Category Archives: Retail

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Houston, TX – Suspected arson fire at grocery store extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office needs your help finding an arson suspect so bold, he or she set a store on fire in the middle of the afternoon.

New video shows a mystery person set multiple small fires along the back wall of the 99 Cents Only store on SH-249 near Bammel North Houston Road.

Authorities said a sprinkler head activated and put out the flames. There were no injuries.

If you have any information on the suspect, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. You can also submit an anonymous tip at www.Crime-Stoppers.org.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Lebanon, OR – Sprinkler system keeps fire at Walmart from growing; No injuries reported

LEBANON, Ore. — A hazmat team responded to the Walmart Supercenter on Santiam Highway in Lebanon Tuesday after a fire started in the pool chemical area.

Fire Chief Gordon Sletmoe of the Lebanon Fire District said the fire started at about 12:45 p.m. The building was evacuated, and the sprinkler system activated. Officials said the fire is out, but the building was full of smoke for a while after the incident.

Law enforcement shut down a 300 foot radius around the store and some nearby businesses were also evacuated. A couple of city streets were closed to protect citizens from the toxic smoke.

“There were no injuries,” Sletmoe said. “Walmart did a great job of evacuating people. If there is a fire in a commercial business and somebody tells you to leave, you should leave like the customers here did.”

Crews used a thermal imaging camera to locate the fire through the smoke, and the sprinkler system kept the fire from growing. Officials said multiple types of chemicals were stored in the aisle the fire started in. Using a hose line, crews put out the fire.

Sletmoe said the hazmat team was called in to determine which chemicals were involved in the fire. Officials said it took an hour to clear the smoke to start an investigation.

The Lebanon Fire District, Albany Fire Department and Sweet Home Fire Department brought eleven apparatus and about 40 personnel to the scene. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. If you have information, contact the Lebanon Fire District or the Lebanon Police Department.

No injuries were reported.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Tracy, CA – Automatic sprinkler system contains fire originating in storage area for collapsed cardboard boxes

Two police officers caught a fire that was just beginning behind a Tracy Boulevard grocery store in time for firefighters to arrive and keep the flames from spreading inside.

The officers with the Tracy Police Department were looking for a group of young men who were reportedly trying to break into cars at a nearby business when they spotted smoke behind La Plaza Market at 3225 N. Tracy Blvd. They drove behind the shopping center, spotted flames coming from a storage area at the back of the store and called in the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority.

According to Battalion Chief Scott Arganbright, four Tracy fire engines and a ladder truck were employed to control and extinguish the fire. He said an automatic sprinkler system on the loading dock of the grocery store activated and helped contain the flames.

The fire began in an area where collapsed cardboard boxes were stored. Arganbright said firefighters in the store and on the roof confirmed that no flames made it inside. The store did have light smoke damage and fire crews had the power to the complex shut off while they were working to prevent water from creating a short or electrocuting someone.

Investigators are looking into whether the fire was intentionally set.

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

1 Comment

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.