Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Jersey Shore, PA – Early morning fire at nursing home kept from spreading by sprinkler system

Third-floor residents of Manorcare Health Services in Jersey Shore were briefly evacuated after a small electrical fire broke out in a bathroom early Tuesday morning, according to Citizen’s Hose Co. Fire Chief Matthew Fausey.

The fire at Manorcare occurred in the ceiling of a resident’s bathroom on the third floor just before 5 a.m., Fausey said.

The fire activated the building’s sprinkler system, which helped prevent the fire from spreading, Fausey said, adding that firefighters had the fire extinguished in a matter of minutes.

Once the fire was out and the water cleaned up, residents were moved back into their rooms, he added.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Concord, NC – Sprinkler system helps put out fire at shopping mall; No injuries reported

A fire at Concord Mills Wednesday morning caused the mall to evacuate employees and shoppers for a brief time.

Officials say the fire began inside an exhaust fan in the bathroom of the FYE store around 9:15 a.m.

Concord Fire Chief Ray Allen says the sprinkler system kicked on and was able to help put out the fire.

While the fire was not huge, crews are grateful it happened so early in the morning when the mall was not more crowded.

Most of the stores reopened inside the mall around 11 a.m. No one was injured.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Victoria, BC, Canada – Fire at cardboard recycling plant contained by sprinkler system

Victoria Fire Department crews kept a fire at a plant filled with cardboard to be recycled from spreading Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters responded to a structure fire call at Cascades Recovery in the 2800 block of Bridge St., next to the City of Victoria public works yard, just before 1 p.m. and found the fire in a conveyor belt system. The building’s sprinkler system had deployed and was keeping the blaze from spreading, said Mark Robertson, VFD Battalion Chief. Crews made their way in, found the seat of the fire and extinguished it quickly with two-inch hoses, he added.  All occupants of the building were out and safe when fire crews arrived, Robertson said.  With the cause of the fire still under investigation, Robertson was reluctant to say whether it appeared to be mechanical failure or something else.

“You never know what you’re dealing with when you’re at a recycling plant, you don’t know what is coming and going in those cardboard boxes,” he said. In all, 18 crew on three engine trucks, a rescue truck, a ladder truck and a battalion vehicle responded to the call. Oak Bay and Saanich were on standby in case the fire grew larger. No damage estimate was immediately available.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Tysons Corner, VA – Automatic fire sprinkler system activates to help control shopping mall fire

Fairfax County fire investigators said Tuesday that an exhaust fan ignited a two-alarm fire at the Tysons Corner Center last week when the mall was open. Damages are estimated at $30,000.  Around 5:17 p.m. on May 31, Fairfax County and Arlington County firefighters responded to the reported fire. Units found smoke coming from the roof, and they were able to quickly put out the fire. No one was injured.  Fire investigators concluded that the fire was ignited by an overheated exhaust fan motor coming in contact with paper towel rolls. The fire started in the storage closet of a kiosk.  An employee reported the fire after smelling burning plastic coming from the storage room. Smoke alarms and the fire sprinkler system were turned on after the fire was reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Middleville, MI – Fire in dust collector at water heater manufacturer knocked down by sprinkler system

No one was hurt and there was minimal damage to a Middleville water heater manufacturer following a weekend fire. Thornapple Township Fire Chief Randy Eaton said the fire at Bradford White Corporation wound up not being as severe as initial calls suggested. His department remained on scene for about an hour last Sunday, June 4.  Fire crews were dispatched around 4:50 p.m. Sunday to the facility at 200 Lafayette St.   On scene, Thornapple Township firefighters located a fire, which was primarily confined to a dust collector. An overhead sprinkler system kept the flames from expanding to the roof and causing any structural damage.  Maintenance crews were working on the system at the time of the fire, and no production was underway. Eaton said less than a dozen maintenance workers were inside the facility but none were injured.  Crews from Caledonia Township and Wayland responded as backup, but weren’t needed to knock down the fire.

Other Business

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinklers help extinguish truck fire inside building at mushroom farm

A truck caught fire inside inside a building at the Loveday Mushroom Farms in St. Boniface early Monday morning. There were no injuries in the fire, which happened at about 1:48 a.m. at 556 Mission St.  A spokesman from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said a refrigeration unit caught fire on a five-ton, single-axle truck inside one of the loading bays.  “The sprinkler system in the building was flowing and assisted the fire attack crew with extinguishment of the fire,” the spokesman said.  There was no damage estimate yet and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Highland, UT – Sprinkler system limits fire from spreading at elementary school

A fire sparked on the roof of Ridgeline Elementary School in Highland, Utah, after midnight on June 4, causing an estimated $300,000 in damages, said Kimberly Bird with Alpine School District.  Bird said the fire began on the roof and was caused by illegally-purchased and illegally set-off fireworks. But most of the damage to the school was from the sprinkler system and not the fire.  Police are looking for the suspects who they believe accidentally set the school on fire with illegally-purchased fireworks that were possibly from out-of-state.   It is illegal to set off fireworks any day of the year other than three days before and after New Year, Chinese New Year, July 4 and July 24, said Ted Black, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal. He said that it’s a crime to purchase fireworks in another state and to light them in Utah.

“Buy locally, light responsibly,” he said. “And just in case, keep a hose close by.”  School let out for the summer a week ago, so nobody was in Ridgeline Elementary when the fire occurred.  Lone Peak Fire Department responded to the call and extinguished the flames 15 minutes after they arrived on the scene, said fire officials.

Other - Retail, Retail

Barre, VT – Quick thinking 5-year old; Quick acting sprinkler system assist firefighters in store fire

A quick thinking 5-year-old is credited with spotting a fire in downtown Barre that officials say could have been much worse. Meet Gabriel DeJesus, a five-year-old hero. “I saw smoke coming out of a chimney and I knew it was going to be a fire,” said Gabriel. The Barre kindergartener spotted a fire at Bob’s Camera and Video in Barre Saturday night.

“Just going for a drive and he goes, ‘Dad, there’s smoke pouring out of that building,'” said Jaime DeJesus, Gabriel’s dad. “It was a lot, and it was all white and black,” Gabriel said.  The family pulled over for a closer look, and they called 911. “I commend him,” said Barre Fire Dept. Dep. Chief Joseph Aldsworth.  “He’s great. He’s a superhero,” said John Biondolillo, the owner of the building.

Thankfully the shop had closed for the day so no one was inside. The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained to the store’s basement until firefighters arrived.  “I was watching all the fire trucks come,”  Gabriel said.  Bob’s Camera and Video is right on Main Street. Fire officials say that if the sprinklers weren’t working, downtown Barre could have seen much worse damage. “It’s in a row of block buildings here, so it would definitely have a potential of loss,” Dep. Chief Aldsworth said.

Investigators are still looking into what caused the fire. They say this fire should remind community members to check their sprinkler systems. “They need to be inspected annually by a reputable company that leaves a sticker,” Dep. Chief Aldsworth said. It also serves as a reminder that kids can make a big difference too.    

“I am super thankful that he saw that. I don’t know what he would have done if he didn’t notice it and tell his parents,” said Kaitlyn Mesler, the owner of Bob’s Camera and Video. When asked what it’s like to save people and businesses, Gabriel responded, “It makes me feel so good.”

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baxter, MN – Balcony fire at senior apartment complex controlled with help from sprinkler system

Passing motorists on Excelsior Road saw flames on a third-floor deck of a senior apartment complex Friday morning, alerting emergency responders to the Autumn Glenn complex in Baxter. The fire was reported about 7:20 a.m.  At the scene, Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted said residents on the third floor were evacuated as a precaution. Many had multiple questions as they were temporarily relocated. The 50-unit apartment building has about 16 units on each floor.

Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said the fire was contained to the deck but flames were climbing the wall and around the glass deck door, as well as a window when he arrived on scene. Holmes got the call when he just blocks away from the building. He said deck sprinkler played an important role in keeping the fire contained. The woman living in the apartment was also working to put the fire using a container or bowl filled with water when firefighters arrived. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

The deck remained secure to walk on, Holmes said. Siding was removed around the deck. The torn aqua-colored barrier wrap, formerly underneath the siding, flapped in the morning breeze. The area around the deck doors was charred black and holes were cut above the deck to access the attic. Holiday decorations hung from the deck rail, trailing down to lower floors.

The second floor resident’s deck just below the fire, complete with chairs and potted plant, appeared undisturbed. No injuries were reported. Karen Struthers, community manager for Autumn Glenn, said all the residents were fine. She said the apartment occupant was with family and the complex residents would now have conversation fodder for the weekend. It was too early to determine the extent of the damage in terms of a dollar amount, Struthers said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX (No Media Coverage) – Sprinkler system tackles apartment fire caused by unattended candle

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE***  The Farmers Branch Fire Department responded to a residential apartment fire on June 3, 2017 at 4030 Valley View, Building 10, Apt #245 at 3:55 pm. The fire started in a bedroom while the occupant stepped out for a few minutes. . A candle was left unattended and ignited some tapestries hanging from the ceiling. The tapestries burned along the ceiling. The sprinkler system activated (1 head) and suppressed the fire. The other roommate was in another bedroom sleeping and was awakened by the smoke alarm and waterflow alarm. When he stepped out of his bedroom, he noticed the sprinkler system spraying water on the burning tapestries. He exited without incident. Other roommate returned 10 minutes later when fire department was already on scene and realized he left the candle burning.

Simple Share Buttons