Category Archives: Retail

Dry Cleaner, Retail

Alice, TX – Sprinkler system activated for fire at dry cleaners; No injuries reported

Alice firefighters and Alice police responded to a fire at a business near the intersection of San Diego and South Reynolds Tuesday night.

Firefighters responding to the fire alarm noticed smoke filling the downtown streets. They were able to located the fire inside the dry cleaning business.

Alice FIre Chief Patrick Thomas said the sprinkler system inside the business activated and kept the fire small until firefighters were able to access the business and extinguish the fire.

“The fire could’ve been worse for the business and for the downtown businesses in the area, but we’re thankful that the sprinkler system activated,” Thomas said. 

Firefighters have not found a cause to the fire, but do not believe it was intentional. 

“We’re thankful that in happened when the business was closed and no one was around, so no one got hurt,” Thomas said.

Other - Retail, Retail

Coralville, IA – Sprinkler system activated for overnight fire at business

An overnight fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to a Coralville business.

According to a news release, the Coralville Fire Department was called to Theisen’s, 100 Westcor Dr., around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday. The fire department credits the store’s sprinkler system for suppressing the fire before crews arrived.

The business sustained a small amount of fire damage, as well as light smoke and water damage.

Firefighters remained on scene until 6 a.m. to help with water removal so the business could open on time, the fire department said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is believed to be accidental.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Litchfield, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart

Authorities are investigating the origin of a fire Monday evening, May 3, at Walmart in Litchfield that lead to the evacuation and temporary closure of the store.

According to Litchfield Fire Department Chief Joe Holomy, the Litchfield Police Department is working with fire and arson investigators who are reviewing video footage as part of investigation.  Anyone with information about the fire should contact the Litchfield Fire Department at 217-324-8171.

According to the chief, the Litchfield Fire Department was dispatched to Walmart at 7:32 p.m. Monday after a report of flames and smoke in the store.  Evacuation was underway when firefighters arrived to find smoke throughout the store.

Two employees were attempting to extinguish a fire in the rear of the building with fire extinguishers, and the store’s sprinkler system activated to aid in control of the blaze.  Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and shut down the sprinkler system to control water damage.

The fire department requested a mutual aid ventilation fan, and the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department and Mt. Olive Fire Department arrived to assist with ventilation.

The scene was under control at 7:45 p.m., and two Walmart employees were evaluated for smoke inhalation but refused transport to the hospital.

Damage estimates are still being calculated, and the store will be closed for several days for clean-up.

The Litchfield Police Department, Hillsboro Area Ambulance, and Gillespie Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

Clark County Fire Department responded Tuesday evening to a fire at a Walmart on Boulder Highway.

At approximately 9:33 p.m. firefighters responded to occupants evacuating the building which had light smoke throughout. A pallet of paper goods had burned setting off sprinklers in the store.

The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported.

The cause is unknown at this time.

This is is an ongoing investigation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Walmart

Fire investigators believe a Sunday night fire at the Walmart Supercenter on at Charleston and Decatur boulevards was “intentionally set.”

The fire started just before 8 p.m. in the rear of the store in the paper towel aisle creating a large amount of smoke. According to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, automatic fire sprinklers quickly helped douse the flames.

When fire crews arrived at the scene, people were already in the process of evacuating the store. One person was injured when they tripped and fell during the evacuation. That person was treated by paramedics and transported to the hospital.

Damage was estimated at $200,000, mostly due to smoke damaging items in the store. Structural damage was estimated at less than $10,000. Firefighters and employees of Walmart worked quickly to make sure water from the sprinkler system did not damage the store further.

Other - Retail, Retail

Elkhart, IN – Fire at paint shop held in check by sprinkler system until fire crew arrived; No injuries reported

Elkhart Fire Department crews were called to a local paint shop after a motor home inside the shop caught fire.

The blaze was reported around 6:50 p.m. on Friday, March 19, in the 5300 block of Beck Drive.

While en-route multiple 911 callers reported the structure on fire.

A large plume of smoke from the roof was seen by crews arriving at the site.

Employees told crews the fire was actually a large diesel motor home inside a paint booth.  They said they tried to use fire extinguisher but were unsuccessful in putting out the fire.

It took about 90 minutes to douse the flames.

There was no significant structural damage to the building and no firefighter or civilian injuries reported. 

The building was equipped with a fire sprinkler system within the paint booth which held the blaze in check until fire crew arrived.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Plantation, FL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

An early morning fire at a Walmart in Plantation caused minor damage, closing the store and other adjacent businesses.

There were no reported injuries at the Walmart Neighborhood Market but smoke and water from the sprinkler system caused enough damage to keep the store closed until after clean up and repairs.

The fire started just before 2 a.m. Friday in the store at 1885 N. Pine Island Rd., located in the Jacaranda Square plaza near Sunrise Boulevard.

A Walmart employee outside the store would only say there was an emergency and the store is closed.

An employee at Davita Kidney Care, located next door, confirmed that there was a fire at the market overnight. She said it’s possible their medical office would be open later Friday after the smoke had cleared.

The Bealls Outlet sustained water damage from fire sprinklers and an employee tasked with cleaning up the mess said they would be closed for at least a couple of days, though there had been no fire in the department store.

Other - Retail, Retail

Sacramento, CA – Sprinklers activated for electrical fire at cigar and liquor store; No injuries reported

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Firefighters were busy in Downtown Sacramento Tuesday night with back-to-back fires.

Approximately 10 people were inside Rodney’s Cigar and Liquor Store at 10th and J streets when smoke filled the store. Investigators believe an electrical fire sparked in the back room.

Crews quickly contained the flames and no injuries were reported.

“The sprinklers went off first, then the alarm went off. I got everybody out of the store as fast as I could,” store clerk Bob said.

Bob says the store has been around since 1923.

Crews worked Tuesday night to repair the sprinkler head system and get it restored.

Earlier, firefighters responded to an apartment complex on C Street after reports of a stovetop fire. 

Retail, Shopping Mall

Franklin, TN – Fire at strip mall caused by smoking materials put out by fire sprinklers

Thursday night an automatic fire sprinkler system protected the Parkway Commons strip mall, which has more than a dozen businesses.

According to Franklin Fire Marshal Andy King, the blaze broke out just before 7:30 PM in the storage area of Case Selects Wine & Spirits, located at 3046 Columbia Ave. King said a single fire sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire prior to the Franklin Fire Department’s arrival, protecting neighboring businesses, including retail shops, clinics, restaurants, and more. “Only one business, where the fire started, was impacted. They should reopen soon. The sprinkler system protected the building from Case Selects to Panera Bread.”

King said the fire appeared to have been caused by smoking materials.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Des Peres, MO – Supermarket fire that started in paper aisle contained by sprinkler system; No injuries Reported

Firefighters from multiple agencies raced to extinguish a fire Wednesday night at a Dierbergs store in West St. Louis County.

The call came in just after 8:10 p.m. at the Dierbergs at 1080 Lindemann Road.

The fire began in the paper aisle.

No one was injured and the store was safely evacuated. The sprinkler system did activate.

The fire was put out approximately 90 minutes later.

The St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Division is now investigating.