Category Archives: Residential

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Fire sprinklers extinguish overnight apartment fire

A Madison apartment resident was injured after a fire broke out in their unit overnight, says the Madison Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at the apartment building on the 1000 block of North High Point Road around 12:45 a.m. Monday. They said several people were already leaving the 24-unit building when they arrived.

The fire had been extinguished by the automatic sprinkler system in the building, according to the Madison Fire Department.

They said a resident in the unit where the fire originated was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Minor damage was limited to the unit and the unit below it, says MFD. Three people displaced from the lower unit are being helped by the American Red Cross.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Rock Springs, WY – Apartment fire stopped by fire sprinkler system

The Rock Springs Fire Department responded to two apartment fires in the Village at Silver Ridge on Saturday, according to Fire Chief Jim Wamsley.

Wamsley said crews responded to the first fire just after 3 pm when initial reports indicated that a sprinkler system had been activated from a report by the alarm monitoring company.

Upon arrival, responding crews gained access to apartment 205, noting that the fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler activation system. Crews stopped the water flow at the head and checked for any remaining hot spots and possible extension to adjacent apartment units and the apartment immediately above the fire floor.

No damage or fire extension was found. The cause of the fire was determined to be an unattended grill on the balcony. The fire suppression system was tagged out of service and the management of the apartment facility was given instructions to maintain a fire watch until such time as the fire suppression system could be repaired and brought back into normal operation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Addison, TX (no media coverage) – Single sprinkler head contains apartment fire; No injuries reported

We had another save over the weekend. Our crews responded to a reported automatic alarm and after investigation found water and smoke in an individual apartment. The occupant was asleep and not responsive and did not awake to either the smoke alarms or water activation of the one sprinkler head. He woke up after crews made entry into his apartment and he was escorted down stairs with no injury. The building value is around 45 Million. That is the 4th sprinkler save we have had in the last six months in Addison.

Apartment Building, Residential

Westborough, MA – Fire sprinklers stops apartment fire from spreading to other units; No injuries reported

Westborough fire crews are highlighting the importance of building sprinkler systems as they proved to be an important tool in slowing the spread of a fire on Monday.

The fire happened in a multi-family home on Turnpike Road on Monday. Fire officials said the sprinklers in the building held off the flames long enough until crews showed up. The fire damaged a fourth floor balcony, charring the ceiling — firefighters had to use ladders to reach the fire.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Pflugerville, TX – Sprinkler system contains fire to single unit at senior living complex

The Pflugerville Fire Department is crediting an effective sprinkler system and fire alarms in potentially saving many lives at a senior living apartment complex.

Firefighters responded to reports of the structure fire at 500 Grand Ave. Parkway, the HomeTowne at Picadilly active senior living apartments, Thursday around 12:52 p.m. A total of nine fire department units, including a fire department ambulance, arrived around seven minutes later.

Upon arrival, they discovered the fire was on the third floor with smoke showing. An employee on the scene was complaining of smoke inhalation, but they refused ambulance transport.

Firefighters said the fire was contained to just one apartment unit, thanks to fast action from the building’s sprinkler system. They also said smoke alarms alerted children in the apartment, who then told their grandmother, and they exited together.

“We consider this a huge success and shows the value that smoke alarms and fire sprinklers bring to the community with regard to saving lives and property, especially residents in multifamily dwellings and in a senior community such as this,” the fire department said. “This is a good reminder for everyone to check your smoke alarms frequently and to have a plan to escape a fire in your home, and to practice it. Fire can become inescapable in as little as three minutes.”

Officials said the residents will be displaced from the fire, but all other apartments will be reoccupied on Thursday. There was significant smoke and water damage to the unit below.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lower Merion, PA – Sprinkler system contains fire to apartment kitchen

Four fire companies from Lower Merion and Narberth responded to an early morning fire Monday inside an apartment at the Royal Athena Apartments in Bala Cynwyd.

Now, fire officials are giving credit to the building’s sprinkler system for helping to save both property and people while recalling a similar fire a few months ago that left extensive damage in another apartment building without sprinklers.

Crews from Union Fire Association, Narberth Fire Company, Belmont Hills Fire Company, Penn Wynne Fire Company, and the Lower Merion Fire Department Office responded to the building on the 600 block of Righters Ferry Road at 12:39 a.m. on the report of smoke and flames coming from an apartment.

While approaching the site, the fire department received a water flow alarm, meaning the sprinkler system had activated.

At the same time, Lower Merion police arrived and reported that everyone had been evacuated. As they arrived, fire crews confirmed that there was a fire in the building but that it appeared to be under control due to the sprinkler system. By 1:10 a.m., the fire was officially put under control by firefighters.

According to officials, the fire started when the resident was cooking fried chicken and left the stove unattended. The oil overheated and caught fire. It then began spreading to the cabinets.

The sprinkler system kicked in and extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to the stove and cabinets due to the sprinkler system.

One firefighter was injured and transported to the hospital for possible heat exhaustion. All fire crews were cleared by 1:51 a.m.

While investigating the first fire, a second fire was reported when heat tape around a soil pipe ignited in a garage.

Crews from the Union Fire Association were called back and extinguished the second fire. The occupants were allowed back into the residence after Lower Merion Fire Marshals completed their investigation at about 3 a.m.

Lower Merion Chief Fire Officer Chas McGarvey said there was another apartment fire that took place in May at the Oak Hill Terrace in Penn Valley. The main difference between the two fires is that there were no sprinklers at Oak Hill, and there was much more damage. The Royal Athena is a new building and the sprinklers helped to extinguish the fire.

Residents at the Royal Athena were then able to be back into their apartments less than three hours after the fire started. Although the fire at Oak Hill occurred May 24, residents are still not able to occupy their residences, he said.

“This is a perfect example of the importance of sprinkler systems and how they save property and lives,” McGarvey said.-

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – (no media coverage)Two fire sprinkler heads extinguish fish fry kitchen fire; No injuries reported

City of McKinney News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fire sprinklers stop fish fry fire in McKinney

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries

McKINNEY, Texas (July 27, 2020) The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a report of a structure fire at 575 Virginia Hills Dr. on Monday, July 20. MFD units arrived to find that a stovetop fire had been extinguished by two fire sprinkler heads located in the kitchen. Fire investigators say the resident was frying fish with the lid on. When the lid was removed, the hot grease ignited.

No one was injured and damage was limited to the stovetop, the microwave and cabinets above it.

   Safety considerations when cooking with oil:

  • Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.
  • Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner.
  • Add food gently to the pot or pan so that the oil does not splatter.
  • Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flames and turn off the burner.
  • If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call 911 from outside.

Apartment Building, Residential

Twin Falls, ID – Second floor apartment kitchen fire put out by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Two families are displaced Thursday night after a fire breaks out in a Twin Falls apartment complex.

The Twin Falls Fire Department was dispatched to the Timberlake Apartments around 9:45 PM, because of a kitchen fire that broke out in a second floor apartment.

The battalion chief on scene said the sprinkler system was able to put the fire out, but water damage from the system caused significant structural damage to the upstairs and downstairs apartments.

“We have contacted American Red Cross; they will come out and assist them with housing arrangements and any items they may need to get by until the apartments are ready for them to occupy again,” said Ron Aguirre, Twin Falls Fire battalion chief.

He also said no one was hurt in the fire, and Magic Valley Paramedics and the Twin Falls Police Department assisted them in the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

London, Ontario, CA – Residential fire sprinkler system held mattress fire in check after dog chewed through battery pack on bed

London, Ont., fire officials are using an incident Thursday at a west London residential complex as a reminder for people to keep electronics, like power cords and battery packs, stored where pets can’t get them.

Fire crews responded to the scene at 320 Sugarcreek Trail, just northwest of Beaverbrook Avenue and Riverside Drive, around 3 p.m. July 23.

The call came in after the occupants of a unit at the address, who weren’t home at the time, were alerted to the fire by a home monitoring system, said Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger.

After making a forced entry into the unit through a patio door, Mosburger said firefighters located two dogs inside and managed to get them out.

he building’s sprinkler system held the fire at bay until firefighters arrived, he added.

It was later determined the blaze began when a battery pack, chewed up by the dogs, ignited the mattress it was sitting on.“[Mattresses] are basically like a petroleum-based foam, so as soon as it gets going, it can be incredibly violent… and can consume a room and an apartment very, very quickly,” Mosburger said.

The two pups have since been taken to a veterinarian, he said. “From what I’ve heard, everything seems to be fine with the dogs.”

The blaze caused mostly smoke damage — about $25,000 worth, fire officials say. That tally doesn’t include water damage left behind by the sprinklers and fire crews.

Apartment Building, Residential

Johnstown, PA – Apartment bedroom fire contained by fire sprinkles

 A fire broke out early Thursday morning at the Vine Street Tower Apartments in Johnstown.

Johnstown fire chief Bob Statler says they arrived on scene around 3 a.m.

According to Statler, there were smoke and flames pouring into a hallway from a unit on the ninth floor.

Statler says the fire started in the bedroom of that unit and that the sprinkler system was activated, which he says helped keep the fire contained.

Statler tells 6 News the ninth, 10th and 11th floors were evacuated. Two people were taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for difficulty breathing.

Statler says the fire was put out quickly, but there is extensive water damage to the building.

The cause is unknown. The fire marshal will be investigating.