Category Archives: Retail

Retail, Shopping Mall

Elyria, OH – Sprinkler system contains storage area fire at shopping mall

Elyria firefighters extinguished a fire May 7 that damaged a storage area at a Midway Mall store in Elyria.

Fire crews responded at 8:47 a.m. to Finish Line, 4439 Midway Mall, for a fire that had broken out in the business’ storage area on the northern side of the mall, according to Elyria assistant fire Chief Jamison Norris.

Norris said the business’ sprinkler system was able to contain the fire to the storage area and the blaze was put out by the department using a hose line.

The estimated damage is $10,000 to the building portion and $50,000 for merchandise.

“The business is currently closed,” Norris said. “They need to reset the sprinkler system, repair the electrical damage, repair damage done to the storage area itself and decide how they want to restore what was damaged by smoke.

“So it all depends on how the company wants to handle it.”

Firefighters cleared the area by 10:35 a.m., Norris said.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Studio City, CA – Fire that started after woman crashed car into dealership is contained with help from sprinkler system

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A woman in her 20s was taken into custody after crashing her car into the glass window of the Century West BMW dealership around 2:00 a.m. the Los Angeles Police Department noted on Wednesday, April 24. The woman was taken into custody by authorities on suspicion of driving under the influence at the time of the crash. Surveillance video captured in incident. The red four-door Subaru stopped half way inside the building before catching fire and activating the sprinkler system. The woman can be seen getting out of the vehicle and walking away. There were no reports of any serious injuries during the incident. The identity of the driver has not been disclosed to the public. The Los Angeles Fire Department, responded to the scene and extinguished the fire on Lankershim Boulevard and Whipple Street. BMW Manager Joe Deitrick arrived to the scene where two vehicles were reported damaged inside the newly remodeled showroom floor including a BMW i8 worth at least $150,000.

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.

Retail

Scottsdale, AZ – Man sets fire to his own business; Sprinkler system helps extinguish blaze and protect neighboring businesses

A 75-year-old Scottsdale man was arrested Sunday after a fire investigation determined he set his own business on fire earlier this month, according to police. James Richard Waller is being charged with arson of an occupied structure and criminal damage for his involvement in the April 14 fire near Pima and Pinnacle Peak roads. The fire was quickly put out by fire personnel and the building’s sprinkler system. Police say in addition to the fire and related damage to High Desert Rugs and Furnishings, several other nearby businesses and vehicles had been vandalized with spray paint.

All of the damage appeared to be related and investigators quickly deemed the fire was suspicious. During the investigation, evidence indicated Waller, the owner of High Desert Rugs and Home Furnishings, was responsible for both the spray paint and starting the fire inside his own business.

“Obviously, there was something wrong, and it makes you feel bad that it had to be that way,” said Denise Barrett, owner of a nearby business called Sonny and Chair. She said Waller had always seemed like a friendly person.

“I think he’s come in once or twice to get food to go,” said Tristen Haasch, a server at Raven Gastropub, which is also nearby. “Unfortunately, we were affected by graffiti; it covered our menu sides in the front, and our wall, the entrances.” Waller was arrested and released pending felony charges through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.

Department Store, Retail

Bellevue, WI – Fire outside Home Depot activated sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Bellevue Fire and Rescue says a burning cigarette butt receptacle and a trash receptacle lead to a small fire outside the Home Depot at 2595 Eaton Road on Wednesday just before midnight. 

Crews say the fire set off the sprinkler system outside the building. The store was not open at the time, but a cleaning crew was inside. Nobody was injured. 

Firefighters quickly put out the fire and shut off the sprinkler system. 

Besides a broken window, the building was not damaged. The heat however did damage some outdoor furniture outside the store. 

Crews say the fire started in the cigarette butt receptacle outside of the entrance door. 

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.”

Retail, Shopping Mall

Blasdell, NY – Fire in retail storage room at shopping mall is put out by sprinkler system

The McKinley Mall will not open until noon Thursday due to a fire in the storage room in the New York & Co. store. No one was hurt in the fire, according to Town of Hamburg Emergency Services Manager Sean Crotty. New York & Co. will be closed indefinitely; other nearby stores were affected, Crotty said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The call from mall security of smoke at New York & Co. came in at 8:24 a.m., Crotty said. He said crews located the fire in the storage room and “experienced heavy smoke conditions.“

Several fire companies responded to a fire in the New York & Co. store at the McKinley Mall. (Keith McShea/Buffalo News). Crotty said flames and “fire conditions” were extinguished by the sprinkler system. Crews were able to get everyone out of the mall safely, he said. “Initially we had some mallwalkers that were walking around and we had some challenge with getting them to evacuate the building,” he said, “but we did get everybody out of the mall safely.“

Retail

Toms River, NJ – Compactor fire at store is put out with help from sprinkler system

Crews worked to extinguisher a compactor fire at the Stop & Shop on Route 37 East on Friday. Toms River Fire Inspector Kevin Esposito told Jersey Shore Online a lingering smell of smoke remains in the store. No damage to the store and no injuries have been reported. The store had to be shut down for a time because a sprinkler head activated by the compactor. However, the store should be reopened shortly, Esposito said. He said fire companies from Toms River, Silverton and East Dover responded. No cause has been determined as of yet.