Apartment Building, Residential

Tulsa, OK – Sprinkler system contains fire at apartment complex until fire crews arrive; No injuries reported

Fire crews were called to the scene of a fire that broke out at the Woodward Park Apartments on Wednesday morning.

Crews were able to put the fire out just before noon and firefighters say this may an arson situation. Investigators with the Tulsa Fire Department say the exact cause of the fire is still undetermined but investigators believe it is related to someone trying to steal gas. Firefighters say a drill and a gas can were found in the garage where the fire broke out.

According to fire crews, two cars caught fire in a garage beneath an apartment unit.

Officials say the garage sprinkler system helped manage the fire until crews arrived on the scene. There was no damage to apartments and no injuries were reported. Investigators say they do not have any suspects at this time.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Peachtree City, GA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Walmart

A 14-year-old girl in Georgia was charged with arson after being accused of setting a fire inside Walmart.

The Peachtree City Police Department believes the teen intentionally started a fire in the paper goods aisle of the store, WGCL reports.

According to police, officers executed a search warrant at the 14-year-old’s home, where they said she admitted to starting the fire.

Investigators said the girl stated no motive behind setting the fire. It was said to be her impulsive decision.

Authorities said the fire was set around 7:20 p.m. Aug. 24. It took firefighters throughout the night to get the fire under control. It was finally extinguished around 4 a.m. the following day.

Although the store’s sprinkler system functioned as designed, the store suffered extensive damage to the interior and the roof.

Three Peachtree City police officers who evacuated the store had to be treated for smoke inhalation, but no one was seriously injured.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Hagerstown, MD – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at elementary school

Someone started a fire at Bester Elementary School in Hagerstown on Tuesday.

Shortly after 11 a.m., firefighters responded to the school at 385 Mill Street for a fire on the second floor.

The school was being evacuated when first responders arrived and an extinguished fire was found in a bathroom.

Officials said the fire was put out by the school’s automatic sprinkler system and was contained to the one room.

One school staff member was evaluated for smoke inhalation but did not need to be hospitalized.

Officials said the fire was intentionally set, a suspect has been identified, and charges are pending.

School dismissed early for the day after the incident.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Syracuse, NY – Sprinkler system activated for 5th floor apartment fire

Syracuse Firefighters extinguished a kitchen fire on the fifth floor of Vinette Towers Saturday afternoon.

Crews responded to the 947 Pond Street Apartment building around 3:39 pm after a 911 caller reported a very strong odor in the building. Firefighters arrived in less than 3 minutes and saw smoke coming out of a window on the 5th floor. Crews made their way to the fifth-floor apartment with a hose line and extinguished the fire.

Firefighters determined the fire started on a kitchen stove. A heat-activated sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading into any other apartments. No victims were found, but one apartment resident was displaced.

This is the second major fire reported at Vinette Towers this summer. In July, 10 apartments were left uninhabitable after homemade fireworks exploded on the 6th floor of the apartment building.

The cause of the stove fire is under investigation. The Syracuse Housing Authority, National Grid, Syracuse Police, the Red Cross, and AMR all assisted the Syracuse Fire department in their response.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at 16-story downtown high rise; No injuries reported

Sprinklers prevented a possible disaster Sunday evening when a sparking vacuum cleaner ignited a fire in an apartment of a 16-story downtown high rise.

The fire was reported at 10:45 p.m. at 255 S. Hill St., said the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Margaret Stewart.

It was in an eighth-story apartment and was held in check by sprinklers, Stewart said.

“While a few residents self-evacuated, the rest of the building is sheltering in place,” she said. “There is only light smoke in the hallway.”

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters remained at the scene to remove water from the sprinkler activation, she said.

Residential, Single Family Home

Streamwood, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire in basement of home

A fire that started in the basement of an unoccupied Streamwood home Saturday didn’t cause serious damage thanks to the sprinkler system, officials said.

Streamwood fire crews responded to the home on Moraine Court around 5 p.m. but found only light smoke coming from a basement window, according to a news release.

Officials said the fire was extinguished by the automatic sprinkler system so the damage to the home was minimal. Upon inspection, officials determined the fire had been started by a lithium battery pack that malfunctioned while being charged, the release said.

The village of Streamwood has required fire sprinklers installed in all new homes since 2002.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Travis County, TX – Sprinkler system activated for recycling bin fire near target

Lake Travis Fire Rescue officials said a fire broke out Sunday morning near the front of a Target on Ranch Road 620 South.

Firefighters responded for a fire alarm activation and saw smoke near the structure. Officials said the fire was controlled with a fire sprinkler.

According to LTFR, the fire originated in a recycle bin near the front of the store.

LTFR said the fire remains under investigation.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Spring Lake, MI – Small school fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Emergency crews responded to a fire alarm at Holmes Elementary School in Spring Lake Thursday morning.

The Spring Lake Fire Department (SLFD) says units arrived at the school after 6 a.m. to find no signs of fire from the outside. Subsequent investigations revealed a small fire that had been put out by a sprinkler inside one of the classrooms, officials explain.

We’re told firefighters remained on scene to help clear out smoke and assist with the school’s cleanup efforts.

SLFD says the incident is an example of how sprinkler systems minimize fire damage and overall risks to public safety.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Corpus Christi, TX – Sprinkler system activated for fire at transportation facility

An early morning fire caused some damage to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) building at N. Staples St., Mike Rendon with CCRTA told 3NEWS.

The fire was reported just after 8 a.m. in a second floor storage room. RTA officials were preparing for a board meeting when the fire began, Rendon said.

Corpus Christi Fire Department crews were on scene within five minutes, Rendon said, and had the fire put out shortly after.

The water sprinkler system did cause some damage to the building and it will be closed for the rest of the day Wednesday, Rendon said. All RTA employees have been told to work from home today.

There is no word on the cause of the fire at this time. 

The Veterans Services and Social Services Offices within the building will be closed to walk-in clients until further notice. 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Incline Village, NV – Sprinkler system contains structure fire until crews arrive; No injuries reported

A structure fire near Incline Village has been ruled accidental, officials with the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District say.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

The fire broke out on the evening of Aug. 11. Fire officials credited a single fire sprinkler for containing the blaze to one specific area and preventing further damage.

No other information was provided.

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