Tag Archives: Arizona

Residential, Single Family Home

Residential fire sprinklers protect lives and property from fire (Prescott, AZ)

An afternoon fire erupted in a single family home on July 1st. The residents of the home were not aware that their home was on fire until a neighbor notified them. The fire, which began in the garage, had reached the ceiling when the residents first saw it; however, the installed fire sprinkler activated on the fire, and by the time the fire department arrived, the fire was out. 

The estimated loss from the fire was $1,000, and an estimated $600,000 in building and contents were saved thanks to the fire sprinkler system. The cause of the fire was overheated batteries which were being charged on a work bench. No injuries occurred in the incident.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinklers assist firefighters in retirement home fire (Tucson, AZ)

A three-story retirement home reported a fire the morning of Friday, May 16. Smoke filled the first floor, and firefighters responded to the water flow alarm at the building. The facility was equipped with fire sprinklers, which extinguished most of the fire; firefighters arrived and put out the rest. A fire inspector reported that the cause of the fire was accidental; oil soaked towels spontaneously ignited because of a chemical reaction. There were no injuries reported.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fire caused by unattended candle suppressed by sprinkler system (El Mirage, AZ)

A West Valley business was saved by its sprinkler system after the building caught fire early Sunday morning. Fire crews from several cities responded the fire at Party Rental near Thunderbird and El Mirage roads. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the building but the fire had mostly been extinguished by the sprinklers when they arrived on scene.”These people will be able to occupy their business Monday morning,” El Mirage Fire Chief Howard Munding said. “If there was a fire without a sprinkler, these people would be out of business.”A burning candle was identified as the cause of the fire.

Department Store, Retail

Sprinklers control fire at retail store (Prescott, AZ)

A fire began in a retail store at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 10 when the glass spheres that were in the window display acted as a magnifying glass when the sun shone through them. The heat that ensued caused the fire, and the fire sprinkler system helped to contain the flames until fire crews arrived.

Fire officials from the Prescott Fire Department stated, “The activated sprinkler kept the extension of the fire to a minimum, saving several adjacent businesses.”

No one was injured in the incident

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fire sprinklers help to contain early morning restaurant fire (Maricopa, AZ)

An assistant manager at the local Native New Yorker said she hopes the restaurant will be open later Friday after firefighters put out an early morning fire in the business’ kitchen area.  Fire investigators said the fire likely was caused by a warming pan and that flames were fed by grease on the pan. The Maricopa Fire Department was initially alerted to the fire after sprinklers were activated, according to an agency press release. No injuries were reported to citizens or fire personnel. The fire suppression and alert system performed as designed and provides an example of the effectiveness of properly installed and maintained sprinkler systems.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in suspicious fire at grocery store (Phoenix, AZ)

Three separate fire appear to have been intentionally in a grocery store at about 8 p.m. on Monday, October 28. The sprinklers in the building were activated by the heat from the fire and kept the fire from spreading. Investigators are calling the fire suspicious, and the investigation remains ongoing. No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire controlled by sprinklers at apartment (Prescott, AZ)

Firefighters were called to a fire in an apartment unit on Saturday, October 12 when a pot of unattended cooking oil was left unattended on a hot stove. A fire ignited, and the fire sprinkler system activated, saving the structure.

Fire investigator Len DeJoria said, “The fire could have been a significant event. If the sprinkler had not had fire sprinklers, the building would have been a total loss.”

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sprinklers make the difference in manufacturing plant fire (Prescott, AZ)

When a fire broke out in a manufacturing plant the afternoon of August 13, several fire crews came out to suppress the flames. The origin of the fire was in the ventilation system behind a sanding machine, and the flames climbed up the wall to the ceiling. Two sprinkler heads activated and contained the blaze.

Fire Marshall Rick Chase said, “Without those sprinkler heads going off, it could have easily been really bad.” 

There were no injuries.