Category Archives: Other – Retail

Other - Retail, Other Business

Plainfield, IL – (No Media Coverage) Bathroom fire at auto repair business extinguished by single sprinkler; Business remains open

** No Media Coverage – Fire Dept Reported **
“On 4-3-18 at 12:21 pm the Plainfield Fire Protection District responded to an alarm at the Merlin Muffler Shop, 14120 S. Route 30 in Plainfield, IL. Fireworks had started a fire within a restroom at this business and 1 fire sprinkler head extinguished the fire. It is estimated that $350,000 was saved due to the fire sprinkler system extinguishing the fire and making it possible for the business to remain open.  “The fire sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading and causing extensive damage to the building and its contents as well as preventing anyone from getting injured by the fire. The business was able to open the same day.”

Other - Retail, Retail

Piqua, OH – Sprinkler system quickly contains mechanical fire at welding product company

A Thursday afternoon fire at Hobart Brothers was quickly contained thanks to a sprinkler system and quick work by firefighters.

A “rec room fire” was reported at the Hobart Brothers business on Industry Park Drive around 2 p.m. Piqua Fire Department responded along with mutual aide from Covington Fire Department and Troy Fire Department.

All employees were evacuated from the building.

Assistant Piqua Fire Chief Jon Stevens said that the fire was in an industrial compressor unit in a mechanical room. Stevens said the sprinkler system kicked in and helped to confine the fire to the immediate area around the compressor unit but a cover over the unit kept the sprinklers from being able to fully extinguish the blaze.

Piqua and Covington firefighters entered the building and were able to get to the flames and finish the job of putting out the flames.

Damage was contained to the mechanical room area, according to Stevens, who estimated the damage at around $70,000.

There were no injuries reported and employees were able to immediately return to work as firefighters cleared the scene approximately 90 minutes after arriving.

Fletcher Fire Department responded as mutual aide and manned the Piqua Fire Station until Piqua units cleared the fire scene.

Other - Retail, Retail

Belmont, MA – Sprinkler system controls fire affecting three businesses

A building’s sprinkler system did its job preventing a fire from spreading and allowed the Belmont Fire Department to extinguish a one-alarm blaze that damaged three businesses in Cushing Square around 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14.

A fire alarm was activated at 8:23 p.m. at 448 Common St. in what is called The Spirited Gourmet Building, said Belmont Fire Chief David L. Frizzell at the scene. When fire equipment arrived two minutes later, the fire control panel indicated a blaze in Pilgrim Shoe Repair.

Upon gaining access, crews discovered the store full of smoke and small fire in the back corner of the operation.

“The sprinkler’s worked controlling the fire long enough for our personnel to knock it down,” said Frizzell. Fire crews spent nearly two hours searching for “hot spots” in the walls and ceiling. Besides the Pilgrim, water damage was reported in The Spirited Gourmet and the Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Other - Retail, Other Business

Rochester, MN – Sprinkler system saves laundry business from further fire damage; Business remains open

Firefighters responded to flames at Mega Coin Laundry last Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say the fire began in a dryer and after the clothes were removed from the machine, the smoke set off the sprinkler system. Those with the Rochester Fire Department say they were able to shut down the sprinkler system after forcing entry on a door, but Mega Coin and two other businesses experienced an estimated $10,000 in water damage to floor and carpeting. No one was injured, and officials say Mega Coin Laundry will be able to remain open.

Other - Retail, Retail

Rochester, MN – Single sprinkler extinguishes fire at beauty salon; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system saved an area business from going up in flames. The Rochester Fire Department responded to Sola Salon just before 6:00 p.m. Monday after for an automatic fire alarm. When crews arrived they found an activated sprinkler head had extinguished the fire. From there, crews ensured the fire was out, and ventilated the smoke out of the building. No one was injured. The business is looking at $10,000 for clean-up. The cause is under investigation.

Other - Retail, Retail

Jefferson City, MO – No one injured after commercial structure fire doused by sprinkler system

Jefferson City firefighters responded Tuesday night to fire in a commercial building on West Truman Boulevard.

The assistant fire chief says that by the time the firefighters arrived, all employees were accounted for, and there were no injuries.

A small fire was still burning inside when firefighters got there but, fortunately, the building’s fire sprinkler system kicked in and was able to control the flames, which were completely extinguished within about 10 minutes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other - Retail

Vancouver, WA – Overnight fire at cabinet business put out with help from sprinkler system

A fire damaged a business in Vancouver Tuesday morning.  Crews responded to Dreamline Cabinets in the 2700 block of Northeast Andersen Road just before 1:30 a.m.  The sprinkler system helped put the fire out before firefighters arrived.  Firefighters did need to cut some holes in the roof at the business next door to help vent the smoke.  No one was hurt and it’s not clear yet what started the fire.

Other - Retail, Retail

Willingboro, NJ – Arson fire at butcher shop contained by sprinkler system

A surveillance video of a pair who sprayed what appeared to be an accelerant and lit a match to start a fire in a store was posted on social media Tuesday by police.  This video shows an alleged arson at The Meat Stop in Country Club Plaza in the 300 block of Beverly Rancocas Road on Aug. 26. The incident occurred after the front door window of the store was smashed and the two entered at 5 a.m., lit the fire and quickly left, Lt. Christopher Vetter said.

A store sprinkler system contained the fire and which was largely out by the time firefighters arrived, police said. The store, and some adjacent businesses sustained “significant” damage, Vetter said. The Meat Shop has not yet reopened.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Willingboro police at 609-877-3001 or the Citizen Tip Hotline at 609-877-6958.

Other - Retail, Retail

Gilroy, CA – Sprinkler system helps protect Salvation Army store from fire set by thieves

A 2-alarm fire at a Salvation Army facility in Gilroy destroyed $5,000 worth of donations.

Monday’s 2 a.m. blaze is being investigated as suspicious by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and Gilroy Police Department.

Flames spread through a trailer filled with donations.

Workers at the Salvation Army said the trailer has been broken into several times before at night, and the thieves use candles to light their way through darkness.

Workers suspect a thief’s candle sparked the fire.

The Gilroy Fire Department wrote on Facebook, “Crews responded to the Salvation Army store on Camino Arroyo, where they found a 53 (foot) trailer on fire up against the loading dock. The fire extended into the building but was held in check by the sprinkler system.”

Other - Retail, Retail

Palo Alto, CA – Suspicious fire at furniture store minimized with help from sprinkler system

Palo Alto firefighters doused what appeared to be a “suspicious” fire at the rear of a furniture store to the Town & Country Village this morning, fire officials said.  Crews reported to the blaze at the rear of Cisco Home at 855 El Camino Real shortly after 7 a.m., Deputy Fire Chief Catherine Capriles said.

The fire “appears to be suspicious,” according to Battalion Chief Chris Woodard. An initial report indicated the fire was inside CVS Pharmacy, which is adjacent to Cisco, but Capriles later clarified that it was inside a storage room at the furniture store.

Crews had to force their way inside the store that was locked up at the time, and discovered the blaze in a storage room.  A sprinkler system was activated once they arrived and extinguished the fire, Capriles said.  The incident was upgraded to a second-alarm response that brought additional units to the scene, but crews later determined the fire was under control.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.  Access to the shopping center was limited while crews work to extinguish the fire, police said in a tweet.  At about 8:40 a.m., crews were cleaning up in the area where traffic was “no longer significantly impacted,” police tweeted.  Crews left the scene around 9 a.m., Capriles said.

Bob Wenzlau was in the area around 9 a.m. and said there appeared to be no apparent structural damage from the fire, which appeared to damage property at Cisco Home.  A damage estimate for the fire wasn’t available this morning.