Category Archives: Retail

Dry Cleaner, Retail

Damage minimized at cleaning business thanks to fire sprinkler system (Billings, MT)

A fire which began in a cleaning business the evening of September 12 when rags and clothing that were placed in a laundry basket spontaneously combusted. Fire crews arrived and saw fire through the windows of the building. 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at grocery store (Northborough, MA)

A wok in the Asian food department of a grocery store started a fire the morning of August 27, and firefighters were called to the scene. When they arrived, the fire had already been eliminated by the store’s fire sprinkler system and a cooking fire suppression system. Occupants were able to evacuate the building unharmed, and no structural damage to the building occurred. 

Department Store, Retail

Fire sprinkler system aids firefighters in suspected arson fire (Amherst, NY)

A fire that broke out in a department store on the afternoon of August 15 is now being ruled as “suspicious” by the Amherst Police Department. A stack of men’s shorts spontaneously caught on fire, and the store was evacuated while the store’s fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading. There were no reported injuries from the incident, and the store was slated to open the following day.

*** Blog Editor’s Note: Tell us what you think of the coverage by WKBW News and Megan Erbacher. Only the substantial heat from potentially deadly and damaging fire will operate a fire sprinkler, not smoke. Also, the sprinkler saved the store from experiencing a much larger fire, where the damage would have been much worse, and could have possibly caused injury or loss of life. ***

Other - Retail, Retail

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at liquor store fire (Highland Park, IL)

An elderly driver crashed through a liquor store window setting fire to display boxes of vodka and gin, reported the Chicago Tribune. Anderson said she believes her car’s accelerator stuck and caused her to jump the curb into the storefront, according to the Tribune. Police are still investigating the cause. The store’s sprinkler system helped firefighters get control of the morning fire.

Dry Cleaner, Retail

Fire sprinkler system helps contain blaze at dry cleaner (Pleasanton, CA)

A dry-cleaning business at a strip mall caught fire Wednesday, but a sprinkler system inside the building kept the blaze from spreading and causing even more damage to the surrounding stores, a battalion chief said. The blaze began around 5:47 p.m.  Fire crews saw heavy smoke coming from the business when they arrived, but the fire sprinklers inside the store were activated after clothes on the conveyor system caught fire, Neiman-Kimel said. Those sprinklers kept the fire at bay until crews were able to get inside and extinguish it, Neiman-Kimel said.