Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Normal, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire at university housing

It remains unclear what caused a fire at Watterson Towers South Tower at Illinois State University Wednesday afternoon.

The Normal Fire Department said a call came in around 4:20 PM Wednesday for an activated fire alarm.

While en route, numerous other calls came in that there was reported smoke in the building near the second-floor fitness center.

A search of the second floor led firefighters to find an activated fire sprinkler and a fire in a staff workroom that is connected to the fitness center. The fire was put out, while other firefighters searched the top floor and the floors above and below for any fire spread.

The Normal Fire Department says there is fire and smoke damage, but it is contained within the staff work room, while there is water throughout the second floor as a result of the fire sprinkler system and fire suppression efforts.

Public Information Officer Matt Swaney said the second floor at Watterson Towers South Tower is not a residential floor, and mainly houses the fitness center, and several offices and work rooms.

“The second floor is below any of the residential floors and no students are displaced. The second floor will remain closed while Illinois State University coordinates clean up and restoration work to the area,” said Swaney in a press release.

The building has reopened to students and it was turned back over to Illinois State University shortly after 6:30 PM.

No damage estimate is available.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Normal Fire Department and Illinois State University.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at hotel; No injuries reported

A Main Street hotel had to be evacuated late Monday afternoon after a fire broke out.

Crews responded to the 700 block of Main Street just after 4 p.m., where they found smoke inside the building.

The hotel’s sprinkler system was activated, and crews launched an offensive attack.

A ladder truck was used to help evacuate some of the occupants. No one was injured, and residents were able to return to the building after the fire was extinguished.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

St. Johns, NL, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

The effects of a minor fire have displaced several residents of an apartment building in Pleasantville.

Fire crews were called to the building, on Charter Avenue, at about 10:00 p.m. on Monday evening. An unattended pot left on a stove had started a fire in the kitchen of a unit on the second floor. Dean Foley, Platoon Chief with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, said that while the fire was quickly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, water continued to flow for some time, causing flooding in multiple units.

Maintenance personnel arrived to shut off the flow of water to the affected area of the building, which is owned by the City of St. John’s. Foley said that fourteen people in total were displaced from their apartments. The Canadian Red Cross were called to assist those who could not make alternate arrangements for accommodations.

No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Oregon, WI – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at three-story multi-residential building; No injuries reported

On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 1, the Oregon Area Fire & EMS District was alerted to a fire alarm in the 100 block of Wolfe Street in the Village of Oregon. According to a Monday, Sept. 9 OAFED news release, Engine 2 arrived on the scene to find a three-story multi-residential building.

Upon investigating the cause of the alarm activation, the crew was alerted to a water flow alarm on the third floor, as indicated on the fire alarm panel. A tenant also notified them that water was coming from the ceiling on the second floor.

Crews located an unoccupied third-floor apartment full of smoke and an activated sprinkler head in the washer and dryer area. The sprinkler activation was due to a dryer fire with clothing inside. There was minimal fire extension to the structure and area of origin.

Smoke and water damage were caused to the apartment involved and the apartment below. The loss value is estimated at $10,000. The crew also located a dog in the apartment that was not harmed in this incident.

“The OAFED would like to take this time to stress the importance of commercial and residential sprinkler systems, and the lives and property in which they protect,” said Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier. “With the use of the sprinkler system, no residents were displaced and no injuries were reported. It is also very important to remind everyone not to leave their appliances running unattended, such as dehumidifiers, dishwashers, and clothes dryers – this is a common cause of fires and can be easily prevented.

“As we move toward Fire Prevention Month, we encourage you to ensure that your houses are equipped with functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that the batteries are changed twice a year.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – Sprinkler system activated for stovetop fire at high-rise apartment building

A stovetop fire Saturday afternoon led to Wilmington firefighters being sent to a high-rise apartment building.

Crews were dispatched to the 900 block of North Market Street around 3 p.m. for a report of a water flow alarm from the building’s sprinkler system.

When firefighters got to the 7th floor, they noticed water in the hall and determined that the sprinkler system in one of the apartments had activated.

Inside that apartment, they found the sprinklers had put out a fire on the stovetop.

Firefighters turned the sprinklers off, and electricity was turned off in that apartment and several others where water was found.

After Licenses and Inspections and building management determined all the water had been removed, electricity was turned back on.

Apartment Building, Residential

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at apartment building

At 11:36 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service received reports of fire at a two-storey apartment building in the 300 block of Ross Avenue.

When crews arrived on scene, they entered the structure and found smoke inside the building. When they located the fire, the sprinkler system was activated and had already knocked it down.

The building was evacuated because water from the sprinkler system caused damage to the structure. Firefighters helped some residents out of the building, while others self-evacuated.

The City of Winnipeg’s Emergency Social Services team was called to help approximately 44 displaced residents find temporary accommodations. A Winnipeg Transit bus was also deployed to provide shelter for residents.

Paramedics assessed one person at the scene and transported them to hospital in stable condition.

Damage estimates are not available at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charleston, SC – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

Emergency personnel arrived 13 minutes after they were dispatched to the three-story apartment building.Crews searched the building and located a possible fire in a third-floor apartment.
Firefighters forced the door and discovered smoke in the unit and an extinguished kitchen fire. A rapid search of the unit discovered a dog in the apartment, which firefighters quickly brought to safety.
According to the CFD, the fire originated on the stovetop after combustible items stored on the stove surface were ignited. The fire was contained to the kitchen area by a single fire sprinkler.
Five units were affected by water from the incident. The CFD said they anticipate three adults will be displaced. No injuries were reported.
“We continue to experience a significant number of fire losses in the kitchen area. Residents need to stay in the kitchen when cooking, verify cooking devices are turned off before leaving the kitchen, and never store combustible items on top of the stove,” Julazadeh said.
Apartment Building, Residential

Daniel Island, SC – Sprinkler system contains late night apartment building fire; No injuries reported

The CFD received an automatic fire alarm at 11:40 p.m. from the three-story complex at 305 Seven Farms Drive. Emergency personnel were on the scene within five minutes of the dispatch, where they found smoke in the building’s hallway.
North Charleston and Mount Pleasant fire departments also responded.
Firefighters entered the building to investigate the source of the smoke. They soon identified a fire in a third-floor apartment. The building’s sprinkler system had already controlled the blaze to the room where it started.
The fire department conducted evacuations of the affected units, extinguished the remaining flames, checked for any fire spread, and controlled the water flow from the sprinklers. The CFD said the efficiency of the sprinkler system prevented the fire from causing extensive damage or spreading beyond the apartment of origin.
Although the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, initial suspicions point to an electrical issue within the apartment.
During the incident, 40 apartment units were evacuated to ensure the safety of the residents. The damage was largely confined to the apartment where the fire originated, with six additional units suffering water damage due to the sprinkler system.
No injuries were reported, and the affected tenants were able to return to their apartments once the situation was under control, except for those in the fire and water-damaged units.
The American Red Cross is assisting four displaced individuals, including three adults and one child. The remaining displaced tenants found accommodation with family or friends, minimizing the need for additional support.
“The fire sprinkler system contained the fire, reducing the life hazard, and preventing significant loss to the property until firefighters arrived to finish mitigating the incident,” Chief Fire Marshal Michael Julazadeh said.
The immediate response of the local fire departments and the effectiveness of the sprinkler system played a crucial role in managing the fire and preventing a more severe disaster, CFD said.
The Charleston Fire Department and the Fire Marshal’s Office continue to investigate the cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.
Apartment Building, Residential

Wilson, NC – Sprinkler system activated for cooking fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

One resident was displaced following a Friday afternoon cooking fire in the St. James Plaza apartment complex.

Deputy Chief Jim Campbell of Wilson Fire/Rescue Services said the apartment’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained to its room of origin.

“Crews arrived on scene to find an activated sprinkler head in an apartment that had extinguished a fire prior to our arrival,” Campbell said in a report. “Fire crews checked for fire extension and removed the smoke and water from the building.”

No firefighters or civilians were injured. Campbell said the fire displaced one resident.

Campbell estimated $5,000 in property damage and $1,000 in losses to contents from the fire.

Along with Wilson Fire/Rescue Services, the Wilson Police Department, Wilson County EMS and Wilson County Communications responded.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Cincinnati, OH – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at high rise apartment building; No injuries reported

A small kitchen fire caused smoke and water damage to a high rise apartment building in Downtown Cincinnati Thursday morning.

Firefighters were called to the building on Central Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets, at about 4 a.m. for a report of smoke on the 15th floor.

The fire department said the sprinkler system put out the fire. There was smoke and water damage to the apartment where the fire started. There was water damage to two other apartments.

No one was hurt. No word on a cause.

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