Other / Not Specified, Other Business Cumberland, RI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at business caused by charged batteries September 21, 2015 viking210 Charged batteries shipped to a company that refurbishes electronic equipment “heated up to ignition temperature” and started a fire in the Cadillac Mills complex Thursday, Cumberland Fire Chief Kenneth A. Finlay said. The fire, at Aztek Technologies, 30 Meeting St., Cumberland, was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system before firefighters arrived, Finlay said. Firefighters were called to the mill, which has entrances on Meeting Street and Titus Street, at 5:16 p.m. Thursday. They found only smoke, water and a 24- by 36- by 18-inch cardboard box of batteries where the fire apparently started. Some of the company’s product near the box of batteries had been damaged, he said. Usually the company receives shipments of batteries that haven’t been charged, but the box contained live batteries, which Finlay attributed to a packing error. Employees of the many businesses in the mill complex evacuated when the alarm sounded, including 10 from Texcel Industries, which makes military and camouflage webbing. No one was injured. The building sustains some water damage because firefighters had trouble turning off the sprinkler system, Finlay said. Firefighters from the Saylesville fire company in Lincoln assisted with a ladder truck.
