Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Lawrence, NJ – Laundry fire at condominium complex doused by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Police are investigating a fire that broke out early Saturday in the laundry room of a condominium complex, according to the fire department.   Firefighters responded to the complex on Town Court South around 1:30 a.m. Saturday after getting a call about a fire in the laundry room, Lawrence Fire Chief Gary Wasko said.

When they arrived they found that everyone had evacuated the room and that the sprinkler system had extinguished much of the fire. They had the rest of the fire under control almost immediately and worked to deal with the smoke removal for a long time after that, Wasko said.  

The investigation into how the fire started was turned over to Lawrence police, who were not immediately available for contact Saturday evening.

Apartment Building, Residential

Grand Forks, ND – No injuries in New Year’s Eve apartment fire suppressed by sprinkler system

Residents of a Grand Forks apartment complex rang in the new year in the cold because a fire broke out inside a second floor unit on Garden View Drive shortly after 11:00. About two dozen people were inside at the time.  However, people living in the unit where the fire started were not home.

The fire was contained to the single unit, but several other units and the hallway sustained smoke and water damage. Everyone was allowed to return to their apartments last night except for the one where the fire started.

“The fire was pretty much extinguished by the sprinkler system, or at least contained by the sprinkler system, so there would have been minimal fire as I understand it by the fire crews that responded,” Grand Forks Fire Capt. Bob Kramer said. The fire marshall said the fire is accidental because of unattended cooking on the stove.

Apartment Building, Residential

Encinitas, CA – Sprinkler system contains early morning apartment fire to room of origin; No injuries reported

The spread of a fire that broke out Thursday morning in an Encinitas apartment building was stopped by a fire sprinkler system, a city fire official said. A fire alarm was triggered just after 5 a.m. as the apartment’s sprinkler system was activated, alerting the Encinitas Fire Department to respond to the building in the 3000 block of Manchester Avenue in Cardiff, according to Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Kerri Berberet.

“The resident smelled smoke and attempted to extinguish a fire caused by a candle,” Berberet said. “During the process, a single fire sprinkler activated due to the heat produced by the fire.” Two engine crews were dispatched to the scene.  “The fire was out upon arrival of the initial fire crew; a second unit was requested for assistance,” Berberet said.

No injuries were reported, and other residents and apartments were unscathed. “With the activation of the fire sprinkler system and quick response by firefighters, the fire was contained to the room of origin,” she said.

Berberet pointed out that according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half, while an automatic fire sprinkler system cuts the risk of dying by about 80 percent, according to the association.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Winston-Salem, NC – Overnight condominium fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Unattended cooking identified as cause

A stove fire Tuesday displaced five people in three condominium units at Ivy Glen Court in the southwestern part of the city, the Winston-Salem Fire Department said. A water flow alarm was received Tuesday from 333 Ivy Glen Court at about 11:30 p.m. On the way, firefighters learned that a fire on the stove had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

On arrival, firefighters discovered minor damage amounting to $1,200 to the structure and $600 to contents. The sprinkler system was shut off to prevent further damage. Power to three units affected by the water from the sprinkler was cut off. The fire department said those displaced are staying with friends and relatives.  The cause of the fire was unattended cooking, the fire department said

Hospital/Care Facility, Other - Hospital/Medical

Bend, OR – Sprinklers credited with saving medical radiology business from overnight fire

Bend Fire officials credit the sprinkler system for saving a northeast Bend business. Firefighters responded to an alarm at Central Oregon Radiology Associates (1460 NE Medical Center Dr.) just after 3 a.m., Friday. When crews arrived, they found that a garbage can had caught fire under the overhang of the building and had activated an exterior sprinkler head.

Investigators say the sprinkler activation prevented what could have been a very expensive fire, given the imaging systems inside the business. The cause of the fire is believed to be an improperly disposed of cigarette.

Dep. Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki says sprinkler heads react to heat; units not exposed to heat don’t activate, which allows minimal amounts of water to be applied to a small fire and keep it from growing. This minimal amount of water also prevents extensive water damage. When water started flowing, the alarm company notified 911.

He reminds business and building owners to keep sprinkler systems well maintained, especially during frigid temperatures. He says frozen systems render them inoperative and/or can result in broken pipes. Derlacki says most fire sprinkler systems that do freeze are the result of lack of maintenance

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Southport, NC – Sprinklers contain fire to laundry room at assisted living facility; No injuries reported

Residents of Southport’s Carillon Assisted Living are back in the facility after a fire damaged part of the building Thursday. The fire was reported just after 6 p.m. at the facility at 1125 E. Leonard St. All 48 residents were safely evacuated but had to take temporary shelter at a county senior citizens center for part of the night.

On Friday, Brunswick County Emergency Services director Scott Garner said residents were able to return to the building after a few hours. “We got them all back in after midnight,” he said.

The fire was contained to a laundry room, but sprinkler systems caused water damage in a residential wing. “There was enough empty beds in the B, C and D wings that they were able to relocate the patients,” Garner said. “They’re all back, no injuries, and everybody worked together well.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Lakewood, NJ – Dryer fire in apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

A dryer fire and subsequent sprinkler activation in a Lakewood apartment was cause for several families being displaced. At approximately 11 PM, residents woke up to their smoke alarm sounding, and found smoke billowing from their dryer.  The resident immediately called the Fire Department, and then opened the door to the dryer to try grabbing some of burning clothing articles to place them into a bathtub, but burned his hand in the process, officials confirm.

By this time, the apartment’s sprinkler system was activated, and extinguished the fire, but not before soaking the residence, and the apartments beneath, officials say. The fire department arrived, and ventilated the apartment.  The families from at least three apartments were displaced, sources told TLS.  The resident was treated at the scene by Lakewood First Aid.

Ocean County Fire Marshals determined the dryer was caused by being overloaded with clothing, officials say.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peachtree Corners, GA – Apartment bedroom fire snuffed out by sprinkler system

Gwinnett County firefighters responded to a fire in Peachtree Corners Tuesday morning. At 11:39 a.m., firefighters responded to a report of a fire alarm going off at an apartment on the 1200 block of Ivey Park Lane in Peachtree Corners. The crews found a sprinkler had put out a fire on a bed in a second floor unit at the complex. Rutledge said no one was home when the fire occurred, and investigators have not been able to determine what caused it.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Coventry, RI – Early morning fire at business controlled with help from sprinkler system

Several businesses in Coventry were damaged Wednesday morning after a small fire triggered the emergency sprinkler system. The fire started at about 2:30 a.m. inside a building at 577 Tiogue Ave. The fire scorched an exterior door, but the sprinkler system kept the flames from spreading until fire crews could arrive at the scene.

Several businesses sustained heavy damage from the amount of water used by the sprinkler alarm. Central Coventry Fire District Chief Peter Lamb said the fire was accidental but would not comment on the cause. Nobody was in the building when the fire broke out.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Rapid City, SD – Fire at Safeway store held in check by sprinkler system; Store opens next day

According to a release from the Rapid City Fire Department, firefighters were summoned about 5:44 a.m. on Christmas Day to a fire alarm at the Safeway store, at 2120 Mount Rushmore Road. A fire in the deli area had activated two sprinkler heads, which kept the fire down until firefighters could douse the flames.

Some produce had to be discarded because of smoke exposure, and Oliver White, the department’s spokesman, said there was a small amount of water damage, but he added that the sprinklers were effective in keeping the small fire from spreading. The store was able to open the next day.

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