Category Archives: Townhouse / Condominium

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Aberdeen, MD – Arson fire at town home contained to basement area by sprinkler system

Investigators are looking for information from the community about fires that were set at two adjoining townhouses early Friday afternoon.  Firefighters from the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company and surrounding companies were dispatched at 12:16 p.m. for a dwelling fire after a passerby observed smoke coming from 503 Cool Breeze Circle in the Holly Woods development off of Philadelphia Road, according to a news release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.  When they arrived, firefighters encountered a fire that had been contained to the basement because the fire sprinklers activated, according to the release.  They also found that one or more people had forced their way into the home.

While investigating the fire at 503 Cool Breeze Circle, firefighters noticed that one or more people had also forced their way into 501 Cool Breeze Circle, where they found multiple points of origin of a fire within the home.  With these observations, the Office of the State Fire Marshal was requested to the scene.  Investigators determined the fire within 503 Cool Breeze Circle, which was occupied at the time of the fire by owners Richard and Elizabeth Dubose, was intentionally set and was contained to the basement after fire sprinklers activated.

They also concluded the multiple fires at 501 Cool Breeze Circle, owned by Nicole Tavenier, which was vacant and for sale, were also incendiary. Those fires had self-extinguished and did not produce the required heat to activate the fire sprinkler system.  Twenty-five firefighters assisted in the one-alarm fire in 503 Cool Breeze Circle. No injuries were reported and investigators estimate total damage to both homes at about $25,000.  Anyone living in the community, or who may have been passing by at the time of the fires, is asked to contact the fire marshal’s office with any information about these incidents.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Clear Lake, IA – Sprinkler system extinguishes kitchen fire in condominium; No injuries reported

A stove top grease fire at a condominium complex was put out before firefighters could arrive Monday night. The Clear Lake Fire Department was called to The Harborage Pilot House on North Shore Drive around 8:44 pm. Three engine companies, 18 firefighters, and one ambulance responded, with another engine company and five firefighters from Ventura being sent for mutual aid.

When they arrived at the scene, fire department officials determined a pot of grease on a stove had ignited. The heat activated the sprinkler system and extinguished the flames.

An estimated $5,000 in water, smoke, and heat damage was done to one condo, with some water damaged to that floor and the floors below. All residents were able to evacuate and no one was injured.

The Clear Lake Police Department also assisted at the scene.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Hampstead, MD – Sprinkler system activated for second-floor townhouse fire

The Office of the State Fire Marshal stated that discarded smoking materials was the cause of an accidental fire in a second-floor bedroom of a townhouse in Hampstead Monday night.

Almost exactly 24 hours after a fire destroyed a home in the same town Sunday, a bedroom fire on the 4800 block of Hillock Lane was called into the Hampstead volunteer fire company at 5:48 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Dispatchers arrived at the scene within minutes, according to the company’s public information officer, Chuck Fusco, and the fire was under control within 20 minutes.

Approximately eight fire companies responded to the fire, the first arriving from Hampstead, Manchester and Baltimore County. When responders saw it was a working fire, additional units — including Reese and Glyndon — were dispatched.

The office estimated total damages to be approximately $50,000, about $30,000 in damages to the structure and $20,000 in loss of contents, according to a notice of investigation from the fire marshal’s office issued Tuesday morning. There were no injuries.

A smoke alarm was present and working and a sprinkler system activated, according to the fire marshal’s office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Northeast Regional Office at 410-836-4844 or submit tips online at mdosfm.wixsite.com/blog.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Honolulu, HI – Overnight fire in 43-story condominium building doused by sprinkler system

An automatic fire sprinkler doused a fire at the Keola Lai Condominiums shortly after midnight and one resident sustained a lower leg injury from the incident, Honolulu firefighters said.  Thirty-nine firefighters responded at 12:03 a.m. to the two-alarm building fire at 600 Queen St., said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Scot Seguirant in a statement.  The first unit of firefighters arrived at 12:06 a.m. to discover black smoke emanating from the outside window of an apartment in the 43-story building. Firefighters evacuated the building and located the fire in unit 611. A female resident escaped safely without injuries after smelling the odor of smoke and hearing the sound of the smoke alarm.  The automatic fire sprinklers extinguished the fire at 12:21 a.m. The cause of the fire and estimated cost of damage has yet to be determined “The HFD would like to encourage the public to practice their fire evacuation plans,” Seguirant said. “This allows for quicker recognition and familiarization to what your fire alarm actually sounds like. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Greenview, MO – Condominium balcony fire contained with help from sprinkler system

Sparks from a saw are being blamed for a fire that damaged a condominium building in Greenview. Mid-County Fire Chief Scott Frandsen says the initial call to the Bella Sera condos on Twin Rivers point Road was received early Friday afternoon. While enroute a second call was received reporting smoke coming from a second-floor balcony. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a fire burning on the second floor inside an exterior balcony wall. The interior and exterior sheeting to the wall were removed to gain access to the blaze which was brought under control in about 30 minutes. A sprinkler system had activated and helped to contain fire and smoke damage to the first, second and third floor exterior balcony wall. There were no injuries reported. Sunrise Beach firefighters assisted at the scene while Osage Beach moved up to cover for Mid-County. The Camden County Sheriff’s Department and ambulance district also responded to the scene.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Huntington, VA – Sprinkler system activates in townhouse fire; No injuries reported

A sprinkler minimized damage and prevented injuries for a second time in weeks in the Greater Alexandria area, according to the fire department.

Fairfax County and Alexandria crew responded to the 2000 block of Huntington Avenue for a townhouse fire around 6:19 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9.

Firefighters found smoke coming from the back door and quickly extinguished a fire in one of the rooms. The residents were not home, and no one was injured.

A neighbor discovered smoke coming from the home and called 911. The home’s smoke alarms activated, while the fire sprinkler also put out a fire.

Fire investigators determined an incense stick ignited on an end table in the living room. The home’s two residents were displaced and accepted Red Cross assistance. Two adult occupants were displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was requested and accepted. Initial damage estimates are $3,000.

A little over a week ago, a sprinkler system minimized fire damage at a Belle Haven high rise. The fire department reminds residents that sprinklers can save lives and their properties. 

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Cobb County, GA – Fire in condo extinguished by sprinkler system

A Cobb County woman was pulled from her flaming condo Friday afternoon by a neighbor.

The neighbor smashed her sliding glass door with a rock and dragged her from her home near the Cochran Shoals Trail by the Chattahoochee River, said Cobb fire spokesman Lt. Dan Dupree.

The fire started about 2 p.m., Dupree said, possibly because of cigarettes being smoked on the couch.

In a picture the department shared to its Facebook page, the couch is seen charred and burnt to its frame on one end.

The pictures also show a walker through the broken glass door and the rock used to break open the condo.

The fire was put out by the condo’s sprinkler system and didn’t move to any other rooms, the department said.

Firefighters did not give any information about the woman other than saying she is expected to survive.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

James City County, VA – Townhouse fire contained by sprinkler system

Firefighters from the James City County Fire Department helped to contain and put out a townhouse fire on Saturday.

According to officials, the fire happened around 4 p.m. in the 2200 block of Carraige House Way at the Monticallo at Powhatan townhouse complex.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, which was contained also by the sprinkler system in the townhouse.

A woman and her dog were in the townhouse at the time of the fire, but were able to get out safely.

The woman was treated for minor burns.

Officials believe the fire started because of smoking material.

The City of Williamsburg Fire Department and York County Department of Fire and Life Safety assisted in the fire call.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Jacksonville, FL – Sprinkler system keeps condominium fire from spreading; Cause was lightning strike

Firefighters with Jacksonville Fire Rescue were sent to a condominium complex last Wednesday evening on the Southside.  The fire was sparked on the roof of a home at Montreux at Deerwood Lake on Touchton Road. News4Jax learned of the fire just after 5 p.m.  JFRD said the fire was likely due to a lightning strike. Embers from the fire dropped to the attic of the apartment, hit a sprinkler inside a home and melted it, which firefighters said likely helped the fire from spreading.  Two units were affected due to water damage. People living inside the units denied help from the Red Cross. No injuries were reported.

Residential, Restaurant, Townhouse / Condominium

Rochester, NY – Sprinkler system limits spread of fire into condominium building; Fire started in outside patio

Rochester fire investigators are looking into the cause of an early morning fire Friday that caused damage to a business and nearby condominiums.  No injuries were reported in the second-alarm fire at about 1:30 a.m. at Side Bar located downtown at 242 South Avenue.  Firefighters responded after a resident at the Capron Street Condominiums felt the heat and saw the glow from the fire and pulled the fire alarm, said Capt. Ted Kuppinger of the Rochester Fire Department.  The condos, that are next to the building the bar is located in, also overlooks the outdoor patio where the fire started. No one was in the outdoor patio.

Condo residents felt the heat and saw the glow from the fire and pulled the fire alarm.  One to two condos aren’t inhabitable due to water damage after their sprinklers went off, Kuppinger said.  The interior of the bar also received water damage as well as smoke and heat damage.  “If it had not been for the sprinkler system we would have had a much bigger fire,” Kuppinger said.  The fire was under control in 20 minutes.