. Joseph St. in Allouez. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke in the hallways. The fire was in a closet in one of the apartments.

Five people were medically evaluated on the scene. Three were taken to a hospital for smoke inhlation: one staff member and two residents — including the resident of the apartment where the fire started. A battalion chief told us they should all be OK.

The battalion chief credited the sprinkler system in the facility for doing “a great job.”

The fire department says 60 residents are displaced temporarily while repairs are made to the fire suppression system. The fire department says some are being housed in another building at Bishop’s Court but some will have to be moved to other assisted-living facilities.

A report from the GBMFD says the cause of the fire was accidental but it doesn’t provide details. The estimated cost of damage to the property is $20,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Escanaba, MI – Laundry room fire at apartment building contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

The Escanaba Public Safety Department says deputies responded to the report of a fire in the laundry room of Northwood’s Place at 2:39 a.m. Thursday morning.

Upon arrival, officers found the laundry room filled with smoke and the automated sprinkler system had been activated.

The sprinkler system was able to contain the fire to a dryer, which officers were then able to extinguish. The building sustained heavy smoke and water damage as a result of the incident.

Officers were on stand-by to assist with the evacuation of residents, which was not needed due to the sprinkler system containing the flames. No injuries were reported from the incident.

The Public Safety Department was assisted at the scene by the Delta County Sheriff’s Department and Rampart EMS.

Apartment Building, Residential

Raleigh, NC – Third floor apartment fire minimized by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

A downtown Raleigh apartment building was evacuated after a fire started in a third floor unit on Thursday night.

Crews responded to the Devon 425 apartments on Boylan Ave. and Tucker Street. According to officials, the apartment’s sprinkler systems worked well at minimizing damage.

No injuries were reported, and officials said only two units were damaged–primarily by the water, not the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Reno, NV – Fire sprinklers keep car fire from spreading to apartment units

A car fully engulfed in flames in apartment complex was extinguished Wednesday night, according to the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.

Fire crews were called to a parking structure in an apartment complex at 333 Ski Way on February 12. The car was below living units.

The building fire sprinklers helped keep the fire from extending to the units above, fire officials said.

Residents in the apartment complex were evacuated from the building but have now return back.

Crews remained on scene to completely overhaul the fire.

The fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Janesville, WI – Sprinkler system extinguished closet fire at apartment

A major fire at a Janesville apartment building is avoided thanks to a working sprinkler system.

The Janesville Fire Department says firefighters were dispatched to a multi-family residence on the 200 block of North Franklin Street just before 9:30 Wednesday night.

Captain John McManus says a basket of clothing started on fire in a closet when the sprinklers kicked in and doused the flames.

McManus said the fire could have caused a lot of destruction had the sprinklers not worked. He estimated the building had about $1,000 in water damage from the sprinkler system.

About 10 to 12 people were displaced. The Red Cross helped the residents find overnight shelter.

The fire remains under investigation.