Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential Fire at senior apartment building contained by sprinkler system (Portsmouth, VA) November 27, 2013 viking210 The sprinkler system kept a blaze in check inside a residential building for senior citizens until firefighters could arrive on Tuesday night. No injuries were reported in the fire, said Deputy Fire Chief Jim Hoffler. Over the years, though, the facility has had at least two fatal fires that have caused major damage, Hoffler said. The sprinkler system may have saved lives, he added. The blaze was reported shortly after 10 p.m. on the top floor of the four-story building. The fire was contained by the sprinklers in one room of the apartment where it began. Hoffler said he did not yet know the cause.