Tag Archives: arson

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Merritt, BC, Canada – Suspicious fire at elementary school extinguished by sprinkler system

A small fire that sparked in an office at Merritt Secondary School was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system before the fire department arrived. The fire started just before 10 a.m. in a room that is adjacent to the main office on the ground floor. It was contained to that particular room, Merritt Fire Rescue Department Fire Chief Dave Tomkinson told the Herald.

Tomkinson said the fire was deemed suspicious and RCMP are investigating. The fire department cannot release any information pertaining to what burned, or the fire’s area of origin.

“There was a fair amount of water damage [to the room],” Tomkinson said. School District 58 superintendent Steve McNiven said the office where the fire sparked is a meeting room in the counselling area of the school.

McNiven said he’s not sure how the fire was discovered, and doesn’t know if anyone was using it at the time of the fire. The fire triggered the alarm and the school was evacuated. Students were allowed back in the building at about 1 p.m.

About 16 firefighters responded to the fire. Tomkinsoin said firefighters assisted the school board staff in salvaging efforts and cleaning up.

McNiven said he was pleased with how students and staff responded to the fire, noting that everyone evacuated the school appropriately and handled themselves well.

No injuries were reported in this incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Estero, FL – Fire caused by man burning love letters is controlled with help from sprinkler system

The Florida Everblades hockey player facing arson charges was burning love letters from a girlfriend last month when the blaze got out of control, according to an arrest report that reveals new details in the Dec. 30 arrest of Justin Agosta.

The 25-year-old told firefighters who responded to his apartment along the 11200 block of Everblades Parkway in Estero that he was upset with his girlfriend when he bought gasoline at a nearby gas station to douse the letters. Agosta said he tried to put the fire out with water and a towel when it got out of control near the entrance of his apartment and caused damage to the front of his building and walls where soot collected. The fire sprinkler went off and Agosta dialed 911 to alert firefighters.

Agosta was arrested and taken to the Lee County jail about 1 p.m. that Wednesday. Agosta’s next court appearance is Feb. 1. He has not missed a game playing for the team since his arrest.

Other - Retail, Retail

Bellingham, WA – Overnight arson fire at Goodwill store extinguished by sprinkler system

Three arsons have been set in three mornings behind a Goodwill store, according to police. Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying who has been setting the fires.

The first fire was reported at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in a Dumpster near the donation drop-off of the Goodwill at 1115 E. Sunset Drive, said Bellingham Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hewett. Firefighters responded to a second arson at 5:08 Thursday, in another Dumpster.  And a third fire was reported at 3:25 a.m. Friday. This time someone set up debris against the building itself, and lit it on fire. By the time firefighters reached the scene a sprinkler had extinguished the flames, but it was damaged in the process.

So far most of the damage has been limited to the sprinkler, two waste disposal units that are now warped, and the garbage. Police would like it to stay that way. Tips should be directed to Bellingham Police Detective Dan Kelsh at 360-778-8690.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Blue Springs, MO – Arson fire at high school is extinguished by sprinkler system

The Blue Springs School District has contacted federal authorities after receiving four threats in the last 10 days. The district said the latest threat came Monday in an email to a teacher. It arrived hours after a break-in and arson in the Blue Springs High School activities office.

“A Christmas tree was set on fire,” said Tom Phillips, the head of the police force for the Blue Springs School District. “The sprinkler system kicked on. It did what it was supposed to do, put the fire out.”

He said the fire caused thousands of dollars in water damage. He also said fire extinguishers were sprayed in some parts of the building and some windows were broken. He said these incidents have not been connected to the threat that came in Monday.

(It was) very generic. Doesn’t give any specifics,” said Phillips. “Doesn’t say where the threat is, where it’s at or anything like that.”

In the wake of Sandy Hook and terrorism worries, schools have to take threats seriously and work to strike a balance between prudence and paranoia.

Phillips, a former Jackson County sheriff, said it’s a collective decision. “I get with our administration. We get with our central office administrators,” he said. “We get with other law enforcement in the area. Are they receiving threats?”

Blue Springs was one of the first school districts in Missouri to have its own police force.

Other Business

San Luis Obispo, CA – Suspicious fire at commercial building suppressed by sprinkler system

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department is investigating a series of suspicious fires that have occurred over the past couple weeks. Fire crews were on the scene of two fires Friday night and one fire early Saturday morning.  All three fires are suspicious in nature, according to the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department.

The first incident took place at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Friday, in a commercial building located at 346 Pacific Street. When freighters arrived on scene, they found three burned garbage containers. The building’s sprinkler system was able to suppress most of the fire. But crews still had to overhaul the fire.

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department says there were cigarettes found in the area, which could have caused the fire. However, there are no leads to whether the incident was accidental or on purpose.

The second fire took place at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Friday, behind a commercial building located at 3046 Higuera Street. In this fire, a dumpster and the majority of its contents were burned, according to the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department. Crews were on scene for approximately 15 minutes.

At 3:08 a.m. on Saturday, San Luis Obispo City firefighters responded to a third fire. This took place behind Fire Station 1, at the end of Round House Street. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a large cluster of Eucalyptus trees engulfed in flames. The fire burned about 600 square feet of vegetation and took firefighters approximately 30 minutes to extinguish. Bob Bisson, San Luis Obispo City Fire Department Chief, says this particular fire required the use of fire hydrant water.

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department says they’re concerned about the pattern of fires that have occurred in the city. Last weekend, firefighters also battled fires under suspicious circumstances.

Investigators are working to determine their cause.

Apartment Building, Residential

Athens, GA – Sprinkler system contains arson fire in apartment following domestic dispute

Felton Wendel Teasley Jr., 25, was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged arson fire the day before at the home he formerly shared with his girlfriend at Oak Hill apartments, Athens-Clarke County police said.

According to the girlfriend, she wanted to end her relationship with Teasley and told him to move out Saturday, when he allegedly lit some clothes on fire in a closet, police said. The fire set off the apartment’s sprinkler system and caused the building’s occupants to be evacuated. Police said they put out the fire with an extinguisher.

Water from the sprinkler system caused an estimated $10,000 in damages to the woman’s apartment and the one directly below, according to police. Teasley fled the scene but was located and arrested the next day, police said. He was charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org/.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Redwood City, CA – Possible arson fire at restaurant contained with help from sprinkler system

Investigators say that a restaurant fire in Redwood City early Wednesday morning may have been caused by arson, according to police. Police and firefighters responded to Max’s Cafe in the 1000 block of El Camino Real around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Smoke was coming from the building and the automated sprinkler system had been activated, according to firefighters. Once inside the building, they were able to contain the fire to the kitchen.  After the fire was out, firefighters began to notice signs that it may have been intentionally set, and investigators later determined that an accelerant was used, according to police.

The restaurant sustained smoke and water damage, police said.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

San Antonio, TX – Sprinkler system extinguishes intentionally-set restaurant fire

Police are searching for two men who skipped out on their dinner tab only to return to a restaurant and set the bathroom on fire. The incident happened on Saturday, September 19 at the Golden Wok located in the 1400 block of SW Loop 410.

Police say the men had lunch at the restaurant then left without paying the bill.

About ten minutes later, the man with a T on his hat walked back inside, headed for the restroom and set a fire, according to investigators.

The automatic sprinkler system put out the fire.

Crime Stoppers has released images of the suspects and is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrests of the suspects.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Clinton, IA – Arson fire extinguished by sprinkler in janitor’s closet at local business

A Clinton man was arrested and charged with arson for his alleged role in a fire at a local business. According to the affidavit, on Sept. 16, at 3:16 a.m., communication dispatched the fire department and police officers to Collis, Inc., at 1710 S. 21st St. in reference to an unknown fire. Boyd, a supervisor at Collis, who was working at the time of the fire, called 911 from his cell phone to report the fire. The firemen arrived and found the fire located in a janitor’s closet. The fire activated the sprinkler system under the stairs and extinguished the fire as the firemen arrived.

The affidavit states that during the investigation of the cause and origin of the fire, investigators observed two possible locations as the cause of the fire. Based on the origin of the fire, investigators determined the fire was intentionally set in the janitor’s closet.

The affidavit continues that during the investigation they were able to identify Boyd as a possible suspect and Boyd was interviewed. During the interview, Boyd allegedly admitted he went into the janitor’s closet to get some garbage cans for his area. Boyd stated that while he was in the closet he used matches to light a box on fire, shut the door and then he left the closet. At the time of the fire, there were approximately 20 other employees in Collis working.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Thousand Oaks, CA – Arson fire at Planned Parenthood facility is extinguished by sprinkler system

Authorities today are investigating the arson fire late Wednesday night in the lobby of the Planed Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks.

The fire alarm sounded at 11:28 p.m. in the building at 1200 Hillcrest Drive, said Capt. Mike Lindbery of the Ventura County Fire Department, and only one engine responded because it was a commercial building and not a residence.

“When they arrived on scene, they found a window broken out and a fire sprinkler system functioning,” Lindbery said. “Upon further investigation, they discovered the smell of gasoline in the room, and it appeared a small fire had broken out and it had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.”

Firefighters shut off the sprinkler system and called the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the investigation.

Investigators have a brief video of a suspect but they cannot tell if it was a man or woman.

“One suspect approached the clinic and used the rock to break the glass and tossed an accelerant inside and ignited it,” said Capt. John Reilly of the sheriff’s department.

“We have a brief video of someone walking by the location wearing a hoodie and face mask completely concealing (their) identity. Judging by the walk, they think it was a male.”

The broken window has been boarded up and a Planned Parenthood official said the office was closed but will open again, although no date was given, Reilly said.

The damage to the facility is still being assessed. Reilly said fire officials told him that the water from the sprinklers did more damage than the fire.

The fire comes as the organization is the focus of a contentious nationwide debate about government funding of Planned Parenthood.

This week Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards faced tough questions from Republicans at a congressional hearing about the organization’s business practices.

The battle broke out in July when videos were released by a group of anti-abortion activists who claimed Planned Parenthood has illegally profited from the sale of fetal tissue.

Wednesday night’s attack drew a sharp response from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

“The toxic rhetoric directed at Planned Parenthood has dangerous consequences. It sends a signal that using violence to close clinics and intimidate health care professionals and women is ‘OK.’ It is not,” she said in a statement.

“I’m grateful that no one in Thousand Oaks was hurt. My thoughts today are with the clinic’s staff, who provide compassionate care in spite of challenges no health care provider should have to face.”

Amy Everitt, state director at NARAL Pro-Choice California, also castigated the arson attack.

“This is domestic terrorism, plain and simple. Extremists who will stop at nothing to deny women legal abortion services. We have seen numerous examples of violence against abortion providers across the country over the last few years and we call on all, no matter what side of this debate you may fall on, to condemn this horrendous action.”