Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Portland, OR – Fire in high-rise residence hall at Portland State University contained by sprinkler system

Portland firefighters say an unattended candle burned an 11th floor apartment unit in Portland State University’s Goose Hollow residence hall. The fire was reported about 4:20 a.m. Sunday at a 16-story residence hall located at 1604 Southwest Clay Street.

The smoke alarm woke the person who was asleep in the apartment where the fire began. That person escaped uninjured. No one else was hurt in the early morning incident, Portland fire officials said.

Firefighters encountered smoke on the 10th and 11th floors of the building. The building’s fire sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading. Fire damage was limited to the apartment where the fire broke out, however, smoke damage extended to other areas of the building. Managers of the building are working with residents to find alternative housing.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Fargo, ND – Single sprinkler head controls warehouse fire at Sysco Foods

Fargo Fire is crediting a single sprinkler head with preventing the spread of an early morning fire. Just after 4:30 Saturday morning fire crews responded to the Sysco Foods Warehouse at 3225 12th Avenue North. When crews arrived on scene, alarms were sounding and smoke was visible inside the building, but fire had been controlled by a single sprinkler head in the building’s sprinkler system.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, sprinklers are effective 96% of the time and buildings with sprinklers that have a fire typically experience less than half the damage of buildings without sprinklers.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Clinton, TN – Sprinkler system saves residents of senior housing tower from fire

What was described as a “room and content” fire at the Clinton Towers on Seivers Boulevard on Wednesday night was controlled by the fire sprinkler system. The fire was reported at around 11 p.m. inside a room on the second floor. No one was injured.

Clinton Fire Chief Archie Brummitt said the sprinkler system inside the room “did its job,” allowing firefighters to completely extinguish the blaze within just a few minutes of their arrival.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental, and while the exact cause is unknown, the fire may have started in the room’s heating unit.

Apartment Building, Residential

Toronto, ON, Canada – Fire at off-campus residence quickly contained by sprinkler system

Toronto Fire responded to a fire at Ryerson’s O’Keefe House residence building tonight.  Six units responded to the call, which was quickly contained due to the building’s sprinkler system, according to Toronto Fire Services.

Smoke was seen coming from the upper floor of the building shortly after 6 p.m. and started in a residence bedroom.  The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.  Ryerson’s smallest residence, O’Keefe House was built around 1875.  It currently houses 32 students.

Apartment Building, Residential

Sun Valley, NV – Sprinklers control multiple arson fires at apartment complex

The Sparks Fire Department says fires at a Sun Valley apartment complex were intentionally set.  The fires started around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Boulder Creek Apartments.  Crews found that the internal fire sprinkler system had extinguished two fires in two separate areas of the unit.  A third fire was noticed in another room but had self-extinguished.

The call was reported to Sparks dispatch by the fire alarm monitoring company as water flow.  Fire crews found smoke coming out of the open entry door of one of the apartment units.  Firefighters found no one inside.  Sparks Fire says several people were evacuated, but have been allowed back into their units.  There were no reports of injuries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Cleveland, OH – Sprinkler system suppresses fire at expo center during busy RV show

Hundreds of people were attending an RV show when a fire broke out in a basement storage room at the International Exposition Center, officials said.   An extension cord sparked the fire, which was suppressed by the building’s sprinkler system, according to Jeremy Levine, spokesman for the I-X Center.  Cleveland fire officials decided there was no reason to evacuate the building, according to Levine.   The blaze was contained to one room and no major damage was reported.

The I-X Center released this statement: “As we understand according to the Cleveland Fire Department, a small fire started from an extension cord in an unoccupied storage room in the I-X Center basement. There was never a threat to person or property. Fire was immediately suppressed by the sprinkler system. Other than a little smoke, there is no damage of note. There was no interruption to the Ohio RV Super Show running now through this weekend.”

Other - Retail, Other Business

Williamsburg, VA – Sprinkler system helps contain fire at laundry facility

Fire crews in James City County were dispatched to Kingsmill Laundry at 8525 Pocahontas Trail on Wednesday morning just before 5:00 a.m. Units arrived to find fire showing from the roof of the building . The building’s sprinkler system activated and helped the fire department contain the fire.

The fire was under control at 5:37 a.m. and completely extinguished at 6:00 a.m.  The building was unoccupied. No one was injured.

The extent of the fire involved the mechanical room, the boiler, and portions of the roof above that room. James City County Fire officials have determined the cause of the fire to be a mechanical failure within the boiler system.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Vail, CO – Single sprinkler contains kitchen fire at condominium hotel

A New Year’s Eve kitchen fire in a condominium at Lion Square Lodge, 660 W. Lionshead Place, was quickly contained by the activation of the automatic fire sprinkler system in the unit. According to Vail Fire Marshal Mike Vaughan, the fire in the recently renovated east building was controlled by a single sprinkler in the kitchen near the stove.

Firefighters responded to the property at around 5:30 p.m. on report of a waterflow alarm. Investigators determined that the cause of the fire was related to a pan being left unattended on the stove.

Building maintenance crews had turned off the sprinkler valve by the time fire crews arrived. Damage is estimated to be less than $5,000 and was contained to the microwave above the stove as well as the underside of adjacent cabinetry.

Water damage was minimal as each unit is equipped with its own sprinkler shut off. Building maintenance was able to use a shop vac for clean up.

The occupants of the residence did not need to be relocated and there were no injuries, according to Vaughan. The sprinkler system was restored to a working condition that evening.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Houston, TX – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Fire at large church controlled by single sprinkler

*** FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE ***

The West I-10 Fire Department responded to the report of a fire in a large Light Hazard building. The Second Baptist Church located at 19449 was not occupied when the call was received. The call came in at 1755 hours on January 1, 2015. Engine 01 and District 9 arrived on the scene at 1807 and assumed command and started the investigation. This fire was controlled by one sprinkler head.

*Incident Command Narrative:*

“A” division reports grey smoke, non-pressurized, alarm sounding and crews can hear an active sprinkler head flowing water. E-01 establishes a forward apartment house hose lay and enters on a right wall search. E-01 quickly reports identifying a television on fire, held in check by sprinkler system. E-01 extinguishes fire, tap out reported.

Building officials on site and confirm building was not occupied. Building officials worked to assist fire department personnel. “C” division assigned to secure sprinkler system and open main drain. Transition from extinguishment to salvage/overhaul, and ventilation begins.

Building ventilated with multiple fans, crews began removal of standing water in lobby of church. Walk through completed with. Also spoke with Director of Operations and answered all questions and completed second walk through with him also. Phone call made to HCFMO and discussed situation. I requested that HCFMO visit site and issue a fire watch order due to sprinkler and fire alarm systems being offline.

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