Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Bemidji, MN – Sprinkler system activated for fire at high school

Bemidji Firefighters are crediting a sprinkler system for helping contain a fire at the Bemidji High School.

The fire department was dispatched to Bemidji High school just after 11:30 p.m. on Friday, October 20, for a report of a smoke alarm activation.

As crews entered the building and searched for the cause of the alarm, they found a smoke-filled hallway with water flowing on the south side of the building. Using a thermal imaging camera and water can extinguisher, firefighters were able to extinguish a fire in a custodian closet.

Firefighters were on the scene for approximately three hours and it took 14 firefighters to help with water removal and clean up. The room where the fire started suffered moderate smoke and water damage, while adjacent classrooms and hallways sustained water damage.

The fire is under investigation, but appears to be electrical in nature.

Bemidji Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Bemidji Area Schools, Bemidji Police Department, Bemidji Ambulance Service and Minnesota State Fire Marshal.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

New York City, NY – Sprinkler system activated for fire at four-story warehouse

A fire burned through a building in Brooklyn Sunday afternoon.

The FDNY received a report of a fire at a four-story storage warehouse shortly after noon.

The Stop and Stor warehouse is in Sunset Park on 63rd Street.

By 1 p.m., firefighters identified the blaze as a three-alarm fire.

One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation because his mask became dislodged, said Assistant Fire Chief Michael Myers.

At first, three e-bikes or mopeds were on fire, Myers said. They later found 300 e-bikes and scooters inside.

The sprinkler system was not strong enough to douse the flames, so the firefighters worked frantically to keep the fire from spreading to more e-bikes.

In total, 33 units and at least 135 EMS and FDNY personnel responded to the scene.

At this time, first responders are still working to put out the flames.

The cause of the fire was not immediately made clear.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Seattle, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fourth floor apartment fire; No injuries reported

Seattle Fire Department (SFD) officials responded to an apartment building fire that occurred on Capitol Hill Tuesday evening.

SFD first posted on X about the fire at around 5:13 p.m., writing that they were responding to a fire in the 600 block of Howell St.

Shortly after, they posted an update, noting the fire was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

“I heard a loud explosion noise, and for a second, I was like, ‘Is that coming from the TV?’ And then I heard a draft, then my door rattled for about four seconds,” said James Maciel, who lives on the fourth floor of the building. “So right then, I knew something wasn’t right. I opened my door, and there was an engulfed, full fire by the elevator shaft.”

SFD also confirmed that no injuries were reported.

Maciel continued to say the fire began on the fourth floor while also noting that he believed the fire was intentionally set.

“This wasn’t a toaster oven fire or a heater blanket,” Maciel continued. “I knew that this was some kind of bomb or explosion. I knew it was set intentionally within two seconds of seeing it.”

KOMO News contacted the SFD for further details regarding the fire but was told that the matter is currently under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Dayton, OH – Sprinkler system activated for fire on apartment building balcony

A fire broke out on the balcony of a new downtown Dayton apartment building shortly after 12:35 p.m. Tuesday, resulting in a large response from fire and emergency medical personnel.

The blaze occurred on the balcony of a fifth floor apartment in the Monument building, which is a 124-unit residential structure located along Monument Avenue, across from RiverScape MetroPark. The Monument opened in the spring.

Fire officials and residents in the building said fire and EMS crews arrived on the scene within minutes, and the blaze was quickly extinguished.

One of the Dayton Fire Department’s fire stations is located about a block away, at North Main Street and Monument Avenue.

District fire Chief Nicholas Judge said the Monument’s balconies have water sprinklers, and the fire suppression activated, which helped battle the fire.

Firefighters entered the unit and completely knocked out the blaze using fire extinguishers.

“We don’t have a whole lot of information yet — we’re still trying to figure out what happened,” Judge said.

The fire started to extend up to the balcony above, but the exterior sprinkler head “did its job and pretty much held the fire in check,” he said.

Judge said the fire damaged and broke the balcony door, but there appears to be minimal smoke damage to the fifth floor apartment.

“Everybody was very lucky, and it’s a newer constructed building that’s completely up to code, and the outside sprinkler did its job and averted a much bigger catastrophe,” he said. “We had crews on scene very, very quickly.”

Karla White, 48, who lives on the sixth floor of the Monument, left her apartment and headed outside when she heard the alarm.

At first, she assumed it was a fire drill. But the large fire response made it clear this was the real deal. She also saw water gushing from the fifth floor balcony.

White just finished moving into her apartment on Monday. She said she moved to the Monument because she fell in love with the kitchen and she really likes how close she lives to RiverScape and downtown’s shopping and dining options and amenities.

“We have wonderful neighbors too,” she said. “We’re really happy here.”

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Grayslake, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at waste management facility

A sprinkler system helped contain a fire that broke out in a large mound of recycling materials inside a Waste Management facility in Grayslake, fire officials said.

The Grayslake Fire Protection District responded around 11:30 p.m. Friday to the Waste Management Recycling Center Processing Facility, 30869 Route 83 in Grayslake.

Grayslake Fire Protection District Lt. Ian Mandigo said crews initially responded after receiving an activated fire alarm.

Firefighters arrived to find moderate smoke showing from the rear of the building.

Mandigo said the incident was upgraded to a confirmed structure fire, bringing additional fire department crews to the scene.

Firefighters were quickly able to contain and extinguish the fire.

The fire was confined to a pile of recycled materials, Mandigo said.

No physical damage was done to the building itself due to the effectiveness of the automatic sprinkler system.

Employees arrived on the scene and removed the smoldering materials outside of the building using a front-end loader.

Fire crews overhauled the burnt materials once they were outside the building.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Mandigo said.

The Round Lake, Mundelein, Libertyville, Countryside and Gurnee fire departments assisted at the scene.

Grayslake fire stations were covered by the Lake Villa, Libertyville and Waukegan fire departments.

Apartment Building, Residential

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in three-story apartment building; No injuries reported

Yesterday, Los Angeles firefighters managed a fire in a Vermont-Slauson apartment building.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reports the fire ignited within a second-floor unit of the three-story building.

A fire sprinkler in the unit helped contain the blaze until firefighters arrived to douse it.

From the time of the alarm sounding to the extinguishing of the blaze, thirteen minutes passed. The occupants of the apartment complex evaded injury. Currently, the fire’s cause is under investigation.

College/University (on campus), Other - Residential, Residential, School / University

Auburn, NY – Sprinkler system extinguishes stovetop fire at community college; No injuries reported

A minor fire, ignited by food on a stovetop, led to the displacement of several Lattimore Hall residents on Saturday, according to the Auburn Fire Department.

The incident, which occurred at the independent student housing complex for Cayuga Community College, was reported at approximately 4:47 p.m.

Officials said the dormitory’s sprinkler system quickly extinguished the fire before firefighters reached the scene.

However, the resulting water damage prompted the Auburn Code Enforcement Office to condemn the affected third-floor unit and the units directly beneath it on the first and second floors.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Lattimore Hall’s management is currently arranging alternate accommodations for the displaced students, and the fire department has taken measures to manage the aftermath of the incident, including shutting down the third floor’s sprinkler system and ventilating the smoke. Auburn City Ambulance was also present on-site.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Lake Worth Beach, FL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at multi-family residential building; No injuries reported

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said it responded to the 6300 block of Pinestead Drive at 10:50 a.m. after a report of a high-rise structure fire.

Firefighters found a three-story multi-family residential building with smoke showing from the first floor.

The fire department said once its personnel entered the building, the fire sprinkler system in the building prevented the fire from going beyond the room where it was started.

Fire personnel brought the flames under control and reported no injuries because of the incident.

The Red Cross said it is providing emergency financial assistance, health services and other resources to people affected.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Branson, MO – Sprinkler system activated for fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

A fire damaged a restaurant in Branson on Wednesday night.

Firefighters arrived at Doc’s Hickory Roadhouse on State Highway 165 around 11:30 p.m. The fire activated the sprinkler heads before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters say nobody was injured in the fire. The Branson Fire Department received help from the Southern Stone and Western Taney County Fire Protection Districts, along with Branson Police and Taney County paramedics.

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