Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

The incident happened at about 5:13 p.m. in the 2000 block of Vanderbilt Drive.

When firefighters got to the two-story, multi-unit townhome building, they found light smoke showing from the two-car attached garage. The garage sprinkler system had activated and helped contain the fire before first responders arrived, officials said in a news release Friday.

All residents had evacuated before firefighters arrived. Crews brought the fire under control in less than 20 minutes.

The townhome remains habitable, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The St. Charles, Batavia, and Elburn and Countryside fire departments helped Geneva crews at the scene, as did the Geneva Police Department. The West Chicago Fire Protection District provided station coverage during the incident.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Syracuse, NY – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in university dorms; No injuries reported

May 9, 2026 viking210 Leave a comment

A trash can fire in Syracuse University’s Brewster Hall activated a sprinkler that flooded several rooms on Wednesday, the Syracuse Fire Department confirmed.

The SFD responded to the alarm a little before 2 p.m. The sprinkler extinguished the flames with “limited” fire damage, an SFD spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Daily Orange. There were no reported injuries.

At least two dorm rooms were affected by water damage, according to SFD reports.

“There was significant water damage but limited fire damage thanks to the sprinkler system doing its job,” the spokesperson wrote.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, an SFD spokesperson said.

SU’s Department of Public Safety had no immediate comment.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

St. Cloud, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire at school; No injuries reported

May 8, 2026 viking210 Leave a comment

A malfunctioning bathroom fan is believed to be the cause of a small fire at Stride Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

According to a Critical Incident Report from the St. Cloud Fire Department, they were called to the school around 4:50 after the school’s fire alarm was activated. They arrived and were told by the staff that there was a smell of smoke in the building. Crews went inside and found a small fire had started in the attic space. The automatic sprinkler system had activated, preventing it from spreading.

Everyone got out of the building safely, and no one was hurt.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Watertown, NY – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at university dorm; No injuries reported

April 8, 2026 viking210

A sprinkler system is getting the credit for preventing a fire from causing severe damage and injuries at a St. Lawrence University dorm over the weekend.

Canton firefighters rushed to a third-floor laundry room at Whitman Hall late Sunday afternoon.

Officials said they found the remnants of a fire in a dryer. The sprinkler system had activated, keeping the flames from spreading.

“Had the sprinkler system not been in place, the fire would have gained a much more significant foothold, resulting in much more damage to the building and the potential for injuries to the residents. The benefits of fire sprinklers was realized today, even though there was some water damage. Everything will dry out, nothing unburns,” the fire department said on its Facebook page.

Officials said students were evacuated from the dorm. There were no injuries.

Firefighters checked rooms on all three floors of that wing of the dorm for water damage before turning over the building to SLU for cleanup.

SLU said approximately 20 students have been displaced by the damage.

“The affected area of the building remains secured while the University continues to assess smoke and water damage. Students who were living in the north wing have been temporarily relocated to alternate rooms or other accommodations within Whitman Hall,” said university spokesperson Kim Asch in a statement.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Front Royal, VA – Fire suppression system activated for propane gas leak fire; No injuries reported

April 7, 2026 viking210

Warren County Fire and Rescue reported the response to the South Street Martins Grocery store yesterday afternoon for a reported fire alarm activation.

Authorities that arrived on scene identified a sprinkler head that was activated and water that was flowing into the building in a utilities control area on the second floor.

It was determined after an investigation that a propane gas leak occurred and ignited.

The fire was extinguished prior to the arrival of authorities by the buildings fire suppression system.

Units successfully secured water and electrical service to the area affected.

Both the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office and Warren County Building Official’s Office conducted an assessment ensuring the safety of the building for continued occupancy.

After two hours the fire suppression system was functional and all hazards were isolated.

There were no injuries to report.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Minot, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at hotel; No injuries reported

March 30, 2026 viking210

A hotel’s sprinkler system in Minot put out a fire.

The Minot fire department responded to the Baymont Hotel in the southwest part of town Monday afternoon.

A fire started in a storage room. The building’s sprinkler system put out the flames, and there were no injuries.

Due to the damage from the fire, guests were asked to collect their personal belongings with the help of crews.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the hotel is closed until necessary repairs and inspections can be made.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

New Lenox, IL – Sprinkler system activated for machine fire

March 27, 2026 viking210

The New Lenox Fire Protection District responded to a reported structure fire in the 2200 block of Berens Drive in New Lenox just after 1:10 Thursday afternoon.

Upon arrival, crews found a baling machine on fire in an isolated room, with smoke conditions throughout the building. The facility’s automatic sprinkler system activated and successfully kept the fire in check. Fire crews then supplemented the sprinkler system with additional suppression efforts to further extinguish the fire.

The incident remains ongoing but is under control at this time.

Multiple agencies assisted on scene and provided station coverage to ensure continued service to the community, including the Frankfort Fire Protection District and Manhattan Fire Protection District.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Petersburg, VA – Sprinkler system activated for air conditioning unit fire at hotel; No injuries reported

March 11, 2026 viking210

Fire crews responded to a hotel fire in Petersburg on Sunday afternoon after an air conditioning unit caught fire and spread to the building, according to authorities.

Multiple calls reported the air conditioning unit was fully engulfed in flames on the side of the three-story Best Inn at 555 East Wythe Street around 4 p.m.

Crews found heavy fire showing on the side of the building when they arrived. Firefighters began evacuating the building and conducting searches to make sure everyone had made it out safely.

The fire was marked under control within 12 minutes of dispatch, according to fire officials.

Fire crews shut down the building’s sprinkler system as part of their response.

Fire crews remained actively operating on the scene Sunday evening. Officials urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to work.

No injuries were reported.

Officials said the blaze displaced roughly 50 people.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Rosetown, SK, Canada – Fire at high school contained by sprinkler system

March 6, 2026 viking210

A fire at Rosetown Central High School Monday evening has led to the cancellation of classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Mike Fedyk, coordinator of communications and marketing for Sun West School Division.

According to the division, a small fire broke out in a second‑floor classroom at approximately 5 p.m. Students and staff in the building at the time evacuated safely after the fire alarm was triggered, following standard school fire protocols.

“The school’s sprinkler system activated and contained the fire to the classroom where it started,” said Fedyk. While fire damage was limited, adjacent areas experienced smoke damage, and water damage occurred in spaces beside and below the affected room.

Due to the damage, the school will remain closed on Tuesday to allow for cleanup and assessment. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and school officials said updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

“All students and staff are safe, and we are grateful for the quick response of our emergency personnel,” Principal Craig Vanthyune said in the release sent to parents.

Parents with questions were advised to contact the Sun West School Division office.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Joliet, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Amazon warehouse

March 5, 2026 viking210

Just before 3:30 Monday afternoon, the Joliet Fire Department responded to the Amazon Warehouse at 4300 Brandon Rd for a report of a structure fire.

Company 3 arrived to find a large commercial warehouse filled with smoke, and the sprinkler system was activated. As crews entered, the fire was located deep inside the warehouse and beyond reach of the initial attack lines. The crews relocated to the south end of the building to make an interior attack on the fire.

Fire crews were challenged with zero viability, a heavy fire load, and material falling from the storage racks. With the sprinkler system keeping the fire in check, crews were able to work around the storage racks and begin attacking the fire. The roof was opened over the fire to increase visibility. Roof crews noted fire above the sprinklers that the attack crews could not see from the floor.

Mabas 10 responded with a large space ventilation truck to assist with smoke removal, allowing the attack crews to visualize the fire area more clearly. After the main body of fire was extinguished, crews worked isle by isle to remove product and extinguish any remaining spot fires.

The initial crews remained on the scene for over 5 hours, extinguishing hot spots and checking for extension. One firefighter was transported to the hospital for a shoulder injury. A crew of firefighters will remain on the scene overnight with the sprinkler system out of service to ensure there are no flare ups.

Fire crews from stations 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 responded to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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