Apartment Building, Residential

Harborcreek Township, PA – Apartment fire quickly stopped by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system helped stop a fire quickly this morning in Harborcreek Township. Fire crews responded around 9 a.m. to an apartment in the 1100 block of Arnerman Court.

The fire was contained to a bedroom thanks to the apartment’s sprinkler system. No one was hurt, but a few residents are displaced, and the Red Cross is helping.

The fire chief reminds everyone to take extra precautions during cold weather to help firefighters respond quickly and safely.

James Hawryliw Fire Chief and EMT at Fairfield Hose Company VFD stated, “Always make sure your fire hydrants are clear of snow, so that when we arrive, if we need to access that hydrant, and also have a plan for this cold of weather.”

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Harrisonburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

A properly functioning fire alarm and sprinkler system contained a serious fire at the Walmart in Harrisonburg early Monday morning, January 19, 2026.

According to a release, Harrisonburg firefighters were called to the Walmart on Burgess Road at approximately 4 AM with what was initially dispatched as an automatic fire alarm. The incident was upgraded by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center when they received a 9-1-1 call from the store reporting a fire in the warehouse area.

Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed the presence of a fire and an activated sprinkler system actively containing the fire. A second-alarm assignment was requested, bringing a total of approximately 40 firefighters to the scene. The fire was contained within 15 minutes and completely extinguished within 30 minutes. Personnel remained on location for an extended period of time clearing smoke from the 207,000-square-foot facility.

The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental as a result of button-cell (or coin-cell) lithium-ion batteries that ignited inside combustible packaging within a heavy-duty wire framed storage unit.

“The presence of a properly functioning fire sprinkler system contained what could have otherwise been a catastrophic fire,” HFD Fire Chief Matthew Tobia said. “Lithium-Ion batteries, even properly stored, have the potential to fail, causing a fire. As we are seeing globally, these batteries are posing new challenges for firefighters in an ever-evolving technologically driven marketplace. Firefighters did an outstanding job of completing extinguishment, preventing further damage.”

The building was evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters, and there were no injuries to employees, community members or responders. A damage estimate has not been set while clean-up and recovery efforts are underway. HFD was assisted at the scene by units from Rockingham County Fire Rescue, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg Police Department and the Merck facility (located in Elkton).

The majority of fire department personnel cleared the scene by 7:30 AM, and the last fire department unit left the scene at approximately 8:45 AM.

Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse

Clearfield County, PA – Sprinkler system contains fire at Walmart distribution center

Emergency crews were called to the scene of the Walmart Distribution Center in Bradford Township, Clearfield County around 11:15 p.m. Friday evening.

According to the Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Company, crews arrived at the scene to assist the BJW Volunteer Fire Company after a robotic machine had caught fire.

Emergency officials said crews were on scene for approximately one hour.

Officials also said that, after emergency crews cleared the scene, they were immediately paged back to the same location after another fire had broken out.

According to the Morris Township Volunteer Fire Company, the sprinkler system contained the second fire to the second and third floor racking systems, and crews were able to quickly extinguish the blaze.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Beaumont, TX – Sprinkler system controls fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

A fire caused by electrical issues has forced the temporary closure of a restaurant in Orange Friday morning, according to the fire department.

Firefighters were called to Two Amigos, located at 2308 Lutcher Drive, shortly after 7:30 a.m. As firefighters arrived at the fire they reported “light smoke showing from the outside” of the building. They determined the fire started in the dining area just outside the kitchen and was caused by electrical problems, according to the fire department.

The fire was quickly brought under control by the restaurant’s sprinkler system, preventing further damage, according to firefighters at the scene.

Firefighters also confirmed there was a small fire at the same restaurant the day before. As a result, the business has been closed until proper repairs can be completed. Officials said Entergy and the gas company were called to the scene and were “pulling the meters” as part of the response.

No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Minot, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at hotel; No injuries reported

A hotel’s sprinkler system in Minot put out a fire.

The Minot fire department responded to the Baymont Hotel in the southwest part of town Monday afternoon.

A fire started in a storage room. The building’s sprinkler system put out the flames, and there were no injuries.

Due to the damage from the fire, guests were asked to collect their personal belongings with the help of crews.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the hotel is closed until necessary repairs and inspections can be made.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Mount Crawford, VA – Sprinkler system activated for lithium battery fire at Buc-ee’s; No injuries reported

Fire crews responded to a structure fire at the Buc-ee’s location in Mount Crawford on just after 9 p.m. on Friday evening.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they discovered smoke billowing from the building. Upon entering to investigate, crews found flames in the storeroom area. The facility’s sprinkler system automatically activated, helping contain the fire and prompting an immediate evacuation of the building.

Chief Jeremy Holloway of the Rockingham County Fire and Rescue explained that the fire originated from lithium batteries on a golf cart used to service the fuel pumps.

“The battery started to smoke, and within a minute or so, the golf cart was engulfed in flames,” Holloway said.

Employees attempted to extinguish the fire using portable fire extinguishers, but the effort was unsuccessful against the rapidly spreading flames.

Holloway credited the building’s sprinkler system with preventing a catastrophe.

“Due to the good working sprinkler system, the fire was contained and held to the storeroom area until the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire,” he said.

After firefighters finished extinguishing the blaze, they placed several large fans inside the building to exhaust the smoke.

According to a Facebook post by the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department fire was completely cleared within two hours and five departments responded to the incident:

  • Rockingham County Department of Fire & Rescue
  • Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Company
  • Bridgewater Volunteer Rescue Squad
  • Weyers Cave Volunteer Fire Department
  • Grottoes Volunteer Fire Department

No injuries were reported.

Chief Holloway issued an important safety reminder regarding lithium batteries.

“If these batteries heat up, please get them out in the open air immediately because they will ignite and burn rapidly,” Holloway said.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

New Lenox, IL – Sprinkler system activated for machine fire

The New Lenox Fire Protection District responded to a reported structure fire in the 2200 block of Berens Drive in New Lenox just after 1:10 Thursday afternoon.

Upon arrival, crews found a baling machine on fire in an isolated room, with smoke conditions throughout the building. The facility’s automatic sprinkler system activated and successfully kept the fire in check. Fire crews then supplemented the sprinkler system with additional suppression efforts to further extinguish the fire. 

The incident remains ongoing but is under control at this time. 

Multiple agencies assisted on scene and provided station coverage to ensure continued service to the community, including the Frankfort Fire Protection District and Manhattan Fire Protection District. 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Sioux city, IA – Sprinkler system quickly extinguished fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Sioux City Fire Rescue was called to the Joan L. and Norm Wait Senior Apartments located at 3500 Peters Ave, on Morningside University’s campus.

Crews were initially called to the scene for a reported fire alarm. Once on scene, they had a fire that was put out by the building’s sprinkler system. They then called for additional rigs.

Sioux City Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief, Frank Fulton, told KTIV that the cause was something next to a space heater that caught fire.

He also says the fire was put out quickly by the building’s sprinkler system.

Morningside University says no students, faculty, or staff were injured during the incident.

“The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities,” said Morningside University. All residents of the building were temporarily evacuated as a precautionary measure and have since been cleared to return to their rooms.”

University officials say one residential unit was affected.

“Due to the incident, one residential unit was affected. The students residing in this unit will be temporarily relocated to other on-campus housing University staff are working directly with these students to ensure they have the support and resources they need,” said Morningside University. We are grateful for the swift response of the local fire department and our campus safety team.”

With many people using space heaters this season, Sioux City Fire Rescue wants to remind Siouxlanders to always be cautious.

“Something for people to remember is, you want to keep at least a 3-foot distance around your space heaters,” said Assistant Fire Chief Fulton. “They do get pretty hot, obviously, that is what started the fire tonight.”

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Petersburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for air conditioning unit fire at hotel; No injuries reported

Fire crews responded to a hotel fire in Petersburg on Sunday afternoon after an air conditioning unit caught fire and spread to the building, according to authorities.

Multiple calls reported the air conditioning unit was fully engulfed in flames on the side of the three-story Best Inn at 555 East Wythe Street around 4 p.m.

Crews found heavy fire showing on the side of the building when they arrived. Firefighters began evacuating the building and conducting searches to make sure everyone had made it out safely.

The fire was marked under control within 12 minutes of dispatch, according to fire officials.

Fire crews shut down the building’s sprinkler system as part of their response.

Fire crews remained actively operating on the scene Sunday evening. Officials urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to work.

No injuries were reported.

Officials said the blaze displaced roughly 50 people.

Apartment Building, Residential

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

A stove fire activated sprinklers at a Wilmington apartment complex Thursday, but the blaze was largely extinguished by the time firefighters arrived.

The fire was reported at 11:05 a.m. at a two-story complex the 200 block of East E Street, according Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz.

Firefighters encountered light smoke on arrival, shut down the sprinklers and ensured the fire had not spread into the walls or ceiling, Lantz said.

No injuries were reported.

Crews were expected to remain on scene for water removal, Lantz said.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers