At 11:15 p.m. firefighters arrived at the building on the 300 block of N. Orchard Street for a fire alarm going off.
MFD said an automatic fire sprinkler head detected the fire and turned on. The sprinkler head also triggered the building’s fire alarm.
Firefighters put out the rest of the fire with a two-and-a-half-gallon water can extinguisher.
The fire appeared to start in a hamper full of rags or towels in a kitchen, MFD noted.
The fire caused a few burned items, MFD said, and a small amount of damage to a wall nearby.
There was no damage to the rest of the building, and it was reopened in a few hours.
“The incident highlights the importance of protecting buildings and facilities with automatic fire sprinklers to contain fire, minimize damage, and prevent injury and harm,” MFD said in a statement.
The building is home to two research institutes and a community hub for science and innovation, crews noted.
