Category Archives: School / University

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

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Rosetown, SK, Canada – Fire at high school contained by sprinkler system

A fire at Rosetown Central High School Monday evening has led to the cancellation of classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Mike Fedyk, coordinator of communications and marketing for Sun West School Division.

According to the division, a small fire broke out in a second‑floor classroom at approximately 5 p.m. Students and staff in the building at the time evacuated safely after the fire alarm was triggered, following standard school fire protocols.

“The school’s sprinkler system activated and contained the fire to the classroom where it started,” said Fedyk.  While fire damage was limited, adjacent areas experienced smoke damage, and water damage occurred in spaces beside and below the affected room.

Due to the damage, the school will remain closed on Tuesday to allow for cleanup and assessment. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and school officials said updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

“All students and staff are safe, and we are grateful for the quick response of our emergency personnel,” Principal Craig Vanthyune said in the release sent to parents.

Parents with questions were advised to contact the Sun West School Division office.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Tucson, AZ – Sprinkler system activated for trash can fire at community college

A fire activated the sprinkler system at Pima Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Building on its Downtown Campus, Wednesday morning.

According to PCC, an individual lit a garbage can on fire outside of the building at 9 a.m.

The contents of the garbage can caught fire, which in turn caused the heat to break a window in the building, alerting the sprinkler system to activate.

No injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Hudson, NH – Sprinkler system activated for classroom fire at school

Alvirne High School students and staff were evacuated Thursday morning to the nearby Hills Garrison Elementary School after flames broke out in a first-floor classroom, School District Superintendent Dan Moulis said.

Nobody was in the classroom when the fire, which Moulis described as an “oil fire,” ignited, triggering alarms and the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters arrived within minutes and promptly called for a “working fire” response, which brought additional Hudson crews to the scene and a request for mutual aid companies to respond either to the scene or to cover Hudson stations.

First-arriving crews conducted a search to make sure nobody was still in or near Classroom 108, the room in which the fire is believed to have originated.

The first-responding crews and other firegighters quickly extinguished the flames, and were able to contain them to that classroom, according to Moulis.

The incident was reported under control within a few minutes, and some students and staff began returning to Alvirne at about 9:20 a.m., roughly an hour after they were evacuated, according to Will LeBlond, the school district’s communications coordinator.

LeBlond said district officials decided shortly after 10 a.m. to dismiss school for the day “to ensure that the building could be properly cleaned.”

Classes will resume Friday as scheduled.

A section of Derry Road (Route 102) was closed for a period of time to give crews plenty of space to operate and to lay hoses across the road.

LeBlond said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Bend, OR – Sprinkler system activated for lithium ion battery fire at elementary school

A fire at Miller Elementary School in Bend on Sunday night caused significant damage to a custodial workshop but was contained by the school’s sprinkler system. Monday’s classes were canceled for a cleanup, and word came later that Tuesday classes also are canceled for that work.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded to the school around 9 p.m. after reports of a fire near the gymnasium. Firefighters found the sprinkler system already activated in the custodian’s workshop area, which helped stop the flames from spreading beyond the room, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said.

Investigators determined the fire started in a cabinet where a lithium battery had been stored. The blaze caused severe damage to the workshop.

Firefighters remained on scene for about an hour to clear smoke and water from the area. The principal of Miller Elementary and Bend-La Pine Schools staff assisted crews in damage control efforts.

Principal Jennifer Johnson said in an email to families Monday morning that “water on the gym floor and the custodial office is being cleaned up, and the custodial office sustained damage that will make it inoperable today.”

As a result, she said, school was canceled Monday “to continue clean-up and assess any further damage. Crews are working to ventilate the building using fans and blowers to reduce the odor.”

Johnson added, “Thank you for your understanding and patience.”

Later Monday, Bend-La Pine Schools spokesman Scott Maben told KTVZ News that families had just been informed the closure would last a second day, “as we complete the cleanup and air quality testing.”

The National Fire Protection Association reminds the public to store lithium batteries at room temperature and away from flammable materials, use only batteries and chargers designed for each specific device, and they warn the public not to keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Franklin, MA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at college campus center

At 5:17pm Friday evening, the Metacomet Emergency Communications Center received a fire alarm activation for 135 Emmons Street, the Dean College Campus Center. Franklin Fire units arrived on scene within minutes and found a fire in a basement kitchen.

This incident was upgraded to a working fire assignment, bringing in mutual aid from Bellingham, Medway, Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham.

The fire suppression system and automatic sprinkler system were activated, keeping and holding the fire in check. Firefighters made entry and conducted an interior attack to complete the extinguishment of the fire. The fire was fully extinguished at 5:35pm.

Crews conducted a comprehensive investigation for fire extension, utilizing thermal imaging cameras to verify the fire had not spread beyond the kitchen. Firefighters secured the sprinkler system and utilities, ventilated smoke from the building, and assisted college officials with occupant accountability. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the sprinkler system, the fire alarm system, and the rapid and professional response of Franklin Firefighters, the fire was confined to the kitchen and no students or staff were injured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Franklin Fire Department. The building was able to be partially reoccupied for the evening.

According to Charles Allen, Fire Chief, the Foxboro Fire Department provided station coverage during the incident.

College/University (on campus), School / University

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

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

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.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers