Primary / Secondary School, School / University Chantilly, VA – Early morning fire in middle school classroom extinguished by sprinkler system May 20, 2017 viking210 At 2:00 a.m., Monday, May 17th, Fire and Rescue crews from Dulles South were dispatched for a fire alarm at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School, located at 26020 Ticonderoga Road. Firefighters arrived to find an active fire alarm and the presence of smoke inside the building. A full structure fire assignment, to include units from Brambleton, Fairfax County, and Dulles Airport, were dispatched to assist. Firefighters located a small fire in a classroom which had been extinguished by an automatic fire sprinkler system. Fire department personnel remained on scene to ensure the extinguished material was removed, the utilities were secured and that the building was adequately ventilated. Once deemed safe, the building was turned over to Loudoun County Public Schools representatives. The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation and determined the fire was accidental and estimated damages at $5,000. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. One pet reptile was removed from the room of origin and turned over to school staff for care. This incident is a prime example of the positive impact of a fire protection alarm and automatic sprinkler system. A small fire in a classroom triggered the school’s monitored fire alarm system, which alerted firefighters, while the fire was quickly contained and extinguished by an automatic sprinkler system. The damages to the building were minimized by the sprinkler system, allowing the school to remain open with little impact to the community and its students. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Officials continue to tout the importance of automatic fire sprinkler systems and their safety benefits. For more information on fire prevention activities and education in Loudoun County, visit www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal or call 703-737-8600.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Philadelphia, PA – Bathroom fire at charter high school contained with help from sprinkler system May 11, 2017 viking210 A staff member was taken to the hospital after a fire broke out in Olney Charter High School in Philadelphia on Monday morning. Officials say the fire occurred at 10:10 a.m. in a bathroom, and the sprinkler system helped douse the flames. The building was evacuated, and students were dismissed for the day at 11 a.m. Fire officials say the staffer who was taken to the hospital had to be checked out for smoke inhalation. That person, a Safety Team member, was one of the first people on the scene of the fire, officials said. That person has since been released from the hospital.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Helena, MT – Afternoon fire at middle school extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries May 9, 2017 viking210 There will be no classes at C.R. Anderson Middle School on Tuesday due to a fire that caused damage on Monday. According to a press release from Helena Public Schools, the fire was reported at 2:59 p.m. There were no students in the building at the time, and there were no reported injuries. Currently there is no power and no phone service at the school. Just before 3 p.m. on Monday, the Helena Fire Department was dispatched to C.R.A. for a general fire alarm. When firefighters arrived they saw smoke coming from the west end door, so they evacuated the building. No students were in the building because it was an early release day. Fire officials said the building sprinkler system kept the fire contained and quickly extinguished. On Tuesday, the building will be closed to students, staff, and the public. All after-school activities for May 9th have been cancelled. The HPS says: “Due to water damage the status of the building will be assessed mid-day on Tuesday and a determination will be made regarding whether or not school will resume on Wednesday, May 10.” Late Monday afternoon, a professional crew was at the school to begin work on cleaning up the water damage. The cause of the fire is being investigated. The dollar amount of damage is not yet known. We will update you when we get more information.
College/University (on campus), School / University Greencastle, IN – Fire in new dining hall building at DePauw University suppressed by sprinkler system April 30, 2017 viking210 A small fire early Saturday morning at Hoover Hall on the DePauw University campus occurred in a storage room on the lower level of the new dining hall in the center of campus. The fire was extinguished very quickly, DePauw officials said. The fire began at about 5:45 a.m. while no one was in the building but the safety system did its job, DPU spokesman Ken Owen told the Banner Graphic. Two sprinklers put out the bulk of the fire, he said, and a fire extinguisher was used once the Greencastle Fire Department arrived on the scene to fully put it out. No fire hoses were necessary in the incident. No damage estimate was available Saturday morning, however, damage was deemed “minimal” by DePauw officials. The fire created smoke and there was water left by the sprinklers, necessitating clean-up and the closing of the dining hall at least for Saturday breakfast. The sprinkler system must be recharged, Owen said. Because of that clean-up work, along with the need for the fire marshal to do his work to determine the cause of the fire, breakfast was not being served at Hoover but instead breakfast items were available at the convenience store in the Union Building. At 10 a.m., the Health Department gave DePauw clearance to reopen Hoover Hall. The plan at that time was to open Hoover Hall with a limited menu at noon Saturday. “All of us — the DePauw administration and our friends from the fire department and public safety — thank you and all students for their patience and understanding as we proceed today,” Owen said in a statement for the university. “I can’t say enough about the good work many people have performed in the early hours of a Saturday to make the process of recovering from this incident as quick and seamless as possible.” Hoover Hall is the DePauw’s new 48,600 square-foot dining hall which sits in the shadow of historic East College in the center of campus. It was formally dedicated last October. The $32 million project took 29 months to complete after ground was broken on May 17, 2014. The lead gift came from R. David and Suzanne A. Hoover, both 1967 graduates of DePauw.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinklers keep arson fire at high school from spreading April 19, 2017 viking210 Two boys were arrested Tuesday on accusations of setting a fire at Glen Oaks Senior High School, which came days after a similar incident, District Six Fire Chief Joel Hancock said. The boys, a 13-year-old and 11-year-old, were arrested around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in a fire at the flooded high school determined to have been deliberately set, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Authorities responded to a similar incident Friday night, also determined arson, however fire investigators do not believe the juveniles in custody are also responsible for the first incident, said Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesman Curt Monte. BRFD investigators assisted District Six Fire Department Tuesday night. The two juveniles are accused of going into the shuttered school and setting about five damaged computers on fire, Hancock said Wednesday morning. Witnesses saw the boys running from the school after the fire had started, Hancock said. The boys have been booked into juvenile detention on counts of simple arson, criminal trespassing and unauthorized entry, Monte said. The flames caused little damage, Hancock said, but investigators determined arson was the cause. The Friday night fire at the school was also set to some old computers, Hancock said. Adonica Duggan, a spokeswoman for the schools, said the fire on Friday triggered the school’s sprinkler system and there’s concern about water and smoke damage. She said she’s still gathering details about what additional damage might have resulted from Tuesday’s fire. Representatives of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system and Aramark, the private company that maintains school buildings, were at Glen Oaks Senior High School at 6650 Cedar Drive Wednesday morning to assess the damage. They congregated in the school’s L building, the only building damaged by fire Tuesday night and where the fire started and was contained Friday. The building, which has been gutted since the August flooding, had piles of electronics, computers and furniture gathered in the center hallway. Most of it looked wet and water pooled on the floor in spots. Fire damage was not readily visible. Fifteen out of 17 buildings at the north Baton Rouge high school took in water in August. School officials are planning to reopen the school, which has been relocated across town for months, by fixing up a few of the least damaged buildings and installing several temporary buildings. A much more expensive permanent repair of the high school is slated to come after that. The L building is one of the buildings slated to be repaired quickly. Duggan said school officials are examining the damage to see if the building can be fixed up in time for the beginning of the 2017-18 school year on Aug. 10.
College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, School / University Glassboro, NJ – Fire in university residence hall put out by sprinkler system; No injuries reported April 9, 2017 viking210 Residents of Mimosa Hall were forced to evacuate their dorms shortly before noon on Friday, after a fire started in a dorm on the first floor of the residential hall, according to a Rowan Alert sent to students across campus. Firemen from Washington, Harrison and Glassboro townships and other first responders quickly arrived at the scene to contain the fire while residents waited outside. Students were notified at the time by a mass text sent out by the university. No one was harmed during the initial fire. Rowan spokesman Joe Cardona said that when he left the scene, firefighters still hadn’t determined the cause of the blaze. “When you look at the room, it’s like whatever the fire was down on the ground in the corner,” Cardona said. Cardona also said the sprinkler system activated and put out the fire, which caused water damage to the first floor of Mimosa hall and the six students in the dorm where the fire started will be temporarily relocated until rooms are cleaned. Freshman history major and resident of Mimosa, Julianne Tarrant, said while she was not in the building at the time of the fire, she had heard that the fire may have been caused by a box fan in the window of the dorm. Madison Klunk, an undeclared freshman living in the building, said the evacuation order was a major hassle for her. “My aunt’s here to pick me up, and I can’t get in the building to get any of my clothes,” Klunk said. “So I’m going to have to leave and come back later and get it, and that’s an issue.”
College/University (on campus), School / University Hibbing, MN – Sprinkler system praised for containing fire at community college March 30, 2017 viking210 An early morning fire left a 2014 Freightliner semi-truck totally damaged. The fire broke out shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday at the Hibbing Community College. According to the Hibbing Fire Department, crews responded to a fire alarm at the College around 4:40 a.m. Upon arrival, crews reported there was nothing visible from the exterior of the building but the fire alarm system was still activated. A Hibbing police squad later radioed that there was smoke coming from a garage door on the North East corner of the building, just four minutes after the initial response. The Hibbing Fire Department responded along with the Keewatin and Chisholm Fire Departments. Fire crews discovered a semi-truck on fire. The fire was contained to the truck and extinguished by the sprinkler system. Damages are estimated at $48,000 for the truck and $5,000 for clean-up costs to the building. Authorities say if the building had not contained a properly serviced and maintained sprinkler system, the damages could have exceeded $1 million. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Maintenance staff say the fire is not expected to affect classes at the College on Monday.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Mt. Juliet, TN – Single sprinkler contains fire at elementary school March 26, 2017 viking210 Mt. Juliet firefighters extinguished a fire last Sunday morning at Mt. Juliet Elementary School that damaged at least one classroom. Firefighters responded to the school at 2521 W. Division St. at about 8 a.m. According to Mt. Juliet fire officials, the fire started in “hotel-style” heater” that activated one sprinkler head in a classroom, and the school’s sprinkler system contained the fire. Fire damaged the classroom, and four adjoining classrooms suffered water and some smoke damage. “Something did malfunction, and it did ignite,” said Mt. Juliet fire Chief Jamie Luffman. “There was a significant fire as you can see by that wall over there and it came through the wall.” Luffman said the sprinkler kept the fire contained until firefighters arrived and extinguished the remainder of the fire. The single sprinkler head released a significant amount of water that then leaked into adjoining classrooms, Luffman said. “Obviously this fire was intense for a short period of time,” Luffman said. Wilson County Schools spokesperson Jennifer Johnson said in an email clean-up crews responded to the school after firefighters extinguished the fire. Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours. Johnson initially said classes would resume as normal with students returning from spring break Monday, but she later said Monday would be considered a “student holiday” for students. All teachers and staff are expected to report for work as a teacher in-service day to help get the school ready for classes Tuesday. “We are so grateful to the Mt Juliet Fire Department for their quick response and ability to contain the fire to such a small portion of the school,” Johnson said.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Glenwood, MN – Fire at high school limited to one room by sprinkler system; No injuries reported March 20, 2017 viking210 Fire sprinklers did their job at the Minnewaska High School Thursday night and helped contain a fire to a science room. “Damage is fairly minor,” said Superintendent Greg Schmidt. “We’re thankful it was limited to one room and no one was hurt.” Most of the damage was caused by smoke and water in the east academic wing of the one-story building, which houses the district’s 4-12 graders. As a precaution to prevent students and staff from experiencing physical problems from the lingering smoke, all the classes were cancelled Friday in the district. “It made a lot of sense to keep kids out of the building,” Schmidt said. According to Starbuck Fire Chief Todd Johnshoy, a call at around 8:20 p.m. from a custodian at the school, as well as an automatic fire alarm, brought the Pope County Sheriff’s Department and fire departments from Starbuck and Glenwood to the scene. When crews arrived flames were visible in the science lab but were quickly extinguished, Johnshoy said. “The fire sprinkler system suppressed it and we went in and mopped up,” Johnshoy said. “Without the sprinklers there would’ve been a lot more damage.” Schmidt said it appears the fire was contained to a work station cabinet in the science room and the ceiling tiles above it. Johnshoy said the water damage was contained to a couple classrooms. “The biggest problem is the smoke,” Johnshoy said. “Once you open up a building like that, it went through the hallways.Johnshoy said the cause of the fire was “undetermined” at this time and that a Fire Marshall was on the scene until about midnight investigating the blaze. Schmidt said possible causes of the fire are suspected but he didn’t not want to comment until the Fire Marshall’s report was completed. Schmidt praised the firefighters and law enforcement for their quick response and for getting the smoke out of the building. The district’s insurance agent was expected to be on the scene Friday. Schmidt said he didn’t think the financial cost for the cleanup and repairs would be significant. “But certainly it’s a little disconcerting it happened.” He said it’s expected that classes will resume Monday.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Orting, WA – Sprinkler system help limit damage in early morning fire at high school March 19, 2017 viking210 All four schools in the Orting School District are on a two-hour delay after fire crews in Pierce County responded to a roof fire at Orting High School Thursday morning. The first call came in shortly after 4:30 a.m. By 5:30 a.m. crews had the fire out. According to the school district’s website, the fire started in a maintenance area above the boys locker room at the gymnasium. Sprinklers went off and contained the fire. It involved the HVAC system. No one was hurt. “Right now we’re just having crews do an overhaul and waiting for the Fire Marshall to do their investigation,” Orting Valley Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Zane Gibson said. “Both Graham, Central Pierce, and East Pierce Fire and Rescue responded.” Only the locker room has some water damage. “Sprinkler systems work, they did their job, and kept the fire very small,” Gibson said. There is no financial estimate on the damage caused by the fire. The gymnasium is in a separate building on the same property as the high school. No classrooms were affected by the fire.
