Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Tinley Park, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire at senior living facility

Firefighters rescued one person from a fire at a senior living facility in south suburban Tinley Park on Monday evening, according to authorities.

The fire was reported at around 5:15 p.m. at Hanover Place, 16851 S. Harlem Ave. According to authorities, the fire occurred in the living room of a first-floor unit, though a cause remained unclear late Monday.

One woman was freed by firefighters and transported to an area hospital with slight burns.

“It’s kinda scary you know… especially I just moved in… you know you thought it would never happen here,” said resident Debbie Drackley.

One resident who moved in less than two weeks ago said she was startled to hear a fire alarm while cooking dinner.

An automatic fire sprinkler system contained the fire before firefighters arrived on scene, said Tinley Park Fire Chief Steve Klotz.

“The fortunate thing is the sprinklers hold the fire in check, but the water starts getting into other units,” he said.

Four units sustained water damage and were deemed uninhabitable for the time being, authorities said.

Staff and residents had to evacuate the building, but have since been medically cleared and allowed to return.

Residents and officials say they’re thankful the fire wasn’t worse.

“Kudos to the sprinkler system for saving, obviously, the room plus many, many other lives that could have been in danger,” Klotz said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire in apartment complex; No injuries reported

Wilmington firefighters made quick work of a kitchen fire in an apartment Saturday morning.

Crews arrived on-scene at 110 Towne Estates Drive at about 8:15 a.m. after a report of smoke coming from an apartment with alarms sounding.

Firefighters found flames in the kitchen, but the fire was being contained by the building’s sprinkler system.

The crews finished dousing the flames and turned off the sprinklers, and the situation was declared under control in about 10 minutes.

The apartment’s occupants weren’t home when the fire broke out, and no one was hurt.

The city’s Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire, and at this point, there’s no dollar estimate of the damage, which was said to be minimal due to the sprinklers activating.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for third-floor apartment fire; No injuries reported

The Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating an apartment fire that occurred Tuesday evening.

Officials said just after 10:30 the Wilmington Fire Department was called to a residential structure fire in the 200 block of W 4th Street.

Emergency responders arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from the third-floor stairwell of a four-story, wood-framed apartment building situated at the intersection of W 4th Street and N Tatnall Street.

Firefighters quickly entered the building and located the source of the fire in a third-floor apartment. The blaze was being effectively managed by the building’s sprinkler system upon their arrival officials said. The fire department personnel extinguished a small fire located in one of the bedrooms and subsequently secured the sprinkler system to prevent further damage.

The activation of the sprinkler system played an important role in containing the fire. The apartment sustained only minor fire and smoke damage. The apartment directly below suffered water damage as a result of firefighting efforts. Officials said the quick containment of the fire allowed most residents to return to their apartments shortly after the fire was declared under control, about 15 minutes following the fire department’s arrival.

There were no reported injuries. The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation by the Wilmington Fire Marshal’s Office.

Approximately 30 fire and EMS personnel were dispatched to the scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ottawa, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire in second-floor apartment

A downtown apartment’s sprinkler system is being credited by the Ottawa Fire Department for extinguishing a fire Wednesday morning and ensuring the safety of a resident within the home.

Ottawa firefighters received a call at 8:34 a.m. Wednesday to a second-floor apartment fire at 601 La Salle St., in which the resident still was inside the home. Before firefighters’ arrival, the sprinkler system had been activated, the fire department said in a news release sent Wednesday.

The resident of the apartment still was inside when fire crews entered the apartment. Despite minor injuries, she was assisted out of the apartment, received prompt medical attention and was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa for further care, the fire department said.

“The importance of the sprinkler system in preventing a more severe incident cannot be overstated,” Deputy Fire Chief Michael Mills said. “It unquestionably prevented a potential tragedy, ensuring the safety of both the apartment and its occupant.”

After gaining control of the incident, salvage operations were initiated to minimize additional damage to the property. The fire’s origin was attributed to bedding material ignited by a nearby candle. It was deemed accidental.

The Ottawa Police Department and Ottawa Water Department assisted at the scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Muscatine, IA – Sprinkler system activated for third-floor apartment fire; No injuries reported

The Muscatine Fire Department responded to an apartment fire Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported, but the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army of Muscatine County, Iowa are assisting with relocation efforts.

Tuesday at approximately 9:38 a.m. the Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received an automatic alarm for a sprinkler system that was set off at the Harrison Lofts apartments, 1716 Bandag Drive, according to a media release from the fire department. Crews said they found a fire in the kitchen area of a third-floor apartment that they were able to quickly put out. Three dogs were rescued and residents were evacuated as a precaution during the investigation.

Crews say the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and direct fire damage is estimated to be about $5,000 and water damage is estimated to be an additional $20,000.

While crews were on their way to the scene, MUSCOM advised that someone on scene had called to report smoke in the hallway of the third floor, so the response was upgraded to a structure fire response at that time.

Crews said upon arrival the source of the fire was found to be in a third-floor apartment, but maintenance staff had put the fire out with fire extinguishers.

Crews then said they began to evacuate the third-floor, checking to make sure the fire was all the way out, and then beginning to mitigate water from the sprinklers that went off.

The fire was contained to the area above the stove and the cabinets above the stove, crews said. Smoke damage was limited to the kitchen area with some light smoke in the rest of the apartment. The sprinklers were successful in keeping the fire from spreading.

The Muscatine Police Department and the Animal Control Officer responded to help with evacuation and ensure the safety of the pets from the apartment. The Muscatine Fire Department had 15 staff members who responded to the scene.

The Muscatine County Emergency Manger responded as well to assist with relocation efforts along with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army of Muscatine County, Iowa.

Other - Residential, Residential

Kelowna, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes mattress fire at supportive housing building; No injuries reported

The Kelowna Fire Department responded to a blaze in the northern end of the city’s downtown core Saturday morning, Feb. 3.

A fire on the third floor of Ellis Place, a supportive housing building located at 1055 Ellis Street prompted occupants of the building to evacuate and a road closure between Recreation Avenue and Gaston Avenue.

The building was fully evacuated by the time 17 crew members responded to the blaze at around 10:40 a.m.

Everyone was accounted for and there were no injuries, said Capt. Corrie Lang from the KFD.

“It turned out to be a smoldering mattress in one of the units and the sprinkler system extinguished the fire,” Lang said. “Mostly smoke and water damage now.”

The road has since reopened, with crews currently cleaning up the scene.

Lang said the cause of the fire is unknown.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Washington, D.C. – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Capital One Arena; No injuries reported

DC Fire and EMS personnel were called to the arena on Sunday morning when a small fire broke out inside the building. 

It was reported on the second floor, according to officials.

Sprinklers inside the building were able to make quick work of the small fire, though there was smoke permeating throughout parts of the arena that crews had to ventilate upon their arrival.

No injuries were reported. It is unclear what caused the fire.

The Wizards are still set to play the Phoenix Suns inside Capital One Arena at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 4.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

New Bedford, MA – Sprinkler system contains fire at mill complex; No injuries reported

Thursday morning at 9:55am, 911 calls were received reporting a possible explosion inside the mill complex located at 46 Harbor Street.

First arriving crews reported the sprinkler system was flowing and a smoke condition on the first floor. This is a three-story, Type 4 mill building measuring over 900’ long and 100’ wide. The fire originated in the office space of a machine shop on the first floor. The fire was contained by one sprinkler head.

Fire crews performed overhaul, conducted ventilation operations, and assisted in restoring the sprinkler system.
The cause of the fire was investigated by the NBFD Fire Investigation Unit and determined to be a heat gun left too close to combustibles. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

New Bedford EMS, City of New Bedford Police Department (Official), City of New Bedford Emergency Management assisted on scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charlotte, NC – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters rescued two dogs from an apartment fire in north Charlotte Wednesday, officials said. 

Charlotte Fire responded to a fire at an apartment complex on Waterford Valley Circle, which is just off West W.T. Harris Boulevard and West Sugar Creek Road, around noon on Wednesday.

The fire was quickly put out by the building’s sprinkler system and no one was hurt during the incident, according to Charlotte Fire officials. Two dogs were rescued from inside the building and are expected to be OK.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. CFD posted photos and videos from the scene and there wasn’t any apparent damage to the building.

No further information was released.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Lawrence, KS – Sprinkler system activated for electrical malfunction at law enforcement center; No injuries reported

There were no injuries from a fire at the law enforcement center in Lawrence late Tuesday.

Just before 11p.m. crews responded to a fire alarm at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center at 111 East 11th Street in Lawrence, according to Fire Chief Richard Llewellyn.

This facility houses several Douglas County departments, including the District Attorney, Emergency Communications Center (ECC), Court Services and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

While initial units were responding, the incident was upgraded to a “Confirmed Structure Fire” and additional resources were dispatched.

First responders encountered significant smoke in the basement of the building.  Following a thorough search in low visibility conditions, firefighters located a fire that was contained by a single activated fire sprinkler head.

Crews put the fire out and then searched the rest of the building for fire extension and to ensure that no victims were present.

Douglas County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) continued to operate throughout this incident, both receiving incoming 911 calls and dispatching resources as appropriate. Dispatchers monitored ongoing fire operations in the building and worked through an audible fire alarm which remained activated for an extended time period.

Investigators determined the fire occurred in the jury deliberation room for the Division 7 Court Room in the basement of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

The room had experienced water damage from a sprinkler head that was damaged during recent freezing temperatures. The fire was determined to be accidental due to an electrical/mechanical malfunction of a fan that had been left running in the room to assist with the drying process. No injuries were reported.

Simple Share Buttons