Category Archives: Townhouse / Condominium

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Lake Zurich, IL – Town home fire caused by gas grill is kept from spreading by sprinkler system

A Lake Zurich family is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross after a fire damaged part of their two-story townhome Sunday.  The Lake Zurich Fire Department responded to the blaze at around 6:47 p.m. on Sunday. The building’s sprinkler system activated and aided fire units, keeping the flames from spreading further, according to a news release.  The cause of the fire is under investigation, but preliminary findings point to an unattended propane grill that caught fire and ignited the exterior siding of the residence in the 100 block of Rosehall Drive, the release said.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Ridgefield, WA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in residential condo; No injuries reported

A fire sprinkler saved the day for a Ridgefield family whose stove caught fire Thursday morning, said Tim Dawdy, Clark County Fire & Rescue spokesman.

About 8 a.m., Clark County Fire & Rescue responded to a kitchen fire at 184 N. 43rd Place in Ridgefield. Someone was cooking fries in oil when the stove caught fire and burned the kitchen cabinets, he said.

But the home, a condo in a new development in the north Clark County city, had fire sprinklers, which quickly extinguished the blaze before it spread. By the time firefighters arrived, the only thing left to do was mop up the water.

“These simple, inexpensive fire sprinklers really do their job,” Dawdy said. Neither condo on either side of the unit was damaged.

Three adults live at the condo, Dawdy said. No one was injured. There were no children or pets in the home.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Corvallis, OR – Sprinkler system extinguishes car fire in townhouse garage; No injuries reported

An automatic sprinkler system installed in the garage of a Corvallis townhouse worked to quickly knock down a car fire on Sunday evening, the Corvallis Fire Department reported.

Jim Patton of the Fire Department said the fire broke out at about 6:45 p.m. in the engine compartment of a Ford Escape parked in one of the garage units of the townhouse, in the 300 block of 25th Street. The owner of the car had recently parked the vehicle and was upstairs, in the townhouse’s living area.

Patton said the sprinkler system limited damage to the garage, and prevented the car from being consumed, even though the vehicle likely is totaled. 

 

Occupants of the townhouse were evacuated, but no injuries were reported. Residents were able to return to the townhouses after the fire was extinguished. 

The cause of the fire was not immediately known Sunday night. Three engines and a medical unit responded to the scene.

Residential, Residential High Rise, Townhouse / Condominium

Arlington, VA – Early morning fire at luxury high-rise condominium building contained by sprinkler system

One person was sent to the hospital for observation after a fire in a Virginia Square condominium Friday morning.  The fire was reported around 6:30 a.m. at the high-rise Hawthorn condo building, which is located at 820 N. Pollard Street, across Wilson Blvd from Gold’s Gym.  The fire was contained by a sprinkler system, allowing firefighters to quickly extinguish the flames. Large ladder trucks were used to help with the firefighting effort.  The Arlington County Fire Department. The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

View Royal, BC, Canada – Condominium fire suppressed by home fire sprinkler system

Fire crews from both View Royal and Colwood responded to alarm bells ringing at the Four Pillars condo complex on Watkiss Way at 9:40 a.m. Friday.  The fire started in a bedroom and was caused by unattended candles and incense.

“If this hadn’t been a sprinkled building, this would have been a significantly different event,” said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst. “Thankfully the sprinklers kicked in and controlled the fire. It’s a good outcome today.”

Under provincial building code regulations this structure would not have been required to have fire sprinklers but thanks to the Town of View Royal’s proactive fire sprinkler bylaw, the damage was contained. This bylaw requires all new construction of duplexes or larger in the town to have fire sprinklers.

Officials say the fire was contained quickly, but there was some water damage and crews remained on scene to help salvage items, tarp other units and vacuum up the water. A neighbouring suite also experienced some water damage.

Three people in the suite were able to escape with no injuries and the displaced residents will be helped by Emergency Social Services with finding accommodations until their insurance can assess the damage.

Hurst noted the suite is not livable and temporary accommodations have been made for the family.

B.C. Ambulance Service, West Shore RCMP and BC Hydro were also on scene.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Abingdon, VA – Arson fire at townhome extinguished by sprinkler system

An Abingdon woman was arrested Monday morning for allegedly setting her daughter’s house on fire in September, according to the state fire marshal’s office.Just after 4 p.m. Sept. 15, Anna M. Stewart, 50, called 911 after reportedly discovering a fire on the second floor of her daughter’s house in the 200 block of Ferring Court in Abingdon, according to a notice of investigation from the fire marshal’s office.

Stewart, who lives in the basement of the house owned by her daughter and her husband, Ashley and Rafael Roman, was the only one home at the time of the fire, Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said Monday.

Firefighters from Abingdon and Joppa-Magnolia volunteer fire companies and surrounding departments arrived at the two-story, middle of the group townhouse and discovered a fire within a bedroom closet that was nearly extinguished after the homes’ fire sprinkler system activated.

Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to conduct an investigation and determined the fire was intentionally set.

Investigators later discovered a second, self-extinguished fire within another closet within the home, according to the notice.

Investigators estimated the home sustained about $20,000 in damages.

After consulting with the Harford County States Attorney’s Office, deputy state fire marshals issued an arrest warrant for Stewart, who turned herself in Monday to the Bel Air Barrack of the Maryland State Police.

Stewart is charged with first- and second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious burning and vandalism more than $1,000.

Stewart is being held at Harford County Detention Center on $50,000 bail.

Townhouse / Condominium

Henderson, NV – Electrical fire in condominium building contained by sprinkler system

An electrical fire in a Henderson condominium building yesterday evening was contained to the area of origin by the building’s fire sprinkler system and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it could spread to neighboring units.  The Henderson Fire Department responded at about 5:40 p.m. on Sept. 20 to a residential structure fire at Scottsdale Valley Condominiums, located at 2925 Wigwam Pkwy.  The first arriving engine crew observed smoke coming from a three-story multifamily condominium building. Firefighters located the fire in the third-level loft area of one of the condominium units.  Four adults were displaced.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Fargo, ND – Garage fire in row house building held in check by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system helped contain a fire in a south Fargo garage Monday, Sept. 18, according to the fire department.  Firefighters responded about 12:45 p.m. to a report of a fire in a garage of a row house building with eight residences at 4648 44th Ave. S.  The first arriving crew found a fire sprinkler operating in the garage of one of the homes. While the sprinkler had not extinguished the fire, it kept it in check until crews could put it out, fire officials said.

The fire appears to have started on a stovetop in the garage. Damage was limited to items in that part of the garage. There was no fire, smoke or water damage inside the house, fire officials said.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage is estimated to be $6,000 to the building and $2,000 to the contents of the garage.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Abingdon, MD – Fire officials credit sprinkler system with containing townhouse fire to room of origin

State fire investigators credit a functioning smoke alarm and sprinkler system with alerting an Abingdon woman to a fire Friday afternoon and minimizing damage to the townhouse where she lives with other family members. The fire was reported shortly after 4 p.m. in the middle of a group townhouse in the 200 block of Ferring Court, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association. Twenty firefighters responded from the Abingdon, Bel Air and Joppa-Magnolia volunteer fire companies, according to a notice of investigation from the Fire Marshal’s Office. The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes and no injuries were reported.

The fire originated in a second floor, front bedroom, investigators said. The cause had not been determined as of Monday. According to the notice of investigation, Anna Stewart, a grandmother who lives in the house with Ashley and Rafael Ramon and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter, was alone in the townhouse and in the basement when she heard a strange sound. Upon investigating, she saw water coming through the living room ceiling and smoke coming from the second floor.

It was later determined the sprinkler had contained the fire to the bedroom where it originated, investigators said. “Deputy state fire marshals credit the fire sprinkler for containing the fire and allowing Ms. Stewart to safely escape,” the notice of investigation states. “Fire sprinklers also help firefighters by containing the fire to the area of origin, reducing the chance of injuries and/or death.” Investigators estimate the fire caused $5,000 damage to the dwelling and a $15,000 loss to contents. The family was displaced is being assisted by Red Cross, according to the notice of investigation.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Townhouse cooking fire put out by home fire sprinkler system

Chilliwack fire officials are reminding residents of the value of home fire suppression units after a townhouse fire was quickly doused by sprinklers.  The fire broke out on a stove top Thursday afternoon in the 5600 block of Sappers Way in Garrison Crossing.  By the time firefighters arrived, the unit’s home sprinkler system had already extinguished the blaze.

“Early control and suppression of the fire by the sprinkler system significantly limited damage to a small area around the stove and kitchen cabinets,” said Assistant Fire Chief Chris Wilson.

“Without a working sprinkler system in place, this fire had the potential to cause extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the home and adjacent units in the townhouse complex.”

Wilson said the Chilliwack Fire Department strongly promotes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in homes. “The presence of an automatic fire sprinkler system in conjunction with a working smoke alarm greatly reduces the risk of being injured or dying in a fire.”

No one was injured in the fire, and the cause was accidental.

“The Chilliwack Fire Department reminds residents to ensure they are aware of the cooking hazards and not be distracted or leave the kitchen when they are cooking.”