Category Archives: Department Store

Department Store, Retail

San Diego, CA – Sprinklers activate to help firefighters stop blaze at Home Depot

A fire that started in a big rig full of Christmas decorations spread into a  Home Depot Wednesday night, forcing employees and shoppers to evacuate.

Employees at the Home Depot at 355 Marketplace Ave. in the Mountainview neighborhood called 911 at about 10:20 p.m. to report the fire. When firefighters arrived, the trailer was in flames in a loading dock and the fire had spread both inside and outside the warehouse, San Diego Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve Ricci said. Several propane tanks that were stored outside the warehouse exploded.

The first fire units called for additional help. They knocked down most of the flames in about 10 minutes. The fire caused the warehouse sprinkler system to go off and firefighters sprayed down the flames inside the warehouse, so there was both fire and water damage, Ricci said.

The Metro Arson Strike Team was trying to determine what started the trailer fire, Ricci said.

Department Store, Retail

Fresno, CA – Elevator machine room fire at J.C. Penney store held in check by sprinkler system

The J.C. Penney store at Fashion Fair Mall closed for business Sunday after an electrical fire prompted its evacuation.  Firefighters got to the store at 11:15 a.m. after smoke started flooding the area inside, Fresno Fire Capt. Brian Price said.

The damage was contained to the elevator equipment room where there was wire damage, Price said, and the sprinkler system already had the fire “in check.”

The fire was put out, and fire personnel worked on getting the system back in working order. The store is still closed, but Price said store staff said they hoped to reopen Monday morning.  “They’ve got some significant cleanup to do,” Price said.

 

Department Store, Retail

Shelby Township, MI – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in containing storage closet fire at Kohl’s store; No injuries

A fire inside a Kohl’s storage room early Wednesday afternoon prompted an evacuation and caused extensive smoke damage to the store and merchandise, according to the fire department. The fire ignited just before 1 p.m. inside a supply room at the back of Kohl’s at 25 Mile and Van Dyke, Fire Chief Jim Swinkowski said. There were no injuries reported.  “When our crews got there, they did encounter some heavy fire,” Swinkowski said.

The store was evacuated as soon as employees and customers saw smoke and the fire alarm sounded, Swinkowski said. The sprinkler system activated and fire personnel were able to extinguish the inferno before it spread beyond the storage room, which contained store supplies like signage and batteries.

“It did not spread to the rest of the store or the adjacent stores,” Swinkowski said of the fire. “But there was extensive smoke damage throughout Kohl’s.” Other stores at the shopping center include Target and Home Depot.

Kohl’s will remain closed Wednesday, Swinkowski said. The level of smoke damage to merchandise may make it difficult to reopen soon. “Anytime you’ve got smoke and you’re dealing with linens and clothing, they’re out there (in the store),” he said. “That is up to the Kohl’s loss prevention division to deal with that. It would be tough to be open (Thursday) but that’s not my area of expertise.”

Kohl’s representatives who answered the phone at the store Wednesday refused to comment.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is not considered suspicious, he said.

“We’re just beginning our investigation now so we will not know for some time,” Swinkowski said.

Department Store, Retail

Walla Walla, WA – Sprinkler system helps extinguish fire at Cascade Farm & Outdoor Store

The Cascade Farm and Outdoor Store in Walla Walla will be temporarily closed while water/smoke damage from a small fire is assessed and cleaned up.

A display heater caught fire around 11 PM Friday night causing isolated smoke damage and water damage from an activated sprinkler system. While initial reports describe a small amount of damage, the store will be closed until further notice.

Department Store, Retail

Hixson, TN – Fire at Kmart store contained to printing room by sprinkler system

Firefighters battled a small fire at a Kmart in Hixson Sunday.  When firefighters got to the store on Highway 153, they noticed smoke coming from the right, front portion of the building that is used as a printing room.

The fire was contained to the printing room and officials say the sprinkler system inside help keep the fire under control. Chattanooga Fire Chief Don Bowman says it appears the fire started from one of the printers.  The store was evacuated and employees told officials it’ll take one to two days to clean up the damage.

Department Store, Retail

Bedford, IN – Sprinkler system helps protect Farm and Home store from fire damage

Firefighters were able to extinguish a fire at Orscheln Farm and Home on Ind. 37 within minutes of arriving Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters from Marion, Shawswick and Oolitic Volunteer Fire Departments were called to the business at 1:31 p.m.

According to Marion VFD Chief Jason Zeeks, the fire started outside on the south side of the building after some paper on plastic stock tanks for water caught on fire.

The fire then moved inside the business, setting off the sprinkler system.

Zeeks says no one was injured and there was little fire damage done to building, but smoke and water did cause minor damage to some contents of the store.

Firefighters from Shawswick and Oolitic VFDs assisted Marion VFD firefighters with cleaning up the water and ventilated the building of smoke.

Orscheln was able to re-open for business Sunday afternoon.

Department Store, Retail

Manhasset, NY – Fire in freight elevator at Macy’s department store controlled with help from sprinkler system

A fire broke out in a freight elevator at the Macy’s department store in Manhasset last Sunday morning. Manhasset-Lakeville officials said they were able to contain the fire using the building’s sprinkler system.

Several Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department companies as well as the Port Washington Fire Department’s FAST rescue and rehabilitation unit and Nassau County Police were dispatched to the site around 10:30 a.m. and discovered the fire and smoke throughout the building.

Only Macy’s employees were in the store at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Nassau County Fire Marshals office. Fire teams then sought to ventilate the building of smoke and carbon monoxide.

Department Store, Retail

Capitol Heights, MD – Sprinkler system helps extinguish potential arson fire at Family Dollar store

Prince George’s County authorities are seeking the community’s assistance in identifying a man they believed started a fire in a local Family Dollar store.  The fire occurred at 1:23 p.m. Saturday in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Onlookers say they saw a man set combustible materials on fire to cover up a theft. The fire was quickly contained by a store sprinkler and an employee dispensing a fire extinguisher.  The total loss is estimated at $2,500. No injuries were reported.

Department Store, Retail

Edina, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire to small area at H&M store

The H&M store at the Southdale Center in Edina is closed Friday after a fire on the second floor.  Edina officials say the fire was reported at 10:30 a.m. after a piece of clothing caught fire and caused the sprinkler system to activate.

Officials say the fire was contained to a small area of the store, but both the first and second floor have smoke and water damage. The store is closed as crews work to clean up.  No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Department Store, Retail

Sacramento, CA – Sprinkler system contains fire at Macy’s; Store reopens same day

The Macy’s store in Arden Fair mall has reopened following a small single-alarm fire this morning, Sacramento Fire Department officials said. Firefighters responded to the fire, which took place in an attic air-conditioning unit, at 9:40 a.m. said Roberto Padilla, fire department spokesman. The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained, although there was some smoke in the basement, elevator shafts and third floor, he said.

The fire is no longer active and all units have cleared the scene, Padilla said. Arden Fair Mall officials said the store reopened for business this afternoon.