Tag Archives: arson

Apartment Building, Residential

Boulder, CO – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex

A woman has been arrested and is suspected of intentionally setting a fire Thursday morning at a Boulder apartment complex.

Boulder Police Department and Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to the fire in the 3700 block of Canfield Street at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The building’s automatic fire sprinkler system activated and helped contain the fire to a single unit, although two units sustained smoke and water damage, according to Boulder Police. Residents of the two damaged units were displaced, but other residents have been cleared to reenter the building.

A Boulder Fire-Rescue firefighter was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The investigation indicates that the fire was intentionally set, with evidence suggesting multiple items were ignited within the suspect’s apartment unit.

The specific method used to start the fire remains under investigation.

Officers arrested Ranita Ezeonu at the scene. She was booked into the Boulder County Jail on suspicion of the following charges:

  • First-degree arson
  • Reckless endangerment
  • Harassment
Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Woodstock, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

A Walmart in Woodstock, Illinois, was closed after a fire inside the store on Wednesday night.

It happened just before 7:30 p.m. at the store located at 1275 Lake Avenue.

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District said crews responded to reports of a fire inside the store. The store was being evacuated as they arrived.

Firefighters found the fire near the rear of the store, which had already been extinguished by the building’s automatic sprinkler system, fire officials said.

They remained on scene for more than two hours, monitoring conditions and assisting with smoke removal. The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District airboat assisted with ventilating smoke from the store.

No injuries were reported.

The store was closed for the remainder of the evening and remains closed as of Thursday for the New Year holiday.

The incident remains under investigation by the Woodstock Police Department.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Tucson, AZ – Sprinkler system activated for trash can fire at community college

A fire activated the sprinkler system at Pima Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Building on its Downtown Campus, Wednesday morning.

According to PCC, an individual lit a garbage can on fire outside of the building at 9 a.m.

The contents of the garbage can caught fire, which in turn caused the heat to break a window in the building, alerting the sprinkler system to activate.

No injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fort Frances, ON, Canada – Late night arson fire at tire shop contained by sprinkler system

Rainy River District OPP have a youth offender in custody following an arson investigation that resulted from a late night fire at the Fort Frances Canadian Tire store.

In a post made to their Facebook page early this morning, Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services noted that they responded to the retail store at approximately 11:04 p.m. last night, Thursday, December 18, 2025. OPP officers were already on scene upon arrival at Canadian Tire, and firefighters noted heavy smoke and low visibility when they entered the store.

Canadian Tires’ sprinkler system had activated and contained the fire to a limited area, and firefighters were able to make “a quick interior attack” to bring the fire under control.

A primary and secondary search were performed to ensure no occupants were within the building, and it was subsequently ventilated to help clear hazardous smoke.

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services noted that firefighters and other first responders faced “extreme cold conditions” during the effort to put out the fire.

As of this morning, the Fort Frances OPP had carriage of the scene to conduct an investigation.

As a result of the investigation, an OPP spokesperson confirmed a 15-year-old youth from Fort Frances has been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code with:

  • Arson – damage to property
  • Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
  • Break and enter
  • Uttering threats – cause death or bodily harm
  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 – 2 counts
  • Fail to comply with probation order
  • Mischief – destroy or damages property

The accused cannot be identified as they are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Fort Frances on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services shared that sprinkler systems can make a big difference in local homes and businesses when it comes to protecting from, or lessening, the damage caused by fires to both property and human life.

“Fire protection systems like sprinklers help protect our community, businesses, and first responders,” Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Services said in their post.

”Thanks to all responding agencies for their coordinated efforts.”

The OPP said members of the Fort Frances Crime Unit continue to investigate alongside the Office of the Fire Marshal.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A resident was arrested Monday afternoon after allegedly starting a fire in their apartment, which also damaged three other units in downtown Peoria.

Fire Battalion Chief Mike Ralston says crews were called just before 3:30 p.m. to an apartment building in the 200 block of NE Madison Avenue, between Hamilton and Fayette.

Ralston says the building’s sprinkler system helped firefighters bring the fire under control quickly, but four units suffered fire and water damage.

Damage is estimated at $80,000. No injuries were reported. Four people were displaced by the fire.

The suspect’s name has not been released by Peoria Police at this time.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Montreal, QC, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire in commercial building; No injuries reported

Montreal police will examine local surveillance cameras after someone attempted early Tuesday to set fire to a commercial building in the city’s Rivière-des-Prairies district.

The security alarm of the building on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E. near Rodolphe-Forget Blvd. was triggered around 1 a.m. First responders found the fire had quickly been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

There were no injuries reported and the damage done to the building was due to water from the sprinkler system.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Annapolis, MD – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire in parking garage; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system quickly knocked down an intentionally set fire inside the Park Place parking garage in Annapolis late Friday morning, preventing injuries and limiting damage, according to the Annapolis Fire Department.

Around 10:53 a.m. on October 17, 2025, firefighters arrived at 1 Park Place to find smoke coming from the garage. Crews located the source and confirmed the building’s sprinklers had already activated, extinguishing a fire involving several boxes stored on a pallet. Approximately 40 firefighters responded, bringing the incident under control swiftly and safely.

The Annapolis Fire and Explosives Services Unit determined the fire was intentionally set following an altercation. An individual was detained and charged with reckless endangerment. Officials did not immediately release the person’s age or hometown.. There were no injuries reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Fire crews were called to an apartment fire on NE Jefferson in downtown Peoria early Monday morning.

Fire Battalion Chief Mike Ralston says Peoria Fire received the call from the five-story New Hope Apartments just after 12:30 a.m., finding the fire mostly contained by the building’s sprinkler system, which had activated effectively.

Ralston says the fire started in a single apartment unit and it was determined to have been intentionally set. The fire was contained to the apartment, preventing any further spread through the building.

Damage is estimated at $200,000, with most of the damage due to water from the sprinkler system activation.

All of the residents were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Kansas City, MO – Sprinkler system extinguished arson fire at high school; No injuries reported

Two Lawrence High School students were arrested earlier this week for their alleged role in a fire Monday morning in the girls’ locker room at the school.

On Tuesday, Lawrence School District Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift and Lawrence High School Principal Dr. Quentin Rials notified the high school community of the incident.

According to their letter, firefighters responded around 11:15 a.m. Monday on a report of smoke coming from the girls’ locker room.

Firefighters arrived and discovered the sprinkler system had already extinguished the fire. Investigators traced the origin of the fire back to a paper towel dispenser that extended to a combustible trash bin below.

Two students were arrested.

“While we cannot share details about individual students’ involvement, we want our community to know that both law enforcement and the district take these matters very seriously, and in addition to the appropriate criminal processes, we will be implementing disciplinary consequences in line with our policies,” the district said in the communication to families.

No injuries were reported.

The district also addressed community concern over the timeliness of information to families during Monday’s incident.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at restaurant

A fire has forced downtown Winnipeg restaurant Commonwealth to temporarily close for repairs.

The restaurant, located at the corner of McDermot Avenue and Main Street, sustained damage after someone reportedly broke a window with bricks and started a fire inside, according to a Facebook post on Thursday by managing partner Nikola Maharajh.

The post said the building’s sprinkler system was triggered by the fire, causing additional damage.

Maharajh added that the restaurant may remain closed for “a few weeks, if not months.”