Apartment Building, Residential

Racine, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes unattended cooking fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

Unattended cooking led to a fire that set off a sprinkler system and caused more than $100,000 in damage in an apartment building, the Racine Fire Department said Saturday.

“When you are actively cooking, always make sure to stay in attendance of an ignited burner. If you cannot, turn the burner off completely before walking away,” the RFD said, reminding the public that questions regarding fire safety could be made to the Racine Fire Department Fire Prevention by calling 262-635-7915.

The fire was reported during the 11 o’clock hour Saturday on the 2200 block of Layard Avenue, which is near the city’s northwestern border north of Rapids Drive and west of Mt. Pleasant Street.

The fire alarm was going off in a second-floor apartment and, when firefighters first arrived, they found the sprinkler system had already extinguished the kitchen fire.

No injuries were reported. “Shelter is being provided for the displaced occupant,” the RFD said in a release.

The RFD estimated that the fire caused damages of $110,000 to the building’s structure and another $8,000 to the apartment’s contents.

Responding to the incident were six fire apparatuses, a battalion chief, one safety officer, a fire investigator and the Racine Police Department.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinkler system extinguishes chemical reaction fire

A building along North Boulevard was saved by its sprinkler system Tuesday afternoon when cleaning supplies had a chemical reaction and started a fire. 

According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the A1 Professional Services building along North Boulevard was saved by the sprinklers that completely extinguished the fire. 

When firefighters arrived, several floor mats, mop heads and other products were smoldering. 

Fire officials said the fire was contained to products inside the building. 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Oceanside, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at industrial building; No injuries reported

An Oceanside building that caught on fire Saturday night was spared thanks to its fire sprinkler system, an Oceanside fire official said.

“This goes to show the importance a working fire protection system,” Battalion Chief Wes McGee said in a statement.

The fire was reported shortly after 8 p.m. at the building on Ocean Ranch Boulevard near Maritime Way. After fire officials arrived, they assigned three more fire engines and a ladder truck to the commercial fire, with a total of 18 firefighters responding.

Items inside the business caught fire, McGee said, but the structure itself did not burn.

A damage estimate was not available, but officials said the items that caught fire included a pile of some kind of rags.

According to Google, the business at that address is a store that sells uniforms.

The department was still investigating the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Summerville, SC – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at restaurant; No injuries reported

Summerville Fire officials say a local restaurant sustained extensive heat and water damage Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in the kitchen.

No injuries were reported.

Crews were dispatched to Mad Fish restaurant at 1580 Trolley Rd. around 5:30 a.m. for reports of smoke in the area.

Upon arrival, smoke was observed coming from the restaurant and crews upgraded the call to a structure fire.

Firefighters forced entry into the building and found fire in the kitchen had activated the sprinkler system.

In addition to damage to Mad Fish, smoke spread to adjoining businesses.

Fire crews are expected to be on scene Tuesday morning with one lane of Trolley Road closed.

The cause will be investigated, fire officials said.

Mad Fish is located in the Ridgeway Plaza.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Sun Valley, CA – Sprinkler system activated for container fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters in Sun Valley Sunday knocked down a small fire within a container at a metal plating facility, which was held in check by the structure’s fire sprinkler system, authorities said.

Firefighters were dispatched at 6:59 a.m. to 9939 N. Glenoaks Blvd., where they used a hand-held fire extinguisher to douse the flames, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

It was not immediately clear what was inside the container.

No injuries were reported.

“Per protocol, an LAFD Hazardous Materials team has been summoned to assist with a detailed site assessment,” Humphrey said.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Gainesville, VA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in warehouse; No injuries reported

A two-alarm fire broke out in a warehouse in Gainesville at 11:09 p.m. Monday, October 10, 2022.

Fire crews were dispatched to Virginia Flooring Supply at 8683 Virginia Meadows Drive in Gainesville for a report of a commercial warehouse structure. When crews arrived, a second alarm was requested due to the conditions and building size, said Prince William fire and rescue Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky.

Crews found the fire was located inside the warehouse and extinguished the flames. The building sustained moderate damage. No injuries were reported. 

No one was inside the business when flames broke out, said Smolksy. The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental and originated in the warehouse’s refrigerator area.

The Building Official determined the structure was unsafe to occupy.

Smolensky said this incident illustrates the successful operation of an early notification and sprinkler system, which helped to keep the fire under control). The county’s building code requires the system, he adds.

“Had the structure not been equipped with these systems, the loss would have been more substantial, and the risk to firefighters would have been greater,” added Smolsky. “Business and homeowners are reminded to make sure your fire protection systems are properly maintained and tested as required.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Norwood, MA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

Chief David Hayes reports that the Norwood Fire Department responded to an apartment building this morning for a fire where a working sprinkler system had a significant impact on limiting damage.

On Wednesday morning at approximately 8:15 a.m., Norwood Fire received multiple calls for an alarm at an apartment building at 165 Lenox St., as well as calls reporting water and smoke on the fourth floor of the building.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire in the kitchen area of a unit on the fourth floor. The fire had been largely contained to the area around the stove due to the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters ensured the fire was extinguished and performed overhaul and cleared smoke from the affected apartment.

There were no residents in the unit at the time of the fire, and there were no reported injuries. No other units in the apartment building sustained fire damage, however, the sprinkler system’s activation caused some additional damage in a portion of the building near the unit. 

Firefighters cleared the scene just before 9:15 a.m.

“This fire is a prime example of why it is important to have working sprinkler systems. Sprinklers can help to prevent injuries and severe property damage in a fire, and the building where this fire occurred likely would have sustained significantly more damage if not for the sprinkler system,” Chief Hayes said. “We would also like to remind everyone of the importance of evacuating a building immediately when a fire alarm sounds. In larger buildings, it can be difficult to know from one part of the building what’s happening in another part, so the safest decision is always just to leave when you hear an alarm.”

The initial investigation indicates that the cause of the fire was accidental.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Coral Gables, FL – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire on university campus; No injuries reported

The Coral Gables Fire Department responded to a blaze on the campus of the University of Miami.

It happened Sunday afternoon after officials said a fire sparked in a science classroom.

According to Coral Gables Fire, the building sprinkler system was able to put out the flames and contain it to its room of origin.

Firefighters said chemicals were involved, so a City of Miami Hazmat team was deployed to monitor air quality as an additional precaution.

Hazmat officials gave an all clear, indicating that the chemicals in the fire were contained and did not spread, and they are no longer present.

No injuries were reported.

Office Building, Other Business

Lapeer, MI – Sprinkler system contains forklift fire at commercial building

Lapeer Fire & Rescue, along with the Elba Township Fire Dept., were called out Monday afternoon at 3:12 p.m. to Hydraulic Tubes and Fitting at 434 McCormick Ave. to a report of a forklift on fire inside the building.

When the first Lapeer truck arrived on scene firefighters found the sprinkler system had activated which contained the fire to the forklift. Firefighters advanced into the building and extinguished the fire without incident, said Lapeer Fire & Rescue Chief Mike Vogt.

“Damage was limited to the forklift, however smoke did fill a majority of the building. One employee was evaluated by Lapeer County EMS for possible smoke inhalation, but was not transported to the hospital.

“This incident is an excellent example of how important sprinkler systems are to businesses,” said Vogt. “The sprinkler system was effective at containing the fire, allowed the employees to exit the building in safe conditions, and limited overall damage to the business. We also are thankful that employees called 911 quickly. Early notification is also a critical step in persevering life and property.”

Simple Share Buttons