Category Archives: Other – Retail

Other - Retail, Retail

Oxnard, CA – Fire at auto parts business helps stop fire; No injuries reported

The sprinkler system at an auto parts business was credited with assisting firefighters in saving a commercial structure in Oxnard on Monday morning.  

The Oxnard Fire Department responded to a sprinkler activation in the 200 block of south Oxnard Boulevard on Monday at 5:56 a.m.

Upon arrival, fire personnel observed smoke leaving a single-story commercial structure. The first engine company entered the building, found the fire and was able to extinguish the it within 15 minutes.

Although Oxnard battalion chief Steve Reyes added that the business’ sprinkler system played a big role in saving the business.

“I would say the sprinkler system assisted in keeping the fire in check,” said Reyes.

No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available, although two businesses sustained “major” water, smoke and fire damage, according to Reyes.

The fire remains under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Kapolei, HI – Fire sprinklers at clothing store help put out fire; No injuries reported

A fire broke out on the sales floor at the Ross Dress for Less store in Kapolei today, forcing shoppers and employees to evacuate.

Acting Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Carl Otsuka said four fire sprinkler heads activated to extinguish and prevent a further spread of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

HFD said tonight that the cause of the fire is incendiary and turned over the case to the Honolulu Police Department for further investigation. Damage was estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $75,000 to the contents.

Eight units with 24 firefighters responded to the business at the Kapolei Commons shopping center, 4450 Kapolei Parkway just after 11:50 a.m.

When the first unit arrived, firefighters observed items on fire.

In addition to the sprinkler system, firefighters used a fire extinguisher and brought the flames under control at about noon. The fire was extinguished a few minutes later.

Tamara, who declined to give her last name, said she was in the store at about 11:45 a.m. when she smelled smoke and then saw women’s clothing on fire.

Tamara headed to the front of the store to alert employees when she observed a large fire at the men’s clothing rack in another section of the store.

One of the employees used a fire extinguisher in an attempt to extinguish the blaze but “the flames were growing so fast,” she said. “We had to evacuate.”

Tamara called 911.

Other - Retail, Retail

Springfield, VA – Fire at auto shop contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services responded to a reported building fire in the 7600 block of Loisdale Road in the Springfield area of Fairfax County Oct. 6 at 11:51 a.m.

Crews arrived on the scene of a large, two-story auto dealership with smoke coming out of multiple garage bay doors. Crews quickly located fire in and below a vehicle that was being serviced and up on a lift. The fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire contained until it was able to be fully extinguished by firefighters. There were no civilian or fire fighter injuries reported.

Approximately 50 people were in the building when the fire occurred. The fire was discovered in the repair shop bay by the workers in that area.

Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and started in the service bay area. The fire was caused by the arcing of a battery-operated tool that had been doused in gasoline. The tool arced in the operator’s hands and caught fire. The operator dropped the burning tool and it landed in a pool of gasoline. The fire spread to the vehicle being worked on and surrounding combustibles.

No one was displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was not needed. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $51,254.

Other - Retail, Retail

Vancouver, WA – Car on top of auto shop lift caught fire, kept in check by fire sprinklers

A fire sprinkler system helped check the spread of a vehicle fire at a Vancouver-area auto repair shop on Monday, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.

The blaze was reported as a commercial structure fire shortly after 4 p.m. at 7105 N.E. 40th Ave. after a car on top of an auto lift caught fire, the fire department said. Workers tried to put the fire out themselves but were pushed out by smoke.

The shop’s fire sprinkler system activated, keeping the fire in check until it could be extinguished by arriving firefighters. the department said.

No firefighters were injured, but one occupant of the business suffered minor burns to one of his hands. He declined medical treatment.

The fire is under investigation by the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Other - Retail, Retail

Battle Creek, MI – Fire sprinkler system contained building fire at tile & carpet shop; No injuries reported

Around 1 p.m. today, the Battle Creek Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at Michigan Tile & Carpet at 99 E. Columbia Avenue.

While the building was partially occupied on arrival, occupants were able to exit the building, resulting in no injuries of fatalities.

Upon arrival, one of the rescue cars extended a handline to extinguish the contained fire in the warehouse area. The fire suppression system worked by containing the fire for crews to finish extinguishing.

Loss was minimized due to the multitude of units who arrived on scene. It is estimated by BCPD that Michigan Tile & Carpet experienced a loss of around $45,000 in property and contents damage combined.

Other - Retail, Retail

La Crosee, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at ACE Hardware; No injuries reported

The cause of a fire at the ACE Hardware Distribution Center on French Island is under investigation.

The La Crosse Fire Department was called to the center at 500 Fanta Reed Place shortly before 2 p.m.

Light smoke was showing when crews arrived. Given the size of the building, a total of eight trucks with crews were eventually called to the scene.

According to Captain Lance Tryggestad, three crews went inside to find the location of the fire. No employees were on the scene when the fire occurred.

The fire was tracked down in the warehouse. It was being actively suppressed by a fire sprinkler system. Fire crews were able to get control of the fire and ultimately extinguish it and turn off the sprinkler system.

No injuries were reported.

Other - Retail, Retail

West Union, OH – Fire contained to one wall in women’s restroom thanks to fire sprinklers

In the morning hours of Thursday, Feb. 6, an alarm was sounded at the site of the old Prather’s IGA store and the future site Adams County Workforce & Development Center. A small fire was reported but no significant damage was done to the structure.

According to reports sent to The Defender, the fire was contained to just one wall in the women’s bathroom, and it was believed to have been caused by a shirt in the bathroom’s exhaust fan. Fortunately, the sprinkler head was an estimated foot from the exhaust fan and helped quickly extinguish the small fire. The wall that was damaged was scheduled for demolition in the future remodeling of the site to become the training center and there was no damage to the roof or trusses.

According to Holly Johnson, Director of the Adams County Economic Development office, the small fire “will not impede progress” in the work on the new Training Center.

Johnson continued, “We cannot thank Officer Jason Hanson of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Brown of the West Union Police Department for their early detection of the alarm, plus all of the other law enforcement agencies and personnel that responded to the incident. West Union Life Squad personnel and the West Union Fire Department were there in full force, also assisted by the Manchester Fire Department.

Other - Retail, Retail

Orland Park, IL – Sprinkler system keeps fire in check at pet store, saving the animals

Officials in Orland Park believe a sprinkler system helped save a group of critters from a fire that broke out at a pet store Monday in the southwest suburb.

Crews responded about 8:15 p.m. to reports of a fire at Chicago Fish and Coral Company, 14412 John Humphrey Drive, according to Ray Hanania, spokesman for the Orland Fire Protection District.

The sprinkler system was activated soon after the blaze broke out, and firefighters extinguished the small fire when they arrived, Hanania said. Smoke was removed from inside the store with the help of additional crews.

The store’s owner, Brian Potter, said he was initially worried the fire would cause “total devastation.” However, the animals were all safe and in good condition.

“We had a fire at the store there was no loss of life for any animals it was very minor and contained we have a lot of cleanup to do we just wanted everybody to know all the animals are safe!,” a post on the store’s Facebook page said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the quick activation of the sprinkler system helped keep the blaze in check, Hanania said.

Potter said the fire stemmed from a chiller near a fish tank. The shop was closed Tuesday and is expected to open Wednesday.

Other - Retail, Retail

Starkville, MS – Fire caused by bathroom exhaust fan at local GameStop contained by fire sprinklers

GameStop on Highway 12 in Starkville was shut down after firefighters battled a fire in the back of the building.

In a Facebook post, firefighters said the structure fire broke out early Tuesday morning.

The fire alarm and fire sprinkler system activation alerted the fire department.

Firefighters who responded to the scene said they were able to contain the fire and keep damage to a minimum because the “fire codes and safety building feature worked perfectly.”

Investigators said the cause of the fire was a ceiling bathroom exhaust fan.

The post read, “This could have had a completely different ending it if were not for the fire sprinkler system and fire alarm system all working just like designed.”

Other - Retail, Retail

San Luis Obispo, CA – Fire sprinklers contain fire at PetSmart to one room; No injuries reported

Firefighters responded to a fire at PetSmart off Froom Ranch Way in San Luis Obispo just after 5:10 a.m. Sunday.

Fire officials say an employee of PetSmart called the department after getting to work and seeing flames. No other occupants were inside the building at the time of the fire.

The blaze was contained to one room, but the building was filled with smoke, and water from the sprinkler system.

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire within 10 minutes without injuries.

Officials with San Luis Obispo City Fire say they were no pet casualties. However, some of the store’s product was damaged.

Firefighters were able to ventilate the building, but there will be significant clean up.

PetSmart employees say they’re hoping to have the store open by 5 p.m. Sunday.

Officials say this could have been an electrical fire, but the fire marshal is still investigating.