Category Archives: School / University

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

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

St. Paul, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at school

The cause of a small fire that has affected some areas of Racette Jr. High School is under investigation, while the school remains open and classes continue.

On Feb. 25, St. Paul Education confirmed a fire had taken place at the Grade 6-9 school in St. Paul the night prior, mostly affecting the music room and cafeteria area.

“Cleanup is underway, and the school remains open. A few areas have been temporarily closed while restoration work is completed, and some classes were relocated,” says Bridget Severin, counselling and communications coordinator with St. Paul Education.

“We are grateful that our safety systems functioned exactly as intended, and we sincerely thank the École Racette School staff and division maintenance team for their quick response in addressing the aftermath. Their quick, coordinated efforts helped mitigate the damage and will support timely remediation,” explains Severin.

She noted that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

A letter was sent out by the school division to parents on Wednesday, notifying them of the fire.

The letter states, “The building’s sprinkler system was immediately activated, and the fire was quickly extinguished. The building was unoccupied at the time.”

The letter adds, “While the fire was contained, the activation of the sprinklers resulted in a buildup of water, primarily localized in the music room and cafeteria areas.” The school division’s maintenance team was on-site Wednesday, removing the excess water and beginning the clean-up process.

Music and physical education classes were being relocated until work has been complete.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Riverside, CA – Dormitory fire at university campus held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Authorities Saturday continued investigating a dormitory fire at the UC Riverside campus that displaced approximately 20 students.

The fire was reported around 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Glen Mor dormitory located at 400 W. Big Springs Road, where firefighters found smoke coming form a first-floor window of the five-story, apartment-style dormitory.

Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish a kitchen fire that was being held in control by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Crews then attempted salvage operations to limit water damage from the fire sprinkler system.

A total of 147 students were evacuated and 20 were being placed in alternative apartments, officials said.

The UCR fire marshal and the city of Riverside’s Fire Investigation Unit assumed the investigation.

Damage was estimated to be approximately $100,000 with much of the damage caused by the fire suppression system.

No injuries were reported.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Coeur D’Alene, ID – Fire at high school extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

An electrical fire led to an evacuation at Lake City High School on Saturday.

The fire started in a ceiling light fixture, according to a press release.

The school’s sprinkler system activated immediately and extinguished the fire within the light fixture, the release said.

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department responded and evacuated individuals who were in the building for a wrestling tournament.

Fire personnel turned off the sprinkler system and assessed the area to ensure the building was safe, the release said.

Once given clearance, students, families, and staff returned to the school and the wrestling tournament resumed.

There were no reported injuries.

LCHS is expected to be open Tuesday.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

St. Cloud, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire at school; No injuries reported

A malfunctioning bathroom fan is believed to be the cause of a small fire at Stride Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

According to a Critical Incident Report from the St. Cloud Fire Department, they were called to the school around 4:50 after the school’s fire alarm was activated. They arrived and were told by the staff that there was a smell of smoke in the building. Crews went inside and found a small fire had started in the attic space. The automatic sprinkler system had activated, preventing it from spreading.

Everyone got out of the building safely, and no one was hurt.

College/University (on campus), Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, School / University

Holland, MI – Two separate fires contained by sprinkler systems; No injuries reported

Two fires broke out at Holland-area buildings within 48 hours of each other, and both were stopped by fire suppression systems before causing major damage, according to the Holland Fire Department.

The first fire was reported just before midnight on Feb. 8 at the Resthaven Farmstead, a senior living community in Holland. Crews were initially notified of a waterflow alarm, which was upgraded to a structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find that a bag of linens had caught fire in a kitchen storage area. The fire marshal’s investigation determined the cause was spontaneous combustion of products within the linens. The building’s sprinkler system had already extinguished the fire before crews arrived.

The second fire happened on the morning of Feb. 10 at the Hope College DeWitt Student and Cultural Center, located at 141 East 12th Street. At 7:02 a.m., Holland firefighters and police were dispatched following a waterflow alarm. Hope Campus Safety had been investigating the alarm and discovered smoke in the basement. When firefighters arrived at 7:08 a.m., they found that a fire had occurred in a basement office. The Holland Fire Marshal determined the fire likely started near a desktop light. Again, the building’s suppression system had done its job before firefighters got there.

No injuries were reported at either scene, and the Hope College fire had minimal impact on classes and normal building operations, the department said.

The Holland Fire Department credited proper maintenance of the sprinkler systems for the outcomes at both buildings and is urging all building owners with sprinkler systems and fire alarms to keep them maintained and functioning as designed.

The Holland Township Fire Department, Holland Police Department, and American Medical Response provided assistance at both fires.

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.