Tag Archives: arson

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

Houston, TX – Arson fire at HEB store controlled with help from sprinkler system

An HEB in southwest Houston will be closed indefinitely after a fire was started inside the grocery store Wednesday evening.  The fire erupted around 7:30pm at the store in off Beechnut and the Beltway.

According to fire officials at the scene, someone set fire to toilet paper in the back of the store. Fire officials on the scene say when the fire started, employees tried to put it out with extinguishers. Firefighters then arrived to help.  The store’s sprinkler system activated to help control the fire.  

An HEB spokesperson said everyone was evacuated and no injuries were reported.  Officials said the store will be shut down until health inspectors can examine what kind of damage was made to the products inside. The HEB spokesperson didn’t know how long that process will take.  HEB says it is working with HFD on the investigation, which they’re classifying as arson.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Eureka, CA – Sprinkler system extinguishes early morning arson fire at Wharfinger Building

Humboldt Bay Fire responded to multiple arson fires in the early morning hours of today and Wednesday. There were a total of six fires reported to fire officials. The most significant fire was at the city of Eureka Wharfinger Building. The fire was large enough to activate the sprinkler system which extinguished the fire. Humboldt Bay Fire was notified via the activation of the sprinkler alarm system. Damage to the facility was minimal as the sprinkler system functioned properly and prevented the fire from spreading to the structure.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Melbourne, FL – Sprinklers help limit damage in church arson fire

On a day when students from her congregation were to learn about slain civil rights activists Harry and Harriette V. Moore, Bishop Jacquelyn Gordon found herself awakened by a phone call informing her that an arsonist set a small fire in her church and scrawled a swastika on a nearby wall.

“To wake up to a call at 3:30 a.m. and find this, it’s mind-blowing,” said Gordon, standing near the blackened ruin of several chairs and furniture in one of the storage compartments at the New Shiloh Christian Center in Melbourne.

The blaze, which left behind $5,000 in damages, set off an alarm about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. Sprinklers were activated, which Gordon credits with keeping the fire from spreading to the nearby electrical room.

The main sanctuary, housed in the same 125,000-square-foot building, was not affected by smoke or fire. Melbourne firefighters quickly contained the fire and discovered evidence of arson.

Melbourne police did not immediately return calls about the case and whether it would be investigated as a possible hate crime. Police report that the vandals also broke into the electrical room, burning through locks and kicking in doors.

Other - Retail, Retail

Lee County, FL – Sprinklers douse arson fire at barber shop

Confirmation from the state fire marshal that the barber shop in the Metropolis Shopping Center was intentionally set. Fire crews were called to the business plaza Sunday evening about 10:30 with what turned out to be several fires inside the shop. First responders found the back door open and charred equipment inside. The sprinkler system doused the fire and left water damage behind.

“We’ll get it back rolling again. It could have been a lot worse, it’s just a stepping stone and I’ll get it back.” said owner Collette Clark.
The property manager tells us Clark is going to be able to move next door while the shop is repaired so she should be up and running in the couple of days.
Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

West Windsor, NJ – Arson fire at senior apartment complex extinguished by sprinklers

A trespasser was arrested for allegedly starting a fire at the Gables of West Windsor on Feb. 13.  The suspect started a fire was started just before 3 p.m. The building manager told police he did not belong in the building, according to West Windsor police.

When police and firefighters arrived at the building they found an activated sprinkler head and smoke in the vestibule.  Further investigation revealed that a small fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system, according to police.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Rapid City, SD – Sprinklers help contain arson fire at detox center

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No one was hurt in a fire at a detox center in Rapid City that prompted the evacuation of more than 50 people and the arrest of a client.

Authorities responded to the City/County Alcohol and Drug Program facility shortly before noon Wednesday. The building’s sprinkler system had helped contain the fire, and it was confined to a small area.

Thirty-six clients and 15 staff members were evacuated for a time.
Police determined that a client had set the fire in an isolation room. The suspect was taken into custody pending formal charges.

Department Store, Retail

Glen Burnie, MD – Fire at Toys ‘R’ Us impeded by sprinkler system

Apartment Building, Residential

Sun Valley, NV – Sprinklers control multiple arson fires at apartment complex

The Sparks Fire Department says fires at a Sun Valley apartment complex were intentionally set.  The fires started around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Boulder Creek Apartments.  Crews found that the internal fire sprinkler system had extinguished two fires in two separate areas of the unit.  A third fire was noticed in another room but had self-extinguished.

The call was reported to Sparks dispatch by the fire alarm monitoring company as water flow.  Fire crews found smoke coming out of the open entry door of one of the apartment units.  Firefighters found no one inside.  Sparks Fire says several people were evacuated, but have been allowed back into their units.  There were no reports of injuries.

College/University (on campus), School / University

North Vancouver, BC, Canada – Suspected arson fire at Capilano University contained by sprinkler system

North Vancouver RCMP are searching for suspects in a break-in and possible arson at Capilano University this morning.  Emergency crews were called to the university library shortly after midnight.

“On arrival, we noticed smoke in the library,” says Ast. Fire Chief Dave Burgess. “There was a small fire and the sprinkler had it deactivated.  The sprinkler controlled the fire and kept it to the area of origin.”

Investigators aren’t sure what may have been stolen from the library yet. They will examine video surveillance in an effort to identify any potential suspects. The University says they will be assessing the damage, but do not anticipate any class disruptions today.