Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at apartment complex

Fargo Fire says a charging ebike battery caused a fire inside an apartment Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was reported just after 2 at an apartment at 1781 35th Street South, just east of I-29. The building’s sprinkler system activated and put the fire out. Fire damage was limited, but the unit has smoke and water damage as well.

The Fire Department says the ebike had a modified battery, and the owner left it unattended during charging.

People are encouraged to buy their ebikes from a reputable supplier, and not to modify the battery with aftermarket parts.

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

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

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.

Office Building, Other Business

Mountain View, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Google office

An office building at Google’s Mountain View campus caught fire on Tuesday evening, resulting in approximately $200,000 worth of damage.

The blaze was reported at approximately 5:18 p.m. in a two-story building at 2081 Stierlin Court in Mountain View, the Mountain View Fire Department said in a Facebook post. Fire crews arrived on the scene approximately five minutes later after 25 employees had self-evacuated.

Fire personnel located smoke coming from a computer lab, where an overhead sprinkler had been activated. Crews were able to turn off the sprinkler and “remove water and smoke from the affected office space” without damaging the electronics.

Officials believe the lab caught fire after an “unattended electrical component” overheated on a workbench, the fire department said. Firefighters extinguished the fire and recharged the sprinkler system.

Google officials will be in charge of restoring the facility, the fire department said. The company did not respond to SFGATE’s request for comment.

Other - Retail, Retail

Jersey City, NJ – Sprinkler system activated for fire at toy store; No injuries reported

A fire in a toy store in the Newport Centre mall in Jersey City on Tuesday caused a temporary evacuation, but no injuries, a city spokesperson said.

The fire occurred around 12:30 p.m. at the Toy Chest, said Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione, a city public safety spokesperson.

She said, “Upon arrival, JCFD observed a small working fire in the toy chest store. The fire caused moderate smoke conditions inside the mall.”

“The sprinkler system went off and helped contain the fire,” she added. “Additionally, the fire department’s quick response kept the fire under control without any fire extension to any other stores.”

No injuries were reported.

Officials on the scene reported the cause may have involved the hot water heater and duct work. The Fire Department is still investigating.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Brownwood, TX – Sprinkler system contains fire at hotel; No injuries reported

The Brownwood Fire Department issued the following press release Tuesday afternoon:

The Brownwood Fire Department responded to a report of smoke in the building at 504 W. Commerce, site of the Best Western Plus, at 1:41 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. Upon investigation it was found that there was a fire in laundry room. The buildings fire sprinkler system had contained the fire preventing further fire extension. Firefighters completed the extinguishment using a fire extinguisher. The fire originated in a commercial clothes dryer. Fire Crews ventilated the smoke from the building. Building Maintenance was onsite and began cleanup of water immediately. There was no danger to the occupants in the building and the occupants reported no injuries. The business remains open, and no occupants were displaced.

Chief 9, Truck 9, Rescue 9 and Engine 92 responded with assistance from the Brownwood Police Department.

The fire was under control in 7 minutes, units were on scene for 35 minutes. The fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damages.

Other - Residential, Residential

Coralville, IA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at multi-family residence

A fire broke out at a multi-family residence on Russell Slade Blvd. in Coralville late Monday afternoon, but thanks to a sprinkler system, the blaze was quickly brought under control.

The Coralville Fire Department responded to the scene at approximately 5:15 p.m., discovering that the fire had started in the kitchen of one of the apartments.

The sprinkler system activated immediately, containing and extinguishing the fire before it could spread to other parts of the building. As a result, the apartment suffered only minor smoke and water damage.

Sprinkler systems are designed to automatically respond to fires, either controlling or extinguishing them before they have a chance to grow. They reduces fire damage and give people extra time to evacuate safely.

The Coralville Fire Department say a well-maintained sprinkler system can be the difference between a minor incident and a catastrophic event.

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