Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Rockland, MA – Nursing home fire held in check by sprinkler system

All 102 residents of a nursing home and rehabilitation facility in Rockland, Massachusetts, will be evacuated after a Saturday afternoon fire.

Rockland Fire Chief Scott Duffey said the Webster Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at 56 Webster St. will need to be closed for some time because of smoke and water damage.

Duffey said the fire was reported at 4 p.m. The complete evacuation of the building took about 40 minutes.

The first firefighters to arrive found the flames were being held in check by the automatic sprinkler system. Still, heavy smoke affected the third floor of the structure.

More than 20 people who were on the third floor were carried downstairs as part of the evacuation.

In addition to the Rockland Fire Department, the Brockton and Hanover Fire Departments confirmed they are providing resources to help with the situation. The firefighter union in Whitman also said it was assisting.

A rehab unit from the Department of Fire Services was also sent to support the firefighters.

Duffey said teams of ambulances were called in to assist with the evacuation and relocation of the residents.

Apartment Building, Residential

Myrtle Beach, SC – Kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

This incident is under control.
A small fire in the kitchen was extinguished by a sprinkler system.
The one involved unit sustained smoke and water damage.
There are no reported injuries.
Apartment Building, Residential

Richmond Heights, MO – Sprinkler system activated for single unit apartment fire

People in a Richmond Heights apartment complex were displaced Sunday following a small fire in a single unit.

The fire happened around 2:30 p.m. at The Arrive Brentwood complex, located along Eager Road just south of Interstate 64.

According to Richmond Heights Fire Department spokesman, the sprinkler system was activated in the building and firefighters quickly extinguished the small fire.

There was some smoke and water damage to approximately 30 units. The people in those units had to find housing with friends or go to hotels.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Franklin, MA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at college campus center

At 5:17pm Friday evening, the Metacomet Emergency Communications Center received a fire alarm activation for 135 Emmons Street, the Dean College Campus Center. Franklin Fire units arrived on scene within minutes and found a fire in a basement kitchen.

This incident was upgraded to a working fire assignment, bringing in mutual aid from Bellingham, Medway, Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham.

The fire suppression system and automatic sprinkler system were activated, keeping and holding the fire in check. Firefighters made entry and conducted an interior attack to complete the extinguishment of the fire. The fire was fully extinguished at 5:35pm.

Crews conducted a comprehensive investigation for fire extension, utilizing thermal imaging cameras to verify the fire had not spread beyond the kitchen. Firefighters secured the sprinkler system and utilities, ventilated smoke from the building, and assisted college officials with occupant accountability. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the sprinkler system, the fire alarm system, and the rapid and professional response of Franklin Firefighters, the fire was confined to the kitchen and no students or staff were injured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Franklin Fire Department. The building was able to be partially reoccupied for the evening.

According to Charles Allen, Fire Chief, the Foxboro Fire Department provided station coverage during the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Rochester, NY – Apartment building kitchen fire held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Smoke filled the upper floors of a Litchfield Street apartment building Wednesday afternoon after a kitchen fire broke out, but an automatic sprinkler system kept the flames in check until firefighters arrived.

Rochester fire crews were dispatched just before 1 p.m. for an automatic alarm, followed by reports of an apartment on fire. When firefighters reached the five-story brick building, they found smoke coming from a third-floor unit.

Crews entered the apartment and found an active sprinkler head flowing water, which had already contained the blaze. Firefighters made sure the fire was fully extinguished, rescued a dog from the apartment, and shut down the sprinkler system to prevent further water damage.

Smoke was ventilated and crews remained on scene to help mitigate water throughout the building. Water damage was limited to two apartments.

No one was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

Investigators determined the fire was accidental, caused by unattended cooking.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A resident was arrested Monday afternoon after allegedly starting a fire in their apartment, which also damaged three other units in downtown Peoria.

Fire Battalion Chief Mike Ralston says crews were called just before 3:30 p.m. to an apartment building in the 200 block of NE Madison Avenue, between Hamilton and Fayette.

Ralston says the building’s sprinkler system helped firefighters bring the fire under control quickly, but four units suffered fire and water damage.

Damage is estimated at $80,000. No injuries were reported. Four people were displaced by the fire.

The suspect’s name has not been released by Peoria Police at this time.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Greenville, NC – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at university; No injuries reported

Fifteen East Carolina University students had to be relocated after a skateboard battery started a fire in a dorm room in Scott Residence Hall on Friday, ECU Police reported.

Battery-powered skateboards and scooters are not permitted inside the residence halls, police said, but a fire alarm sounded at Scott Hall about 3:58 p.m.

ECU officers responded, arriving at the scene around 4:02 p.m., and saw heavy black smoke coming from Suite 206. Both the fire alarm and the sprinkler system activated properly, and residents evacuated the residence hall, police said.

Greenville Fire-Rescue arrived at 4:05 p.m. and extinguished the fire. Police said no one was injured during the fire or evacuation.

Greenville investigators determined the cause of the fire was the skateboard’s lithium-ion battery. The N.C. Office of the State Fire Marshal says lithium-ion batteries can pose serious fire risks if overcharged, damaged or mishandled.

Greenville Fire/Rescue released the building back to ECU after their investigation was complete and Scott Hall residents were allowed to re-enter the building at approximately 5:30 p.m., ECU police said.

Two suites sustained water damage, police said, and one room was damaged by fire and smoke. In total, eight rooms occupied by the 15 residents were impacted.

ECU Campus Living relocated the students to other rooms on campus. The damaged rooms will be unavailable for an indefinite period, ECU said. A disaster recovery team led by ECU Facility Services will begin recovery and restoration efforts today, police reported.

“The safety of our students remains our top priority,” Deputy Chief Chris Sutton said. “Together, the ECU Police Department and Greenville Fire-Rescue responded, extinguished the fire, investigated, identified its cause and safely returned students to their residence in about one-and-a-half hours.

“This achievement was only possible through the combined efforts of the ECU divisions: Campus Living, Facility Services and Environmental Health and Campus Safety.”

Lithium-ion batteries are common, according to the OSFM. They power items ranging from smartphones, laptops and power tools to e-cigarettes, toys and electric vehicles.

The batteries can experience thermal runaway — a rapid rise in temperature and pressure that may lead to fire or explosion. This can be triggered by:

  • Overcharging: Charging beyond recommended limits.
  • Internal short circuits: Structural damage causing overheating.
  • Mechanical damage: Impacts or punctures.
  • High temperatures: Exposure to extreme heat.
  • Manufacturing defects: Low-quality materials or assembly errors.

The office encourages consumers to buy batteries from reputable sources and ensure they are labeled by nationally recognized testing labs; stop charging once a battery is fully charged; use only chargers compatible with the device, preferably the one that came with it; and not to use devices if the battery shows damage: unusual odor, heat, popping sounds, swelling or discoloration.

Residential, Single Family Home

San Rafael, CA – Sprinkler system extinguishes residential fire caused by discarded smoking materials

A home in San Rafael narrowly escaped a potential blaze thanks to an installed fire sprinkler system that promptly doused the flames. According to a report by the San Rafael Fire Department, a residential fire sprinkler system was pivotal in stopping a garage fire at 224 Baypoint Drive yesterday. The fire, which ignited due to improperly discarded smoking materials, was swiftly extinguished by the sprinkler system before it could cause substantial damage or escalate to a life-threatening scenario.

Dispatched at 1:17 PM, firefighters arrived to find smoke emanating from the residence’s garage and discovered the source to be multiple trash bags that had caught fire. Fortunately, the activated sprinkler kept the fire within the garage, allowing the firefighters to address the situation before it became a more dangerous and destructive incident. One individual sustained minor injuries during the ordeal, was treated on the scene by firefighter-paramedics, and did not require transportation to a medical facility, demonstrating an instance where preventive measures made a significant difference.

Crews used ventilation fans to clear the light smoke that pervaded the home, ensuring that the occupants could re-enter their residence comfortably and safely. The fire department’s swift action also included shutting off the sprinkler system, removing burned debris, replacing the sprinkler head, and the fully restoring the system.

Apartment Building, Other - Retail, Residential, Retail

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system activated at two separate fires; No injuries reported

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to two separate calls in one week where an automatic fire sprinkler system controlled the fires, preventing further damage and injuries.

The first call happened Saturday, October 4 at around 2:20 p.m. at a business in the area of S. Florence Lane, near E. 33rd Place, according to YFD.

Upon arrival, YFD says crews saw smoke and “initiated a fire attack,” where firefighter entered the building and found a linen bin actively burning, but said a sprinkler system suppressed the fire, which extended to an additional bin.

YFD says crews contained the fire and no injuries were reported.

The second call happened early Tuesday morning, at around 4:00 a.m., at an apartment complex located in the area of W. 22nd Place and 35th Avenue.

Upon arrival, YFD says crews found a “single sprinkler head wetting down charred debris on a rear patio,” and says there wasn’t an fire nor damage inside the apartment.

In addition, no injuries were reported.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Burlington, NC – Fire at church extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system helped to stop the spread of a fire at a church, according to the Burlington Fire Department.

Firefighters said they responded to St. Mark’s Church on St. Mark’s Church Road, just before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday in response to a fire alarm.

While on the way to the church, fire units were advised that smoke was coming from vents inside the building. The fire department then upgraded to a structure fire response. Firefighters arrived in just over four minutes from the time of dispatch.

Crews said they then began investigating where the smoke was coming from and worked to evacuate the people inside the church. Firefighters located smoke on the second floor of the building and found the fire began in the kitchen area on that floor.

A sprinkler head had activated and extinguished the fire. The sprinkler system that activated greatly limited the spread and damage of the fire.

Firefighters ensured there was no fire extension and inspected the building for any further damage.

There were no injuries to firefighters or church occupants.

The Burlington Fire Department was assisted by the Gibsonville Fire Department and the Burlington Police Department.