Category Archives: School / University

NOTE – Residence Hall, Dormitory, and Fraternity-Sorority is included under Residential Category

College/University (on campus), School / University

Madison, WI – Sprinkler systems help stop the spread of two separate fires on university campus

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Automated sprinkler systems help stop the spread of two fires on the Universities of Wisconsin – Madison campus in the last two weeks.

The first happened on October 16 just after 11:00 p.m. at the Discovery Building on North Orchard Street on the campus’ west side.

The fire started in a hamper full of rags or towels in a kitchen, and the automatic sprinkler system helped contain the fire with minimal damage to the wall nearby before firefighters put it completely out. The rest of the building was not impacted, and was fully operational within hours.

The second happened on October 28 around 4:50 a.m. at the Gordon Commons on West Dayton Street on the campus’ southeast side. Firefighters found heavy white smoke and a dryer fire in a lower-level room.

The sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading as fire crews extinguished it. Investigators are still not sure what caused this fire, but the dryer did contain rags and towels from the kitchen.

Public Health Madison-Dane County was notified because of food items in the area being impacted by the smoke.

Both fires are still under investigation by the Madison Fire Department.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Barnegat, NJ – Fire in science lab at high school contained by sprinkler system

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Barnegat High School will transition to remote learning this week as crews continue cleanup and repairs following a fire in a science lab on Friday, Principal Patrick Magee announced.

Firefighters and emergency personnel responded to a structure fire at the school after sprinklers were activated in the science lab, causing smoke throughout the building. Officials said the sprinkler system helped contain the fire, but water damage affected multiple classrooms.

Restoration work began soon after the incident but will take longer than initially anticipated, Magee said. Contractors are replacing ceiling tiles, cleaning HVAC and ventilation systems, and removing or sanitizing materials exposed to moisture to ensure the building is safe before reopening.

“Ensuring a safe, healthy environment for students and staff before we reopen is our top priority,” Magee told families in a letter.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at UW-Madison Discovery Building

Madison Fire Department credited a fire sprinkler head for putting out most of a fire at the UW-Madison Discovery Building Thursday night.

At 11:15 p.m. firefighters arrived at the building on the 300 block of N. Orchard Street for a fire alarm going off.

MFD said an automatic fire sprinkler head detected the fire and turned on. The sprinkler head also triggered the building’s fire alarm.

Firefighters put out the rest of the fire with a two-and-a-half-gallon water can extinguisher.

The fire appeared to start in a hamper full of rags or towels in a kitchen, MFD noted.

The fire caused a few burned items, MFD said, and a small amount of damage to a wall nearby.

There was no damage to the rest of the building, and it was reopened in a few hours.

“The incident highlights the importance of protecting buildings and facilities with automatic fire sprinklers to contain fire, minimize damage, and prevent injury and harm,” MFD said in a statement.

The building is home to two research institutes and a community hub for science and innovation, crews noted.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Kansas City, MO – Sprinkler system extinguished arson fire at high school; No injuries reported

Two Lawrence High School students were arrested earlier this week for their alleged role in a fire Monday morning in the girls’ locker room at the school.

On Tuesday, Lawrence School District Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift and Lawrence High School Principal Dr. Quentin Rials notified the high school community of the incident.

According to their letter, firefighters responded around 11:15 a.m. Monday on a report of smoke coming from the girls’ locker room.

Firefighters arrived and discovered the sprinkler system had already extinguished the fire. Investigators traced the origin of the fire back to a paper towel dispenser that extended to a combustible trash bin below.

Two students were arrested.

“While we cannot share details about individual students’ involvement, we want our community to know that both law enforcement and the district take these matters very seriously, and in addition to the appropriate criminal processes, we will be implementing disciplinary consequences in line with our policies,” the district said in the communication to families.

No injuries were reported.

The district also addressed community concern over the timeliness of information to families during Monday’s incident.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Centreville, MD – Sprinkler system extinguishes electrical fire at high school; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system is being credited with saving a Maryland high school after an electrical fire broke out Tuesday night — but students still got the day off while crews cleaned up, officials said.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire happened at Queen Anne’s High School on Ruthsburg Road in Centreville around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

The school’s alarm company alerted 911, and a custodian also discovered the blaze after the alarm activation.

Investigators said the fire started in a rear first-floor office and was caused by “an unspecified electrical event involving a power surge protector.”

The sprinkler system extinguished the flames before they spread further.

Crews from the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company responded with 36 firefighters and brought the situation under control in about 30 minutes.

No injuries were reported, but the school was closed Wednesday, Sept. 10, for cleanup.

The fire caused an estimated $15,000 in structural damage and another $15,000 in contents.

Other - School / University, School / University

Flowery Branch, GA – Sprinkler system contains early morning fire at preschool; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system helped contain an early morning fire at Storybrook Academy in Flowery Branch, but the daycare remains closed while cleanup and repairs continue.

At around 1 a.m. Friday, Hall County Fire responded to an alarm at the small, single-story commercial building on Falcon Parkway, said HCFR spokesperson Kimberlie Ledsinger. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the structure and requested additional units.

According to Ledsinger, crews located the fire in one room, where an automatic sprinkler system had already activated and assisted in extinguishing the flames. The blaze was contained to that room, and crews ventilated the building to remove smoke.

Falcon Parkway was temporarily shut down while hose lines crossed the roadway. No injuries were reported.

The fire forced the private preschool to close its doors for several days so that cleanup could continue. In a letter to families, preschool owners Karmyla Story and Brooke Webb said their top priority is ensuring a safe, clean environment before reopening.

“Our team will be working diligently through the night and weekend to complete temporary repairs,” they said.

The school is replacing its HVAC unit to protect air quality and expects the installation to be complete on Monday. Once fire inspections are cleared following demolition and renovation work, the academy plans to reopen on Wednesday, August 27.

“Multiple teams are working around the clock, and we want to ensure our campus is fully restored and safe before welcoming families back,” the statement read.

The Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Hamilton, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at university research lab; No injuries reported

A small fire in the basement of the Communications Research Laboratory, located near the Engineering Technology Building, was quickly extinguished Wednesday afternoon.

The sprinkler system put out the fire and the building was safely evacuated. There were no injuries reported.

The building was briefly closed to be ventilated and assessed for water damage, and has now been cleared and reopened by the Hamilton Fire Department.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Coeymans, NY – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at elementary school

A fire in Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School was purposely ignited, according to the superintendent of schools. The fire was set in an upstairs boys’ bathroom on Tuesday.

Superintendent Brian Bailey said the student will be held accountable for their actions.

The school’s sprinkler system put out the fire, but smoke spread throughout the building. There was also water damage on the first and second floors. The school was evacuated, and the building was closed on Wednesday for cleaning by a fire remediation team.

The bathroom where the fire occurred and the bathroom immediately below it will remain closed as cleaning and repairs continue.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Port Alberni, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at secondary school; No injuries reported

Alberni District Secondary School will reopen Friday following a fire — with the exception of one small room near the source of the blaze that needs added remediation. 

Classes were cancelled Thursday after a fire broke out before the school day started, the Pacific Rim School District said.  The school has about 1,300 students in Grades 8 through 12.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Staff and the few students on site escaped the building without incident and the situation was quickly brought under control, the district said.

The school’s water-suppression system activated immediately and the Port Alberni Fire Department was at the scene within minutes.

Fire Chief Mike Owens said the fire appears to have started in a classroom space adjacent to the school’s auto mechanics area.

Owens said the fire damage was confined to the classroom of origin.

“A lot of the fire was knocked down by the sprinkler system, so there was quite a bit of water involved,” he said.

He said the school is a concrete structure, so it handled the water better than a wooden building would have.

Fire investigators remained on scene through Thursday morning.

The building was closed for the remainder of the day to allow for cleanup.

Port Alberni firefighters received assistance at the fire from the Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Department and the Cherry Creek Fire Department.

The school district said it was “deeply grateful” for the quick response from the fire departments, “as well as the quick actions of our staff in ensuring everyone’s safety and minimizing damage.”

College/University (on campus), School / University

Terre Haute, IN – Sprinkler system activated for fire at college; No injuries reported

Crews were called to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology over the weekend for a small fire.

On Sunday, the Terre Haute Fire Department responded to the college and found light smoke coming from a building on campus.

Fire officials said by the time crews made it inside, students had already used three fire extinguishers and the building’s sprinkler system to put out the flames.

The fire started in a grinding and sanding booth and was ruled accidental. No one was hurt.

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