Category Archives: Other – Retail

Other - Retail, Retail

Canton, MI – Sprinkler system puts out fire due to a recliner chair catching on fire

It’s back to business for the Art Van Furniture’s Canton location, which kept its doors shut over the weekend because of a small fire.

The Ford Road doors reopened today after two days of cleanup work.

Store personnel declined comment. They learned Saturday morning a recliner with electrical components had combusted.

Fire Chief Chris Stoecklein said firefighters were dispatched to an alarm at the store around 5 a.m. Saturday

Upon arrival, they saw some light smoke inside the building. They made a forced entry and discovered a sprinkler system had put out the fire.

They worked on mitigating the smoke damage and turning off the sprinkler system.

Stoecklein said the small blaze was probably an electrical fire, causing about $30,000 in damage to the recliner and its surroundings.

Art Van’s Canton store opened in early 2018. It was the first completely new store the furniture business built in 20 years.

Other - Retail, Retail

Spring, TX – Overnight fire at Home Depot contained by sprinkler system

The Spring Fire Department was dispatched to the Home Depot in the 20100 block of Interstate 45, around 5:00 AM, Saturday morning.

When firefighters arrived they found several shelving units of merchandise on fire in the garden center.

HCFMO Investigators say that a fire sprinkler head was activated, containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Farmers Branch, TX – (no media coverage) – Sprinkler system activated for structure fire at auto repair shop

*** No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported *** Occupancy is an auto repair shop.  Fire occurred at 7:37 pm on 2/19/2019.  Quint 133 was dispatched for an automatic fire alarm at the location.  Upon arrival, Quint 133 entered the facility, which was closed for the day, and observed light smoke.  Quint 133 Captain upgraded to a structure fire while they investigated.  Quint 133 crew heard the sound of a sprinkler head activation.  Upon further investigation, they observed a burned tool cart adjacent to a brand new F250 Ford Truck on a lift.  One sprinkler head activated above the tool cart.  Sprinkler system was shut off and an Investigator was requested.  Investigator examined the 2’x 3’ burned tool cart with a variety of tools and a damaged curb guard on the F250 Ford Truck.  No electricity was supplied to the cart.  The only source of ignition was energized lithium batteries for tools.  The  cause of the fire was accidental.  Total content loss was estimated at $800.  No structural damage.

Other - Retail, Retail

Richfield, WI – Fire at Cabela’s extinguished by sprinkler system

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Firefighters on Thursday night, Feb. 21 responded to the scene of a fire at Cabela’s in the Village of Richfield. The call came in around 11:15 p.m.

Officials say the fire originated in an arcade game on the second floor — and was extinguished by the sprinkler system. The fire appeared to be electrical.

It was estimated by fire personnel that approximately 3,000 gallons of water was expelled from the sprinkler system.

The incident remains under investigation, and no one was injured as a result the fire.

Other - Retail, Retail

Sparks, NV – Fire at CVS Pharmacy extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Sparks Fire Department has extinguished a fire at the CVS Pharmacy at Oddie and El Rancho.

Firefighters were called shortly before 1PM February 21, 2019 and found the fire in and around the HVAC system; it had been partially extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Fire crews finished putting the fire out with their hose.

No one was hurt. The cause has not been determined.

Sparks Fire says the store is closed pending repairs to the sprinkler system and roof.

With 24 firefighters on scene, Sparks Fire got help from Truckee Meadows Fire and Reno Fire to cover the city until crews were released from the incident.

Other - Retail, Retail

Peoria Heights, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at bakery

After sanding and finishing a set of stairs at Trefzger’s Bakery, owners Jeff and Martha Huebner tossed their oil-stained socks into a trash can and went home Sunday afternoon.

Hours later, the socks burst aflame, sparking a fire that caused as much as $250,000 in losses at the business, 4416 N. Prospect Road.

“The socks just started on fire by spontaneous combustion,” Jeff Huebner said. “It was just one of those weird things that we never would have imagined would happen.”

In their stocking feet Sunday afternoon, he and his wife used linseed oil to finish a set of worn stairs on the first floor of the two-story structure. When the job was done, they realized their socks were ruined.

“We just tossed them into the garbage and didn’t think anything of it,” he said.

But late Sunday, with the building unoccupied, the oily socks ignited inside the otherwise empty plastic can, said Peoria Heights Fire Chief Greg Walters. He said that oils like linseed oil, if compressed — such as within a clump of cloth materials, like socks — will heat up and catch the cloth on fire.

That is what occurred inside the Trefzger’s trash can, which melted next to cake-preparation table. A bag inside the can burned and melted, with embers falling onto cardboard boxes under the table. The boxes then caught fire, triggering a fire alarm and Trefzger’s sprinkler system just before 11:30 p.m.

As firefighters responded, Peoria Heights police spotted flames on the first floor of the building. Firefighters arrived to find the fire at the prep table, Walters said.

A crew stretched water lines inside to extinguish the fire, containing the fire damage to that area. The sprinkler system also helped slow the spread of the fire, Walters said. Assisting were firefighters from Peoria, West Peoria and Chillicothe, while Limestone Township firefighters provided back-up coverage.

Walters said that the structure sustained no damage from the actual fire. However, smoke and water damage is extensive, he said. The total loss — including cleanup, plus potential lost revenue and wages — is estimated between $100,000 and $250,000, Walters said.

After contacting his insurer, Jeff Huebner said the business will be closed for a couple of days while a cleanup service — already on the scene Monday morning — put the place back in working order. At the end of the cleanup, the Peoria City/County Health Department will examine the business to clear it for operations again.

On Oct. 13, 2016, Trefzger’s Bakery completed its nine-block move north on Prospect Road and opened for business inside a renovated, 121-year-old former bicycle factory.

Other - Retail, Retail

Mission, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at tire store

Wednesday night’s fire inside the Mission Canadian Tire store is now considered to be suspicious.

According to a press release, the Mission RCMP have opened an active investigation.

Police are seeking any witnesses to the fire and asking them to come forward.

The release asks that if anyone was in the area of Canadian Tire, on London Ave., between 6-7 p.m. during the time of the fire and has dash cam footage, they should forward it to the Mission RCMP Detachment.

Anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area during the time of the fire are also urged to come forward with information.

The fire broke out inside the Canadian Tire store at about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 30.

Mission Fire Rescue Service was called and quickly responded.

“Crews, when they arrived on scene, found smoke right to the floor, inside the structure,” said Mission fire chief Dale Unrau.

Firefighters located the blaze “within the racking.” It has been “mostly put out” by the in-building sprinkler system, explained Unrau.

“Firefighters completed extinguishing the fire and at this point in time are just ventilating the structure,” Unrau said on Wednesday night.

There were no injuries to report as staff and customers exited the store safely. No firefighters were injured during the blaze.

Unrau said there is no damage to the structure itself but the clean up will take time.

“The sprinkler system did a great job and extinguished the fire, but there’s lots of water throughout the store and smoke throughout the store as well, so I’m sure the building will be out of service for an extended period of time.”

Several hours later, at about 2 a.m. Thursday morning, firefighters were called out to the store again as a second fire began to burn.

“We’re not quite sure why we had another fire break out in there, but when we left after the first one, our fire investigators had already completed their investigation in the initial fire area and our crews that were ventilating the structure had gone through and done a final check with a thermal camera and everything was cold,” said Unrau.

He called it a mystery and noted that the Mission RCMP were on scene throughout the night, watching the structure until the morning when the police investigation team arrived.

Unrau said the fire is “definitely suspicious.”

“I have a big team of investigators digging through the rubble as we speak.”

Other - Retail, Retail

Winchester, NH – Sprinkler system activated at fire in fireworks store

A 75-year-old Winchester man faces seven charges, including four felonies, after state and local law enforcement officials said the wanton discharge of his shotgun set off a massive fire in September at a nearby fireworks store that caused up to $1 million in damages.

Joseph E. Champagne was released on bail.

He will be arraigned Jan. 3 in the 8th Circuit Court Keene District Division on felony charges of reckless conduct, criminal mischief and two counts of falsifying physical evidence, officials said.

Champagne also was charged with theft by unauthorized taking, false swearing and unauthorized use of a firearm.

The arrest follows a joint investigation of State Fire Marshal Paul Parisi’s office and the Winchester Fire and Police departments into the Sept. 24 fire at Stateline Fireworks at 151 Keene Road in Winchester.

According to store executives, Champagne was working part time as a groundskeeper for the owner’s family at the time of the fire.

The fireworks store was open at the time of the fire and was staffed by two employees who were working outside.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries but the blaze caused between $600,000 and $1 million in damages, Parisi said. Store executives put the damage at about $700,000.

All of the fire sprinkler heads in the business’s showroom worked and there was a speedy local public safety response, which saved the building and kept the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

Winchester Fire Chief Barry Kellom and Winchester Police Lt. Mike Tollett said the probe confirmed that Champagne had discharged his 12-gauge slug-style shotgun and that the slug traveled through the exterior wall of nearby 156 Keene Road and traveled across Route 10 and into the Stateline Fireworks store — immediately setting off the fireworks stored inside.

Parisi said the chain-reaction explosions that ensued rendered the 3,300-square-foot retail sales floor untenable for human life.

Executives with the Stateline Fireworks business have told state officials they hope to reopen next March.

Parisi and Tollett said the discharged shell could have struck a passing driver on Route 10.

Other - Retail, Retail

Buford, GA – Sprinkler system extinguishes business fire caused by neon light display

A Buford business caught fire Tuesday morning. The culprit? A neon light display, Gwinnett fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to Queen of Hearts Antiques and Interiors, located at the 4100 block of Buford Drive after receiving a call at 9:39 a.m., according to Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge, a spokesman for the fire department.

Rutledge said that the business manager reported hearing a loud popping sound and smoke inside the building before calling 911.

“Firefighters arrived to find moderate smoke inside the large retail structure and a smoldering fire in the back-right corner,” Rutledge said. “The fire was being controlled by the sprinkler suppression system and was quickly extinguished by first-due crews with water-cans.

Rutledge said the cause of the fire is believed to be electrical and minor fire damage was sustained in the store.

Other - Retail, Retail

Jackson Hole, WY – Arson fire at gas station limited by working sprinkler system

Someone started a fire at the West Broadway Phillips 66 gas station early Wednesday morning, and police need help identifying a man who was caught on surveillance video.  The fire triggered the gas station’s sprinkler system, so little damage was caused.  Police said it happened after 3 a.m. just outside the business’ front door, where a pallet of firewood sits.  In the video, the man can be seen walking back and forth near the entryway.

He appears to be in his mid-20s with long, brown hair. He was riding a black mountain bike, police said.  Police and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS responded, but the sprinklers took care of the flames.  “The only property damage the gas station received was a pallet of firewood, but the fire could have been more severe if a sprinkler system wasn’t located above the pallet,” said Detective Jason Figueroa. “The subject was out of camera view for a few minutes before leaving. He was the only person to be seen at the gas station before the police and fire department arrived to put out the fire.”

Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Chief Brady Hansen said arson calls aren’t typical in Jackson.  “In our history, it has occurred, but it is not a common issue,” he said  If you recognize the man or have information about the fire, you’re asked to call the Jackson Police Department at 733-1430 and ask for Detective Figueroa.