Tag Archives: arson

Apartment Building, Residential

Nanaimo, BC, Canada – Arson fire at apartment building knocked down by sprinkler system

A suspicious fire in a Nanaimo apartment building forced about 50 tenants to evacuate on Tuesday (Aug. 8). Firefighters responded to the alarm at Parkside Manor apartments at 645 Townsite Rd. at about 3:30 p.m. Emergency personnel at the scene said the fire started in a storage room on the first floor of the building and was knocked down by the structure’s automatic sprinkler system. Firefighters ensured the fire was fully extinguished and used a large fan to force fresh air through the building.

Alan Millbank, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer, confirmed Wednesday the fire was suspicious and the investigation had been turned over to Nanaimo RCMP. “Somebody deliberately set it alight,” Millbank said.

Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said police were called in shortly after firefighters arrived on scene. “[Firefighters] found a wad of paper balled up in one of the storage lockers and it had been set on fire,” O’Brien said. “The fire extended up some wooden pallets to the ceiling at which point the sprinklers activated and put the fire out.”

No one was injured, but residents had to remain evacuated from the building for more than an hour while smoke fully cleared from the structure. Nanaimo RCMP are continuing to investigate the fire.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Macedonia, OH – Fire chief credits sprinklers with putting out arson fire at hotel

A Virginia man has been charged with first-degree felony aggravated arson in connection with an allegation that he set a mattress on fire at the Highland Road Motel 6 on July 29.

Fire Chief Tim Black said the only reported injury in the late night fire was a 4-year-old boy sleeping in a neighboring room who suffered mild smoke inhalation. He said the boy was not taken to a hospital, but “was just checked out” at the scene.

Black said that thanks to the motel’s sprinkler system, damage was limited to the room with the fire. About half of the mattress was burned and there was some water and possibly some smoke damage in the room, said Black. He did not have a damage estimate.“

[Sprinklers] work. They work well,” said Black.

He said the motel was evacuated for an unspecified period of time.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Kamloops, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system knocks down arson fire at hotel

An evacuee from Williams Lake has been charged with arson and mischief after an incident at a Kamloops hotel.

In a news release, RCMP Corporal Jodi Shelkie says police were called to a disturbance at a hotel on Columbia Street July 28th.

Police said a man was found throwing things around inside a room in the hotel.

The man had broken a window, overturned a fridge and set some items on fire.The sprinkler system put out the flames, but the water caused significant damage inside the room and the adjacent hallway.

Shane Dalton Dennis has been charged with one count of arson and two counts of mischief.

Dennis was previously known to police and was staying at the hotel as an evacuee from Williams Lake.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Philadelphia, PA – Sprinkler system extinguishes multiple arson fires at high rise apartment building

A series of small arson fires at a Center City residential high-rise building has prompted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprit, authorities said Friday.

The fires were set at the Sterling Apartment Homes, at 1815 John F. Kennedy Blvd., between July 13 and Aug. 3, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported. They were started in various places on the fifth through ninth floors, ATF said. No one was injured and the fires were quickly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

ATF and the building’s management company, Aimco, are contributing to the reward. Anyone with information can call the ATF at 888-ATF-FIRE or visit reportit.com.

Other Business

Livingston, MT – Arson fire at printing press extinguished by sprinkler system

Someone broke into The Livingston Enterprise very early Saturday morning and set fire to part of the printing press, causing substantial damage.  After the fire was discovered around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Livingston police detained a 17-year-old juvenile male on the scene and subsequently arrested him on charges of burglary and arson. Since the suspect is a juvenile, he is being held at the juvenile detention center in Billings.

Police did not release his name.  Livingston Police Department Sgt. Mike Labaty said “it is a likely connection,” that the individual is associated with the recent rash of vandalism around Livingston.  No Enterprise employees were working at the time of the break-in. From evidence at the scene, it appears the following took place:

• The suspect tried to burn large rolls of paper on the back loading dock, but only charred them. The person entered the press room by breaking the window on a back door, then reaching in to unlock the door. There, the suspect tried to light additional rolls of paper, again, only charring them.

• At some point, the individual started a fire on one of the press units, which contained a large roll of paper, severely damaging the unit and a large roll of paper in it.

• Water sprinklers above the press went off, extinguishing the fire.

• The suspect sprinkled foot powder all over the inserter machine, which inserts ad sections into papers. The suspect also burned a keyboard used on the inserter.

Saturday morning, the smell of burned paper hung in the air, partially burned and soggy rolls of paper, along with small pools of water, lay on the floor, and the charred remains of press parts were visible in the burned unit.

Enterprise staff are making repairs to the press. The damage shouldn’t interrupt printing of The Enterprise, which will print either on the press when repairs are made, or at a sister paper.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fort Worth, TX – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire at Wal-Mart; Damage limited to one aisle

A 36-year-old man lit a fire at a Wal-Mart in far north Fort Worth last week to create a diversion and steal money, but he “chickened out” and left the store empty-handed, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Gilberto Hernandez was charged with arson this week, accused in a fire at the Wal-Mart in the 2400 block of Avondale Haslet Road on July 3. The fire was contained to one aisle and was extinguished by the store’s sprinkler system.  Hernandez, in an interview with arson investigators, admitted setting the fire, according to an affidavit written by investigator M.B. Sims.

Hernandez said he had been “casing” the Wal-Mart for more than two months and had managed to steal a manager’s set of keys, the affidavit said. On July 3, he went to the store with his wife, who was unaware of his plans to set a fire. At the store, Hernandez grabbed a flammable product from the automotive department, spread it on merchandise in the drapes aisle and started a fire with a cigarette lighter.   At a cash register, he told an employee that he smelled smoke. “He said he made this comment so that someone would put the fire out,” the affidavit said. “He said he couldn’t go through with stealing the money after all.”

Investigators obtained surveillance video of Hernandez walking into the drapes aisle with a container of fuel additive, the affidavit said. Photographs and video of him leaving the store were released to news outlets last week and investigators received numerous tips identifying Hernandez as the suspect.  Fort Worth police initially arrested Hernandez at his home Thursday on an unrelated warrant out of Indiana. He remained in the Tarrant County Jail on Tuesday with bail set at $50,000.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Hammond, LA – Arson fire at Walmart store contained by sprinkler system

A man is in custody and charged with arson in connection with two fires Saturday afternoon at Northshore Walmart stores. Louisiana State Fire Marshal Chief Butch Browning says 45-year-old Larry Paul Schouest Jr. started the fires at the Hammond and Amite Walmart stores as a distraction after stealing laptop computers from the stores.

Officials say the fires were set in the store’s pool chemical areas, but the sprinkler systems kept the fires from getting out of control. Fire crews evacuated the stores. No one was hurt. Fire marshal deputies say they also obtained a confession from Schouest that he set a fire on June 27 at the Ponchatoula Walmart, where he also stole laptops.  Browning says Schouest was charged with two counts of aggravated arson and six counts of felony theft. He was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish prison.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Maryville, TN – Sprinkler system helps firefighters put out possible arson fire at BBQ restaurant

A fire that disrupted dinner Buddy’s Bar-B-Q in Maryville Saturday evening may have been deliberately set, according to Maryville Police Department. Maryville Fire Department received reports of a small fire at Buddy’s Bar-B-Q, 2020 Bridgeway Drive, at 7:58 p.m. Saturday. The first Maryville units arrived on the scene within three minutes, and firefighters quickly had the situation in hand.  According to Maryville police and fire chief Tony Crisp, the fire started in a toilet paper dispenser in the women’s bathroom. The fire appeared to have been deliberately set, Crisp said, and police are investigating it as an arson.  The restaurant’s sprinkler system did its job, Crisp added, kicking in and extinguishing much of the blaze by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.  Although the restaurant was evacuated during the crisis, the fire was ultimately contained within the bathroom. Crisp said the damage was relegated to a section of bathroom wall.  No one was hurt in the incident. The arson investigation is ongoing, as Crisp said there are currently no suspects

Other Business, Restaurant

Vaughan, ON, Canada – Suspicious overnight fire at bakery is kept from spreading by sprinkler system

A bakery in Vaughan was heavily damaged in what appears to be a “suspicious” fire overnight. York Regional Police say there are circumstances around the fire that require further investigation.  “It’s being considered suspicious and further investigation is required to determine the cause,” a YRP duty inspector said.  Fire crews were called to the scene at 10 Buttermill Ave., near Jane Street and Highway 7, just after 1:30 a.m. Vaughan Fire Services were quickly able to extinguish the flames but police say the bakery likely suffered extensive damage.  A sprinkler inside the bakery helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent units.  No one was inside the bakery at the time the fire broke out.

A broken window and objects found on the lawn in front of the bakery are part of the evidence in the case. The objects appear to be caps and nozzles for gas cans though officials have yet to confirm that. Police did say that it appears a canister containing an accelerant had been thrown inside.  Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office have been called to the scene.

Other Business

Charleston, SC – Firefighters and sprinkler system help limit spread of intentionally set vehicle fire

The Charleston City Fire Department says a car fire in downtown Charleston Thursday evening was intentionally set. Emergency personnel from Charleston Fire Department were dispatched to the vehicle fire, with additional units dispatched from Charleston, North Charleston, and James Island Fire Departments responded to Archdale St and West Street just before midnight on June 1. Charleston County EMS and Charleston Police were on standby.

Crews reported seeing a car on fire at the loading dock area of the Majestic Square building. The building fire sprinkler system had activated to protect the building, generating the alarm, and slowed the fire spread. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and prevented further damage in the area. Members of the Fire Marshal Division responded to the scene and determined the fire was intentionally set. Fire Investigators from CFD and members of the Charleston Police Department are now investigating. Damage to the building was limited due to the activation of the fire sprinkler system and the quick response and suppression by responding personnel, officials say.