Category Archives: Retail

Retail, Shopping Mall

Charlottetown, PE, Canada – Sprinkler system activated after sauna prompts evacuation in shopping mall; No injuries reported

The Charlottetown Mall will be re-opening Tuesday following a fire that triggered an evacuation of the entire complex Sunday afternoon.

However, the Spa Total Fitness Centre, where the fire originated, will remain closed.

No one was injured during the fire, which prompted a response from the Charlottetown Fire Department shortly after 3 p.m.

Fire Chief Randy MacDonald said firefighters were able to quickly locate the blaze in a sauna.

“We were able to tear the wall apart and put the fire out,” said MacDonald, who described the sauna as “gutted” and noted a sprinkler system was also activated by the fire.

The Guardian was unsuccessful in reaching the owner of Spa Total Fitness Centre.

However, the centre’s Twitter account provided an update stating it would remain closed on Tuesday.

“We are working very hard to have the facility open to you all again very soon. Thank you very much for your patience during this time,” it stated.

Firefighters were still investigating the cause of the blaze Sunday evening. The Guardian was unable to reach the city’s fire inspector Monday.

Charlottetown police and Island EMS also responded to the scene.

Police and mall management conducted the evacuation.

Sgt. Dave Pound of Charlottetown Police Services said all available officers responded to the call and the evacuation went “very smoothly.”

“I’ve got to give credit to mall staff and security for their efforts in getting everyone out safely,” said Pound, who estimated there were a few hundred people in the mall at the time of the evacuation. “There would easily have been as many or more in the cinemas, they were full at the time (of the fire).”

The Cineplex Cinemas located in the mall was evacuated during the fire but was later given the OK to re-open Sunday evening. The theatre resumed normal operations on Monday, although the rest of the mall was closed.

The incident also attracted a number of onlookers as smoke billowed out of the building.

Pound said police made an effort to block off entrances to the mall property in order to reduce congestion while others were leaving the parking lots.

Once firefighters had extinguished the blaze, they remained on scene in order to clear out the smoke.

“The smoke was hard to get out of the building,” said MacDonald.

Department Store, Retail

Orland Park, IL – Fire at Old Navy store contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Fire crews fought back a blaze at the Old Navy store inside the Orland Park Place shopping center late Sunday afternoon. The fire caused significant fire and smoke damage to the store. There were no injuries reported.

The Orland Fire Protection District answered a call around 5:30 p.m. reporting a store on fire at 105 Orland Park Place Drive, south of the Orland Park Mall, between 151st Street and 153rd Street, officials said. More than 30 people, including employees and customers, were inside the Old Navy store when the blaze broke out.

Given the building’s size and the extensive threat posed by the fire, several neighboring fire departments from Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Mokena, Crestwood and Palos Heights. OFPD dispatched all of its fire equipment, including two fire trucks, four fire engines and four ambulances.

Chief Michael Schofield of the Orland Fire Protection District credited Old Navy employees getting everyone out safely and the store’s sprinkler system stopping the fire from spreading and turning into a massive conflagration.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The store sustained fire, smoke and water damage, fire officials said

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Kapahulu, HI – Sprinkler system limits spread of early morning fire at Safeway grocery store

Safeway on Kapahulu is closed for business until further notice. Neighboring businesses are open and say that they were not affected by the fire.  Honolulu Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire inside the Safeway on Kapahulu Avenue Sunday.  HFD says the fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. Fire crews got to the scene within minutes and worked to contain the blaze.  It was reported that 11 employees and three customers evacuated the building prior to the arrival of the HFD. A working automatic fire sprinkler system reduced the intensity and spread of this fire. The fire is under investigation and the cause has yet to be determined. Fire damages are not available at this time. No injuries were reported for this incident.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Columbia, MO – Activated sprinkler helps keep loading dock fire at Aldi store from spreading inside building

A semi trailer next to the Aldi grocery store on Green Meadows Road caught fire last Sunday, according to the Columbia Fire Department.  The semi trailer was parked at the loading dock at the side of the grocery store when it caught fire. The driver was able to get out safely and is working with investigators to determine the origin of the fire, Assistant Chief Jerry Jenkins said.  The fire department was dispatched to the scene at about 5:30 p.m. No one was injured.

The fire in the truck activated the sprinkler system inside Aldi, Jenkins said. Customers exited the building and were helped out of the area by the Columbia Police Department, which was also helping direct traffic.  The fire was still under investigation as of Sunday evening. Aldi employees at the scene had no comment.

Other - Retail, Retail

Chili, NY – Sprinkler system maintains tractor-trailer fire until fire crews arrive

Multiple fire departments were called to the scene of a tractor-trailer fire inside the Kenworth Northeast Group building Saturday morning in the Town of Chili.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke inside the Airline Drive facility and the cab of the truck on fire around 4 a.m.

They say the sprinkler system had activated and held the fire in check until crews could get to the scene.

They called for backup from several nearby departments due to the size of the building.

Crews from Gates, Rochester, Chili and Ridge Road all worked to get the fire under control.

They tell us the building has some water and smoke damage but no fire damage.

No word on what sparked the fire.

Other - Retail, Retail

Plainfield, IL – Sprinkler system saves business from $350,000 in estimated damages; No injuries reported

A fire sprinkler system is credited with extinguishing a fire in the restroom at the Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop, 14120 S. Route 30. On Tuesday, April 3 rd at 12:21 P.M. the Plainfield Fire Protection District responded to a fire alarm for this business. While in route to the fire a 9-1- 1 call came in advising that there was a fire in the business. Upon arrival firefighters found a fire sprinkler head within a restroom activated and it had extinguished a small fire that left some burn marks on the wall. 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.

Retail

Tucson, AZ – Overnight fire at power sports retailer controlled with help from sprinkler system

Tucson Fire is investigating after a fire broke out at the Tucson Cycle and Ski in the 4600 block of 22nd Street.  According to crews on scene, firefighters were called to the building around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday for a sprinkler alarm deployment.  When fire crews arrived they saw white smoke coming from the building’s eaves. Firefighters were able to get flames under control, which were contained to the mechanical room.  The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Hamilton, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system keeps overnight fire from spreading at shopping plaza

Firefighters were called to a blaze last Thursday night at plaza in East Hamilton.  Officials say a fire broke out in a garbage bin behind a strip mall at 640 Queenston Rd. The fire spread into the Mark’s clothing store, triggering the sprinkler system.  Hamilton Fire spokesperson Claudio Mostacci says smoke and water damage is estimated at roughly $100,000.  No injuries were reported.  The fire is being considered suspicious and the Ontario Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate.

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.”

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Colonial Heights, VA – Fire in meat department of grocery store suppressed by sprinkler system

Crews from multiple jurisdictions responded to a fire inside the Food Lion located in the Dunlop Village shopping center in Colonial Heights. At approximately 4:46 p.m., Colonial Heights and Chesterfield Fire arrived on scene and were told that the Food Lion had a fire in the meat department. Companies from Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Hopewell and Petersburg all responded.

The cause of the fire appears to be a malfunction in a mechanical refrigeration unit, according to a Colonial Heights Fire spokesperson. A spokesperson with the Colonial Heights Fire Department said four people were treated for minor smoke inhalation. Later, one of those people wished to be transported for treatment. The fire was reported to be under control by 5:30 p.m.

The grocery store’s fire sprinkler system activated and controlled the fire until fire crews arrived and could extinguish the hot spots. The meat department suffered major fire damage, while the rest of the building suffered smoke damage. The damage to the building is estimated at about $15,000 and the estimated damage to the products are unknown at this time. The business will remain closed until it is cleaned up and safety repairs have been made.