Category Archives: Grocery Store / Super Center

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Tracy, CA – Automatic sprinkler system contains fire originating in storage area for collapsed cardboard boxes

Two police officers caught a fire that was just beginning behind a Tracy Boulevard grocery store in time for firefighters to arrive and keep the flames from spreading inside.

The officers with the Tracy Police Department were looking for a group of young men who were reportedly trying to break into cars at a nearby business when they spotted smoke behind La Plaza Market at 3225 N. Tracy Blvd. They drove behind the shopping center, spotted flames coming from a storage area at the back of the store and called in the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority.

According to Battalion Chief Scott Arganbright, four Tracy fire engines and a ladder truck were employed to control and extinguish the fire. He said an automatic sprinkler system on the loading dock of the grocery store activated and helped contain the flames.

The fire began in an area where collapsed cardboard boxes were stored. Arganbright said firefighters in the store and on the roof confirmed that no flames made it inside. The store did have light smoke damage and fire crews had the power to the complex shut off while they were working to prevent water from creating a short or electrocuting someone.

Investigators are looking into whether the fire was intentionally set.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Columbia, SC – Overnight arson fire at Walmart held in check by sprinkler system

Blog Editor Note: Fire sprinkler system SAVED the store and minimized fire damage. Store re-opened three days later, allowing employees to return to work.

Media Report: Two men have been charged with second-degree arson in connection with Tuesday’s fire that caused $3 million in damages at the Harbison Walmart, according to police. Steven D. Edwards, 41, and Bobby J. Murphy Jr., 46, are being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, police said. The fire happened Tuesday around 3 a.m. at the Walmart that sits just off Harbison Boulevard near Interstate 26. When crews arrived, heavy smoke filled the store and flames covered one of the food aisles, Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins told The State.

The store’s sprinkler system kept the fire in check, Jenkins said. Still, the fire, which investigators believe started in one of the food aisles, caused “significant” damage to inventory and the store. A few employees and customers were inside the building during the fire, but no one was injured, authorities said. The Walmart re-opened Friday. The Columbia Police Department said tips from Crimestoppers of the Midlands and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department helped find Edwards and Murphy.

The men will be transferred to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where a bond hearing will be held. Police had also announced a third person of interest in connection with the fire. A woman arrived with the two suspects in an older, green SUV, police said, but no arrest was announced. Both suspects have prior unrelated convictions. Edwards pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and receiving stolen goods in 2018, court records show. In 2009 and 2016, Murphy pleaded guilty to charges of domestic violence, cruelty to children, and manufacturing methamphetamine, according to records. The 2016 meth charge was suspended from 5 years in prison to 2 years probation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Albany, NY – Sprinkler system knocks down fire in supermarket pharmacy

Supervisors investigating damage after supermarket fire. Customers were inside when the fire broke out. Albany fire officials said when they arrived at the scene, there were many half filled shopping carts left in the aisles and check out lines, but everyone was able to get out safely. “We received a call for a fire at Hannaford,” said Albany Fire Department Batallion Chief, Greg Sokaris.”It turned out that it was a small electrical fire, refrigeration units in the pharmacy.” Albany fire fighters had trouble accessing the pharmacy since it was closed at the time when the flames broke out. The sprinkler system was able to knock down a majority of the blaze. The health department will also be assessing the damage to determine what products are salvageable.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Waltham, MA – Fire in Costco Wholesale tire center held at bay by sprinkler system

The Costco on 2nd Avenue had to be evacuated after a car caught on fire in the garage, last Tuesday afternoon. Fire officials said there were no injuries, and crews were able to make quick work of the fire. By 3 p.m. the Costco was open for business again. Around noon a man pulled a car into the Costco garage, got out and it started smoking and ended up catching on fire, according to fire officials. “They believe it originated in the engine compartment,” said Lt. Scott Perry of the Waltham Fire Department.

Employees evacuated the garage and the shopping center building for precautionary reasons, while firefighters dealt with the fire, which generated smoke that billowed out into the parking lot. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading outside the garage. “The sprinkler did what it needed to do and kept it at bay enough to let the firefighters do their work,” said Perry. “And now there’s a little bit of clean up.”

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Tucson, AZ – Sprinkler system activates to help keep fire at supermarket from growing

A midtown Safeway was open again Monday after a fire broke out late Friday, March 1. The store in the 1900 block of East Broadway was partially open, according to a customer service representative. The employee said they don’t have hot water yet as they are waiting for their gas to be turned back on. The grocery and produce sections are open, as is the pharmacy.

Barrett Baker, spokesman for the Tucson Fire Department, said they were called out to the fire around 8 p.m. Friday and had it under control by 8:30 p.m. Baker said the sprinkler system worked, which also kept the fire from growing.

As of 10 a.m., the deli, meat market, bakery and Starbucks were still closed. Everything was expected to be open again by noon. The store is popular hub for Wildcats, due to its proximity to the University of Arizona. Baker said no one was injured inside the store, which is near Broadway and Kino Parkway.

“Initial reports were that an employee noticed the fire and another employee tried to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher,” Baker said. “This slowed the growth of the fire dramatically.” Baker said the sprinkler system worked, which also kept the fire from growing. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but a Safeway worker said it began when a bag of potato chips went up in flames. Inspectors were at the store Saturday to clean up and check food for smoke damage.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Mount Vernon, VA – Sprinkler system extinguished fire at Mega Mart before fire crews arrived

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a person of interest in a fire that occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

At 1:13 p.m., Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded for reports of a fire in a bathroom at the Mega Mart located at 8228 Richmond Highway. The fire was extinguished by a fire sprinkler system prior to fire and rescue department arrival. The fire is under investigation.

The person of interest is described as African American and was last seen wearing a blue knit hat, light blue jacket, dark pants, and black backpack. Fire investigators would like to speak with this individual regarding their investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lieutenant S. Khan at 703- 246-4738 or salman.khan@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Jackson, MO – Fire in freezer at grocery store contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

 Jackson Fire Department responded to a small fire in Jackson, Missouri on Tuesday, Dec. 11.  Around 11 p.m., crew responded to a fire at Country Mart on Jackson Blvd. When crews arrived there was moderate smoke in the building.  The fire started in a freezer in the kitchen area and was quickly contained by the sprinkler system. Crews took about 10 minutes to put out the fire.  No one was injured and the fire was contained entirely in the freezer.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Milford, CT – Fire in Wal-Mart garden center is kept from spreading by sprinkler system

A fire at the Wal-Mart store on Boston Post Road on Tuesday forced the store to shut down temporarily while fire crews extinguished the blaze.  Shortly after 5 p.m., fire units raced to the store at 1365 Boston Post Road after an employee reported a fire, according to Battalion Chief Anthony Fabrizi.

“Firefighting units arrived on scene to find a large volume of smoke visible from the fenced area of the garden center where pallets of store stock are kept,” he said. “The building’s fire sprinkler system had activated, which prevented the blaze from spreading.”  Firefighters quickly extinguished the remainder of the fire and safely got the burned items out of the area.  The store was evacuated and closed while crews worked to put out the fire.

“When a structure fire occurs, it is imperative to evacuate the building and call 911 from a safe area outside of the structure,” Fabrizi said. “As a reminder, proper functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Please check yours today.”  Fabrizi said the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Milford Fire Marshal.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Chelmsford, MA – Oven fire at grocery store contained by sprinkler system until fire crews arrive

The Drum Hill Hannaford grocery store shut down for several hours Monday, following an oven fire in the store’s deli area, Fire Chief Gary Ryan said.

No injuries were reported. The store reopened just after 2:30 p.m., Ryan said.

Ryan said the Chelmsford Fire Department responded with an engine company at 7:04 a.m. Nov. 12 for a fire alarm activation.

When they arrived, the engine company encountered smoke by the deli. They also found an oven fire being contained by an activated sprinkler head, Ryan said.

The damage was limited to the deli area and the store was shut down for cleaning and sprinkler restoration, Ryan said.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Anderson, SC – Walmart arson fire contained by sprinkler system

A stuffed animal was set on fire, presumably as a distraction so someone could steal a robotic vacuum, said Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart.

Three days after what authorities believe to be an arson, the Walmart on State 28 Bypass reopened this morning.

The store was evacuated Monday, with no injuries, after a fire that began near the photography department.

The small fire was quickly contained by the sprinkler system, but that caused water damage and there was a lot of smoke.

Stewart said a man has been arrested and charged.

Michael Travis Robinson, 43, is charged with second degree arson.

According to a warrant, he set fire to an item in the store causing “extendive damage to the location with numerous people present.”

These areas will be open, according to the store’s Facebook page: “produce, bakery, deli, meat, dairy, grocery, pets, paper goods, and chemicals.”

The investigation into the fire is ongoing and is being conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division along with the Anderson Police Department and the Anderson Fire Department.