Tag Archives: arson

Apartment Building, Residential

Burnsville, MN – Suspected arson fire at apartment building doused by sprinkler system

Authorities are asking for the public’s help to find suspects of a suspected arson fire in Burnsville over the weekend. Burnsville Police and Fire departments say a fire at the Meridian Point Apartments, 51 McAndrews Road West, has been ruled suspicious. The fire, which happened on Sunday, was contained thanks to a single sprinkler head in the apartment building.

Fire crews arrived on scene to find smoke coming from a stairwell leading from the basement garage to the first floor. The building’s sprinkler system had already been activated and managed to keep the fire damage to a minimum. No building residents were displaced by the fire and no injuries were reported.

An investigation into the fire has led officials to believe it was intentionally set. Assistant Fire Chief Doug Nelson states in a release the cause appears to be suspicious and the circumstances of the fire remain under investigation. They ask any residents with information to call the arson hotline at 1-800-723-2020. A reward of up to $5,000 is available for information leading to the identity of the person or persons responsible.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Sarasota, FL – Arson fire at nightclub is prevented from spreading by sprinkler system

Sarasota deputies are looking for a man who they say set fire to a gay nightclub Sunday morning.  Surveillance video shows a man wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and light colored shorts approaching Throb Nightclub, 2201 Industrial Blvd., at 9 a.m. Sunday, according to a release.

The man walked up to the door carrying a gas can and unsuccessfully tried to light the building on fire with a lit cigarette, deputies said. He walks away and then re-approaches the business, successfully lights the fire and walks away again.  The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading, according to a report.

When the flames cleared, Throb Nightclub had suffered $10,000 in fire and water damage. Owner Brian Zickafoose wasted no time making repairs, and opened the club for a regular Sunday evening just hours after the flames had been put out.

Anyone with information can contact criminal investigations at 941-861-4934 or the State Fire Marshal’s arson hotline at 877-662-7766. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477) or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com

Other Business, Place of Worship

Amherst, NY – Sprinkler system activates to contain church arson fire

A Molotov cocktail was thrown into a chapel early Saturday morning in Amherst. Amherst Police say that around 5:30 a.m. they responded to a fire alarm at the Chapel at Crosspoint. When they arrived they found that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown through a glass door and started a fire. A sprinkler system contained the fire.

Damage was estimated to be $10,000. Amherst Police and the A.T.F are investigating the incident, including checking security cameras belonging to the Chapel and nearby businesses. Anyone with information is asked to call (716) 689-1364.

Other - Hospital/Medical

Henrico, VA – Overnight arson fire “mostly extinguished” by sprinkler system

A woman has been charged with arson after crews extinguished a fire at a Henrico doctor’s office Tuesday morning.

Crews responded to 10200 Three Chopt Road for a fire alarm at 3:03 a.m. Tuesday. First arriving units reported smoke coming from the front of the structure upon arrival. Inside the office, fire crews found fire that had been mostly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. The sprinklers kept the fire minimized and the fire was marked under control at 3:26 a.m.

While checking the property, officers on scene located a window where entry was made into the building. Police stopped an SUV leaving the scene of the incident and identified the operator as 46-year-old Deana Annette Clements of Crozier, Virginia. Officers say they found evidence inside the vehicle that implicated Clements in the burglary and arson.

After a joint investigation between the Henrico County Police Division and the Henrico County Division of Fire, Clements was charged with trespassing, burglary, possession of burglary tools, vandalism and arson.

There was minor smoke, water, and fire damage done to the building. The business was not occupied at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.

 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Seattle, WA – Sprinklers activate to help limit damage in arson fire

The Seattle Police Department’s Arson Bomb Squad is investigating after the alley entrance door to gay dance club Neighbours was set on fire Friday morning.

Seattle Fire arrived to the scene just after 11:30 AM to find water pouring from the back of the Broadway nightclub after the venue’s fire sprinkler system was activated by the small fire.

The club’s alley doors were burned in the fire but there was no other damage reported beyond the flooding. There were no reported injuries. The club has not announced any closures related to the fire.

The Seattle Fire Marshal has determined that the door fire was intentionally set. SPD is now investigating the incident.

Primary / Secondary School

Antioch, CA – Sprinkler system helps to limit damage in arson fire at elementary school

Fire inspectors suspect an arsonist set two dumpsters ablaze at an elementary school in Antioch on Saturday, a fire official with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said Monday.

Firefighters responded just before 7 p.m. to a report from a person walking by the Mno Grant Elementary School, located at 4325 Spaulding St., of a fire at the school, fire Capt. George Laing said.

Laing said fire crews arrived to find two dumpsters engulfed in flames that were adjacent to a masonry wall and overhang.

The fire burned through some of the overhang and caused minor damage to the roof but Laing said for the most part, the fire was contained to the overhang and dumpsters.

One sprinkler activated and protected the main electrical service, Laing said. Firefighters were able to douse the flames quickly and Laing said there were no injuries reported.

Fire inspectors determined someone set the dumpster on fire intentionally, but Laing said he couldn’t release more details because the fire is under investigation. 

A call to Antioch police was not immediately returned.Laing said it’s helpful for neighbors to pay attention to their surroundings and immediately report any suspicious activity or smoke to 911.

 

Department Store, Retail

Capitol Heights, MD – Sprinkler system helps extinguish potential arson fire at Family Dollar store

Prince George’s County authorities are seeking the community’s assistance in identifying a man they believed started a fire in a local Family Dollar store.  The fire occurred at 1:23 p.m. Saturday in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Onlookers say they saw a man set combustible materials on fire to cover up a theft. The fire was quickly contained by a store sprinkler and an employee dispensing a fire extinguisher.  The total loss is estimated at $2,500. No injuries were reported.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Newnan, GA – Potential arson fire at pilates studio controlled by sprinkler system

Authorities with the Newnan Fire Department and the Newnan Police Department are investigating a suspicious fire that severely damaged a Newnan business early Tuesday.

The fire started about 4:20 a.m., shortly after someone was seen banging on the door of The Pilates Loft on Field Street, located in the historic cotton mill, witnesses told detectives. According to Sgt. Brent Blankenship with the police department, witnesses said they saw a Caucasian person carrying a red container, possibly a gasoline can, and they thought they saw the person pour the can around the business. The person then fled in a white vehicle, and flames soon appeared inside the building.

The fire inside The Pilates Loft did not last very long because the sprinkler system in the building kicked on quickly from the heat. By the time the Newnan Fire Department arrived, the fire was mostly contained and firefighters were able to quickly control the fire, but the business sustained heat and smoke damage.

During the investigation, detectives found one of The Pilates Loft’s windows had been shattered, which is possibly where the suspect poured the can into the building, Blankenship said. Because of this, authorities are treating the fire as an arson investigation. According to Blankenship, witnesses said the person may have been a man, but detectives are not certain of that at this time.

Evidence gathered by authorities is also being sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab to determine if an accelerant was used to start the fire, Blankenship said. If so, the crime will be considered arson.

Other - Retail, Retail

Benton Twp, MI – Arson fire at thrift store extinguished by sprinkler system

A thrift store fire in Benton Township has now been declared an arson. According to our reporting partners at Herald Palladium, the fire broke out just before 5 p.m. Sunday at the Valueland thrift store in the 1800 block of m-139.

Police now believe that the fire was set to the store to try and cover up a robbery after money was missing from the store office where the fire started. The fire was quickly put out by the store’s sprinkler system.

Other - Residential, Residential

Terre Haute, IN – Fire at homeless shelter extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Officials are investigating an apparent arson after an early morning fire broke out at a Terre Haute homeless shelter. The fire started just before 6 a.m. at the Conners Center on 13th Street. The center, also known as Gary’s Place, is a shelter for women and children.

Kristina Stuff recalls waking up to billowing smoke and several women in the building who were shouting fire. “I thought it was the moment. I was petrified.”

The building is made up of three floors, and three floors up Stuff and her elderly mother were trapped by the overwhelming smoke. Stuff tried to get out but was unable to carry her mother through the smoke. “It didn’t matter what kind of evacuation plan we had it was just too much,” said Stuff as she describes trying to escape.

In that moment stuff recalls feeling helpless, “So I took us back in, soaked down towels and put it on her face, and prayed to God.” It wasn’t long before relief arrived. With the help of the Terre Haute Fire Department all of the residents inside the building got out safely. Stuff and her mother were rescued and treated for smoke inhalation, while the others escaped without injury.

“We don’t like what the future holds for us, but we are alive,” said Stuff.

Terre Haute Fire Chief, Jeff Fischer tells News 10 the fire started in the basement next to the soda machine. It appeared the sprinkler system aided in putting out the flames, but the black smoke continued to cause extensive damage to the second and third floors. “So that means cleaning everything, and taking care of that, and trying to get the smell out,” explained Rev. Timothy Fagg, CEO of the Lighthouse Mission.

The fire is being investigated as arson. Fire officials found evidence of poured gasoline close to the soda machine. “Every dollar we get goes to take care of the homeless here in the Wabash Valley, and when’s there’s something like this it’s difficult for us,” said Rev. Fagg.

All 14 residents are displaced while clean-up takes place. “This is it. This is all we got. We don’t have anywhere else to go,” said Stuff. Rev. Fagg said the residents will be offered a bed at the Lighthouse Mission until repairs are made. The shelter is looking for volunteers to help with cleaning and painting.

The Terre Haute Police Department is spending the day interviewing those at the shelter. The investigation into who started the fire is still on-going.