Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Fargo, ND – Single sprinkler puts out dryer fire at hotel; No injuries reported

A dryer fire forced guests outside Monday morning at Expressway Suites, 4303 17th Avenue South in Fargo. Fire Department Battalion Chief Lee Soeth says the smoke was limited to the first floor of the hotel, but as a precaution, guests were evacuated for about 20 minutes. The small fire set off one sprinkler and put out the fire quickly. Soeth says crews stayed on scene to clear out the smoke and mop up water. A damage assessment is not available.

Other Business

Caledon, ON, Canada – Fire in dust collection system controlled with help from sprinklers

Caledon firefighters are working to put out a fire this morning (Jan. 18) at a commercial property fire at Highway 50 and Healey Rd. Firefighters found light smoke conditions inside the building and a working fire in the ‎dust collection system. No injuries were reported and the internal sprinkler system has been activated. Crews are attempting to bring the fire under control. Bolton, Palgrave, Caledon East and Caledon Village Fire Stations, OPP and Peel EMS are currently on scene‎.

Apartment Building, Residential

Niagara Falls, NY – Sprinklers assist firefighter in controlling fire in multi-family residential building

Downtown fire crews received a report of a working structure fire on Main Street in a large, multi-family dwelling. Engine 3, Platoon 4 was first into the building and dragged a hose line to the third floor while notifying residents to evacuate the building. Between the building’s sprinkler system and firefighter hoselines, significant water damage was sustained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Estero, FL – Fire caused by man burning love letters is controlled with help from sprinkler system

The Florida Everblades hockey player facing arson charges was burning love letters from a girlfriend last month when the blaze got out of control, according to an arrest report that reveals new details in the Dec. 30 arrest of Justin Agosta.

The 25-year-old told firefighters who responded to his apartment along the 11200 block of Everblades Parkway in Estero that he was upset with his girlfriend when he bought gasoline at a nearby gas station to douse the letters. Agosta said he tried to put the fire out with water and a towel when it got out of control near the entrance of his apartment and caused damage to the front of his building and walls where soot collected. The fire sprinkler went off and Agosta dialed 911 to alert firefighters.

Agosta was arrested and taken to the Lee County jail about 1 p.m. that Wednesday. Agosta’s next court appearance is Feb. 1. He has not missed a game playing for the team since his arrest.

Other - Retail, Retail

Bellingham, WA – Overnight arson fire at Goodwill store extinguished by sprinkler system

Three arsons have been set in three mornings behind a Goodwill store, according to police. Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying who has been setting the fires.

The first fire was reported at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in a Dumpster near the donation drop-off of the Goodwill at 1115 E. Sunset Drive, said Bellingham Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hewett. Firefighters responded to a second arson at 5:08 Thursday, in another Dumpster.  And a third fire was reported at 3:25 a.m. Friday. This time someone set up debris against the building itself, and lit it on fire. By the time firefighters reached the scene a sprinkler had extinguished the flames, but it was damaged in the process.

So far most of the damage has been limited to the sprinkler, two waste disposal units that are now warped, and the garbage. Police would like it to stay that way. Tips should be directed to Bellingham Police Detective Dan Kelsh at 360-778-8690.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Austin, TX – Fire in downtown residential high-rise held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries

Two people have been displaced after a Wednesday night fire in a high-rise in downtown Austin, fire officials said. Firefighters responded at 10:22 p.m. to a fire that started on the stove of an eighth-floor unit at 85 Trinity Street, the Austin Fire Department said.

No one was injured. The sprinkler system activated and held the fire in check until firefighters arrived and extinguished the remaining fire, the department said. The apartments were evacuated, and everyone returned to their homes except the two displaced residents.  The Austin Housing Authority is assisting the two residents, firefighters said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Chevy Chase, MD – Sprinkler system holds high rise apartment fire in check

Dozens of Montgomery County firefighters responded to the blaze at the Willard Apartments at 4701 Willard Avenue.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer said the fire originated on the 16th floor of the high rise building.

According to Piringer, hundreds of residents were evacuated and some residents with mobility issues had to be assisted out of the building by firefighters.

A sprinkler system held the fire in check until firefighters could put 14the blaze out, Piringer said.

The fire originated in the sunroom of a 16th floor apartment and damages are estimated at $25,000, according to Piringer. He said the fire was electrical in nature and the cause was related to an extension cord.

Two residents were transported to a local hospital for exposure to the fire and smoke. Their injuries are not life threatening, Piringer said.

According to Piringer, the fire has displaced six residents from their homes.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Tulsa, OK – Sprinklers confine fire at Woodland Hills Mall to small area

A small fire triggered an alarm and was extinguished at Woodland Hills Mall on Monday evening, a Tulsa Fire Department spokesman said.

Fire Capt. Stan May said some boxes in a sub-level storage area near JCPenney, on the south side of the mall at 71st Street and Memorial Drive, caught fire and triggered an alarm about 8 p.m. Three sprinklers were activated and kept the flames confined to the boxes, which were in a hallway area, May said.

Damage was minimal in large part because the storage area has a concrete floor, he said. However, about 2 inches of water was standing in the storage area as of Monday night. A restoration and cleanup company were brought to the scene to survey the damage.

Fire alarms went off in the mall, and an entrance near the store was briefly blocked to visitors, but May said shoppers were able to leave once fire crews determined that everyone in the mall was safe. No public shopping areas were damaged in the incident.

The fire remains under investigation.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Port Moody, BC – Sprinkler system contains fire at sawmill; No injuries

No one was injured following an explosion and fire at a Port Moody sawmill early Tuesday morning.

Firefighters received a call at 2:30 a.m. that there was a fire at the Flavelle Sawmill. It turns out that a nitrogen tank that was part of a hydraulic system had exploded, due to a nearby fire.

When crews arrived, there was a small fire at the mill, but the sprinkler system had activated and contained the fire.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause.

The explosion did blow a “significant hole” in the sawmill wall, according to the PMFD.

Workers were on break at the time so there was no one in the area.

Other - Retail, Retail

Laconia, NH – Early morning fire at salon extinguished by sprinkler system

A salon in Laconia sustained smoke and water damage in a fire early Monday morning, according to authorities. Crews were called to Jerico’s Salon on Union Avenue around 3 a.m.  Firefighters found heavy smoke inside, but the building’s sprinkler system extinguished the flames.

Officials said the fire was located in the hair salon area. No one was there and no injuries were reported.  Officials said the salon sustained smoke and water damage and will likely be closed for some time.  The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is not believed to be suspicious. 

Simple Share Buttons