Tag Archives: Afternoon (12pm-6pm)

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Morris, IL – Fire at electronics recycling facility suppressed by sprinkler system

There were no injuries reported Monday afternoon at a fire on Armstrong Street in Morris. Fire crews received a call about a sprinkler activation at 4:34 p.m. at First America Metal, Morris Deputy Chief Bob Wills said. “The sprinkler system did exactly what it was supposed to,” Wills said. The fire began in an area where the facility stores the crushed remains of electronics before being recycled. Wills said it seemed that a battery had gotten into one of the boxes and ignited. About 10,000 pounds of the recyclable material were destroyed, Wills said. Although the fire was contained, the building filled with smoke. A ventilation truck from Lyons had to be called in to help clear the smoke out of the building.

“It’s a very large fan that pressurizes the building,” Wills said, blowing the smoke out. Fire crews from Morris, Minooka, Channahon and Dwight responded to the fire and Lisbon-Seward crews manned the Morris station. Crews were on scene until about 7:15 p.m. The business opened up again Tuesday.

Other - Retail, Other Business

Plainfield, IL – (No Media Coverage) Bathroom fire at auto repair business extinguished by single sprinkler; Business remains open

** No Media Coverage – Fire Dept Reported **
“On 4-3-18 at 12:21 pm the Plainfield Fire Protection District responded to an alarm at the Merlin Muffler Shop, 14120 S. Route 30 in Plainfield, IL. Fireworks had started a fire within a restroom at this business and 1 fire sprinkler head extinguished the fire. It is estimated that $350,000 was saved due to the fire sprinkler system extinguishing the fire and making it possible for the business to remain open.  “The fire sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading and causing extensive damage to the building and its contents as well as preventing anyone from getting injured by the fire. The business was able to open the same day.”

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Edwardsville, IL – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling warehouse storage fire

The Edwardsville Fire Department spent five hours attacking a fire and its aftermath at a redistribution center located near I-255 Wednesday afternoon. Fire Chief Rick Welle said the call came to the station from the D.B. Schanker redistribution center, located at 3049 Westway Drive, at around 2:18 p.m. Thursday for a direct alarm call. Those calls come from buildings – mostly commercial – with sprinkler systems. The fire department is notified when the sprinklers come into action. Welle said that alarm was followed by a 911 call from within the building alerting his department to an active fire.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, Welle said they found several pallets of feminine hygiene products aflame. Mutual aid on the scene was provided by both the Wood River and Glen Carbon Fire Departments, and the Glen Carbon and Collinsville Fire Departments had EMS to back-fill the Edwardsville station.

No injuries were reported from the fire, despite and ambulance being on scene, Welle said. The cause of that fire is still under investigation. Welle said he could not estimate the amount of product lost to the blaze, but said his department worked with workers within the building, using forklifts and skid-steers to take the product outside for ventilation.

Besides fire, lots of water and smoke damage was done within the southern part of the building, but little to no damage was done to the building itself. Welle said the redistribution center was able to quarantine the rest of the building from the southern portion, ensuring the rest of the products stored within were not damaged by fire, smoke or water. The fire department is working with the company itself to determine exact losses. A ventilation fan was brought from the Fairview Heights Fire Department to ensure the building had been properly and thoroughly ventilated. Welle said firefighters stayed on the scene until around 7:00 p.m. Thursday to assist with that ventilation and cleanup.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, Residential High Rise

Oklahoma City, OK – No injuries after fire at high rise retirement home is put out by sprinkler system

A northeast side retirement home has been partially evacuated due to a high-rise fire.  The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded around 12:18 p.m. on Sunday at the Senior Living Center in the 1200 block of N. Kate Avenue.  Upon arrival, heavy smoke was reported.  Officials said the fire ended up being a mattress in a room on the fifth floor. Some residents evacuated, and others sheltered in place.  The fire was put out, while a sprinkler system continued flowing and crews worked to control the water.  Firefighters said no injuries have been reported.  Less than an hour later, residents were allowed back in their rooms except for those who live on the fifth floor.  Automatic sprinkler systems save lives,” said Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson. “Water damage is much preferred over larger fires and fatalities from smoke.”  No other details have been released at this time.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Colonial Heights, VA – Fire in meat department of grocery store suppressed by sprinkler system

Crews from multiple jurisdictions responded to a fire inside the Food Lion located in the Dunlop Village shopping center in Colonial Heights. At approximately 4:46 p.m., Colonial Heights and Chesterfield Fire arrived on scene and were told that the Food Lion had a fire in the meat department. Companies from Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Hopewell and Petersburg all responded.

The cause of the fire appears to be a malfunction in a mechanical refrigeration unit, according to a Colonial Heights Fire spokesperson. A spokesperson with the Colonial Heights Fire Department said four people were treated for minor smoke inhalation. Later, one of those people wished to be transported for treatment. The fire was reported to be under control by 5:30 p.m.

The grocery store’s fire sprinkler system activated and controlled the fire until fire crews arrived and could extinguish the hot spots. The meat department suffered major fire damage, while the rest of the building suffered smoke damage. The damage to the building is estimated at about $15,000 and the estimated damage to the products are unknown at this time. The business will remain closed until it is cleaned up and safety repairs have been made.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Jasper, OR – Small fire at Seventh-day Adventist school extinguished by sprinkler system

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Officials are investigating the cause of a small fire on Wednesday that led to water damage in Laurelwood Academy southeast of Springfield.  Pleasant Hill and Goshen Fire Districts were called to the private secondary school about 5 p.m. Wednesday for a report of smoke coming from the building. The school, affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is on Jasper Lowell Road.  Firefighters discovered smoke coming from the third floor and found that the school’s fire sprinklers had extinguished a small fire on that floor, Pleasant Hill-Goshen Fire Chief Andrew Smith said.  The Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police are helping in the investigation to determine the fire’s cause.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Cleburne, TX – Paint booth fire at lighting manufacturer extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Cleburne firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm with water flow at 12:48 p.m. Thursday in the 1700 block of Hal Avenue to find a large amount of smoke exiting the building at low velocity through large roll up doors. One employee advised that the fire was in the building’s paint booth oven area. The building, about 150 foot by 600 foot, is used to manufacture and paint lighting poles and light components, according to reports. Firefighters used about 300 gallons of water but noted that the building’s sprinkler system extinguished much of the fire.

The fire remained contained to the paint booth area and caused no additional damage other than smoke and heat damage to sheet metal at the oven’s entry, according to reports. A highly flammable powder substance had been allowed to build up and get into the duct work, which resulted in a flash fire caused by heat, firefighters said of the fire’s cause. No employees were injured in the fire.

Hotel / Motel

Henrico, VA – Hotel fire controlled by single automatic sprinkler

A fire broke out at a hotel in Henrico, causing several people to evacuate. Crews received a call for a fire around 2:12 p.m. on Saturday in the Suburban Lodge, located in the 7800 block of Shrader Road. When crews arrived on the scene, they found out that the fire started in a hotel room.  The fire was being controlled by a sprinkler head, but fire officials said smoke filled the halls and common areas.  Firefighters helped several people evacuate from the building, and officials said some had mobility issues. Some people were even taken out of the windows. One person was injured in the incident.  The person injured in the incident suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt. The Henrico Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, and police are directing traffic around the scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ellicott City, MD – Apartment kitchen fire contained by sprinkler system

Fire broke out at an Ellicott City apartment Friday evening. Officials said they were called to Pine Orchard Lane before 5:30 p.m. for a report of a kitchen fire.

Soon after they arrived at the 3100 block of Pine Orchard Lane, crews reported the fire was under control.

After checking to ensure the flames had not spread, officials declared the blaze out as of 5:45 p.m.

Thanks to the sprinkler system in the apartment building, authorities reported the fire was contained to the room where it started.

Apartment Building, Residential

Harris Hill, NY – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in attacking apartment kitchen fire

Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company responded to a building fire at 4155 Capstone Ct. last Sunday. Shortly after 2 p.m., Harris Hill fire crews arrived on location after Amherst Fire Control, a fire alarm monitoring company, reported a sprinkler activation. Harris Hill Chief Michael Schreiber reported fire in the kitchen area.

Fire crews advanced one hose line to extinguish the flames, while assisting crews from Main-Transit Fire Department, East Amherst Fire Department and Bowmansville Volunteer Fire Association provided standby coverage at the Harris Hill firehouse. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office and Clarence fire inspector are currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Reported damages to the property include $35,000 to the contents and $5,000 to the structure.