Tag Archives: arson

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Arson fire in college residence hall controlled by sprinklers (Pueblo, CO)

A Colorado State University-Pueblo student was arrested late Sunday on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting fire to a residence hall on campus. At about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday police were dispatched to Culebra Hall on the CSU-Pueblo campus. When officers arrived they discovered an alarm was activated and sprinklers were going off inside the residence hall.

According to the affidavit, Cunningham said the man created a fireball by lighting a can of body spray and fuel he had on hand.  The fire eventually spread to a futon in the room and the fire activated the sprinkler system.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Arson fire at treatment center extinguished by sprinklers (Sheshatshiu, NL)

Four youths have been charged with arson in connection with a fire Wednesday night that started in a bedroom at the Charles J. Andrew Treatment Centre in Sheshatshiu. The Sheshatshiu Fire Department and the North West River Fire Department responded but the sprinkler system in the building had already extinguished the small fire.

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.