Tag Archives: California

Other - Retail, Retail

Sacramento, CA – Sprinklers activated for electrical fire at cigar and liquor store; No injuries reported

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Firefighters were busy in Downtown Sacramento Tuesday night with back-to-back fires.

Approximately 10 people were inside Rodney’s Cigar and Liquor Store at 10th and J streets when smoke filled the store. Investigators believe an electrical fire sparked in the back room.

Crews quickly contained the flames and no injuries were reported.

“The sprinklers went off first, then the alarm went off. I got everybody out of the store as fast as I could,” store clerk Bob said.

Bob says the store has been around since 1923.

Crews worked Tuesday night to repair the sprinkler head system and get it restored.

Earlier, firefighters responded to an apartment complex on C Street after reports of a stovetop fire. 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Riverside, CA – Sprinkler system controls restaurant fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters Sunday made quick work of a kitchen fire at a restaurant attached to a high-rise building in Riverside.

The blaze was reported at about 8:10 a.m. in the 3700 block of Main Street at a restaurant on the ground floor of the California Tower, according to the Riverside City Fire Department.

The fire sprinkler system was able to control the flames until firefighters arrived and doused the remaining fire, Battalion Chief Mike Allen said.

No injuries were reported.

Residential, Single Family Home

Napa, CA – Residential fire sprinklers stop kitchen fire after family dog accidentially turned on stove burner; No injuries reported

When Napa Fire responded to a report of white smoke coming from a residence in central Napa Thursday morning, firefighters were greeted with two surprising sights.

First: An automatic sprinkler had already put out the kitchen fire.

Second: The fire had most likely started when one of the family’s German shepherds “counter-surfed,” accidentally turning on a stove burner underneath a bag of groceries, Capt. Steve Becker said.

This wasn’t an unprecedented cause, Becker said. “Dogs counter-surfing have caused more than one fire,” he said.

The fire, reported at 8:40 a.m., was located in a residence on the D Street Alley.

Because the home was equipped with automatic sprinklers, the kitchen sustained minor damage, Becker said. No one was injured, he said.

Residential, Single Family Home

Castro Valley, CA – Fire that started in chimney stopped from spreading thanks to attic fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Fire crews quickly knocked down a one-alarm blaze that started in a chimney and spread to a home’s attic Saturday afternoon in Castro Valley, fire officials said.

The fire was reported about 1:20 p.m. at a home in the 25000 block of Palomares Road, according to the Alameda County Fire Department.

Sprinklers in the home’s attic assisted fire crews, who kept the blaze from spreading to the rest of the house, a fire department spokeswoman said.

No one was injured and the residents were not displaced.

Other - Retail, Retail

Oxnard, CA – Fire at auto parts business helps stop fire; No injuries reported

The sprinkler system at an auto parts business was credited with assisting firefighters in saving a commercial structure in Oxnard on Monday morning.  

The Oxnard Fire Department responded to a sprinkler activation in the 200 block of south Oxnard Boulevard on Monday at 5:56 a.m.

Upon arrival, fire personnel observed smoke leaving a single-story commercial structure. The first engine company entered the building, found the fire and was able to extinguish the it within 15 minutes.

Although Oxnard battalion chief Steve Reyes added that the business’ sprinkler system played a big role in saving the business.

“I would say the sprinkler system assisted in keeping the fire in check,” said Reyes.

No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available, although two businesses sustained “major” water, smoke and fire damage, according to Reyes.

The fire remains under investigation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fresno, CA – Sprinkler system kept fire in check at grocery store

A small fire broke out at a grocery store in central Fresno on Friday morning.

Firefighters say pieces of cardboard caught fire near the back of the Grocery Outlet on Blackstone and Effie. The flames then spread to inside the store.

A sprinkler-system inside the store kept the fire from growing. Fire crews were able to put the flames out quickly.

Damage to the store was minimal; the fire mostly burned cardboard in a storage section.

Firefighters are working to repair some of the water damage left behind by the sprinklers.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

School / University

Oxnard, CA – Fire sprinklers keep fire from spreading in school district storage building

Early Saturday morning, Oxnard City Fire extinguished a fire that flared up inside a storage building belonging to the Oxnard School District.

Firefighters responded to a two-story building on the 1000 block of South A Street around 4:25 a.m. The building was found to be used for storage and the archiving of school property.

Upon arriving, firefighters forced the first-floor door open and found the area to be filled with smoke. They used heat imaging cameras to locate the sources of the fire and extinguish them. Fortunately, City Fire reported, the building’s sprinkler system had activated which helped keep the fire from spreading through the rest of the building.

Once the fire was out around 4:51 a.m., crews determined that only supplies had burned rather than the building itself.

Investigators discovered that a window had been broken out on the first floor and one person was seen leaving the area around the time of the fire.

While it is unclear if this is an arsonist situation, police are looking for the subject for questioning on how the fire may have started.

Crews will continue working on water and smoke damage inside the building until it is fully functional.Ventura County

Department Store, Retail

Fairfield, CA – Arson fire at JC Penney store controlled thanks to fire sprinkler system

A suspect was detained Monday night in connection with an arson fire that did an estimated $100,000 in damage at the J.C. Penney store at the Solano Town Center in Fairfield.

The Fairfield Fire Department responded shortly before midnight and found multiple fires inside the store.

Crews were able to quickly stem the fire with the help of the store’s automatic sprinkler system, officials said, but there was “major smoke, water and heat damage” to the inventory.

Firefighters determined that the cause was arson based on evidence in the store.

Fairfield police worked with store personnel and learned of a possible suspect. Rafael Munguia, 54, of Fairfield was arrested Tuesday and booked into Solano County Jail for arson.

Residential, Single Family Home

American Canyon, CA – Residential fire sprinkler system instrumental in containing fire so residents could get out

Eight people escaped from a house fire Wednesday night, aided by a fire sprinkler system that helped with early suppression, the American Canyon Fire Protection District reported.

Firefighters responded at 2:05 a.m. to a reported structure fire in the 800 block of Spring Mountain Lane. Engine 11 and Engine 311 arrived to heavy black smoke coming from the residence and reports of a trapped resident, the district said in a news release.

After a complete search by firefighters and assisting agencies, all residents were accounted for.

Mutual aid was provided by Vallejo Fire Department, Napa County Fire Department and Napa City Fire Department.

Eight victims were transported to area hospitals for minor smoke inhalation, the district said.

A residential fire sprinkler system was instrumental in providing early suppression and egress for the residents, the district said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Parking Garage

Visalia, CA – Parking garage dumpster fire controlled thanks to fire sprinklers, ruled arson

A Visalia man with a history of lighting fire was arrested in connection with a downtown Visalia Dumpster fire. 

Around 12:55 p.m. Thursday, Visalia firefighters responded to a fire behind 227 E. Main St, near the Main Street Theatre. The Dumpster was in an enclosure that is part of the east Acequia parking structure, which is equipped with a sprinkler system.

Smoke activated the sprinklers which kept the fire from spreading. The fire caused only minor damage, according to Sgt. Russ Gauger.

On Friday, officers were called to the corner of Main and Court streets by a downtown security guard. The security guard told police he saw a man he’d seen near the Dumpster just moments before Thursday’s fire.  

Officers found and spoke with Charles Spurlock, 40. After some follow up investigation, Spurlock was identified as the suspected arsonist, Gauger said.

Spurlock was arrested in August 2016 in connection to a string of Visalia fires set just hours apart. During the incident, Spurlock tried to outrun officers but was eventually arrested after a perimeter was set up in the backyard of house near Savannah Street and Judy Street.

In 2017, he was held to answer on numerous felony charges related to the case. 

Spurlock was arrested on suspicion of arson, possession of a controlled substance and a parole violation. He was booked into Tulare County Pretrial Facility. His bail is set at $50,000.