Category Archives: Retail

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in mall bathroom (Toms River, NJ)

Crews found the fire started in the employee bathroom, located at the rear of the store, but was extinguished by the fire sprinkler system, Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention Director James Mercready said. The fire sprinkler system helped control and suppress the “potentially catastrophic” fire, he said. A fire sprinkler head had activated once temperatures in the area reached 155 degrees Fahrenheit and once it kicked on, a fire alarm signal alerted the fire department of the fire, Mercready said.

Supercenter fire quickly contained by sprinkler system (Marion, IL)

Shoppers and employees at the Marion WalMart Supercenter had to be evacuated from the building Tuesday morning. The Marion fire department says a grease fire is to blame. The initial call came at around 8:15 a.m. The fire was quickly contained, but some of the store’s sprinklers were activated. No one was hurt. Investigators are talking with employees in the deli department to pinpoint the exact cause.

Fire at mall sporting goods store contained by sprinkler system (Watertown, NY)

The fire was caused when a ceiling light overheated, causing the contents of the ballast to leak into the light fixtures and create sparks that ignited a rack of clothing below it, Chief Dillon said. Fortunately, the sprinkler system effectively contained the blaze until firefighters could extinguish it, he said. “It did what it was supposed to do,” Chief Dillon said.