Tag Archives: Alabama

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Normal, AL – Sprinkler system activates in overnight fire at university housing complex; No injuries reported

Note: On January 19, 2000, a fire in a dormitory at Seton Hall University tragically took the lives of three students and injured many more.  The residence hall did not have a sprinkler system.

The Foster Complex at Alabama A&M University has been reopened after a fire that started in a single room at 11:50 p.m. Monday. According to the university’s director of housing, Karla Miller, the fire activated sprinklers.

Jerome Saintjones with the university says the fire was caused by an electrical outlet, and the major factor impacting the need to temporarily reassign rooms was the triggering of the sprinkler system. He says the first and second floors of the women’s side of the structure were especially affected by this. University officials say they are using an incremental move-in approach, and the students who were reassigned after the fire have been notified of the move-in schedule. Students have been scheduled to return to the building by Friday, February 22, or have been reassigned to other residence halls. Male students have been allowed to return to the Foster Complex, and times were scheduled for all female students to pick up personal items. Female students who live on the first and second floors have been advised by the university to pack enough items for the rest of the week, during which they will remain displaced. Female students on the third, fourth and fifth floors will be able to return to the building on Wednesday. Officials say the university has and will continue to provide toiletries, blankets and hygiene items to the students that were displaced, and these are available at the 500-bed, five-story Foster Complex.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Hope Hull, AL – Manufacturing plant fire held in check by sprinkler system until crews arrive; No injuries reported

Montgomery Fire/Rescue responded to a fire at the Genpak LLC in Hope Hull Wednesday.

According to Captain J.D. Cupps, crews arrived at the building on Bill Joseph Parkway and entered, reporting visible smoke and a working fire. The sprinkler system held the blaze in check until crews were able to fully extinguish is with hand lines.

Cupps said the fire involved five big rolls of spun plastic stacked 30 feet tall. All occupants in the building were out when crews arrived and there have been no reported injuries.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Huntsville, AL – Fire in laundry room at Marriott hotel extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Huntsville Fire and Rescue said a member of the hotel’s maintenance staff opened a laundry room door and said he saw black smoke and flames. By the time the fire department got to the hotel, Marriott had already ordered an evacuation and the hotel sprinkler system put out the fire. According to Huntsville Fire and Rescue everyone was evacuated from the hotel for roughly 30 minutes before they were let back inside. The fire department set up fans inside the area where the fire started to help dry up the water put out by the sprinkler system. No one was hurt.

Other Business

Wetumpka, AL – Sprinkler system activates; Helps limit damage after overnight fire at Skate Zone family entertainment

The Wetumpka Fire Department extinguished a fire at Skate Zone 2000, located on Red Eagle Drive, at around 2 a.m. Oct. 4.  According to Fire Chief Greg Willis, the fire department was dispatched to Skate Zone through the building’s fire alarm system. Once they arrived, Willis said they noticed a light amount of smoke outside of the building and forced their way in.  Willis said the fire started near the skating rink’s DJ booth. By the time they got there, Willis said the fire had gone up a nearby wall and spread to the ceiling. With the help of the building’s sprinkler system, Willis said firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within minutes.  Willis said an area of about 10 square feet was damaged.

“It burned an area that would be the equivalent of a room in your house,” Willis said.  “I think it’s a good example of why we work so diligently to help our commercial buildings have these systems in place,” Willis said. “Our personnel did a great job of stopping what could have been a major loss to the community.”

In the 1990s, Willis said firefighters faced a similar situation with another skating rink. Unlike Skate Zone, Willis said the previous skating rink did not have an alarm or sprinklers. “The one in the ’90s was a completely different situation. It was completely destroyed,” Willis said. Cole said he is grateful for the fire department, not only for saving Skate Zone 2000, but for the effort they put in year round.

“I really appreciate the effort that the Wetumpka Fire Department puts in,” Cole said. “It takes a lot of dedication to do what they do.” Cole said Skate Zone 2000 will remain closed for clean-up and repairs, and is unsure when it will be open again.

Other - Residential, Residential

Montgomery, AL – 7th Floor structure fire contained by sprinkler system while fire crews arrived

No one was hurt as Montgomery Fire and Rescue units put out a Saturday morning fire.

The department posted on Facebook that a 7th floor structure fire at a room in the 300 block of Montgomery Street was started by food left unattended.

Responders said the sprinkler system held the fire in check but damage was still done.

The department reported considerable smoke and water damage as well as damage to the stove and cabinets.

Government Office

Moulton, AL – Fire in office cubicle at county courthouse is extinguished by sprinkler system

An overnight fire has caused damage in a north Alabama courthouse, and leaders are trying to figure out what to do next.  Local media reports that Moulton firefighters located the fire in a cubicle on the second floor after receiving an alarm.  Firefighters say it was an electrical fire that was put out by the sprinkler system.

Lawrence County officials announced on social media that the county courthouse in Moulton sustained fire, water and smoke damage from a blaze late Monday.  The building is closed indefinitely, and commissioners are meeting Tuesday to discuss the next step.

Apartment Building, Residential

Birmingham, AL – Early morning fire at downtown loft apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

Apartment Building, Residential

Enterprise, AL – Kitchen fire at apartment complex suppressed by sprinkler system

The Enterprise Fire Department went out on fire calls last Monday night and Tuesday morning, with none of the calls resulting in injuries.  A fire Tuesday morning in Enterprise forced the temporary relocation of several occupants of an apartment complex.  According to Enterprise Fire Chief Byron Herring, a stove fire started in an upstairs apartment at a complex in the 300 block of Heron Cove Drive. The unit’s sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived.  Water ran down into a lower-level apartment, causing an adult and four children in that apartment to be temporarily relocated while the electrical system was checked for safety, Herring said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Birmingham, AL – Sprinkler system assists firefighters battling apartment blaze

Birmingham firefighters are battled an apartment fire across from Railroad Park.  The fire has been contained and crews are now working to shut off the sprinkler system.  Birmingham Fire and Rescue says the fire was on the fifth floor of Parkside Apartments on 1st Avenue South.  There are no reports of injuries at this time. The building has been evacuated.  No other details were immediately made available..

Apartment Building, Residential

Montgomery, AL – Fire in newly renovated apartment building contained by sprinkler system

An early morning fire at the newly renovated Kress Building began in a freestanding fireplace on a fourth floor apartment balcony. The apartment’s owner told the Montgomery Advertiser the chimenea fire caused minor structural damage on the balcony. An activated sprinkler system kept the fire contained, Montgomery Fire/Rescue PIO O.J. Whiting said. The third floor suffered some water damage. Montgomery Fire/Rescue responded to the Dexter Avenue building around 7:40 a.m. and evacuated the building. No injuries were reported.