Tag Archives: Arizona

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Tempe, AZ – Sprinkler system extinguishes stove fire at University Towers

One person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a small kitchen fire broke out at the University Towers student housing complex Tuesday evening, according to Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department spokesperson Brandon Siebert. 

The occupant who was injured suffered smoke inhalation and other minor injuries after falling while evacuating the building. Another person was evaluated by paramedics on scene but declined any further care, Siebert said.

Three people were temporarily displaced by the fire: two people from the unit that caught fire on the second floor, and one in the unit below, which sustained water damage, Siebert said.

The fire started after a frying pan with cooking oil was left on the stove unattended, Siebert said. The building’s automatic fire sprinkler system extinguished the flames and prevented the fire from spreading to other apartments.

University Towers is located at 525 S. Forest Ave. in Tempe.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by fire sprinkler; No injuries reported

A fire that started in the kitchen could have turned into something much worse without the help of a fire sprinkler.

The Yuma Fire Department received reports of an apartment fire at La Posada Apartments last Sunday around 1 p.m.

Fire crews found a stovetop fire in the apartment at the scene, but the fire sprinkler had extinguished the fire.

They say a pot of oil had splashed and burned the stove’s burner. The fire was thankfully extinguished before it could spread to the rest of the kitchen.

No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Bullhead City, AZ – Fire sprinkler activates in two-story apartment garage, saves property; No injuries reported

On May 25, 2020, at approximately 10:05 PM, several BCFD units were dispatched to the report of an alarm sounding in the 1600 block of Havasupai Dr. Engine 761s crew arrived first on the scene reporting a two-story apartment structure.

Several tenants had already self-evacuated advising firefighters that a garage on the lower level was on fire. Crews quickly located the two-car garage, which was filled with smoke. Fortunately, the building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system which properly activated a single sprinkler head in the garage area, extinguishing the fire before it was able to spread. All property, including two vehicles that were parked inside of the garage, were undamaged from the fire.

Bullhead City Fire Department attributes the working automatic sprinkler systems to saving lives and property. Because of the location of this fire, it could have very easily extended into the living spaces of the apartments above, causing extensive damage to both lives and property.

No injuries were reported from this incident and the cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Green Valley, AZ – Fire sprinklers put out restaurant fire

A small fire has closed 19th Hole Bar & Grille in Green Valley just weeks after it was reduced to takeout-only service because of coronavirus.

But owner Greg Hansen said it won’t affect Easter dinner if you planned to order from them.

The fire broke out near the back door in a pile of rags that Hansen suspects spontaneously combusted. He said surveillance video led him to that conclusion.

Green Valley Fire District firefighters were called to the restaurant in the Best Western hotel near the southeastern corner of La Canada and Esperanza at 11:46 p.m. Sunday.

A GVFD spokesman said the fire likely was put out by sprinklers; 15 firefighters responded.

Cause of the fire is under investigation, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department sent an arson investigator, which is standard in these cases.

Hansen estimated there is about $10,000 in damage and said he’ll likely be closed a couple of weeks. No equipment was damaged, he said. But he said the restaurant will be a pickup point for Easter carryout, which will be prepared at Longhorn Grill in Amado, which he also owns. He said people can order by calling (520) 977-4645 or (520) 398-0700.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Bullhead City, AZ – Sprinkler system limits damage to restaurant after fire starts on range; No injuries reported

A properly working fire suppression system is being credited for limited the damage at a Bullhead City restaurant Wednesday morning.

Units from the Bullhead City Fire Department were called to the Hibachi Buffet, in the 2200 block of Highway 95, around 11:18 a.m. Arriving crews found smoke coming from the rooftop and an audible fire alarm sounding.

According to a news release from the Bullhead City Fire Department, firefighters confirmed that all employees and diners had left the building before gaining access to the roof. Additional firefighters went inside, going to the kitchen area

“Fortunately, this building is equipped with a fire sprinkler system that properly activated when the fire broke out, keeping the blaze contained with minimal damage,” the news release said.

No injuries were reported.

Investigators determined the fire started on the cooktop range, activating the hood extinguishment system and one sprinkler head, confining the damage to the immediate area.

“Contrary to many movie portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate,” the release said. “Having a fire sprinkler system can keep a fire from spreading and aid with extinguishment. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damages to property and endanger those nearby.”

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Goodyear, AZ – Fire sprinkler system extinguishes fire at Amazon warehouse

Employees were safely evacuated early Wednesday morning following a fire at an Amazon facility in Goodyear.

The Goodyear Fire Department says the warehouse’s sprinkler system helped extinguish the fire at the facility near Cotton Lane and Elwood. Crews from Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Buckeye Valley, and the Phoenix Fire Department all responded to the scene.

It’s unknown if any merchandise inside the facility was damaged in the fire.

Earlier this week, Amazon announced they are working to hire 100,000 people to help with orders because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Tempe, AZ – High-rise fire at Arizona State University residence hall kept in check by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

More than three dozen people have been displaced after a fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building in Tempe on Friday morning.  

When crews arrived, smoke was coming from the 8th floor, according to the Tempe Fire Department. 

Fire and medical units from Tempe, Phoenix and Mesa responded to the fire call at the University Towers on Mill Avenue and University Drive around 11 a.m.

Firefighters say they found food burning on the stove in one unit. The building’s sprinklers went off and kept the fire from spreading.

The high-rise is a residence hall for Arizona State University students. 

About 40 people from 16 units are unable to return to their apartment primarily because of water damage, according to ASU. 

No injuries were reported. 

ASU’s Fire Marshal Office is investigating. 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in restaurant’s walk-in freezer

Just after 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to a fire alarm at the Del Taco restaurant on East 32nd Street.

YFD personnel found the Del Taco filled with smoke coming from a commercial walk-in freezer unit.

YFD says the fire began in the freezer unit and had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

YFD Fire Inspectors arrived shortly after the alarm sounded and shut down power to the freezer and the water supply to the sprinkler system.

Firefighters confirmed the fire did not spread from the original wiring where the fire started.

The flame only set back taco sales for a few hours, as the Del Taco was able to reopen a short time later in the afternoon.

YFD says fire systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them.

Thanks to the sprinkler system, this Yuma Del Taco wasn’t destroyed.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tuscon, AZ – Two sprinkler heads activated to put out fire at apartment; No injuries reported

Crews responded to an apartment Thursday afternoon in central Tucson.

Tucson Fire Department units were dispatched to Haskell Drive and Grant Road.

TFD responded to an apartment fire near Haskell Dr and Grant Rd on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019.

Officials say water was coming from an apartment door on the second floor. As firefighters made their way inside, they found that two sprinkler heads had activated inside the apartment – putting out a bulk of the fire. The fire was under control minutes later, TFD says.

The resident was not home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.

Fire officials say the cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sedona, AZ – Fire at assisted living facility extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Sedona firefighters were dispatched to the Sedona Winds assisted living facility at 475 Jacks Canyon Road for a fire in one of the residential units on Saturday at 1:56 a.m., according to the Sedona Fire District.

“The automatic fire sprinkler system had extinguished most of the fire before we arrived,” said Captain David Rodriguez, “limiting fire damage to the one room.”

The fire was discovered by a nurse’s aide when the sprinkler system activated and triggered the buildings fire alarm system.

The aide was able to evacuate the resident from the room and unplugged the HVAC unit, which appeared to be the cause of the fire, stated the SFD press release.

“This was an amazing success story,” said Fire Marshal Jon Davis in the press release. “A working fire sprinkler system, combined with a well-trained staff and a quick response by firefighters resulted in the best possible outcome.”

“I have no doubt that without all of those elements coming together, the outcome would have resulted in injury or death to occupants of the building and damage to the structure would have been extensive.” said Davis, “Incidents like this really highlight how a comprehensive fire safety strategy can benefit a community.”

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Deputies along with YCSO Search & Rescue members and Sedona Police Department assisted at the scene with the temporary evacuation of residents from the wing of the building where the fire occurred. Approximately 20 residents were displaced for a couple of hours and the resident of the room where the fire occurred, had to be relocated to another room while theirs is repaired.

Sedona Fire District investigators determined that the fire started when the in-room, wall mounted HVAC unit malfunctioned.

There were no injuries reported and damage is estimated at $20,000, the SFD press release said.