Crews responded to the property at 300 Adams Ave. around 10 a.m. and found the fire was held in check and extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Megotz said. The business was able to remain open without disruption and no injuries were reported, he added.
Firefighters checked the building for extensions, performed overhaul and ventilated the basement for smoke, Megotz said.
On Sunday, severe storms swept through Charles County, prompting multiple emergency calls for the Potomac Heights crew. While managing incidents, including a water rescue of victims trapped in a submerged vehicle, firefighters attempted to prepare dinner at the station. Before completing their meal, they were dispatched to another flood-related emergency. Upon returning, they heard alarms and observed smoke in the kitchen, where the station’s sprinkler system had activated, confining the fire to the cabinets and immediate area.
The rapid response of the sprinkler system limited damage to the kitchen, ensuring no injuries occurred. The Potomac Heights station, built in 1975 and renovated in the 1990s to meet updated life safety codes, is equipped with smoke alarms and an automatic fire sprinkler system. This incident underscores the importance of such systems in protecting even fire stations, which serve as critical community hubs.
Fire Chief Michael Gimmel praised the sprinkler system’s performance. “Our members constantly put damages in harm’s way to serve the community. I’m incredibly thankful that our safety systems worked flawlessly to keep them safe at home,” Gimmel said. The station’s infrastructure, designed to prioritize safety, proved its value in containing the fire before it could spread.
The department expressed gratitude to mutual aid partners who assisted at the scene and to Charles County fire chiefs and members who offered support. “The type of incident response and support received reflect the strong, family-oriented culture of the Volunteer Fire Service here in Charles County,” the department stated.
The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of emergencies, even within a fire station. Potomac Heights volunteers were stretched thin by storm-related calls, including life-threatening flood rescues, yet the station’s safety systems ensured their home base remained operational. The limited damage allowed the department to continue serving the community without significant disruption.
Charles County’s storm season, often marked by heavy rain and flooding, places high demands on volunteer fire departments. The Potomac Heights station’s ability to withstand this incident demonstrates the importance of modern safety upgrades, such as those implemented during its 1990s renovation. The department encourages residents to install and maintain smoke alarms and consider sprinkler systems to enhance home safety.
According to the Sacramento Fire Department, the fire began shortly after 1 a.m. on the 100 block of K Street. Crews found cold smoke upon entry, which Sacramento Fire Captain Justin Sylvia says “is a very dangerous situation” for firefighters.
He says the building also contained many obstacles for crews due to costumes and merchandise. Firefighters were able to put out the fire with the help of the building’s sprinkler system.
“Once [fire crews] did locate the fire, the fire was being kept what we call ‘in check’ by the fire sprinklers inside, so they were able to get a quick knockdown on the fire,” said Sylvia. “The real hero, I guess you could say in this, were the fire sprinklers.”
Evangeline’s suffered “extensive” damage due to a combination of the fire, smoke and flooding caused by the sprinklers. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
The building containing Evangeline’s Costume Mansion, also known as the Lady Adams Building, is considered to be the oldest building in Old Sacramento.
A fire broke out at a three-story building in northeast D.C. on Tuesday.
D.C. Fire and EMS was notified by an automatic fire alarm. The building, which sits at the 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue NE, is combined with the Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza restaurant on the first floor. The blaze was reported on the third floor.
The fire was extinguished by firefighters and a sprinkler system is helping keep it contained.
There were no injuries and investigators have been requested.
The sprinkler system put out the fire and the building was safely evacuated. There were no injuries reported.
The building was briefly closed to be ventilated and assessed for water damage, and has now been cleared and reopened by the Hamilton Fire Department.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, a 13-year-old was identified as the suspect who started the fire.
The sheriff’s office said the teen was booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center Wednesday morning for first-degree arson.
According to the sheriff’s office, the fire resulted in an estimated loss of over $50,000 in merchandise and fire-related damage.
The sheriff’s office said detectives believe that two other minors were with the suspect at the time of the fires. The sheriff’s office said the suspect used a torch-type lighter to burn holes in boxes that had merchandise in them before walking away.
The box caught on fire and lit other boxes on fire, which triggered the fire suppression system and sprinklers.
In May, the Spokane Valley Fire Department said firefighters responded to a single-head sprinkler activation at the Spokane Valley Mall inside the JCPenney store at around 8 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
The fire department said the sprinklers did their job and stopped the forward progress of the fire.
JCPenney General Manager Aaron Klennert said damage to the merchandise was limited, and the majority of the damage was structural due to excessive water from the sprinklers.
Klennert said the fire happened on the top floor of the store in the home section, just minutes before closing time. Staff said it took a while to turn off the sprinklers, causing about three inches of water to spread across the floor and seep down into the ceiling of the first floor.
According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire broke out in the maintenance bay area but was quickly contained by the building’s sprinkler system. Multiple units responded, and no injuries were reported.
We will provide an update if additional verified information becomes available.
According to a release from the New Berlin Fire Department, crews responded at 2:13 a.m. for reports of a vehicle fire at 12560 West Mac Alister Way after a neighbor said they saw smoke coming from a garage.
Once on scene, officials say a large multi-family residential complex had its sprinkler system activated, controlling the vehicle fire in the garage and allowing firefighters to quickly extinguish the rest of the fire.
No one was hurt in the incident, and damages were limited, with residents being allowed to reenter their homes within an hour.
There is no information on what caused the fire, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Oklahoma City firefighters put out an early morning fire at a building in northeast Oklahoma City.
This happened just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday near Northeast 3rd and Kate Avenue.
Firefighters say a bin full of dust mops caught fire.
The building’s sprinkler system helped contain the fire to the bin.
Firefighters put out the fire.
No one was hurt.
Firefighters aren’t sure how the bin caught fire.
The person is expected to be okay, they only had minor injuries.
Puget Sound Fire says the fire started Tuesday morning in a first-floor unit. Two sprinklers went off and helped crews extinguish it.
The cause of the fire is now under investigation.
