Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Rochester, NY – Sprinkler system suppresses Christmas Eve fire at electronics manufacturer

A Rochester electronics manufacturer that suffered a Christmas Eve fire won’t be able to reopen Wednesday.  Instead, general manager Michael Schlehr said a few workers will be cleaning up and assessing the damage from a two-alarm fire Monday at Coast to Coast Circuits, 205 La Grange Ave.  Firefighters responded to an automatic alarm at around 4:30 p.m. Monday. Smoke was visible when the first crew arrived. A second alarm was called at 4:54 p.m. and a level 0 hazmat emergency also was called. The fire was under control at 5:36 p.m.

The business, which employs nearly 40 people, was closed for Christmas Eve.  “Nobody was hurt,” Schlehr said. “Nobody was affected physically. We’re thankful about that. In terms of the business, we’re very saddened. It’s a very tight-knit group of people.”  The facility is the New York division for Coast to Coast Circuits, which according to its website makes advanced printed circuit boards. Customers include the aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical and wireless industries.  It was founded in 1974 and was called Metro Circuits before being rebranded a few years ago.  A division opened in Huntington Beach, California, in the early 1980s. In 1989, the two operations were incorporated into one privately held company, according to the website.

Schlehr, who also is chief financial officer of the company, said that 18 months ago, the ownership group was talked out of closing the La Grange site. Schlehr said the company downsized and turned things around. “Over the last 18 months we came together and did a great job. We became profitable consistently and the ownership group has really noticed that. We banded together and functioned as a team. It’s sad to see this happen.”

The building’s sprinkler system put out most of the fire.  “I can’t say enough about the city firefighters,” Schlehr said. “They were fabulous. They were there in force and strong. They kept us apprised all the time. They were very safe.”

Schlehr said he initially thought things weren’t too bad. “When you get in there, there’s a lot of damage. The smoke and the residue left by the smoke is very damaging to electronic equipment and circuit boards, and that’s our business.”  He said it may take several days to determine the condition of the high-tech and precision manufacturing equipment and the finished products.  “Unless it’s perfect, it’s unshippable,” he said. “That’s a concern.”

Schlehr said it’s too soon to know what caused the fire. According to a fire department news release, the fire began in the plate room. Fire spread to the roof, overhead vents and PVC pipes, compromising containers of sulfuric acid. The hazmat emergency was declared because water came into contact with the acid. Firefighters entered and contained the leaks.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Hurley, VA – Laundry fire at elementary school contained with help from sprinkler systems

Students were evacuated out of Hurley Elementary School on Thursday afternoon following a fire that investigators said started in the school’s gym area. Knox Creek Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Wayne Horne told News 5 that a Buchanan County deputy was able to extinguish a blaze that came from a clothes dryer and where flames were visible. The fire activated the facility’s sprinkler system in the boys’ locker room and gym area, Horne said. Those areas also sustained smoke damage while a collection of toys intended for children were damaged during the incident, the spokesperson said. The students were taken to the nearby high school after being allowed to collect personal items. The fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Steubenville, OH – Apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire at the Heritage Village apartments at 3010 Johnson Road was contained by a sprinkler, allowing city firefighters to quickly extinguish the flames on Wednesday afternoon. The fire department was called around 4:22 p.m. on Wednesday and found the tenant was able to safely make it out of the apartment. Firefighters reported there was heavy smoke on the second floor of the building. The occupant of the apartment was checked by an ambulance crew and released, the fire department reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Chattanooga, TN – Sprinkler system helps control fire at assisted living facility

No one was injured when a laundry room at a Chattanooga assisted living facility caught fire Sunday. Just after noon, Chattanooga firefighters were called to The Lantern at Morning Pointe on Shallowford Road. With the help of the facility’s sprinkler system, the fire was contained to the laundry room, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department. Follow this story to get email or text alerts from WRCB when there is a future article following this storyline. As a precaution, some residents were evacuated. Others were asked to shelter in place until the emergency was over. CFD Chief Schroyer said it appears the fire started in or near a clothes dryer. The blaze has been ruled accidental.

Apartment Building, Residential

Conroe, TX – Conroe FD reports two apartment sprinkler saves in three days

On December 13, 2018, at approximately 9:34 p.m., the Conroe Fire Department was notified of an apartment fire at 1840 Longmire Rd (The Landings of Conroe Apartments). Conroe Firefighters arrived at approximately 9:43 p.m. to find a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by the automatic fire sprinkler system. There were no injuries to occupants or firefighters during this incident.

On December 15, 2018, at approximately 3:22 p.m., the Conroe Fire Department was notified of an apartment fire at 1900 Westview Blvd. ( The Lakes at Westview Apartments). Conroe Firefighters arrived at approximately 3:29 p.m. to find a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by the automatic fire sprinkler system. One occupant was transported to Conroe Regional Medical Center ER due to a fall that occurred after the fire.

These incidents demonstrate the importance of properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential occupancies. It is likely that the automatic fire sprinkler systems saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and property loss to the owners and occupants of both buildings. Further, no adjacent occupants were displaced and possible injuries and deaths to citizens and firefighters were prevented.
The cause of both of these fires has been determined to be unattended cooking. Unattended cooking represents the leading cause of residential fires in Conroe, and throughout the United States, each year. The Conroe Fire Department would like to remind the public to:

**Keep an eye on what you fry;
**Be alert when cooking; and
**Keep things that can catch fire away from the cooking area.

Over 3,000 people die in non-sprinkled residential fires each year in the United States. Automatic fire sprinkler systems have over 100 years of proven performance protecting life and property. These incidents represent the third and fourth time, respectively, that an apartment fire has been extinguished in the area of origin with the assistance of an automatic fire sprinkler system within the City of Conroe during 2018.

Apartment Building, Residential

San Angelo, TX – Four residents and a pet escape unharmed after sprinkler system helps snuff out apartment fire

Four residents of an apartment at Angelo Place Apartments escaped injury Wednesday during a noontime kitchen fire that damaged the apartment. San Angelo Fire Marshal’s Office Fire Inspector Brent Donoho said the fire started at the kitchen stove while the residents were cooking. The four residents and a pet managed to escape the apartment unscathed. Firefighters saw flames in the kitchen and the fire sprinkler system in the building put out the fire. Angelo Place is located at 1426 Western Ct. just off of Knickerbocker Rd. in San Angelo

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Wheeling, IL – Fire at high school quickly extinguished by sprinkler system

No cause has been identified in a small fire that led to the evacuation of Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Rd., at approximately 1:45 p.m. Friday (Dec. 7).

According to Wheeling Deputy Fire Chief Michael McGreal, the fire was contained to a storage closet near the rear of the school’s woodshop and was related to filters on a spray booth for paint and lacquer. There were no injuries and only minimal damage, with the closet cleaned and ready for use the same day.

McGreal said the school’s sprinkler system activated quickly, dousing the fire before it could become a serious danger. However, as a precaution, students stayed outside for around 20 minutes while fire crews cleared the scene.

“We tried to get the kids in as soon as possible, because it was very cold,” McGreal told the Journal & Topics.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Berkeley, CA – Dryer fire in UC Berkeley residence hall prompted sprinkler system to activate

UC Berkeley students evacuated the Foothill residence hall Sunday after a clothes dryer caught fire in Building 1, according to Berkeley Fire Department spokesperson Keith May.

BFD responded to the fire about noon. According to May, smoke from the fire filled the laundry room and triggered smoke detectors, activating a sprinkler. When firefighters arrived on scene, they put out the fire “very quickly,” May said in an email.

May added that students evacuated appropriately. The dryer was removed and has since been turned over to the UC Fire Marshal.

This incident was not the first of its kind at a UC Berkeley facility. In 2017, a dryer fire in Maximino Martinez Commons prompted a full evacuation. Several years earlier, a dryer in the basement of Haas Pavilion also caughtfire.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Jamestown, NY – Fire at cleaning technology business contained by sprinkler system

A fire at a Jamestown business is under investigation.

Jamestown firefighters were called to a box alarm at Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics, 9 N. Main St., on Saturday around 3:30 p.m. Upon arrival, crews reported finding smoke venting near the rear of the structure.

According to the department, a fire was located inside the cleaning technology business. However, the blaze was mostly contained to one area due to a working sprinkler system.

Off-shift firefighters were called in to assist; crews were on scene for about two hours.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Jamestown Fire Investigation Team. An update wasn’t available Sunday.

Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics could not be reached for comment.

Apartment Building, Residential

St. Louis, MO – Seventh floor apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries

A north St. Louis apartment seventh floor was heavily damaged by fire overnight.  Firefighters were called to the Roosevelt Town Apartments on North Euclid just before 12:30 Thursday.  Thanks to the sprinkler system the fire was contained to one unit and mostly extinguished when crews arrived.  Everyone living in the apartment made it out safely.