Tag Archives: Arizona

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system contains fire to machinery at paper company

The Yuma Fire Department responded to a fire at the International Paper Company last Friday night. YFD said they arrived at around 8:15 p.m. and discovered that machinery inside the building was on fire, and the fire suppression sprinkler system was keeping the fire contained. The fire was originally discovered by employees working at the facility who initially attempted to extinguish the fire themselves. When their efforts were not successful, a manual pull station alarm was activated, according to YFD. Shortly after that, YFD said the heat from the fire began to activate the sprinkler heads which contained the fire to the machinery where the fire had started. Fire damage was limited to the area of the machinery, and the ceiling area above. However, YFD said the open spaces of the building sustained additional smoke damage. No injuries to employees or YFD personnel were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported and fire damage limited

The Yuma Fire Department responded to an apartment fire Tuesday morning that was extinguished by a fire sprinkler. YFD said just before 10 a.m. firefighters arrived to find an extinguished fire that started on the stove top due to an unattended pan of oil. YFD said the sprinkler head was shut down by YFD personnel who also confirmed the fire was extinguished and had not spread. Firefighters worked quickly to vent the heat/smoke from the apartment and remove the water that had been released during the activation. Most house fires start in the kitchen and the stove top is the most common place for these fires to start. Due to the sprinkler system quickly extinguishing this fire, the fire damage was limited to soot stains on the wall behind the stove and heat damage to hood above the stove, according to YFD.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tucson, AZ – Apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; Firefighters put out remainder of fire

Rural Metro Firefighters responded to a fire near Irvington Road and Palo Verde Road last Friday afternoon. When firefighters arrived on scene they found smoke coming out a door and saw that an overhead sprinkler had gone off, containing the fire. Firefighters got the remainder of the fire under control. The source of the fire was determined to be accidental and due to improper storage of combustible materials near cooking appliances. No one was present at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Tucson, AZ – Sprinkler system activates to help keep fire at supermarket from growing

A midtown Safeway was open again Monday after a fire broke out late Friday, March 1. The store in the 1900 block of East Broadway was partially open, according to a customer service representative. The employee said they don’t have hot water yet as they are waiting for their gas to be turned back on. The grocery and produce sections are open, as is the pharmacy.

Barrett Baker, spokesman for the Tucson Fire Department, said they were called out to the fire around 8 p.m. Friday and had it under control by 8:30 p.m. Baker said the sprinkler system worked, which also kept the fire from growing.

As of 10 a.m., the deli, meat market, bakery and Starbucks were still closed. Everything was expected to be open again by noon. The store is popular hub for Wildcats, due to its proximity to the University of Arizona. Baker said no one was injured inside the store, which is near Broadway and Kino Parkway.

“Initial reports were that an employee noticed the fire and another employee tried to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher,” Baker said. “This slowed the growth of the fire dramatically.” Baker said the sprinkler system worked, which also kept the fire from growing. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but a Safeway worker said it began when a bag of potato chips went up in flames. Inspectors were at the store Saturday to clean up and check food for smoke damage.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Phoenix, AZ – Sprinkler system activated at warehouse fire; No injuries reported

Crews from the Phoenix Fire Department were called out Saturday afternoon to fight a working first-alarm warehouse fire.

The fire broke out around 3 p.m. at a warehouse in an industrial area near 22nd Avenue and Thomas Road.

When fire crews arrived at the warehouse, they encountered heavy smoke conditions.

“Firefighters quickly extended hose lines and gained access to the interior,” a Phoenix Fire spokesman told us.

Firefighters were quickly able to bring the fire under control. Crews then began overhaul and salvage operations.

Phoenix fire officials say a fire sprinkler over the roll-up door greatly reduced the spread of the fire.

There’s no word yet on what caused the blaze.

No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Mesa, AZ – Sprinkler system limits spread of apartment fire caused by unattended cooking

One person was taken to the hospital after they may have fallen asleep while cooking and started a fire in Mesa on Monday night. It happened at the La Mesita Apartments on Main Street near Dobson Road. The Mesa Fire and Medical Department say the small cooking fire spread to the cabinets and that activated the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters arrived and got the person out of the apartment. The victim was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, the fire department said. No firefighters were hurt. Only the adjacent apartments were evacuated.

Auto Dealership

Tucson, AZ – Sprinkler system prevents garage fire from spreading to showroom at Mercedes-Benz dealership

A fire at a Mercedes-Benz dealership on Tucson’s east side on Wednesday, Oct. 24, damaged at least one car in the garage, but did not spread to the showroom.  Sprinklers activated, helping stop the spread of the fire at 6350 E. Grant Road.  According to information from the Tucson Fire Department, one employee of the dealership was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor burns. No firefighters were hurt.  It took 36 firefighters and 15 TFD units about 16 minutes to get the fire under control.  Investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

College/University (on campus)

Tempe, AZ – Computer monitor fire in classroom building at Arizona State University contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A small electrical fire stemming from a computer monitor in ASU’s Brickyard complex occurred on Sunday evening, according to a spokeswoman from Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department.  There were no reported injuries at the time of publication.  “The fire was in an actual computer monitor,” interim Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Andrea Glass said.

The building sprinkler system was activated and contained the fire’s location until firefighters arrived to the scene, Glass said. The cause for the fire is still undetermined, but the department will conduct an investigation to determine the cause.

“There was extensive work done by the fire crew to protect the computer systems that were located on the second floor from the water damage,” Glass said.  The Brickyard, located on Mill Avenue, houses several Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering labs and classrooms, as well as the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center, the School of Arts, Media and Engineering and multiple research centers.

Students working in the labs said they immediately evacuated the building upon hearing the fire alarm.  Aditya Prasad Mishra, a masters student studying computer science, was working in his lab at the time of the incident.  “I was a bit worried when I smelled the smoke coming outside,” Mishra said.  Once the fire was contained, the fire department started letting people back into their offices to get their belongings before continuing the investigation.

 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Yuma, AZ – Fire in trash compactor room at Target store suppressed by sprinkler system

The Yuma Fire Department said a local store had to be evacuated Monday morning due to a fire.  YFD the fire was reported at about 9:40 a.m. at the rear of the Target store, located at 1450 South Yuma Palms Parkway. Arriving Yuma Fire Department personnel found there had been a fire in the store’s commercial trash compactor.  That fire activated a fire suppression sprinkler head in the compactor room, containing and extinguishing the fire. Firefighters were able to shut down the water flow and ensure the fire was out.

The store was evacuated due to the initial alarm on site. There was no damage to the store itself and the store was able to soon resume normal operations. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  YFD said fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex.  Sprinkler systems save lives and protect property.

Other Business

Cottonwood, AZ – Sprinkler system limits spread of commercial laundry fire

At around 6:45 p.m. June 28, Cottonwood Fire & Medical Department responded to a report of a fire in a senior residential living facility in the 100 block of South Willard Street in Cottonwood. Calls to 9-1-1 reported a fire in the laundry room of the facility.  According to a news release from Cottonwood Fire & Medical, upon arrival, firefighters found active flames in a large commercial dryer located in the facility laundry room.  “Fire fighters quickly extinguished the fire and ventilated the smoke from the building,” the news release states. “Fortunately, a fire sprinkler had activated immediately above the involved dryer and helped keep the fire from spreading to the structure.”  Damage was confined to the dryer and adjacent area. Assistance was provided by Cottonwood Police and the Verde Valley Fire District.  This incident is a reminder that fire sprinkler systems are instrumental in saving lives and property, fire officials advised.