Category Archives: Residential

Apartment Building, Residential

Sechelt, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system saves building after discarded cigarette starts fire

Cleanup continues at the Pier 17 building in Davis Bay after a fire last week.

Sechelt Fire Chief Trevor Pike said the May 9 fire started on the deck of the building’s only residential suite when a cigarette butt that had been thrown into a planter smouldered and set mulch and other dry material ablaze around 4 a.m. Pike said the fire ran up an exterior post and beam and was starting to spread through the attic of the building when the sprinkler system kicked in.

When firefighters arrived, the fire in the attic had been suppressed and all that remained was to douse the flames on the exterior.

“That sprinkler system saved the building,” Pike said. “Pier 17 is still here because of the sprinklers.”

The two people in the unit at the time were able to get out safely after being awakened by the smoke alarm.

The businesses that suffered water damage included Gourmet Girl Café and the constituency office of Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons.

Simons said the damage to his office was extensive and they will need to move into a temporary space for as long as four months during repairs.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the FUSE space until repairs are complete at Pier 17,” Simons told Coast Reporter this week.

The Fuse Work Hub was recently opened by the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization at Teredo Square in Sechelt.

Constituents will be able to contact the office at the same number: 604-741-0792.

The owners of Gourmet Girl said May 9 via their Facebook page that they did not expect to be closed long. They reopened May 16.

“Thankfully there were no injuries, and we hope to be back up and running in the next few days,” the post said. “If you see a firefighter or other first responders around town, give them a high-five for being so helpful and supportive.”

Pike said the other businesses on the upper floor should also be able to reopen soon.

He said the incident should serve as a reminder that it’s not safe to dispose of cigarettes or other smoking material in planters, as they can often smoulder undetected for hours and then burst into flame.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Frisco, CO – Condo fire quickly put out with help of fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Six residents have been displaced following a structure fire at a condo complex in Frisco on Friday morning, according to Summit Fire & EMS.

Summit Fire chief Jeff Berino said that a structure fire broke out on the 500 block of Galena Street in Frisco at about 10:30 a.m. on Friday. About 24 firefighters from both Summit Fire and the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District responded to the incident. The blaze was put out quickly by the firefighters, with help from the building’s sprinkler system, and crews cleared the scene by 12:45 p.m.

Berino said that the cause of the fire is still under investigation, though it has been determined that there was no criminal involvement. One unit suffered moderate smoke and fire damage, and two other units suffered smoke and water damage. No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tomball, TX – Single Sprinkler Head Saves 20 Unit Apartment Building

** User Submitted Post – No Media Coverage**  – On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at approximately 5:19pm, the Tomball Fire Department was notified of a structure fire at the Fountains of Tomball Apartment Homes, a 160 unit apartment complex in the 900 block of Village Square Drive in Tomball. The first arriving unit encountered a large volume of smoke and fire on the first floor porch of a 20 unit apartment building. Fire Marshal Joe Sykora said, “Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the porch fire. Entry was made into the apartment and firefighters discovered a fire sprinkler head had extinguished the fire that had entered the apartment from the porch.” All residents of building were evacuated from the structure, notified by the buildings fire alarm system. One injury was sustained to the occupant of the apartment and the occupant was evaluated by the Northwest Community Health Emergency Medical Services Division.

The Tomball Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. Investigators determined that the fire was caused by a malfunctioning propane barbeque pit on the porch of the apartment. Only one residential unit was affected by this incident.

Apartment Building, Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic, Residential

Kalamazoo, MI – (Fire Marshal Reported) Two fires suppressed by fire sprinkler systems across Kalamazoo

On Wednesday May 15, 2019 sprinklers save the day for two different locations in Kalamazoo. A kitchen fire was quickly doused with limited  damage at a multistory multifamily residence. A full alarm assignment was quickly reduced to a single engine company upon learning the fire was quickly suppressed by the sprinkler system as Kalamazoo was battling another structure fire. 

Later in the night a fire in the sterilization unit of Bronson Methodist Hospital was quickly suppressed by a single sprinkler head limiting direct fire damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Stafford, TX – (No media coverage) Single sprinkler extinguishes kitchen grease fire before fire department arrives

** User Submitted Post – No Media Coverage**  On 5/16/2019 at approximately 0540 hours, Investigators from Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office were dispatched to a kitchen fire at 630 Colony Lakes Estates Drive Stafford, TX 77477. Stafford FD was on scene requesting fire investigators.  Upon arrival of investigators, they found that a cooking fire in the kitchen of a residential apartment had occurred. The fire was due to cooking grease coming in contact with the heating surface of the stove. The fire resulted in the activation of one sprinkler head, which extinguished the fire prior to the arrival of the fire department. Firefighters checked for fire extension with no findings.  Only one residential unit was affected by this incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Activated fire sprinklers quickly put out fire on third floor of apartment building; No injuries reported

Fargo firefighters responded to a water flow alarm at a 3 story apartment building at 4877 28th Av S.

Upon arrival, firefighters were met by tenants outside saying there was a fire in apartment #301. Crews quickly made their way to the 3rd floor to find that the fire in that unit had been extinguished by the buildings sprinkler system.

3 sprinkler heads were activated to extinguish the fire. Water damage became the next task at hand and efforts were made to shut down the sprinkler system as soon as possible.

There were no injuries and fire spread was limited to the room of origin due to early activation of the 9-1-1 and sprinkler systems and quick actions taken by the first arriving fire crews.

The fire cause is under investigation. No damage assessment is available at this time. City View Property Mgmt. helped the tenants of the damaged apartments by putting them up temporarily in other units that they manage.

An official with the Fargo Fire Department tells us, they got call for white smoke billowing from the third floor of the apartment complex.

By the time they got to the scene, a sprinkler system has already put most of the fire out. The resident of the third floor apartment wasn’t home at the time.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. There is water damage to apartments below where fire began.

Fire crews are on the scene of a possible fire at an apartment complex in Fargo.

The call came in around 2:30 Friday afternoon on a report of a structure fire on the 4800 block of 28th Ave. S. Smoke is reported on the third floor of the apartment.

A reporter on the scene tells us, there are no visible flames but fire crews appear to be investigating a balcony. A resident tells us, they were evacuated from the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

Santa Rosa, CA – Electrical fire in sixth floor apartment doused by sprinkler system

Fire broke out early Wednesday in a top‑floor apartment of downtown Santa Rosa’s historic Rosenberg Building, trapping a female resident who was rescued by firefighters, displacing five and forcing the evacuation of the large building, according to Santa Rosa fire officials.

The woman, believed to be 35 years, was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.

The fire’s origin was traced to an electrical issue from a power strip extension cord — including one plug used for a pet lizard’s heat lamp, said Battalion Chief Matt Dahl.

Several people reported the fire just before 12:50 a.m., warning firefighters that one person appeared trapped. A Santa Rosa fire engine already was out on a call and the crew arrived within one minute, finding several residents spilling out into the street and sidewalk, some with wheelchairs and walkers.

The large Mendocino Avenue building, built in 1921 just off Old Courthouse Square, now is home to 77 subsidized low-rent apartments. There was no sign of fire from outside but firefighters found smoke on the sixth floor and a fire in an apartment there. The flames mostly had been doused by the apartment’s sprinkler system but the residence was smoky, hindering the woman’s ability to get out, Dahl said. Firefighters helped her down to an ambulance and evacuated others on the fifth and sixth floors.

The flames hadn’t spread to other apartments but there was water damage from sprinklers to four apartments and Dahl estimated the overall loss at $100,000.

The Red Cross and building property manager arranged temporary accommodations for residents of the five damaged apartments, Dahl said.

Three dozen Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Fire firefighters responded with seven engines and two ladder trucks — a show of force due to the size of the building and the need for evacuations. The effort wrapped up about 3 a.m.

The Rosenberg Building originally was the tallest structure north of San Francisco and has been a downtown Santa Rosa landmark for almost 100 years. About 30 years ago it was converted to apartments and sprinklers were added.

Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshal Ian Hardage said the sprinklers likely saved the building from a much larger fire and may have saved lives. It saved at least one, Hardage said — the lizard.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707‑521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kent, WA – Sprinkler system in bedroom of apartment keeps fire contained to one room

A fire alarm helped a family evacuate a burning Kent apartment Wednesday night, the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority reported.

The fire, reported at 7:07 p.m. started in the bathroom then burned through the door into the bedroom, causing the sprinkler head to activate along with the fire alarm at the Riverwood Apartments, 24600 block of Russell RoadSouth.

Hearing the alarm, family members were able to safely evacuate the apartment and call 911.

Puget Sound Fire units arrived with smoke coming from the front door. Entry into the home was quickly made, and the fire extinguished in the bathroom.

Thanks to the sprinkler in the bedroom, the fire did not get beyond the bathroom door, Puget Sound Fire said.

The apartment below the fire had damage from the water used to extinguish the fire above.

American Red Cross was called and arrived to help the two displaced families.

The cause of fire is still under investigation.

Residential, Single Family Home

Apopka, FL – Overnight garage fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A family of three is lucky to be alive after a fire broke out in their garage.

Orange County firefighters were called to the home in the 700 block of Tortoise Ct. in Apopka. They say they got to the scene just in time to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the house.

Battalion 1 fought this house fire in the 7000 block of Tortoise Ct. Crews credit residential sprinkler system AND working smoke alarms from preventing what could have been worse. Most damage contained to garage. Two residents and pets escaped without harm.

Apartment Building, Residential

Salisbury, MD – Sprinkler system keeps overnight fire from spreading; No injuries reported

Crews battled an overnight blaze Tuesday at Mill Pond Village Apartments that displaced 35 people and caused $500,000 in damages, according to fire officials.

A Salisbury Fire Department Facebook post shows units from Salisbury, Delmar, Hebron and Parsonsburg responded to 312 Mill Pond Lane at 1:37 a.m., arriving to find a well-advanced two-alarm blaze.

Officials said the 42 firefighters on scene were able to bring the fire under control within 45 minutes, and all building occupants were safely evacuated. There were no injuries.

A news release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal applauded the building’s fire protection features and the quick response from local firefighters for preventing large-scale property loss and loss of life.

The release shows investigators discovered the blaze was accidental and had originated from a third-floor balcony as a result of discarded smoking material. 

The investigation also determined an automatic fire sprinkler kept the fire from spreading from the balcony to the living space, the release states, and the required fire separations stopped it from preventing further damage after it accessed the attic space.

The fire has displaced 35 residents, according to the release. In total, it  caused $500,000 in damage — $400,000 to the structure and $100,000 to the tenants’ personal items.