Tag Archives: British Columbia

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Townhouse cooking fire put out by home fire sprinkler system

Chilliwack fire officials are reminding residents of the value of home fire suppression units after a townhouse fire was quickly doused by sprinklers.  The fire broke out on a stove top Thursday afternoon in the 5600 block of Sappers Way in Garrison Crossing.  By the time firefighters arrived, the unit’s home sprinkler system had already extinguished the blaze.

“Early control and suppression of the fire by the sprinkler system significantly limited damage to a small area around the stove and kitchen cabinets,” said Assistant Fire Chief Chris Wilson.

“Without a working sprinkler system in place, this fire had the potential to cause extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the home and adjacent units in the townhouse complex.”

Wilson said the Chilliwack Fire Department strongly promotes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in homes. “The presence of an automatic fire sprinkler system in conjunction with a working smoke alarm greatly reduces the risk of being injured or dying in a fire.”

No one was injured in the fire, and the cause was accidental.

“The Chilliwack Fire Department reminds residents to ensure they are aware of the cooking hazards and not be distracted or leave the kitchen when they are cooking.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Nanaimo, BC, Canada – Arson fire at apartment building knocked down by sprinkler system

A suspicious fire in a Nanaimo apartment building forced about 50 tenants to evacuate on Tuesday (Aug. 8). Firefighters responded to the alarm at Parkside Manor apartments at 645 Townsite Rd. at about 3:30 p.m. Emergency personnel at the scene said the fire started in a storage room on the first floor of the building and was knocked down by the structure’s automatic sprinkler system. Firefighters ensured the fire was fully extinguished and used a large fan to force fresh air through the building.

Alan Millbank, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer, confirmed Wednesday the fire was suspicious and the investigation had been turned over to Nanaimo RCMP. “Somebody deliberately set it alight,” Millbank said.

Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said police were called in shortly after firefighters arrived on scene. “[Firefighters] found a wad of paper balled up in one of the storage lockers and it had been set on fire,” O’Brien said. “The fire extended up some wooden pallets to the ceiling at which point the sprinklers activated and put the fire out.”

No one was injured, but residents had to remain evacuated from the building for more than an hour while smoke fully cleared from the structure. Nanaimo RCMP are continuing to investigate the fire.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Kamloops, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system knocks down arson fire at hotel

An evacuee from Williams Lake has been charged with arson and mischief after an incident at a Kamloops hotel.

In a news release, RCMP Corporal Jodi Shelkie says police were called to a disturbance at a hotel on Columbia Street July 28th.

Police said a man was found throwing things around inside a room in the hotel.

The man had broken a window, overturned a fridge and set some items on fire.The sprinkler system put out the flames, but the water caused significant damage inside the room and the adjacent hallway.

Shane Dalton Dennis has been charged with one count of arson and two counts of mischief.

Dennis was previously known to police and was staying at the hotel as an evacuee from Williams Lake.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Vancouver, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system controls hotel fire until crews arrive; No injuries reported

Six people have been displaced after a fire at the Rainier Hotel in downtown Vancouver. The single-room occupancy (SRO) unit on Carrall Street was evacuated around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, after some materials caught fire in a room on the third floor.  The occupant of the room managed to escape without injury before fire crews arrived on scene.  “There’s a fair bit of fire damage to that one room,” said Battalion Chief Terry Nikolai, with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services.

Some other rooms also sustained water damage from the sprinkler system and firefighting efforts. “Thankfully the sprinkler activated and contained the fire, until our crews managed to get in there with a line and extinguish it,” said Nikolai.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Victoria, BC, Canada – Fire at cardboard recycling plant contained by sprinkler system

Victoria Fire Department crews kept a fire at a plant filled with cardboard to be recycled from spreading Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters responded to a structure fire call at Cascades Recovery in the 2800 block of Bridge St., next to the City of Victoria public works yard, just before 1 p.m. and found the fire in a conveyor belt system. The building’s sprinkler system had deployed and was keeping the blaze from spreading, said Mark Robertson, VFD Battalion Chief. Crews made their way in, found the seat of the fire and extinguished it quickly with two-inch hoses, he added.  All occupants of the building were out and safe when fire crews arrived, Robertson said.  With the cause of the fire still under investigation, Robertson was reluctant to say whether it appeared to be mechanical failure or something else.

“You never know what you’re dealing with when you’re at a recycling plant, you don’t know what is coming and going in those cardboard boxes,” he said. In all, 18 crew on three engine trucks, a rescue truck, a ladder truck and a battalion vehicle responded to the call. Oak Bay and Saanich were on standby in case the fire grew larger. No damage estimate was immediately available.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Delta, BC, Canada – Fire in gymnasium storage area at elementary school contained with help from sprinklers

An investigation is ongoing into what could have sparked an early Saturday morning fire at Delta Manor Education Centre in Ladner. Delta fire responded to the scene just before 3 a.m. Deputy chief Guy McKintuck said the fire was contained to a storage area behind the gymnasium. He said firefighters had the small blaze knocked down pretty quickly, which was also aided by an overhead sprinkler. There is water, smoke and fire damage, but no estimate on the costs for the restoration, he said. The former elementary school serves as a church and also offers adult basic education and ESL classes.

Other - Retail, Retail

Langford, BC, Canada – Early morning fire at paint store controlled by sprinkler system

A Langford paint store has its sprinkler system to thank for putting a stop to what could have been a devastating blaze. Flames broke out at Cloverdale Paint on Langford Parkway at around 4 a.m. Monday morning, according to Langford Fire Rescue.

“When we arrived there was heavy smoke showing from the building,” said Asst. Fire Chief Chris Aubrey. “The sprinkler system had just activated and was containing the fire, but we did have to force the front door and make entry, and put the fire out.”

It’s believed the blaze caused the store’s motion sensors to go off, activating the alarm. “Should there not have been a sprinkler system it would’ve been a very significant fire,” said Aubrey.  The cause is not yet known but the fire isn’t considered suspicious, investigators said.  Damage to the building is estimated to be approximately $75,000 and the store will remain closed for an unknown amount of time.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Industrial machinery fire contained with help from sprinkler system

A two-alarm structure fire broke out in a Chilliwack industrial park last Friday morning. Chilliwack Fire Department crews from several fire halls were called out to Frontline Machinery Ltd at 43779 Progress Way.  Fire crews were on-scene at about 10:40 a.m. and heavy smoke could be seen venting from a window of the large industrial building.  Once firefighters gained access to the building, they were able to confirm that the sprinkler system had doused the fire.

Welding sparks that ignitied some diesel were believed to be the cause of the fire, according to a worker at the scene, and this was later confirmed by fire department officials.  “The fire is accidental and was started from repair work being done on a piece of heavy machinery,” said Assistant Chief Mike Bourdon.

A welding spark ignited some diesel fuel that had been in a storage container in the warehouse area. “Fire damage was sustained to the piece of machinery with minor smoke and water damage thorough out the unit,” Bourdon added.  They’re taking the opportunity to urge caution with this type of work.

“Chilliwack Fire Department recommends any operations involving open flames or producing heat and or sparks including cutting; welding, brazing, grinding, soldering, etc. should take proper precautions and controls prior to, during, and subsequent to all hot-work operations.”  There were no firefighter injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

Victoria, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire as RCMP officers help residents evacuate

French fries are being blamed for an apartment fire on Peatt Road that sent four RCMP officers to hospital due to smoke inhalation.

A member of the West Shore RCMP was on patrol at 11:00 p.m. on Mar. 8 when he was flagged down by a pedestrian and advised of a fire at 2791 Peatt Rd. in Langford.

Police helped evacuate the smoke-filled building and the four injured officers were released from hospital after being administered oxygen.

Langford Fire responded with members from all three halls, including approximately 17 firefighters in total.

The fire, which originated in a third-floor suite, was contained by the building’s sprinkler system.

“They cause some water damage but in this case the fire would have been fairly significant if the sprinklers hadn’t contained the fire…some wet floors is a small price to pay,” said Assistant Chief Chris Aubrey, adding that only sprinklers in the vicinity of the fire went off, as is standard with modern systems.

Evacuated residents waited in a bus provided by BC Transit and were allowed back into their apartments approximately two hours later.

Only the occupants of the unit where the fire began and the unit directly below weren’t able to return to their suites that night.

The investigation into the cause of the fire revealed that it was accidental and  resulted from some oil catching fire while a resident was cooking french fries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Armstrong, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system douses fire; Assist firefighters in controlling fire in commercial building

There was very little sleep for Armstrong-Spallumcheen firefighters. The volunteer firefighters were first called to a blaze in downtown Armstrong Wednesday night and then to a fire at a Spallumcheen farm early Thursday morning.  “Our crew did a terrific job,” said Ian Cummings, fire chief.  The first call came in at 10:21 p.m. Wednesday at the Rose Valley Square on Pleasant Valley Road in Armstrong.  “The sprinkler was activated and there was smoke in the building,” said Cummings.   It’s believed spontaneous combustion caught some oily rags on fire, but the sprinkler was able to douse the flames.