Salt Lake City, UT – Sprinkler system prevents apartment fire from spreading likely saving lives and property

Crews responded to a two-alarm fire in Salt Lake City Friday night, and occupants in all 18 units are displaced for the night due to smoke and water damage. The fire broke out at an apartment building at 647 South and 1200 East just after 9 p.m.

According to the Salt Lake City Fire Department, the blaze affected one apartment on the first floor of the three-story building. There was also smoke damage throughout the building.

All residents of the building are displaced for the night, fire officials said. They estimate 30-40 people total live in the 18 impacted units. A nearby LDS Church has opened their doors for anyone who needs a place to go.

When crews arrived on scene, there was heavy smoke, and fire officials said the apartment sprinkler systems activated to control the fire.  There were no injuries reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Mark Green
Fox 13 News
Salt Lake City, Utah

Montreal, QC, Canada – Suspected arson fire at food distribution business put out with help from sprinkler system

Montreal police say they believe an overnight fire at a Saint-Leonard food distribution store was arson.  Fire crews were called to the business on Magloire Street near the corner of Lafrenaie Street around midnight.

When the firefighters arrived at the scene, they saw that a window in front of the store had been broken and noticed an accelerant had been thrown inside, said Montreal police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils.  The sprinkler system helped put out the fire quickly, so damage was minimal.  No one was hurt and so far police have no suspects.

Portland, OR – Sprinkler system credited with controlling apartment fire; No injuries reported

A working fire alarm and sprinkler system helped people get safely out of an apartment complex Tuesday with a unit on fire, Portland firefighters said.

When firefighters arrived at the complex at 12110 E. Burnside Street at about 10 p.m., smoke was coming from the back of a second-story unit.

Firefighters said no one was injured. They said people had time to evacuate the building because the apartment’s fire alarm went off and the building’s sprinkler system put most of the fire out.

Firefighters said the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Redlands, CA – Sprinklers keep large warehouse fire from spreading

Redlands Fire crews responded to a commercial structure fire in the 9400 block of California Street at about 10:40 a.m. Sunday. Upon arrival crews discovered the large Lamps Plus warehouse to be filled with smoke. Reports from workers indicated that a propane powered floor sweeper was involved with fire.

Crews initiated an aggressive fire attack and found the sweeper and adjacent storage racks to be well involved with fire. The building’s sprinkler system assisted in preventing the fire from spreading throughout the warehouse.

The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes after the Fire Department’s arrival. There were no injuries reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damage to property and contents exceeded $250,000. The property manager reported that more than $40,000,000 worth of product was saved.

Redlands Firefighters were assisted by the Loma Linda Fire Department.

Severna Park, MD – Fire at assisted living center suppressed by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Nearly 60 residents have been displaced from a Severna Park senior living complex after a two-alarm fire broke out late Monday afternoon, an Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman said. Firefighters were called to the Kris-Leigh assisted living facility in the 800 block of Ritchie Highway around 4:45 p.m., Lt. Erik Kornmeyer said.

When they arrived, crews found the four-story building full of smoke. A small fire was found in a common area of the building. It had been mostly extinguished by the sprinkler system, and the fire was contained within minutes, Kornmeyer said.

No injuries were reported. Sixty-eight firefighters from the county, Annapolis and the Naval Academy helped with evacuation and smoke removal, Kornmeyer said.  The facility is expected to be closed for several days, Kornmeyer said.

Kris-Leigh staff was working with the families of the complex’s 56 residents to make arrangements for Monday evening and plans to transfer residents whose families cannot assist with arrangements to Kris-Leigh’s locations in Davidsonville and Gambrills, Kornmeyer said.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Clairmont, AB, Canada – Fire at distribution center contained by sprinkler system

A second fire call went out at 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Crews from the Clairmont and Dunes stations were called to a monitored alarm at 9802 – 84 Ave, Gregg Distributors Ltd. in Clairmont where firefighters entered the bay and found a working sprinkler and smoke.  Additional crews were called to the business and the fire was quickly extinguished.

“Without the sprinkler system, the damage would have been much greater but at the same time, county crews made very quick entry into the building and knocked it down, thus reducing the overall cost to the business,” he said.

The cause is under investigation and no one was injured in the incident.

Milwaukee, WI – Sprinkler system helps contain fire at family entertainment center

Firefighters were able to contain a business fire at 76th and Brown Deer Road early this morning. 

Crews responded around 3:30 Monday morning. 

It happened at Kangaroo Milwaukee, a family friendly entertainment facility in a strip mall.

Milwaukee Fire Department officials tell us it appears that the sprinkler system helped to contain the fire.

No word yet on the cause of the fire.

San Luis Obispo, CA – Office building fire kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries

Firefighters responded to a fire that burned through the stairs in the back area of a San Luis Obispo office complex Sunday morning, said San Luis Obispo City fire Chief Garret Olson.

Just after 11 a.m. firefighters responded to smoke in the area of the 1200 block of Higuera Street, Olson said.

Firefighters arrived on scene at the two-story office complex and found a small fire in the back area that had burned through the stairs and down into the office area. A fire sprinkler overhead held the damage in check until firefighters arrived, Olson said.

The fire damage appears to be confined to the stair area, and there is smoke damage throughout the building, he said.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and appears to be accidental, San Luis Obispo City fire Engineer Mathew Polkow said. He added that the fire appears to have started inside of the staircase.

No one was injured in the fire.

 

Troy, MI – Fire at Korean barbecue restaurant stopped by single sprinkler head

A fire inside the Korean BBQ Dae Jang Keum at 2947 E. Big Beaver demonstrated the importance of commercial sprinkler systems.  According to Assistant Fire Chief Chuck Riesterer the fire was reported at 9:21 pm.

“Upon arrival, firefighters reported that the fire sprinkler system was active, all occupants were out of the building and that the fire had been extinguished. The fire was located in the Korean BBQ restaurant at the west end of this large, one-story strip mall,” Riesterer said.  “Firefighters turned off the water flowing from the sprinkler system. The fire sprinkler system contained the fire damage to the immediate area.  No extension was found in the adjoining spaces. Damage was located in a small dining area in the restaurant. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Damage estimates are incomplete at this time.”

Sprinklers are not required in all restaurants, but because Dae Jang Keum was located in a large strip mall it was necessary.

“The requirement for sprinklers comes from the Michigan Building Code, which is based upon the International Code Council’s Building Code,” Riesterer said.  Factors include height and area limitations, type of materials in the building and the ease of occupant egress.

“The fire was contained to the one space, and only one sprinkler head was used to contain the fire. Had the fire sprinkler system not been in place, patrons may have been injured, and a more severe impact to the community would have been felt with the possible loss of several businesses.  As it is, with a small amount of clean up, Dae Jang Keum should be open for business this week, if not already.”

The benefits of sprinkler systems have been well-documented, including by demonstrations in Rochester Hills and Ferndale.

Watch video of a side by side burn demo with a sprinkler system at http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/11/22/burn-demo-shows-value-of-residential-sprinklers-video/.

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