Apartment Building, Residential

Boise, ID – Sprinkler system extinguished apartment fire caused by cigarette

A man went to the hospital with minor injuries and 12 people were displaced after an apartment fire Monday afternoon, the Boise Fire Department said.

The fire began in a plastic trash can, after someone threw away a cigarette, and spread to a recliner, the department said in a Facebook post. It occurred at Capitol Plaza, a public housing building for seniors at 700 W. Cunningham Place in the North End.

Firefighters responded at 2:45 p.m. after a woman in an apartment near the unit where the fire began smelled smoke and called 911, according to the department. When crews arrived, they found the recliner on fire and a man on the floor in a fifth floor apartment. An ambulance took the man to the hospital with minor injuries, the department said, but a sprinkler extinguished the fire and stopped its spread.

“Working fire sprinklers saved at least one life and prevented significant structural damage,” the Facebook post said.

Boise Fire spokesperson Lynsey Amundson told the Idaho Statesman in an email that residents were displaced by water damage to the fourth and third floor apartments.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Santa Rosa, CA – Sprinkler system activated for structure fire in restaurant; No injuries reported

Firefighters are investigating a commercial structure fire early Wednesday in downtown Santa Rosa. 

The Santa Rosa Fire Department said the blaze, which was first reported shortly before 12:45 a.m., occurred in the 500 block of Fourth Street.

Upon arrival, firefighters found water coming from both floors of a two-story brick building that houses various businesses, the department said.

The blaze was raised to a two-alarm assignment after firefighters noticed a fire alarm was sounding inside the building and that windows of a second-floor establishment were stained with smoke, indicating there was fire inside.

Firefighters had to force their way into a stairway leading to the second floor, according to the fire department. Crews then found the fire inside the Thai House restaurant, just being checked by a sprinkler head that activated.

After firefighters extinguished the fire and cleared the area, they forced their way into Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Tap Room on the first floor, directly below where the blaze had started in the Thai House restaurant.

There was no smoke or fire from the first-floor establishment, but significant amounts of water were pouring down from the floor above it, the fire department said.

No injuries were reported by firefighters.

Only the Thai House restaurant and Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Tap Room were the building’s establishments damaged by the fire, according to the department, which added that the damage was estimated to be $150,000. Both businesses will be closed for an indefinite period.

The fire department noted the working fire sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading throughout the building.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, even though it looks accidental, according to firefighters.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Kansas City, MO – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at restaurant

A small fire broke out at the popular barbecue restaurant Q-39 South in Overland Park Wednesday night.

Crews responded to a kitchen fire about 9:45 p.m. and found smoke coming from the roof of the building.

Firefighters say the fire was coming from a gas appliance in the kitchen area.

They shut off gas to the building, extinguished the fire and made sure everyone got out safely.

The restaurant’s sprinkler system activated, helping knock down the fire, according Jason Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Overland Park Fire Department.

Fire damage was contained to the kitchen area, however because the sprinkler system activated, cleanup and repairs will be required.

The Overland Park Fire Department says the restaurant will likely be closed for those repairs.

The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

The Woodlands, TX – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex

Around 9 AM, Tuesday morning, residents at the Timbermill Apartments on Sawdust Road were alerted to a fire in their three story building when fire sprinklers activated over two separate fires in a 3rd floor apartment. The sprinkler activations triggered a water flow alarm and fire crews from The Woodlands and South Montgomery County Fire Departments soon arrived to find residents evacuating and smoke coming from the building.

Firefighters made their way up to the smoke filled apartment and began searching for the source of the fire and any remaining occupants. They quickly discovered that two of the building’s fire sprinklers had activated, one over a fire in the living room and one over a fire in a walk-in closet. Firefighters also observed evidence that the fire was intentionally set and immediately secured the area as the first of several fire investigators arrived on scene.

After insuring that the fire was out, firefighters shut down the fire sprinkler system and turned their attention to salvaging resident’s belongings on the floors below the fire. MCFMO Investigators spent several hours examining the scene and interviewing witnesses before placing the resident of the apartment, 28 yr old Jasmine Johnson, under arrest for setting the fires.

The investigation continues into the circumstances and motive behind the fire, but there is no further danger to the public at this time. MCFMO Investigators are currently booking Ms. Johnson into the Montgomery County Jail on 1st degree felony arson charges, where she will be held on a $250,000 bond.

MCFMO Inspection personnel worked with apartment management to insure that the building’s fire sprinkler system was restored to service and that the remaining residents would be protected once they are able to return to their apartments.

Montgomery County first enacted a County Fire Code in 2008 when Commissioner’s Court issued an order adopting the International Fire Code, a consensus safety standard that requires all new and remodeled apartment buildings be equipped with fire sprinkler and alarm systems.

Without these modern safety systems, a fire like this could easily have led to injuries and even deaths, as well as significant property damage. National fire sprinkler statistics reveal that approximately 90% of fires in sprinklered buildings are controlled by the first sprinkler head that activates.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Bettendorf, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at manufacturing company

The Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a fire Monday afternoon at a manufacturing company that left one person injured.

Crews say they responded to Greystone Logistics, 2600 Shoreline Drive, for a fire that was contained to a piece of manufacturing equipment and was extinguished primarily by the sprinkler system while firefighters checked for extension in and around the equipment.

Crews also said they performed search and rescue operations for the entire building because the fire and heat were significant enough to cause flow from eight sprinkler heads in the area.

All employees were evacuated to the outside where accountability was provided by management and confirmed by fire personnel through search operations, according to a media release. One employee was injured in the fire and was taken to a local hospital. No additional information on their condition is being provided at this time.

Crews say the factory is shut down from any manufacturing until the sprinkler system is restored to normal working conditions. Restoration efforts are underway.

According to the media release, Rock Island Arsenal Fire Department, Riverdale Fire Department, Local Restoration Company, and Local Sprinkler Company responded to the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Seattle, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in apartment complex; No injuries reported

The 911 dispatch call came in at 8:41 a.m. to the complex, located at 10670 14th AVE SW (map below).

Multiple crews were able to extinguish the flames and isolate the hallway sprinkler system.

At this time, there are no reports of injuries, but some residents will be temporarily displaced due to smoke, fire, and water damage. Red Cross was requested, and the King County Regional Housing Authority was on scene to coordinate assistance efforts for tenants.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire before fire crews arrive; No injuries reported

Several crews responded after a light fixture caught fire inside a hotel room near the Las Vegas Convention Center on Wednesday, according to a fire official.

A building fire was reported around 6:50 a.m. at the Renaissance on Paradise Road south of Desert Inn Road, Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Warren Whitney said in a statement.

The first arriving engine investigated and found the room where the fire alarm was activated. They found a “light ballast” that malfunctioned and caught fire.

A fire sprinkler nearby activated and put out the fire before the crews made it to the room, according to Whitney.

The fire did not spread to anything else and no injuries were reported. Damage has not yet been estimated.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Airdrie, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system controls fire at large manufacturing facility; No injuries reported

In the evening on Saturday, August 5, at approximately 6:31 p.m., the Airdrie Fire Department received a call regarding a large manufacturing facility engulfed in heavy interior smoke at 700 Block Eastlake Road.

According to a city release, the fire was controlled with the assistance of the building’s sprinkler system and extinguished by firefighters on arrival.

“All employees were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The roof was also checked for possible damage.”

20 firefighters were on the scene from the Airdrie Fire Department, assisted by Rocky View County.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Prevention Bureau and damages will be estimated by the Airdrie Fire Department.

Apartment Building, Residential

Chapmanville, WV – Sprinkler system activated for fire on apartment building eighth floor; No injuries reported

Nearly 100 residents of the Chapmanville Towers were displaced Monday after a fire broke out on the building’s top floor.

According to the Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Department, the fire began in an apartment on the building’s eighth floor. No injuries were reported, but water damage was caused to several apartments by the complex’s automatic sprinkler system going off, which caused water to seep throughout the building.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire and evacuated the building. Initial social media posts also rumored of a roof collapse; however, there were no official reports that indicated such damage.

Most of the 88 residents who were evacuated were transported to Chapmanville Regional High School, but some residents did choose to go to the Tracy Vickers Community Center instead, according to a press release from the Logan County Office of Emergency Management.

The Red Cross responded to the shelter location at the high school to assist the displaced residents. FEMA is also assisting with the displaced, according to the Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Department.

Property restoration crews were called to the scene as well. There is no word yet on when residents may safely return to the building.

Multiple agencies responded to assist including the Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Department, the City of Logan Fire Department, Henlawson Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, the Logan Emergency Ambulance Service Authority (LEASA), the Logan County Office of Emergency Management and the Boone County Office of Emergency Management.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Bolingbrook, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire at Party City store

A fire reported at Party City on Sunday was contained by the fire sprinkler system of the building, the Bolingbrook Fire Department said.

The department responded at 3:20 p.m. to the store at 257 N. Weber Road, and found a fire in a display shelving unit inside the store.

The department said the sprinkler system had contained the fire, and firefighters were able to extinguish flames quickly. Crews began to salvage and conserve the unaffected property inside the building, and worked to clear the smoke from the building and neighboring units.

Members of the Bolingbrook Fire Department, trained in fire investigations, began to survey the scene, the department said. At this time, the incident is still under investigation.

Simple Share Buttons