Tag Archives: Arizona

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system helps prevent damage, injuries in apartment fire

A sprinkler system helped avoid fire damage to an apartment at the San Carlos Hotel Monday night. Yuma Fire Department arrived at the San Carlos Hotel shortly after midnight Monday where a fire was reported on the 5th floor of the hotel. An investigation revealed the fire had happened in one of the apartments where the fire suppression sprinkler head had activated. Firefighters confirmed the fire was put out. Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by a discarded cigarette. The fire began and only caused damage to a pile of clothing.

Besides the apartment where the fire happened, some apartments were affected by the water flow of the sprinkler system. The American Red Cross was called to the scene providing assistance to residents waiting to reoccupy their homes and later provided temporary lodging for the 6 individuals who were not able to return to their apartments until further clean-up could occur. This is just the latest of 9 sprinkler saves over the last year in Yuma and the second at the San Carlos Hotel. The previous fire was on July 28th.

Other Business

Yuma, AZ – Fire at linen services company contained by sprinkler system; Third Yuma sprinkler save in one week

The Yuma Fire Department said sprinklers helped put out a fire that could have gotten out of control.  Monday just after 1:00 a.m., an alarm was reported indicating a fire sprinkler activation at the Alsco facility, 3231 South Florence Lane. Yuma Fire Department and Marine Corps Air Station Fire Department personnel arrived to find heavy smoke in the building. YFD said entry was made to the facility and it was found that a fire had occurred involving several large bags (approx. 250 lbs. each) of restaurant linen products. The fire had been contained and extinguished by the fire sprinkler system.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Yuma, AZ – Fire at Candlewood Suites Hotel stopped by sprinkler system

The Yuma Fire Department said a sprinkler system stopped a fire in a local hotel.  YFD said Monday shortly after 9:30 pm, an alarm was reported indicating a fire sprinkler activation at the Candlewood Suites Hotel, 2036 East Avenue 3E. Firefighters said arriving Yuma Fire Department personnel found the building being evacuated, with light smoke and water flowing from a room on the hotel’s second floor. It was determined that there had been a stove top fire and it had been extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. Firefighters confirmed the fire was out and it had not spread beyond the area of the stove.

YFD said the water flow to the sprinkler head was shut off and firefighters worked to ventilate the room and remove the smoke from the area. It was found that the room’s occupant had put a pan of cooking oil on the stove top to heat and had left the room. While they were gone, the oil overheated and ignited. The damage was limited to the immediate area of the stove, with the microwave above the stove starting to melt and catch fire at the time the sprinkler system activated. Had the fire not been extinguished by the fire sprinkler system, extensive damage to the room and other parts of the hotel would have occurred, as well as lives put in danger. This is the third commercial fire sprinkler save in less than a week!

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.

Office Building, Other Business

Tucson, AZ – Sprinkler system credited with minimizing damage at downtown office building

Firefighters arrived just in time to see the sprinklers activate over flames in the administrative office of Visit Tucson.

The fire alarm at 100 South Church Ave in downtown Tucson triggered a call to 911 at 6:38 p.m., according to a release from Tucson Fire Department. It stated firefighters arrived on scene two minutes later and had the situation under control 12 minutes after that.

They didn’t find anyone inside the building, but determined the fire started around some construction equipment. The cause of it all is still under investigation, according to the department’s release.

The department credits a working fire alarm and sprinkler system with saving property and lives from the flames.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yuma, AZ – Apartment kitchen fire suppressed by sprinkler system

The City of Yuma Fire Department responded to an alarm at around 1:00 p.m. indicating a fire sprinkler in an apartment at the Palo Verde Villa Apartments Thursday afternoon.  Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived and made entry into the second story apartment, finding extreme heat built inside.

Upon further investigation, it was determined a stove top and oven had been left on for an extended time and the extreme heat, in excess of 155 degrees, had triggered a sprinkler head nearest the stove.  Although there was no active fire at the time of entry, firefighters found that the heat had begun to damage wood cabinets above the stove.

The sprinkler head was shut down and YFD personnel worked quickly to vent the heat and remove the water that had been released during the activation.  Water from the sprinkler was not found to have gotten into the downstairs apartment.

It was determined that the stove/oven was being tested in anticipation of future tenants and had been accidentally left on by a maintenance worker. It is believed that the continued heat buildup would have eventually ignited a fire if not for the sprinkler system.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Yuma, AZ – Restaurant kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

The Yuma Fire Department said Saturday at about 7:30 am an audible fire alarm was reported going off at the Yuma Palace restaurant, 350 East 32nd Street, by a Yuma Police officer patrolling in the area. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived and confirmed the alarm was signaling water flow to the fire suppression sprinkler system, they also found the smell of smoke coming from the building. The business had not opened for the day and there were no employees on the property.

Firefighters forced entry into the kitchen area finding a sprinkler head was flowing water over the stove area. The water flow was shut down and a fire investigator was called to the scene. It was found that a pot of water had been accidently left heating on the stove top when the business had closed. The water boiled away and the heat ignited material around the cooking surface. The heat from this fire triggered the sprinkler head over that cooking area, stopping the fire spread and extinguishing it.

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

Mesa, AZ – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in commercial building fire

Fire damaged a portion of a commercial complex in Mesa on Wednesday morning, Mesa fire officials said. The fire occurred in the 1700 block of West Baseline Road, just east of Dobson Road, said Deputy Chief Forrest Smith of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.  Two suites in the complex were damaged in the fire, which forced the evacuation of several other businesses, Smith said.  Firefighters had the blaze under control in 22 minutes, Smith said, adding that a sprinkler system helped stop the fire from spreading to other suites.  “These are important and why fire departments advocate for buildings to be sprinklered,” he said. “They certainly can save lives and property.”  Crews from the Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe fire departments also responded.

Residential, Single Family Home

Lake Havasu City, AZ – Fire at duplex home contained with help from sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Lake Havasu City firefighters responded to a fire at a duplex in the 2700 block of Bluewater Drive Sunday afternoon. The fire was reported by the neighbor of the duplex. Four engine companies, a battalion chief, and two fire investigators responded to the fire and gained control of the fire in 16 minutes. The occupant of the duplex unit that was on fire was sleeping and woke up due to water flowing from the fire sprinkler system. No injuries were reported. Crews remained on the scene an additional hour conducting an investigation of the incident. Damages were confined to the unit that was on fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Yuma, AZ – Fire in snake habitat at local business is put out by sprinkler system

The Yuma Fire Department said a business fire may have originated from a large snake habitat where a four-foot long ball python died. Officials said on Sunday just before 1:30 p.m., a passerby reported seeing water coming from a building at 4221 East 30th Place occupied by SunRay Electric. Yuma Fire Department personnel arrived to find that there had been a fire inside that had been extinguished by the building’s fire suppression sprinkler system. Firefighters ensured the fire was out and shut down the water flow to the system.  The fire was found to have originated in a large snake habitat and the cause is under investigation. It was stopped from spreading beyond the habitat and extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. A four-foot long ball python died in the fire. The fire damage was limited to the area of the habitat. There were no employees at the business at the time of the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tempe, AZ – Sprinkler system keeps first floor apartment fire in check; No injuries reported

Tempe fire crews responded to an apartment fire Thursday evening, officials said.

According to the Tempe Fire Department, the fire occurred in a first-floor unit of a three-story apartment complex at 1100 E. Apache Blvd.

Officials said the automatic sprinkler system kept the fire in check until crews arrived. The fire did not extend to any other part of the building, and there were no injuries, said officials.

It is unknown how many people will be displaced, officials said. The cause is under investigation.