Category Archives: School / University

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

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Arcata, CA – Fire in residence hall knocked down by sprinkler system; No injuries

At approximately 7:40 p.m. Friday Humboldt State University police (UPD) received a fire alarm activation at Alder Hall. At the same time Arcata Fire District was dispatched to the same location and for the same alarm. Upon further investigation, a University Police Department officer saw smoke coming from the first floor of Alder Hall and upgraded the alarm to a full fire alarm response.

The first engine on scene reported light-to-moderate white smoke coming from the first floor laundry room of Alder Hall. The fire crew made entry into the laundry room and reported it to be a dryer fire. After further investigation, the crew reported there was no fire; the sprinkler system had activated and knocked down the fire.

“There was heavy smoke in the room but, after we cleared it out, we realized the fire started because of a malfunctioning motor blowing unit inside the dryer” Fire Captain Nate Padula said.

There were no injuries reported and the student housing authorities are currently working on getting the students back into their apartments.

Arcata Fire District responded with two engines, one truck and two chief officers. Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded as automatic aid with one engine and Humboldt Bay Fire Department responded as automatic aid with one engine and one chief officer. The University Police Department responded to the initial alarm and provided logistics after fire crews arrived on scene.

 

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory

Charleston, IL – Residence hall fire at Eastern Illinois University doused by sprinkler system

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Incense that was lit and unattended was found to be the cause of a closet fire that occurred at about 7:15 p.m. on the fifth floor, room 5G, in Stevenson Hall Thursday. The Charleston Fire Department responded to the fire at 7:31 p.m.

Mark Hudson, the director of university Housing and Dining, said the heat from the fire, which damaged a corner of the closet, activated the sprinkler system and “quickly” doused the flames. Having candles, incense and any other open flames goes against housing policy, Hudson said.

“There is minor damage to the room from the fire, but the water sprinklers going on caused additional issues in the building,” said Hudson.

Hudson said other suites got wet from the system but were cleaned by the building service workers, and electricians came to replace smoke detectors in the room with fire damage and others affected by water. Those who lived in the room affected by the fire were all moved to a different suite within the building.

Hudson said the student who caused the fire came forward, but he was not able to release the student’s name yet because of everything still being a part of the overall investigation.

The student responsible for the fire will face disciplinary action from the university.  “It’s a very serious situation because it’s safety violation; they went against the rules of the building in terms of its fire safety,” Hudson said.

Hudson said the damage cost of the fire and water was uncertain, but the building is fully open to students except for the room where the fire occurred.

Students that were evacuated from the building were not allowed to enter until 10:45 p.m. and those who were eating during the time of the fire were given meal credit, said Hudson.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Bellingham, WA – Sprinklers put out fire in chemistry building at Western Washington University

A chemical fire erupted in a Western Washington University chemistry building on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 25. No one was injured, and the building was evacuated right after the fire broke out about 5:15 p.m., said WWU spokesman Paul Cocke.

Student Melany Fry was in room 370 of Morse Hall with six other students when the fire broke out. “We heard a big bang and a whoosh,” Fry said.

Fry said the fire started by a dry-solvent pump, which keeps water out of solvents. She didn’t think anybody was working with that pump at the time.

The flames were initially about 15 feet high, Fry said. All of the students got out quickly while somebody else tried putting the fire out with an extinguisher.

Firefighters responded and saw a plume coming from the building. They set up a perimeter far from the building to keep everyone away as they tried to determine what chemicals were involved.

The building’s sprinklers put out the fire. Firefighters broke out windows to ventilate the building, and conducted a search for anyone who might still be inside, though the building had been cleared. They later ordered an evacuation of the nearby biology building.

A hazardous materials team was brought in to examine the lab and ensure the scene was safe.

Jared Chang, another WWU student who was in the building at the time, described the chemicals the students were working with as “a bunch of nasty, organic solvents that you don’t want on fire.”

What caused the fire was under investigation Tuesday evening. No immediate damage estimate was available.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sparks, NV – Sprinkler system puts out fire at high school during school hours; No injuries

Students at Spanish Springs High School held their first fire drill of the year at around 9:45 a.m. Shortly after noon, they were rehashing what they’d learned for real. A small fire broke out in the 100 wing of the school just a few hours after the fire drill. The alarms rang immediately throughout the school while the sprinkler system activated in the area of the fire and put it out.

Washoe County School District spokeswoman Victoria Campbell said the students left the building without incident. Campbell said the Sparks Fire Department showed up and mopped some of the school since it was a little damp. Students were back in class around an hour after it happened, save for the classroom where the fire originated.

“There were no injuries, no problems,” she said. “The school was completely empty and everyone got outside.” A call went out to parents around 3 p.m. informing them of the incident. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Dallas, GA – Sprinklers help douse fire in high school chemistry lab

A small fire occurred in a chemistry lab at Paulding County High School Thursday, the school district said on Facebook.

The Paulding County School District said in a post to parents that students were evacuated into gymnasium areas. No injuries were reported. No fire damage was reported, but water from the sprinkler system did cause some damage.

Here’s the school district’s Facebook post:

Parents of PCHS students: There was a small fire in one of PCHS’s chem labs today. Students were evacuated and moved into the gyms due to a severe weather alerts. The fire did not cause any damage, but there is some water damage from the overhead sprinkler system. We are working quickly to make the necessary repairs.

Thanks to Paulding County Fire & EMA and our district maintenance department who responded quickly to the incident.

Our safety procedures were followed and there were no injuries from the fire. Thanks to all involved for their cooperation and quick thinking during this situation.

Primary / Secondary School

Antioch, CA – Sprinkler system helps to limit damage in arson fire at elementary school

Fire inspectors suspect an arsonist set two dumpsters ablaze at an elementary school in Antioch on Saturday, a fire official with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said Monday.

Firefighters responded just before 7 p.m. to a report from a person walking by the Mno Grant Elementary School, located at 4325 Spaulding St., of a fire at the school, fire Capt. George Laing said.

Laing said fire crews arrived to find two dumpsters engulfed in flames that were adjacent to a masonry wall and overhang.

The fire burned through some of the overhang and caused minor damage to the roof but Laing said for the most part, the fire was contained to the overhang and dumpsters.

One sprinkler activated and protected the main electrical service, Laing said. Firefighters were able to douse the flames quickly and Laing said there were no injuries reported.

Fire inspectors determined someone set the dumpster on fire intentionally, but Laing said he couldn’t release more details because the fire is under investigation. 

A call to Antioch police was not immediately returned.Laing said it’s helpful for neighbors to pay attention to their surroundings and immediately report any suspicious activity or smoke to 911.

 

College/University (on campus), School / University

Iowa City, IA – Lab fire at University of Iowa contained with help from sprinkler system

The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a fire on the University of Iowa campus Friday afternoon. According to a news release, crews were called to the Chemistry Building, 251 N. Capitol St., at 3:47 p.m. Friday for a report of an active fire in one of the labs.

Responding crews located a fire in one of the labs, which was partially suppressed by the sprinkler system. The fire was extinguished within eight minutes and crews remained on scene to assist with cleanup and ventilating the building. They were assisted by UI and Iowa City police, the Johnson County Ambulance Service and MidAmerican Energy. While employees were in the lab when the fire began, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire department and UI public safety.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Pittsburgh, PA – Residence hall fire at Duquesne University extinguished by sprinkler system

A small kitchen fire at a dormitory at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University was quickly extinguished and hurt no one. City firefighters were called to Brottier Hall just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, but the fire was put out by the sprinkler system before they arrived. 

University spokeswoman Bridget Fare says 500 students live in the building, but most are on vacation or not living there during the summer. Still, 30 apartments were affected by water damage from the building’s sprinkler system. Fare says 15 students who live in those units were temporarily staying elsewhere. The university found alternate housing for 11 students, while four opted to stay with friends. 

Some apartments were expected to be repaired by Thursday, while others might take a week to fix.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Nashville, TN – Sprinklers activate to help control arson fire at high school

Stratford High School suffered damage after a propane torch was used to set fire to an administrative office.  Officials with Metro Police said the incident happened Sunday at the school located on Stratford Avenue in Nashville.

Investigators said Trevarious Carney used a portable fire extinguisher and broke into the school during the evening hours.   The 20-year-old was allegedly seen on security video inside the building.

According to police, he first set a fire to the carpet inside an administrative office.  He fled the scene after the fire alarm began sounding.  The building’s sprinkler system went off, keeping the fire contained to the office area. 

Carney was identified as a suspect and charged with attempted arson.  No additional details were known. 

College/University (on campus), School / University

Los Angeles, CA – Fire at UCLA engineering building contained by single sprinkler

A small electrical fire broke out at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering on the UCLA campus in Westwood on Saturday, but it was held in check by a sprinkler and was out when firefighters arrived, authorities said.  No injuries were reported and no one was evacuated as a result of the fire, which was reported just after 4 p.m.