Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Redding, CA – Fire at silk-screening business put out by single sprinkler

An automatic sprinkler system extinguished a fire in a silk-screening business Saturday morning in the 17800 block of Construction Way.  Redding firefighters responded to a water-flow alarm at 10:10 a.m. When crews arrived, they found a single fire sprinkler head already had put out the flames.

The owner left the business at 9:45 p.m. Friday night and forgot to turn off a high-wattage heating lamp that’s used to dry silk-screening products, firefighters said. The lamp started a fire in material on a plastic, roll-away cart. Damage was estimated at less than $5,000.

The sprinkler saved thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment, inventory and the building, firefighters said.

Office Building, Other Business

Appleton, WI – Sprinkler system prevents fire in office building from spreading; Adjacent businesses spared

The Appleton Fire Department released a statement today saying they were dispatched to a fire at the Epiphany-Rose building around noon today for a report of smoke in the building.  According to statements by workers at Kerber-Rose Certified Public Accounts, located in Suite B, they had noted that a bank of electrical lights had stopped functioning. 

After investigating and finding no reason for the failure, the individuals continued with their work.  A couple hours later, another bank of electrical lights also failed.  One of the workers then heard a “crackling and popping” sound in the ceiling above his work station.  Shortly after that, smoke was seen coming from the ceiling area and the fire sprinkler system activated.

The Appleton Fire Department credits the automatic fire sprinkler system for keeping the fire from spreading further.

Upon arrival of fire units, smoke was found throughout the Suite. Upon investigation, a fire was found burning in the attic.  Automatic fire sprinklers and a fire wall in the attic prevented the fire from spreading to the Epiphany Law Office, located in Suite A.  Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire but due to the blown insulation in the attic, fire crews remained on scene for several hours conducting overhaul operations to ensure that the fire was completely extinguished.  Fire crews also assisted in removing numerous items from the interior of Suite to prevent further damage.

No one was injured at the fire. Initial estimates are that the fire damage was at least $150,000. 

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Billings, MT – Petroleum warehouse fire controlled with help from sprinkler system

A fire ignited at a petroleum warehouse near downtown Billings on Friday afternoon, causing damage to the building but no injuries. Billings firefighters were called to Cross Petroleum Services, 1818 Minnesota Ave., just after 2 p.m. and found flames near the front of the building.  With the help of a sprinkler system, firefighters contained and knocked down the blaze in about 15 minutes, said Billings Fire Department Chief Paul Dextras.

The warehouse stores flammable and combustible products. According to a report from Deputy Fire Marshal Jamie Fender, the fire ignited when flammable liquids were being transferred between containers and the fire was accidental. The estimated cost of damages for the insured building and the insured material destroyed is $100,000.

“It could’ve been somewhat catastrophic,” Dextras said. A large burn mark scarred the front of the building, running up to the roof, and metal tanks outside the building appeared scorched. Sprinklers continued to spray well after the fire was out. Dextras said it was unclear how much flammable material was currently stored inside the warehouse.

Online property records label the building as C & D Warehouse. Dextras and signage outside the building labeled it as Cross Petroleum Products. Records show that the warehouse is about 110,000 square feet.

Other - Retail, Retail

West Linn, OR – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at nail salon; Neighboring business spared

Several fire crews responded to a 2 alarm fire at the West Linn Central Village shopping complex at 8:45 a.m. Friday. The fire started at Aqua Nails Bar, a salon that is not yet open. Sprinkler systems extinguished the flames and fire crews called the second alarm to help clear out a large amount of smoke. Neighboring businesses evacuated and had minor smoke damage. There were no injuries. A Tualitin Valley Fire and Rescue investigator is still looking for a cause for the fire.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Austin, TX – Fire in 18-wheeler extends into warehouse; Sprinklers extinguish blaze

A fire that began in an 18-wheeler and spread to a warehouse in southeast Austin late Thursday night has caused about $100,000 worth of damage. Crews with the Austin Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. to the fire that started in the 18-wheeler full of cardboard on Freidrich Lane.  Officials said the fire extended to a nearby warehouse, but a sprinkler system quickly put out the flames.

Crews were able to put out the fire inside the 18-wheeler shortly after arriving at the scene. No injuries were reported in the fire.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Clinton, NC – Cooking fire at senior housing complex put out by sprinkler system

A cooking fire at a senior housing development in Clinton was able to be quickly extinguished thanks to a sprinkler system, but it did not come without significant water damage, evacuations and one woman transported for treatment.

At about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, the Clinton Fire Department along with departments from Halls, Taylors Bridge, Herring and Salemburg, with ladder truck in tow, responded to a commercial structure fire alarm at Sampson Square Apartments on College Street.

Once on scene, Clinton Fire Chief Scott Phillips said he could not see anything. He made contact briefly with a woman who was the sole resident in the second-floor apartment at the time. She said she was cooking when the fire occurred.

“The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire,” said Phillips. “There was not much in the way of fire damage, but there was water damage and it was leaking downstairs. Once we got there and figured out what was going on, we were able to turn some of the (fire units) around.”

However, Phillips and other fire officials ensured all residents were accounted for using a log provided by the apartment manager.

“We made sure everyone was safe and everyone was evacuated to a centralized location,” said Phillips, who noted the female resident of the apartment requested to be transported by EMS. “I’m not sure if she had smoke inhalation. She was talking and it appeared her injuries were non-life-threatening.”

A two-story, 40-unit senior housing development constructed and opened in 2010, Sampson Square is located at 804 College St. It is one of many developments managed by United Property Management (UPM) toward providing residents age 55 and older an affordable housing option. The company oversees 35 communities throughout the state of North Carolina, offering nearly 2,000 rental units across the state.

Phillips said there were about 20 people outside once the building was evacuated, but the fire chief noted that others could have also been “out” away from the Sampson Square campus as it was the middle of the afternoon.

A UPM employee at Sampson Square on Wednesday confirmed that there was no smoke or fire damage in the building, but that the water damage was extensive. He called the incident a “grease fire” and noted that Keshonda Ruffin, regional manager who oversees general management of UPM properties across the state, was expected to further assess the damage at the housing complex later in the day.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Enderby, BC, Canada – Arson fire in school bathroom extinguished by sprinkler system

RCMP are continuing their investigation of a fire at AL Fortune Secondary School in Enderby earlier this month. Cpl. Kevin Kwast said the fire has been determined as arson.  “It looks like it was set with toilet paper and Post-it notes,” said Kwast, adding police want to interview a student, but could provide no more details because the student is a minor.

Enderby Fire Chief Kevin Alstad said the fire started in the girl’s washroom and was put out by the sprinkler system. “There was smoke damage throughout the building,” said Alstad. “The washroom was pretty much a write off.”

While the fire was limited to the washroom, smoke forced the evacuation of students and staff. The school was closed for two days before students could return to class

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Houston, TX – Fire at assisted living center extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Residents at an assisted-living facility were evacuated Tuesday night when fire damaged portions of the building in southeast Houston. The fire broke out about 9 p.m. at the Paul Chase Commons in the 16400 block of Moon Rock Drive, said District Chief Tim Lockwood of the Houston Fire Department.

Lockwood said the 26-room, two-story facility was evacuated after fire was sparked in one of the rooms. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, with the help of the facility’s sprinkler system. No injuries were reported.

 The fire, Lockwood said, appeared to begin in the unit’s air conditioner. Six to eight units were damaged, and smoke billowed throughout the building.  After the smoke was cleared and firefighters determined the facility was safe, residents were allowed back inside. Those living in the damaged units were relocated. The fire remained under investigation.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Franklin, OH – Fire at manufacturing facility knocked down by sprinklers

Arcs from a welder’s torch caused a small fire at a Franklin company Monday afternoon.

Franklin firefighters were called to Unifirst, 265 Industrial Drive, at 1:36 p.m. for a fire at the large manufacturing facility. The laundry and uniform company is in the midst of a building expansion according to city officials.

Fire Lt. Mike Perry said the a welder was in an area where the expansion and the current building met and dropped arcs between the roof of the two sections onto a maintenance/storage shed that caught fire. Perry said the building’s sprinkler system contained most of the fire, and firefighters put down a small additional amount of water and cleared the building of smoke.

He estimated damages of about $5,000 to the structure and about $10,000 to contents stored in the shed.

Apartment Building, Residential

Orono, ME – Sprinkler system knocks down grease fire at apartment building

Crews responded to a fire at an apartment complex in Orono Monday afternoon.

The call came in around 2:30 to the Reserve apartments, formerly known as the Grove.

Officials say a grease fire triggered the sprinkler system in one of the units. As a result the fire was out when crews arrived.

There was significant smoke and water damage, though, leaving the apartment unliveable for now.

“I believe the resident was attempting to deep fry something and it caught on fire, put it in the sink, put water on it, which expanded the grease, caused the sprinkler heads to go off,” said Capt. Joel Sides of the Orono Fire Department.

Fire officials remind you to always use baking soda–not water–to put out a grease fire.

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