Tag Archives: arson

Apartment Building, Residential

Greeley, CO – Arson fire at apartment 70-unit complex extinguished by sprinkler system

A woman is in jail after police say she set fire Tuesday evening to an apartment after an argument with her husband. Mindilynn Zekan, 39, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson after a fire at the Meeker Commons Apartments, 505 9th Ave., according to a news release from the Greeley Police Department. An engine, ladder truck and battalion chief responded to the fire about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.

By the time crews arrived, no one was inside the apartment and the sprinkler system had extinguished the fire, according to a Greeley Fire Department release. After shutting down the water flow to the activated sprinkler, crews ventilated the apartment to remove smoke and residents were allowed back into the building that night. The complex has more than 70 apartments and more than 100 residents.

Zekan was present at the scene and interviewed about the incident. Greeley Police say Zekan was upset about an argument with her husband and began setting his property on fire. Zekan was taken to the Weld County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson. She remained in custody Wednesday morning pending an appearance in court. The dollar amount of fire and water damage has not been established.

Hotel / Motel, Residential

Binghamton, NY – Early morning arson fire at boarding house extinguished by sprinkler system

The Binghamton Police Department says a man has been charged with intentionally setting a fire on Henry Street. Police say the fire at 106 Henry Street, the “DIXIE 2000” rooming house, was reported at 6:16 a.m. Monday. According to detectives, an investigation found that the first-floor office was broken into before being doused with a liquid accelerant and ignited, which caused an explosion and significant damage. Officials say the fire was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system and all residents got out safely. Police say the suspect, who had left before officers arrived, was later identified as 59-year-old Jerry Hopkins of neighboring 104 Henry Street.

He was charged with second-degree arson, a class B felony. The incident was investigated by the Binghamton Police Patrol and Detective Divisions as well as the Fire Marshal’s Office. State Fire K-9 also assisted at the scene. Anyone with additional information is asked to call detectives at (607) 772-7080.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — Police and fire officials were called to a fire on Henry Street in Binghamton Monday morning.

According to Binghamton Fire Marshal Alan Gardiner, the sprinkler system inside 106 Henry Street put out the fire.

Gardiner said investigators haven’t determined a cause for the fire, but he called it suspicious.

Members of the Binghamton Fire Department, Binghamton Police Department and New York State fire officials responded to the scene.

Residential, Single Family Home

Henderson, NV – Fire set by barricaded person extinguished by home fire sprinkler system

A person with a weapon was barricaded inside a home Thursday night, according to Henderson Police. Henderson police say the suspect was taken into custody without incident at about 8:45 p.m. and that no injuries were reported at the scene. According to officers, Henderson police got a call at approximately 5:35 p.m. about a fire alarm on the 3000 block of Paladi Ave. near Bicentennial and Anthem parkways.

While the house was initially on fire, an in-house sprinkler system extinguished the fire by the time police arrived, police said. When officers arrived, police began treating the incident as a domestic disturbance. Police said an individual then barricaded themselves in a home with a weapon. SWAT was at the scene

Other / Not Specified

San Mateo, CA – Sprinkler system helps keep arson fire from spreading inside building

San Mateo police are asking for help identifying two people seen in an alley where burning garbage cans threatened a building early Thursday morning. Police and firefighters were sent at 3:23 a.m. to the first block of Second Avenue, near South El Camino Real, and determined that a group of garbage cans were burning next to a building. Officer Michael Haobsh said the building sustained damage when the fire melted a window a bit and set off the building’s sprinkler system. The fires were deemed suspicious and an arson investigation was begun. Police said some businesses are providing surveillance video of the area and anyone else who has video they can provide is asked to get in touch with police right away.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lyons, NY – Sprinkler system activated for mattress fire in apartment building

A New York woman was arrested Sunday after she tried to kill a bed bug and set off her apartment building’s sprinkler system.

Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies said Jacquline Lynch, 39, was in her apartment Sunday morning when she tried to kill a bed bug using a lighter. Lynch allegedly put a lighter on a mattress to kill a bug after her uncle had sprayed areas of the apartment with alcohol.

The mattress caught fire, setting off the sprinkler system and damaging the inside of her apartment, as well as several others in the building.

Lynch was arrested and charged with fourth-degree arson. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Department Store, Retail

Lumberton, NC – Suspicious fire at department store contained by sprinkler system; Fire crews finish extinguishing blaze

Police in Lumberton are investigating a fire at a department store they say has been deemed suspicious. The fire broke out at the Rose’s department store on East 24th Street around 9:55 a.m. Monday. Lumberton police and Lumberton fire were called the scene. The sprinkler system activated one head, and the fire department was able to extinguish the remaining fire.

Lumberton police Capt. Terry Parker says the fire is being investigated as suspicious. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Charles Keenum at 910-671-3845.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Residential

Kamloops, BC, Canada – Arson fire in newly built supportive housing building extinguished by sprinkler system

Police have arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly setting fire to a room at the newly built Mission Flats Manor on Tuesday night. Kamloops Mounties and firefighters responded to the supportive housing building at 805 Mission Flats Rd. at approximately 10 p.m. RCMP Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said the fire appeared to have been purposely set in one of the rooms of the building and officers arrested a male suspect at the scene.

“Surveillance video shows a male in the area of the fire just minutes before the fire alarm was activated,” Shelkie said. Kamloops Fire Rescue Insp. Kevin Cassidy said the fire began in the washroom of unit 221, on the second floor, where a running propane-powered blow torch was left running up against a wicker laundry basket. He said a sprinkler in the room extinguished the fire, which is considered arson.

No one was injured or displaced by the fire, to which 14 firefighters responded. “Everyone was back in right away,” said Cassidy. The fire was contained to the laundry basket, Cassidy said, noting firefighters checked to ensure there was no extension of flames before clearing the scene.

Shelkie said police are not disclosing whether the suspect is a resident of Mission Flats Manor. The RCMP has sent all investigative information has been sent to the Crown to determine if arson charges will move forward.

Retail

Chattanooga, TN – Arson fire at Walgreens store controlled with help from sprinkler system

A Florida man has been arrested after setting fire to the bathroom at the Walgreens on Gunbarrel Road. Jeremy Wilson, 38, of Orlando was charged with aggravated assault in the incident on Christmas Day. The manager said the sprinkler went off in the bathroom. He then found that the door was locked from the inside. After the fire department responded, they were able to get inside though Wilson was holding against the door. He said he had set a fire because people were after him and he said he would be rescued by personnel responding to the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Montreal, QC, Canada – Arson fire at pizzeria extinguished by sprinkler system

When eating out at a pizzeria in Montreal you can typically expect certain things to happen. First, you get your giant pizza pie and sit down at a diner-like table. Then, you can totally expect to get some of the sauce on at least one article of clothing.

Third, a Molotov cocktail hurls through the window and sets the restaurant on fire.

That last point may seem bizarre, but it’s exactly what’s been happening in pizza shops in the city. 

Around 3:30AM this morning one of the bombs was thrownthrough a window at California Pizza, in the Côte des Neiges neighbourhood. Firefighters arrived to find the flames dying out, thanks to the sprinkler system in the restaurant.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, unfortunately. In fact, over the past two weeks three known fires have been started by an arsonist in the city, according to CTV. They remain on the loose, so who knows what pizza shop they’ll be targeting next.

Thankfully, however, no one has been injured.

Not-so-surprisingly, Montreal actually has a bit of a problem with people setting things on fire. Just so you get an idea of how bad it is, below is a visual aid of firebombings in the city since 2009.

So, needless to say, we have a lot of arsonists running around the city. Montreal’s arson squad will be meeting with California Pizza today to examine security footage and attempt to identify who keeps setting pizzerias on fire.

So far, there’s no apparent motive.

Until the perpetrators are caught, you might want to stick with ordering delivery.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Victoria, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Camosun College

A 30-year-old Victoria man was arrested and could face charges after he was believed to have sparked fires at Camosun’s Interurban Campus and at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence early Sunday morning.

The incident has caused Camosun to close their PISE, Centre for Business/Access and Trades Centre buildings on their Interurban campus for assessment. Any classes Monday in those buildings are canceled for the day.

All other buildings on the campus are open.

The University of Victoria is allowing any paid PISE members to use their CARSA facilities on Monday and Tuesday, your current membership card is all that is required.

The Saanich Fire Department says they responded to the PISE building following a general alarms activation at 2:20 a.m., when they arrived they discovered a broken glass door and two small fires set. They were able to extinguish both quickly with help of the sprinkler system.

Around 15 minutes later an intruder and fire alarm were both tripped in the nearby Camosun College Interurban Campus at the Centre for Business and Access building. Saanich police were called to the scene and searched the building before allowing Saanich fire to extinguish the single small fire.

Officials say the man was apprehended after a K9 unit was called in.

Police are recommending serval charges of break and enter, arson, mischief and theft. The man is still in custody.

All of the fires are under investigation. One of the fires in PISE was set in the foyer at a bulletin board and was about one square-metre, the other was in the weight room and was three square-metres.

The fire in the CBA building was around one square-metre and was  from bulletin and poster boards set on fire.

As a result there was water damage for PISE in the specific areas and minimal damage to the CBA.

“Our major concern is health and safety of student and staff,” said Joan Yates, Camosun’s vice president of student services.

“We are continuing to ascertain the impact on buildings and air filtration… we are glad no one was hurt [but] it’s getting near the end fo term, not great timing but safety first.”

Most classes on the campus end next week.

The Saanich fire department says they were able to contain the fires quickly

“You never know what your going to get at a large building,” said Saanich Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood.

“We often go to these buildings for false alarms… although our crews are trained to be ready for anything.”

As the sprinklers activated in the specific areas the alarms were activate, widespread water damage to the buildings did not occur.