Other - Retail, Retail Bedford, TX – Arson fire at convenience store put out by sprinkler system October 17, 2016 viking210 Bedford police want to find the man who tried to set a convenience store clerk on fire who possibly ended up burning himself. Police say the robber walked into a Bedford store Thursday night, took money from the clerk and set the place on fire, pouring some kind of flammable liquid in the store and on the clerk. “The guy got the money out of the register and got it from Harry,” Quick Track Manager Sharron Meeks. Police say the man had a brown hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. His only weapon appeared to be a bottle wrapped in a red rag and filled with what the store thinks was gasoline. “Your heart sinks because you think how can someone be so cruel to not value life enough that they would do something like that to another human being?” said Meeks. The video shows the man walk into the store. He poured the liquid on the counter and then went to the cash register where the clerk gave him money. The suspect then poured the liquid behind the counter and on the clerk. “Wanted the money of the cash register, and he gave it to him, Meeks said. It was a close call for the clerk. People with the company say the sprinkler system put out the fire and probably saved the clerk from being burned. Police believe the suspect slipped and fell as he ran out and may have burn injuries to his hands, arms and upper chest. “You see robberies in this business a lot, but this is the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” Meeks said. “The scariest.”
Other - Retail, Retail Fairbanks, AK – Fire at Michaels craft store suppressed by sprinkler system September 6, 2016 viking210 If you drove by the Michaels arts and crafts store in the Bentley Mall this (Tue) morning, not much looked out of the ordinary. But if you tried to go in, you found the store closed, with a sign on the door saying there had been a fire in the business. Fairbanks Firefighters got the call at 6-30 Monday evening, and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the building, and a fire at the end of one of the aisles. The origin and cause of the fire are currently under investigation by the Fairbanks Fire Marshals. Kyle Green, FFD Deputy Fire Marshal, told us “We arrived on scene to find the building full of smoke. The store and the mall were evacuated. Crews made entry and found a fire in the store that was being suppressed by the sprinkler system pretty well. We had to finish extinguishing it. We did so and then we spent quite a bit of time ejecting smoke from the building and mitigating further damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Michaels is busy right now getting in touch with their folks to come up and assess what we’re looking at for damage.”
Other - Retail, Retail Marston Mills, MA – Sprinkler system holds fire in check at auto restoration business August 30, 2016 viking210 Fire broke out in a strip mall building in Marstons Mills shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday. Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills firefighters responded to an alarm activation at 40 Industrial Road and discovered the fire. Only one business was open and everyone there safely evacuated. A sprinkler system kept the fire in check and crews quickly got it under control. Firefighters used a metal-cutting saw to gain entry to the unit. A sign identified the business as Euro-Restoration, a car repair company. Mutual aid from Cotuit and West Barnstable assisted at the scene.
Other - Retail, Retail Camdenton, MO – Bathroom fire at consignment store controlled by sprinkler system August 25, 2016 viking210 Firefighters made entry into Bear Market to find a fire burning in the bathroom in the center of the business which was being controlled by the building’s fire sprinkler system. The Camdenton business suffered minor smoke damage as a result of the fire Sunday night. According to a press release from the Camdenton Fire Department, the CFD responded to a fire alarm at 625 West US Highway 54 at Camdenton Post Office and Bear Market at 8:26 p.m. Aug. 21. A water flow alarm was also sounding at Bear Market Consignment Store. Camdenton Fire Department arrived to find significant smoke inside Bear Market. The incident was upgraded to a working fire and Mid County Fire Protection District responded to the scene to assist. Firefighters made entry into Bear Market to find a fire burning in the bathroom in the center of the business which was being controlled by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Firefighters checked for fire extension and found there was no fire extension, according to the press release, and the fire sprinkler system was shut off. The fire damage was contained to the ceiling area above the bathroom. The center section of Bear Market around the bathroom suffered minor water damage. All of Bear Market suffered minor smoke damage. Damage was contained to Bear Market. Investigation revealed that the fire originated in the ceiling of the bathroom in the area of the ventilation fan and light fixture, according to the CFD. The Camdenton Fire Department was also assisted on scene by the Camdenton Police Department, Camden County Ambulance District / Mercy Ambulance, Camden County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Laclede Electric. Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District moved an engine and personnel to Mid County Fire Protection District Station #2 for coverage. Bear Market commented on their Facebook page, “Tonight August 21, 2016 our store has survived a small fire above the out house!! We will be closed until the fire Marshal approves everything. Restroom will be closed for a few weeks probably. Thanks for your patience.” No further posts have been made to indicate they have reopened yet.
Other - Retail, Retail Ashburn, VA – Sprinkler system limits damage in tanning salon fire August 18, 2016 viking210 An accidental fire damaged a Palm Beach Tan in Broadland’s on Friday, Aug. 12. The total damages could have been much greater if not for the building’s automatic sprinkler system, Firefighter Laura Rinehart, Public Information Officer, noted in a Loudoun County Fire & Rescue Dept. announcement. Fire and rescue units responded to a structure fire the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 12 at Broadlands Center Plaza in Ashburn. Fire and rescue crews from Moorefield, Ashburn, Lansdowne, Brambleton and Leesburg responded to the incident. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered visible fire and smoke conditions from the front of the business. The fire was held in check by the sprinkler system and was quickly extinguished by fire department personnel.
Other - Retail, Retail Elkins, WV – Sprinkler system keeps fire in retail building from spreading August 17, 2016 viking210 A fire in Elkins Thursday morning damaged the Dollar Store and a dance studio, two separate floors of a three story building. Several agencies responded to the fire at the old G.C. Murphy building. An official from the Elkins Fire Department tells 5 News that a refrigerator on the third floor short-circuited, sparking the fire. The sprinkler system had responded effectively, but left considerable water damage. No one was injured. The Elkins Fire Department estimates that the damages could reach up to $25,000.
Other - Retail, Retail Tyler, TX – Suspicious fire at Dollar Tree store extinguished by sprinkler system July 25, 2016 viking210 The Tyler Fire Department investigated a fire at the Dollar Tree, 3825 Texas Highway 64, on Friday evening that they described as suspicious in nature. Tyler Fire Department Investigator Tony Gumber said the sprinkler system at the store extinguished the fire, but not before an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 worth of merchandise was damaged. There were no injuries reported. According to Tyler Police Sgt. Adam Colby no arrests had been made in connection with the fire as of Friday evening. Signs on the doors of the store indicated Friday that the store would be closed until further notice.
Other - Retail, Retail Gaylord, MI – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in containing fire at fireworks store July 7, 2016 viking210 Fire crews in Otsego County had to rush to save a fireworks store after a fire ignited overnight. The Otsego County Fire Department says the fire started just before midnight in Gaylord. The Otsego County fire chief says if they didn’t have a sprinkler system, the result could have been much different. Crews were able to contain the fire in about a half an hour Tuesday night.
Other - Retail, Retail West Linn, OR – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at nail salon; Neighboring business spared April 24, 2016 viking210 Several fire crews responded to a 2 alarm fire at the West Linn Central Village shopping complex at 8:45 a.m. Friday. The fire started at Aqua Nails Bar, a salon that is not yet open. Sprinkler systems extinguished the flames and fire crews called the second alarm to help clear out a large amount of smoke. Neighboring businesses evacuated and had minor smoke damage. There were no injuries. A Tualitin Valley Fire and Rescue investigator is still looking for a cause for the fire.
Other - Retail, Retail Iowa City, IA – Early morning laundromat fire suppressed by sprinkler system April 15, 2016 viking210 The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at Laundromania, 1848 Lower Muscatine Road, at 4:55 a.m. Tuesday. Crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the building and found fire coming from a bank of commercial dryers at the rear of the laundromat. Firefighters put out the fire in the dryers and made sure the fire had not spread to the rest of the building, according to a news release. The fire department credited the building’s sprinkler system for suppressing the fire before their arrival. Other businesses in the building sustained mild smoke damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
