College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, School / University

Durham, NC – Dorm room fire at Duke University extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A dorm room was damaged in a fire at Duke University on Saturday evening, officials said. The fire was reported at 7:48 p.m. at 420 Chapel Drive, according to Durham fire officials. “Firefighters found the sprinkler system had activated and extinguished a small fire in a dorm room,” Chris Iannuzzi, deputy chief of the Durham Fire Department said in a news release. Iannuzzi said the fire broke out in House HH at Few Quad on the Duke campus. The student who lived in the dorm room needed to be moved to a different room, Iannuzzi said. All students were later allowed back into the dormitory. No one was injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials said. “But it is not believed to be intentional,” the news release said.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Fairfield, NJ – Sprinkler system assists in firefighters in suppressing overnight fire at Mercedes-Benz dealership

An electrical fire at the Mercedes-Benz of Caldwell at 1230 Bloomfield Avenue in Fairfield last week was suppressed with the help of an automatic fire sprinkler system.  According to the Fairfield Police Department, officers received a call from cleaning workers about a fire in the shop area of the business around 10:10 p.m. on Dec. 9. The workers were in a different part of the building when they saw smoke and flames in the shop area, police said. A Fairfield police officer responding to the scene was able to determine that the building was evacuated, but had to retreat due to a “very heavy” smoke condition.

The Fairfield Fire Department arrived soon afterward and extinguished the conflagration. Authorities provided the following statement about the possible cause of the fire:

“Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2015 C300 Mercedes Benz was up on a lift and was apparently attached to a computer diagnostic machine. It appears that an electrical fire started and traveled up the lift and eventually caught the car on fire. The sprinkler system activated and helped to assist in keeping the fire suppressed.”

Police said that while the direct fire damage appears to have been confined to the Mercedes, the business itself received a substantial amount of smoke and water damage. Additionally, other vehicles that were located on lifts in the shop may have also experienced both water and smoke damage. The financial toll of the damage was not immediately available, police stated.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system prevents major damage to apartment complex due to unattended cooking

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 11:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Retreat at Stonebridge Ranch, 1920 Grassmere Lane, for an appliance fire and water flow alarm.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered there was a grease fire and the fire sprinkler system had activated, extinguishing the fire in the apartment kitchen. A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage, saving an estimated $1.5 million in property loss and reinforcing the value of fire sprinkler systems in residential structures.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.

“Another sprinkler save successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a residential apartment building. Undoubtedly, this single sprinkler activation prevented a major loss,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr. “Further, this reinforces the recommendation to not leave the kitchen area while cooking at any time.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kitchen fires account for 49 percent of all home fires and fire injuries with unattended cooking being a factor in 33 percent of all kitchen fires.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit www.mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Austin, TX – Sprinkler system controls car fire in W Hotel parking garage

A car fire at a downtown parking garage has prompted the closure of a portion of 3rd Street Sunday afternoon.

Austin Fire Department officials said crews were called to the W Hotel parking garage at 200 Lavaca St. at around 2:45 p.m. Firefighters made quick work of the blaze as it was confined to a single vehicle and a sprinkler system helped dampen the flames before emergency workers’ arrival.

But the fire set off a series of related events led by the road closure at 3rd Street between Guadalupe and Lavaca streets. A nearby Starbucks at 3rd and Lavaca streets reportedly was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Other - Retail, Retail

Jefferson City, MO – No one injured after commercial structure fire doused by sprinkler system

Jefferson City firefighters responded Tuesday night to fire in a commercial building on West Truman Boulevard.

The assistant fire chief says that by the time the firefighters arrived, all employees were accounted for, and there were no injuries.

A small fire was still burning inside when firefighters got there but, fortunately, the building’s fire sprinkler system kicked in and was able to control the flames, which were completely extinguished within about 10 minutes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Norwalk, CT – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in controlling apartment fire; No injuries reported in 54-unit complex

Dozens of residents were displaced when fire broke out at a condominium building on Richards Avenue in Norwalk Monday. Officials from the Norwalk Police department said firefighters responded to a large fire at a condominium complex at 100 Richards Avenue around 4:30 p.m.

The 54-unit complex had to be evacuated as firefighters spent hours trying to control the fire. Flames were limited to one section of the building, but water from the sprinkler system and fire fight left all of the units close to uninhabitable.

Everyone who lives in the building got out safely and firefighters were able to rescue several pets, including Heather Smith’s dogs Annie and Mabel.  “I feel a little sick to my stomach. Right now I’m just glad to have these guys,” Smith said.

Firefighters from Norwalk, Rowayton and Darien all responded. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  The Norwalk Fire Department and Red Cross are assisting the victims and looking for donations. Gift cards or checks can be mailed or dropped off to the Norwalk Fire Department C/O Deputy Emergency Management Director Michele Deluca at 121 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk CT 06854.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sterling, VA – Sprinkler system keeps overnight classroom fire at high school from spreading

A fire occurred overnight Sunday at Dominion High School and automatic sprinklers helped prevent it from escalating, according to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue.  Officials said the fire started at approximately 11:15 p.m. in a science classroom on the main floor of the school, with three activated automatic sprinklers keeping it in check before fire crews arrived to put out the remaining blaze with a portable extinguisher.  According to authorities, the fire caused minimal damage.  Despite the fire, Dominion remained open Monday for the start of the school week.  The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled that the fire, which originated in the science classroom, was accidental.

Other Business

East Longmeadow, MA – Fuel oil fire caused by truck explosion limited with help from sprinkler system

Investigators have determined an explosion that injured an employee at a Shaker Road truck and equipment repair business Monday afternoon was sparked by static electricity inside the tank of an oil delivery truck. The W.B. Hill employee suffered only minor injuries even though the force of the blast blew out two metal overhead doors, Fire Chief Paul Morrissette said.

“He lucked out, it could have been disastrous,” Morrissette said, adding that approximately nine other employees in the area escaped injury. The injured employee was treated at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and released, Morrissette said.

Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for the state Fire Marshal’s office, said the blast, which was reported about 1:30 p.m., caused approximately $500,000 in damage to the tanker and the building, located at 305 Shaker Road. Morrissette said the explosion occurred as employees tested a repair on the home heating oil delivery tanker by pumping liquid from the tanker.

“Somehow or other the hose had moved or dislodged and when it did it created a static charge,” he said. The hatchway on top of the tank, known as a manway, was open at the time and explosion. “When it flashed it just went straight out,” Morrisette said. “The truck itself didn’t explode.”

After the explosion, the fuel in the tank continued to burn until the facility’s sprinkler system was able to cool it enough to put it out, Morrissette said. Heavy smoke was pouring out of the building when firefighters arrived. Firefighters from the Longmeadow Fire Department and the Shaker Pines Fire Department in Enfield provided mutual aid. Wilbraham firefighters provided station coverage.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Elgin, IL – Residential high-rise fire put out by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A kitchen fire was reported in a northwest suburban high-rise building Monday afternoon in Elgin.  At 12:55 p.m. fire crews responded to reports of a kitchen fire with sprinkler activation on the fifth floor of a high-rise building at 104 S. State St., according to a statement from the Elgin Fire Department.  A resident who went down to the second floor told crews she had smoke in her apartment, fire said. Crews located a cooking fire on the stove that had spread to the cabinets and was extinguished by the sprinkler system.  Firefighters ensured the fire was put out, shut off the activated sprinkler, evacuated smoke from the building and checked on residents as needed, fire said. Water accumulation is being removed by the building maintenance crews. Total damages total $5,000, fire said.

Office Building, Other Business

Henderson, KY – Fire during AA meeting contained by building’s sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire broke out an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting place during a session Monday afternoon. No one was injured.  Henderson Fire Chief Scott Foreman said firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 401 Hoffman Drive around 12:40 p.m.  “It started in the suite where the AA meetings are held,” he said. “We understand there was a meeting in progress, but everyone got out safely.”

Foreman said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.  “The fire was contained by the building’s sprinkler system and flames were contained to the AA suite,” he said. “There were some flames visible at one time.”  Foreman said there is smoke and water damage throughout several of the businesses contained in that building.

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