Tag Archives: arson

Apartment Building, Residential

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at apartment fire set by arsonist (Boston, MA)

A Brighton woman is facing arson and attempted murder charges following a fire at a three-story building Sunday morning.  Sprinklers in the brick apartment building were activated and aided fire crews in their effort to get the blaze under control.  In the process of battling the blaze, firefighters had to rescue a man and woman, both 21 years old, and bring them down a ladder to safety from the third floor, according to Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

Government/Military, Public Library

Library arson fire controlled by sprinkler system (Brooksville, FL)

Firefighters were called to the East Hernando Branch Library in Brooksville on July 6 to put out a small fire. While no one was hurt, the smoke activated the building’s sprinkler system, damaging much of the inventory.

(*** BLOG EDITOR’S NOTE – Only the substantial heat from potentially deadly and damaging fire will operate a fire sprinkler, not smoke.  This fire was likely kept small due to the sprinkler system, which helped limit the damage to this structure)

Apartment Building, Residential

Arson fire extinguished thanks to fire sprinklers (Pasadena, TX)

Several fires were intentionally set in the third floor of an apartment on May 29 in the afternoon. The building’s fire sprinkler system eliminated the flames prior to the arrival of fire crews, and a suspect is in custody. No one was injured by the fire.

According to Pasadena Fire Marshal David Brannon, “If that building wouldn’t have had a sprinkler system and it being on the third floor with the wind conditions the way they were that day, the fire would have been much greater and there would have been a much greater chance for loss of life and high dollar property loss. The sprinkler system definitely saved a lot of monetary damage as well as lives that day.”

Department Store, Retail

Fire sprinklers suppress arson fire at retail store (Fort Pierce, FL)

Fire officials are ruling the cause of a fire that started in the early afternoon at a retail store as arson. The fire started in the paper products aisle, and the fire sprinkler kicked on to keep the fire in control until fire crews arrived. 

“The fire sprinklers did exactly what they were supposed to do. If it wasn’t for the fire sprinklers, there would have been more extensive damage,” Fire District Captain Derek Foxx said.

Residential, Sorority / Fraternity

Arson fire at fraternity controlled by sprinkler system, no injuries reported (Orono, ME)

The fire at the Phi Kappa Sigma house on College Avenue began about 11 p.m. and was quickly extinguished by the house’s sprinkler system, Orono fire Lt. Joel Sides said.  He said that fire damage was contained to the attic and that no one was injured.  UMaine spokeswoman Margaret Nagle said Saturday that she was told that the fire started in a small mattress on the third floor, which includes some student living space and an attic.

Office Building, Other Business, Residential

An intentionally set fire extinguished by sprinkler system (Moultrie, GA)

A sprinkler system that activated early Tuesday morning put out a blaze at a local daily newspaper.  The alarm company had notified the fire department who were quick to the scene to find that the sprinkler system had put out a fire that had ignited on the back dock.  “It did what it was supposed to do,” one of the firemen told Walden, in reference to the sprinkler system.