Tag Archives: Arizona

Office Building, Other Business

Yuma, AZ – Arson fire at office building mostly extinguished by sprinkler system

A fire at a building Thursday afternoon that had been mostly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system was determined to have been intentionally set. According to Yuma Fire Department spokesman Mike Erfert, shortly after 1:00 p.m., smoke was reported coming from an office in the Mission Valley Plaza, located at 3970 West 24th Street. Once on scene, firefighters found light smoke coming from a vacant office space inside the building.

 Erfert said the building’s fire sprinkler system, which had been exposed to the heat, had activated, containing and mostly extinguishing the fire by the time firefighters had arrived. Erfert said firefighters ensured the fire was out and had not spread to adjoining areas of the building.

Sgt. Leanne Worthen, of the Yuma Police Department, said because the fire appeared to have been in intentionally set, detectives were called to scene, and are investigating the fire as an arson. Given this was the fourth fire in as many days, Erfert wanted to stress the importance of fire sprinkler systems, saying they 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.

Department Store, Retail

Tucson, AZ – Fire at Big Lots store kept in check by sprinkler system

The Tucson Fire Department credits a store’s sprinkler system with keeping a fire in check until crews arrived to put it out.  The department says firefighters responding to a water flow alarm at a BigLots store on South Harrison Road early Thursday morning found smoke coming from the rear of the building.

Firefighters found heavy smoke inside the store and a fire in the rear of the building, which was full of merchandise.  Cause of the fire is under investigation and there’s no estimate on cost of fire damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Payson, AZ – Kitchen fire at apartment complex smothered by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system saved a kitchen and likely an entire apartment complex from extensive damages last Thursday night after a pot of oil boiled over, officials say. The resident was heating up the oil to cook some chicken in an upstairs apartment at Northview Apartments, 213 W. Bonita St., around 7 p.m. when he stepped outside.

Within minutes, a grease fire erupted. Flames licked up the backsplash and to the overhead cabinets. Heat triggered a sprinkler in the center of the kitchen ceiling, smothering the flames.

Fire Capt. Rick Winton said when firefighters arrived, the fire was out, but the sprinklers were still going. Crews turned the system off. They then entered the unit below Jones’, grabbed everything on the ground, piled it on the beds and covered it with tarps. Water did seep into the lower unit via the ceiling and walls, but was contained to the kitchen, Winton said.

“The sprinklers definitely served their purpose,” he said. “Everyone was able to get out of the building safely.”  If the building had not had sprinklers, firefighters would have battled a roaring grease fire, he said.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Kingman, AZ – Sprinklers help put out oven fire at Safeway store

A burning rotisserie oven forced the evacuation of the Safeway store in Kingman at 3970 N. Stockton Hill Road early Tuesday afternoon. The oven reportedly caught fire while cooking chicken.

The small fire set off the sprinkler system in the store, said Joe Dorner, assistant fire chief for the Kingman Fire Department, and crews from that department and Northern Arizona Consolidated responded to help extinguish the fire and clear up lingering smoke in the store.

Kingman Police Department officers helped evacuate the store.  Both fire departments were working with Safeway to help reset the sprinkler system. No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Yuma, AZ – Fire at downtown eatery contained by sprinkler system

For the second time in as many months a sprinkler system had mostly extinguished a fire in a commercial building — this one in historic downtown Yuma — by the time firefighters arrived on scene.

Yuma Fire Department spokesman Mike Erfert said that just before 2 a.m. Monday, a water flow alarm was received, indicating the fire sprinkler system had activated at the Prison Hill Brewing Company, 278 S. Main St.

Erfert explained that once firefighters made their way inside the building they found that the fire had been contained and mostly extinguished by an activated sprinkler head.

Firefighters ensured the fire was completely out and assisted with cleanup. Damage from the fire was limited to a small area around a container of rags where the fire was believed to have originated.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Scottsdale, AZ – Sprinkler system does its job in overnight laundry fire at FireSky Resort

Firefighters from three cities responded to an early morning fire at the FireSky Resort & Spa in Scottsdale shortly after midnight. When they arrived, they saw smoke billowing from a building to the north of the complex. That building houses a laundry facility. Firefighters saw a commercial-size dryer on fire, but the building’s sprinkler system did its job, keeping the flames contained until crews got there. 

“It took over 30 firefighters to bring the situation under control,” Battalion Executive Officer David Folio said. The fire did not extend to any other part of the resort and firefighters did not have to evacuate anybody. No injuries were reported.

Other - Retail, Retail

Yuma, AZ – Sprinklers contain fire at commercial building under renovation

A sprinkler system had mostly extinguished a fire in a commercial building in Yuma Wednesday night by the time firefighters arrived on scene.  Oily rags not disposed of properly are suspected of causing the fire. Yuma Fire Department spokesman Mike Erfert said that shortly after 10 p.m., a water flow alarm was received, indicating a fire sprinkler system had activated in a commercial building located at 475 W. 32nd St.

Erfert said arriving firefighters gained access to the building and found that a fire had been contained and mostly extinguished by an activated sprinkler head. Firefighters immediately began extinguishing some hot spots and ensured the fire was completely out.  A small display case and some wooden dividers sustained damage.  The building is being remodeled to open as a retail store. Lacquer finishing had been applied to wood panels during the work day. Oily rags not disposed of properly are suspected of causing the fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinkler system puts out fire at senior apartment complex (Payson, AZ)

Crews responded to a small fire Wednesday morning at the Canal Senior Apartments that activated the building’s fire sprinkler  system. No one was injured.  It appears a candle burning in a resident’s living room lit some nearby decorative dried reeds on fire, setting the sprinklers off, which quashed the flames before it could spread.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Sprinklers put out early morning fire, keep fire from spreading (Phoenix, AZ)

An Ahwatukee business suffered a fire early Monday morning, prompting a lot of smoke in the area. Fire crews were called to the Harem Lounge near 48th Street and Ray Road overnight after a fire broke out. The sprinkler system was able to successfully put out the fire. Luckily, nearby businesses, like an AMC movie theater located in the same strip mall, were spared from the fire spreading.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Sprinkler saves business from overnight fire (Cottonwood, AZ)

Shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, Cottonwood Fire crews weresent to a business in the 1700 block of East Villa Drive. Firefighters found the building was full of smoke and the fire sprinkler alarm was sounding. Crews quickly got inside the building and located the seat of the fire. The blaze had been controlled by a single fire sprinkler in the ceiling. Fire damage was isolated to the room where the fire started. Fire officials credit the sprinkler with saving the structure, furnishings and business documents from extensive fire damage.