Tag Archives: California

College/University (on campus), School / University

Riverside, CA – Dormitory fire at university campus held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Authorities Saturday continued investigating a dormitory fire at the UC Riverside campus that displaced approximately 20 students.

The fire was reported around 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Glen Mor dormitory located at 400 W. Big Springs Road, where firefighters found smoke coming form a first-floor window of the five-story, apartment-style dormitory.

Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish a kitchen fire that was being held in control by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Crews then attempted salvage operations to limit water damage from the fire sprinkler system.

A total of 147 students were evacuated and 20 were being placed in alternative apartments, officials said.

The UCR fire marshal and the city of Riverside’s Fire Investigation Unit assumed the investigation.

Damage was estimated to be approximately $100,000 with much of the damage caused by the fire suppression system.

No injuries were reported.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Goleta, CA – Fire in commercial building held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

With the help of a fire sprinkler system, firefighters limited the damage from a fire that broke out Saturday in a Goleta commercial building, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

County Fire and the Santa Barbara City Fire Department personnel responded just after 7:30 a.m. to a report of a fire at 120 Cremona Drive, adjacent to Goleta City Hall.

The fire was knocked down at 8:04 a.m., said fire Capt. Mike Gray, and was contained to a single room on the first floor of the building.

The blaze was “held in check by the activation of one fire sprinkler head until fire crews arrived and fully extinguished it,” Gray said.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters remained on scene doing mop-up and overhaul.

Apartment Building, Residential

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A stove fire activated sprinklers at a Wilmington apartment complex Thursday, but the blaze was largely extinguished by the time firefighters arrived.

The fire was reported at 11:05 a.m. at a two-story complex the 200 block of East E Street, according Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz.

Firefighters encountered light smoke on arrival, shut down the sprinklers and ensured the fire had not spread into the walls or ceiling, Lantz said.

No injuries were reported.

Crews were expected to remain on scene for water removal, Lantz said.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at shopping center; No injuries reported

A laundry room caught fire Friday at the Sherman Oaks Galleria but the sprinkler system put it out.

The fire was reported at 2:31 a.m. Friday at the mall at 15301 W. Ventura Blvd. at Sepulveda Boulevard, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart

Arriving firefighters were tasked with ” a significant water removal operation due to the fire sprinklers,” Stewart said.

The laundry room was on the second floor of the mall, she said.

No injuries were reported, Stewart said.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Santa Rosa, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire on 12th floor high-rise unit; No injuries reported

Several residents of a high-rise apartment building in Santa Rosa were displaced on New Year’s Eve after a fire broke out in one of the units, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department.

Just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, firefighters responded to a fire at the Bethlehem Tower apartment building at 801 Tupper St.

Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from one unit on the 12th floor, prompting calls for more backup. A fire sprinkler had activated and helped contain the spread of the fire.

Ten fire engines and two fire trucks were on the scene. Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze using hose lines.

Residents from the 12th floor to the lower floors were evacuated and evaluated for medical complaints. No one was injured.

Several apartment units were impacted by water damage. The American Red Cross came to the scene to help displaced residents find temporary housing.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

San Marino, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire on fourth floor of apartment building

On Thursday, Dec. 4, the San Marino Fire Department’s Battalion 9 assisted the Pasadena Fire Department on a mid-rise apartment house fire on the fourth floor. The fire was isolated to the primary apartment unit, and due to the activation of the building’s fire sprinkler system, damage was kept to a minimum. BC9 provided Command Support throughout the incident.

 

Residential, Single Family Home

San Rafael, CA – Sprinkler system extinguishes residential fire caused by discarded smoking materials

A home in San Rafael narrowly escaped a potential blaze thanks to an installed fire sprinkler system that promptly doused the flames. According to a report by the San Rafael Fire Department, a residential fire sprinkler system was pivotal in stopping a garage fire at 224 Baypoint Drive yesterday. The fire, which ignited due to improperly discarded smoking materials, was swiftly extinguished by the sprinkler system before it could cause substantial damage or escalate to a life-threatening scenario.

Dispatched at 1:17 PM, firefighters arrived to find smoke emanating from the residence’s garage and discovered the source to be multiple trash bags that had caught fire. Fortunately, the activated sprinkler kept the fire within the garage, allowing the firefighters to address the situation before it became a more dangerous and destructive incident. One individual sustained minor injuries during the ordeal, was treated on the scene by firefighter-paramedics, and did not require transportation to a medical facility, demonstrating an instance where preventive measures made a significant difference.

Crews used ventilation fans to clear the light smoke that pervaded the home, ensuring that the occupants could re-enter their residence comfortably and safely. The fire department’s swift action also included shutting off the sprinkler system, removing burned debris, replacing the sprinkler head, and the fully restoring the system.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Campbell, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at commercial garage

On Monday, Oct. 6, at 7:02am, Santa Clara County 9-1-1 Communications received a citizen report of smoke coming from the bottom of a commercial roll-up garage door at a building on the 1330 block of Dell Avenue in Campbell.

Firefighters along with the Campbell Police Department arrived quickly and confirmed all occupants were out of the building and made entry into a classic vehicle repair garage. Crews worked to locate the fire with zero visibility because of smoke conditions and extinguished the fire while keeping it to the unit of origin.

The fire was deemed under control by 7:40am. The cause is under investigation.

A SCCFD spokesperson said successful activation of the building sprinkler system prevented further damage to neighboring businesses.

The spokesperson added that fire suppression systems are a critical safety element in commercial buildings, allowing firefighters to work safely and efficiently while helping minimize the spread of the fire.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Los Angeles, CA – Sprinkler system keeps e-bike fire in check at downtown high-rise building

A woman was injured on Sunday when she jumped from the third floor of a downtown Los Angeles high-rise to get away from an e-bike fire, authorities said. 

Los Angeles Fire Department crews were sent to the Rosslyn Lofts, located in the 400 block of S. Main Street, shortly after 9:45 a.m. upon learning of the blaze, said a news release from department officials.

Firefighters were able to quickly control the flames, which were extinguished in about 20 minutes. They said that the building’s sprinkler system was able to keep them largely in check until they were contained by first-arriving crews.

“A 68-year-old female resident … reportedly jumped from a third-floor fire escape prior to LAFD arrival, sustaining a severe leg injury and minor facial trauma,” the release said. She was taken to a nearby hospital in fair condition and is expected to be okay, firefighters said.

No other injuries were reported.

“The cause of the fire was deemed to be electrical in nature,” the release said.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Claremont, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at college residence hall; No injuries reported

A small fire broke out in a second floor residence hall room in Marks Hall at Claremont McKenna College this morning. No one was injured. 

The sprinkler system was activated in response to the fire, which began just before 8:00 a.m., and the Los Angeles Fire Department quickly made it to the scene. The fire department is still determining the fire’s cause, according to an email from Associate Vice President Alex Boekelheide to the CMC community.

There was some water and smoke damage to five residence hall rooms.

“The Dean of Students Office has set up a staging area in McKenna Auditorium for the residents until the building is cleared later this morning,” the email read. “We will work with the impacted residents to relocate them, inventory and replace any damaged belongings, and to support students emotionally throughout the situation and beyond.”

CMC has not provided TSL with any further information on the fire, or whether the building is now clear.