When Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) firefighters arrived on the scene around 2:30 p.m., the building’s fire suppression system had already triggered, which extinguished the flames.
The preliminary investigation revealed the tenants may have accidentally turned on a burner while cleaning. A pot with grease heated up, causing it to catch fire.
The 500 building was evacuated as a precaution.
Fire crews were able to shut off the sprinkler system and used fans to blow smoke out of the unit and overhaul the apartment.
“Sprinklers do save lives and property. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of sprinklers,” said Fire Marshal Carl Peas. “We also encourage residents to never leave food on a stove unattended.”
Several apartments sustained minimum water damage from the sprinkler system. Electricity was turned off to several units while the maintenance crews restored the units.
