Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Orange, CT – Sprinkler system contains fire at TGI Fridays during busy Saturday night

A fire Saturday night at TGI Fridays was accidental and started in a kitchen exhaust hood, likely because of a malfunction, Fire Marshal Tim Smith said Sunday.

“It had nothing to do with cooking,” Smith said.  An alarm at the restaurant set off by the sprinklers being activated came into fire headquarters just about the same time an astute manager noticed water dripping from the ceiling was discolored, indicating fire, Smith said.

Smith said that because it is a wooden building, the restaurant at 348 Boston Post has sprinklers above and below the ceiling, as required by law.  He said that while the fire was contained to the ceiling area and extinguished quickly between sprinklers and firefighters, there is extensive smoke damage to the entire restaurant, the electricity had to be cut off and the food can’t be kept, so there is no saying when the business will reopen, Smith said.

 It was a busy Saturday night and all customers and employees evacuated safely, as employees handled the event well, he said. “If that building didn’t have sprinklers, it would have been a different outcome now,” Smith said. He said even if not required by code, sprinklers are a great idea.

Fire agencies from Orange, Woodbridge and West Haven responded to the call that came in at 8:44 p.m., Smith said.

Although the sprinkler system worked as it should have, firefighters had to open the roof up to locate the fire and assure the fire was out.

Smith said cleanup by a restoration company is underway.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Abingdon, VA – Arson fire at townhome extinguished by sprinkler system

An Abingdon woman was arrested Monday morning for allegedly setting her daughter’s house on fire in September, according to the state fire marshal’s office.Just after 4 p.m. Sept. 15, Anna M. Stewart, 50, called 911 after reportedly discovering a fire on the second floor of her daughter’s house in the 200 block of Ferring Court in Abingdon, according to a notice of investigation from the fire marshal’s office.

Stewart, who lives in the basement of the house owned by her daughter and her husband, Ashley and Rafael Roman, was the only one home at the time of the fire, Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said Monday.

Firefighters from Abingdon and Joppa-Magnolia volunteer fire companies and surrounding departments arrived at the two-story, middle of the group townhouse and discovered a fire within a bedroom closet that was nearly extinguished after the homes’ fire sprinkler system activated.

Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to conduct an investigation and determined the fire was intentionally set.

Investigators later discovered a second, self-extinguished fire within another closet within the home, according to the notice.

Investigators estimated the home sustained about $20,000 in damages.

After consulting with the Harford County States Attorney’s Office, deputy state fire marshals issued an arrest warrant for Stewart, who turned herself in Monday to the Bel Air Barrack of the Maryland State Police.

Stewart is charged with first- and second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious burning and vandalism more than $1,000.

Stewart is being held at Harford County Detention Center on $50,000 bail.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Dover, NH – Restaurant fire held down by sprinkler system; Eatery reopens following day

A minor fire at Tucker’s Restaurant in Dover on Sunday night has forced the establishment to close on Monday.  According to Dover Fire Chief Eric Hagman, dispatchers received a fire alarm from the location at 11:33 p.m. followed by a caller from the nearby Applebee’s restaurant who reported heavy smoke in the rear of the building.

Firefighters and paramedics arrived by 11:37 p.m. and found a fire under a canopy outside at the back of the restaurant where it receives deliveries, Hagman said. The building’s sprinkler system also covers that area of the building, which the chief said held down the fire until firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire within about 10 minutes.  “Without the sprinkler system it would have been a much bigger event,” Hagman said.  Some of the food inside the kitchen was exposed to smoke and had to be discarded, he said.

The popular breakfast and lunch eatery, which operates four locations in New Hampshire, opened in early June in the former Uno Pizzeria and Grill. Tucker’s is located near the New Rochester Road intersection with Indian Brook Road.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Glendale, WI – Sprinkler system controls fire at apartments with many elderly and disabled residents

North Shore Fire and Rescue responded to the Parkside Commons Apartments, 1400 W. Custer Ave., for a report of a fire on the second floor of the building.The first arriving fire company reported an active evacuation in progress with residents reporting moderate smoke conditions on the second floor. Crews located a fire in an apartment on the second floor. There was heavy smoke and crews encountered several residents requiring assistance with evacuation.

The fire was quickly brought under control by crews. Much of the fire had already been put out by the fire sprinkler system within the structure.  There were no injuries reported.

The fire was contained to a small area within a second-floor apartment, however, the activation of the sprinkler system caused extensive water damage within the unit, as well as to the unit adjacent and a common space on the first floor. There was also moderate smoke damage to some of the common hallways in the building. Preliminary estimates indicate that the damage to the structure and contents is approximately $33,000.

According to North Shore Fire, the building is home to many elderly and disabled residents, who were able to quickly and safely evacuate thanks to the quick action of building management.  Additionally, building personnel was able to provide quick and accurate accountability information so that firefighters could focus on assisting those who were unable to evacuate under their own power.  The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation but is not believed to be suspicious.

North Shore Fire/Rescue is being assisted by the Glendale Police Department in the investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Manassas, VA – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling apartment fire

On Thursday, Oct. 19 at 10:24 a. m., fire and rescue units were dispatched to an apartment fire at Woodburn Apartments, located in the 7800 block of Keara Court in Manassas. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke and fire showing from the side of an apartment that had extended into the home. Upon entry, firefighters discovered an activated sprinkler head that helped contain the fire. Firefighters quickly suppressed and extinguished the fire. No injuries reported.  The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. Red Cross is currently assisting the family, six adults and eight children, displaced by the fire. The fire is currently under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Retail, Shopping Mall

St. Catharines, ON, Canada – Fire in loading dock area of retail store contained by sprinkler system

A partial evacuation of the Pen Centre was initiated late Thursday afternoon after a small fire started at the Dollarama store.  St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services Platoon Chief Rob Denhollander said the fire that broke out in the loading area was contained by the store’s sprinkler system.  Firefighters were dispatched about 5:25 p.m.  “Fire damage is minimal, but smoke and water damage is to be assessed,” he said on scene.

He said it will be up to an insurance adjuster to determine what store items can be salvaged.  The store is located opposite Winners, separated from the main part of the mall above an escalator.  Many shoppers and moviegoers had to leave the mall, Denhollander said.  “I’m sure there’s quite a few people who missed an ending (to a film),” he said, noting alarm bells were ringing.  No injuries were reported, he added, while also noting stores remained open.

Apartment Building, Residential

Petersburg, VA – Laundry fire in loft apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

A minor clothes dryer fire generated much smoke and caused the evacuation of an apartment building in Petersburg Thursday. Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services responded to South Street Lofts building located at N. South and Hinton Streets at 12:38 p.m., for a call about a fire in a single occupant residence on the third floor, according to Interim Battalion Fire Chief Michael Ferguson.  The fire was under control at about 1 p.m. Mutual aid from Colonial Heights provided brief coverage at the Market Street Fire Station No. 2.

Nicole Nivens, a second-floor resident, stood in the parking lot holding her two-year-old daughter after evacuating the building.  “I just put her down for a nap and I heard the fire alarm,” said Nivens, who then grabbed her jacket, shoes and daughter to leave the building.

Ty Wheless, a resident of the third floor, also stood in the parking lot with her wife and small dog. “I thought it was a drill,” said Wheless. “We didn’t smell any smoke or anything.”

Ferguson said the building management company worked to relocate one occupant as a result of the fire.

Property management representatives at the scene declined to comment for this article. The property management website for the apartments describes the historic building as the former Federal Cigar Company building renovated into one- and two-bedroom loft-style apartments.

It was “extremely hard to ventilate” smoke from the building because the historic building designation allows for the windows to remain closed, said Ferguson. He said the ventilation process took longer than usual as a result. Firemen set up fans to blow smoke up through a roof hatch in the stairwell of the Hinton Street entryway.

Residents were seen re-entering the building at 1:47 p.m.

 

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Smiths Station, AL – Daytime fire at high school minimized with help from sprinkler system

Smiths Station Fire & Recuse confirms first responders were called to a fire at Smith’s Station High School on Thursday morning.The fire department says units responded to the school around 11 a.m. CT where there had been a fire in a trash can inside the boy’s locker room.  Fire was brought under control and extinguished by the Lee County Sheriffs Office School Resource officer using a fire extinguisher prior to the fire departments arrival. The fire department also says the school’s fire suppression sprinkler system also activated.  Fire units used equipment to help remove the smoke and the school brought in a private company for water removal.  The department says there was only minor damage and no injuries were reported.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Lawrence, MA – Sprinkler system helps stop fire at food distribution center

Prompt action by firefighters Wednesday evening saved a former mill building that now houses two food distribution companies, according to fire Chief Brian Moriarty.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries but is expected to fully recover, the chief said. No civilians were hurt.

A working fire in the building at 85 Manchester St. was reported by telephone at 6 p.m. Engine 7, based at the nearby Park Street firehouse, was the first to respond. The second alarm brought all Lawrence engines to the scene, plus crews from Salem, New Hampshire, and Andover.

Ladder 4 sprayed water on the roof while other engines attacked the fire from different positions.

Engine 5, connected to a hydrant on Broadway, pumped water to the other trucks through about 1,000 feet of 6-inch hose.

Damage was contained to the roof, Moriarty said. The roof, with an old-fashioned sawtooth style, proved to be a challenge, he added.

The thick roof, measuring at least 6 inches and constructed of planks and rubber, was “a very tough area,” Moriarty said.

A sprinkler head in the building helped bring the fire under control, he said. Firefighters began leaving the scene by 8 p.m.

The two food distribution companies are Bulk Services and Dragon Joy. City health inspectors were assessing the building Wednesday night to determine whether employees can report for work Thursday, Deputy Chief John McInnis said.

The employees of the nearby Microsemi Corp., 6 Lake St., were evacuated. Police blocked Broadway between Park and Manchester streets while firefighters suppressed the blaze.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Royal Oak, MI – Sprinkler system helps minimize fire damage at recycling center

Firefighters extinguished a blaze at Royal Oak Recycling after officials say a fire broke out there Wednesday afternoon and workers were evacuated.

Royal Oak firefighters were called to the recycling facility about 12:50 p.m.

“They had a fire inside one of the machines,” said Fire Chief Dave Cummins. “It doesn’t look as though there was any structural damage from the fire.”

Cummins said firefighters were screening workers at the facility at 414 E. Hudson to see whether any of them needed to be taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation they may have suffered while they were in the building.

Other than possible smoke inhalation there were no reported injuries.

The fire reportedly broke out on a conveyor machine at the recycling plant.

Though smoke spread and a sprinkler system about the machine was activated, Cummins said it was a relatively small fire.

“We’ve had similar fires at the building in the past,” he said.

Less than a year ago, about 20 people at Royal Oak Recycling were evacuated and the plant closed for the day after a machine caught fire in November 2016. No one was injured.

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