Category Archives: Residential

Apartment Building, Residential

Joplin, MO – Basement garage fire sprinklers keep fire in van from spreading to rest of apartment; No injuries reported

The Joplin Fire Department extinguished a vehicle fire Saturday night in the basement garage of a downtown loft apartment building.

Firefighters responded to a 10:45 p.m. report of fire alarms activated at the Ford Apartments, 228 S. Joplin Ave., and discovered a van parked in the basement garage with a fire in its engine compartment. Smoke from the fire had activated the building’s sprinkler system, which kept the fire from spreading prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to the firefighters.

The building’s fire alarm system alerted occupants to the danger, and the building was evacuated without any reported injuries. Fire crews ventilated the building and tested for carbon monoxide in the aftermath before allowing occupants back inside.

Apartment Building, Residential

Colorado Springs, CO – Sprinkler system kept fire from spreading after women set chair on fire for burglary diversion

One woman is in custody after police say she lit a fire inside an apartment building as a ploy to burglarize residents.

A lieutenant with the Colorado Springs Police Department says the suspect succeeding in stealing from multiple units before officers caught her.

The fire was reported at 4:20 a.m. Saturday at The Lodges of Colorado Springs, a complex near UCCS where many students live.

“Crews found a small fire in an upholstered chair on the third-floor hallway,” Capt. JJ Halsey told 11 News. “Fire had activated the sprinkler head above the chair and kept the fire from spreading.”

The third floor sustained moderate smoke and water damage, Halsey said.

According to police, the woman was using the fire as a diversion tactic to get residents out of the building.

She was found walking around the building and arrested. Police identified the woman as Tiosha Chitman.

Sgt. Alterae Rogers, from the Colorado Springs Police Department, said Chitman is facing a number of burglary charges. This is an ongoing investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

San Pablo, CA – Sprinkler system puts out fire at nursing home; No injuries reported

A fire at a San Pablo nursing home spurred the evacuation of three dozen patients Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Firefighters were called to Vale Healthcare Center at 13484 San Pablo Ave. about 2:10 p.m. for a report of a fire, according to Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman Steve Hill.

Hill said the fire ignited inside a room on one of the facility’s four wings, and while the flames were quickly snuffed out by a sprinkler system, 36 patients still had to be evacuated. The evacuated patients were ultimately re-accommodated elsewhere in the facility.

No injuries were reported, but there was smoke and water damage to a handful of rooms, according to Hill.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire snarled traffic in the surrounding area, but authorities said things were starting to return to normal by about 4 p.m.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Guelph, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system stops fire from spreading after 3D printer catches on fire at condo

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A 3D printer caused a fire at a Guelph condo building, leading to water damage for several units and displacing tenants, according to the Guelph Fire Department.

Police got the call just after 11 p.m. on Thursday.

The fire and smoke were coming from a bedroom on the fifth floor at 1291 Gordon Street. That’s where a 3D printer had overheated and started the fire, police said. 

“It was determined 100 per cent the 3D printer was the source. It’s the only ignition source in the room,” said Ian Hickey, fire prevention officer with the Guelph fire department.

The building was evacuated, the fire was extinguished quickly, but the sprinkler system caused water damage for all units below, including on the ground level, according to police.

A number of tenants were displaced because of the water damage. Guelph Hydro-Alectra arrived on the scene because of the water’s impact on the electrical system, police said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, Uncategorized

Warrenton, VA – Stove top fire at senior citizen apartment complex extinguished by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Moffett Manor, a senior citizen apartment complex at 115 Manor Court, was evacuated Wednesday morning when a fire alarm summoned the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department, according to Chief Jason Koglin. No injuries were reported from a small fire in one of the apartments. 

A little before 6 a.m.an engine from the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at the apartment complex, Koglin said. 

Upon investigation, firefighters noticed the sprinkler system had been activated. They found smoke on the second floor and upgraded the call to a building fire just after 6 a.m.  

Firefighters found an apartment involved and discovered a small stove top fire that had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Koglin said. 

The building was cleared for re-occupancy soon after.  

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Madison, AL – Nursing home fire kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A small fire broke out in the kitchen at Madison Manor nursing home Tuesday night.

Madison Fire and Rescue officials say that the nursing staff and the home’s sprinkler system played a big part in keeping the fire from spreading before firefighters could arrive.

None of the 72 residents of the home were displaced or injured.

HEMSI emergency crews treated one woman who is not a resident at the scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hutchinson, KS – Third floor apartment fire contained to kitchen thanks to fire sprinklers

Fire officials say a sprinkler system prevented a kitchen fire from spreading in the Plaza Towers apartments in downtown Hutchinson early Saturday.

Firefighters responded to the five-story apartment complex at 17 E. Second Ave. just before 1:30 a.m. after fire alarms in the building were triggered by smoke.

An undetermined number of people evacuated the building while firefighters searched for the cause.

On the scene, crews traced the fire to the third floor from smoke in the hallway.

When they entered the apartment where the fire had occurred, they found an overhead sprinkler system in the kitchen had already doused the fire and damages were minimal.

Fire Chief Steve Beer could not say explicitly that food left on the stove caused the fire, but he said the occupant of the apartment had left the building, and the fire was limited to the kitchen.

“Sprinklers do save lives and property,” Beer said in a news release.

“The fuel loads in today’s structure plays a critical role in our fire operations,” he stated. “Petroleum-based plastics in furniture and accessories allow the fire of today to burn quicker and hotter than ever before. Remember, you only have three minutes to exit your structure when your fire alarm sounds. The Hutchinson Fire Department will be canvassing the immediate area to remind citizens and businesses of these safety facts.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Arlington, VA – Apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Firefighters are on scene of an apartment fire at the Quincy Plaza apartments in Virginia Square.

The fire was first reported just after 2 p.m., on the 12th floor of the apartment tower at 3900 Fairfax Drive. The fire is reported to now be out, controlled at least in part via a sprinkler system.

Firefighters are now checking for additional fire, smoke and water damage in adjacent apartments. Water can be seen streaming down the side of the building near where the fire was reported, and “extensive” water damage is being reported in parts of the building, according to scanner traffic.

No word yet on what caused the fire.

Police are also on the scene, helping to provide traffic control with the eastbound lanes of Fairfax Drive closed by the emergency response.

Apartment Building, Residential

Worcester, MA – Fire sprinkler activation contains fire to single apartment

A fire in a unit at the Pleasant Tower Apartments Friday damaged a unit on the eighth floor.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Martin Dyer, the fire was contained to the eighth floor apartment. One resident was being evaluated Friday afternoon, the deputy chief said.

A second alarm was struck to bring more personnel to the building; the deputy chief said two activated sprinkler heads led to a significant water cleanup operation.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. Firefighters arrived at the building before 6 p.m., and stayed for more than an hour.

Apartment Building, Residential

Warrington, PA – (no media coverage) Fire sprinkler activation at apartment controls fire, saves property

We recently responded to a service call for a sprinkler activation in an apartment building due to a fire. Upon arrival it was discovered a single 1999 Viking Model M residential pendant sprinkler had activated to control the small fire in the dwelling unit. The head was replaced and the system was placed back in service and the residents returned to their apartments. Without the activation of the sprinkler system, in the Type V (wood frame) structure, serious injury to the tenants could have occurred and the building would have sustained significant damage. Ironically the wet fire sprinkler system had just been inspected the week before. Once again a properly installed and maintained water based fire sprinkler system saves lives and property.

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