Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Dover, OH – Fire at manufacturing facility extinguished by sprinkler system

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A rubber injection mold press was damaged by fire on May 26 at Meteor Sealing Systems, 400 S. Tuscarawas Ave.

Firefighters were dispatched at 3:36 p.m., according to an announcement from the Dover Fire Department. On arrival, firefighters were told by plant personnel that a machine was on fire. Firefighters assisted eight plant staff out of the building and then searched for the fire in near zero visibility.

Crews found that the fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. Due to the size of the building, it took firefighters 45 minutes to ventilate the smoke out of the building.

One employee was examined by EMS personnel for smoke inhalation but was not transported to the hospital.

There was smoke and water damage in the area surrounding the machine. There is no damage estimate yet.

The cause of the fire is due to a malfunction of the machine and is being investigated by company personnel.

Assisting Dover at the scene were firefighters from New Philadelphia, Strasburg and Sugarcreek and personnel from Smith Ambulance.

Other - Retail, Retail

Woodinville, WA – Sprinkler system contains explosion fire at hardware store; No injuries reported

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Crews are investigating an explosion that happened in Woodinville on Monday afternoon.

What we know:

Eastside Fire and Rescue (EFR) announced the incident on social media at 2:42 p.m. Officials said the explosion happened at a hardware store near the corner of 130th Ave NE and Little Bear Creek Parkway.

Firefighters from Bothell, Shoreline and Kirkland fire departments assisted at the scene.

The fire was mostly contained by the facility’s sprinkler system, but emergency crews responded to ensure full control and safety. No injuries were reported.

What we don’t know:

A fire investigator has been requested to the scene.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Harrisonburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at hotel

A Harrisonburg man has been arrested for intentionally setting a fire in a hotel room earlier this week.

John Wesley Whitaker Jr. was taken into custody by the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, after allegedly admitting to starting the fire.

Harrisonburg Fire Department units were dispatched Tuesday for a fire alarm in the 1400 block of East Market Street.

While enroute, the incident was upgraded to a structure fire with smoke coming from one of the rooms. Units arrived at the location in under two minutes and found a fire contained by a functioning fire sprinkler system.

Fire department personnel were able to quickly extinguish the fire, and water and smoke damage were limited.

The hotel was evacuated temporarily while personnel confirmed the fire was extinguished.

Whitaker was initially transported to the hospital for evaluation before being released and then taken into custody.

He was charged with multiple felonies including:

  • Section 18.2-77 Burning or destroying a dwelling house, etc. (attempted)
  • Section 18.2-81 Burning or destroying personal property

“Starting a fire an in occupied building is an extremely serious matter,” said Captain Luke Walker with the HFD Fire Marshal Office. “We would like to thank the Commonwealth’s Attorney for their willingness to support the pursuit of these charges, as well as the Harrisonburg Police Department and Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office for their support during the investigation.”

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fresno, CA – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

A morning kitchen fire prompted the temporary closure of a popular restaurant in Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department said.

Crews responded to a commercial fire on the 4400 block of West Ashlan Ave. on Thursday around 7:30 a.m.

Firefighters say a small kitchen fire at a popular restaurant, the Legendary Pho Kitchen, activated the sprinkler system, extinguishing the flames before they arrived on the scene. Although the fire was minor and no injuries were reported, the sprinkler activation caused damage throughout the business.

This incident, fire crews say, prompted the restaurant to close. The business will be closed until necessary repairs are made. An expected opening time has not been provided.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Other - Residential, Residential

Eugene, OR – Cooking fire contained by sprinkler system

Eugene Springfield Fire responded Thursday to 3648 N. Delta Highway for a cooking fire that was controlled with a residential sprinkler system.

Officials say the resident was cooking and had a stovetop fire that spread up to the kitchen cabinets before being controlled by the sprinklers.

Fire crews on scene assured extinguishment, searched, salvaged belongings, and overhauled the scene to assure no spread.

“Ladder 11 from the Santa Clara station, Truck 1, Battalion 1 and the Fire Investigator are on scene,” the fire department said Thursday afternoon.

Historic Building, Other Business

Syracuse, NY – Sprinkler system activated for fire at historic building; No injuries reported

Firefighters put out a fire Tuesday afternoon on the third floor of the historic Gridley Building in downtown’s Hanover Square.

The fire at 101 E. Water St. was reported at about 2:35 p.m., according to 911 Center dispatches.

Firefighters found heavy smoke on the third floor, according to District Chief Matt Craner, a fire department spokesperson.

No injuries were reported, according to a fire official.

Water Street was closed from Washington Street to South Warren Street. Washington Street was also closed from East Genesee Street to South Salina Street.

The fire set off the sprinkler system, causing heavy smoke. All occupants were evacuated, Craner said. The fire was out after about 50 minutes, he said.

The third floor contains office space, Craner said.

The third floor of the building suffered moderate fire damage, Craner said.

The third and fourth floor suffered smoke damage. All floors of the building suffered water damage, including the Prime Steak House restaurant on the ground floor, he said.

Designed by local architect Horatio Nelson White, the building was completed adjacent to the Erie Canal (now Erie Boulevard) in 1867 for the Onondaga County Savings Bank.

White is also known for designing Syracuse University’s first building, the Hall of Languages, which was completed in 1870 and has a similar style as the Gridley Building.

Over recent decades, the building has housed restaurants on its ground floor and office space in its upper floors.

Apartment Building, Residential

Alameda, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A small fire triggered the sprinkler system inside an apartment complex in Alameda, forcing people – many of them elderly – to find somewhere else to stay. 

The fire was reported just after midnight on Tuesday on West Atlantic Avenue.

Firefighters found smoke on the first floor and immediately evacuated everyone.

The fire activated the sprinkler system, which put out the fire, but left behind enough water to displace the residents.

It was a scary alarm to wake up to.

“This is shocking,” Sharon Kidd said. “We have a lot of seniors here that have a lot of water damage and won’t be able to sleep in their apartments tonight. I hope I can sleep in mine tonight.”

Resident Salvador Villegas said the fire started on the third floor, one floor above his.

“That’s kind of a close call for us,” he said.

The Red Cross came out to help make arrangements. The fire department said no one was injured.

Other - Retail, Retail

West Mifflin, PA – Sprinkler system activated for car fire in loading dock at Home Depot; No injuries reported

Pleasant Hills volunteer firefighters quickly knocked down a fire in the rear of the Home Depot in West Mifflin Sunday night.

Crews were called to the store around 11:30 p.m. and discovered a fire in the loading dock area, which was being kept in check by the sprinkler system. Firefighters extinguished the fire and assisted in closing off the sprinklers once it was out.

Firefighters said all employees were able to exit the building and no one was injured.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Chesapeake Beach, MD – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at townhouse; No injuries reported

A fire suppression system is being credited with halting a kitchen fire before it could spread through a Chesapeake Beach townhouse Sunday afternoon, May 18, 2025.

Crews responded to the scene following a report of smoke coming from a residence in the 2600 block of Deerfield Lane. Units from multiple jurisdictions, including North Beach, Dunkirk, Huntingtown, Prince Frederick, and Anne Arundel County, responded to the scene.

Units first to arrive reported visible smoke from a two-story townhouse.

Firefighters quickly located a kitchen fire that had already been contained by a single sprinkler head from the home’s automatic fire suppression system. Crews confirmed the fire was extinguished, shut off the sprinkler system, and ventilated the residual smoke.

Officials said the fire damage was limited to the kitchen. No injuries were reported, and the occupants were not home at the time of the fire.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Coeymans, NY – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at elementary school

A fire in Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School was purposely ignited, according to the superintendent of schools. The fire was set in an upstairs boys’ bathroom on Tuesday.

Superintendent Brian Bailey said the student will be held accountable for their actions.

The school’s sprinkler system put out the fire, but smoke spread throughout the building. There was also water damage on the first and second floors. The school was evacuated, and the building was closed on Wednesday for cleaning by a fire remediation team.

The bathroom where the fire occurred and the bathroom immediately below it will remain closed as cleaning and repairs continue.

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