Tag Archives: California

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Corona, CA – Warehouse fire contained with help from sprinkler system

A fire Friday in a Corona warehouse containing aircraft parts damaged the upper half of the structure, but was prevented from spreading thanks to the work of firefighters and the building’s automatic sprinkler system.

The non-injury blaze erupted about 12:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of Olympic Drive, near Rimpau Avenue, according to the Corona Fire Department.

Deputy Chief Chris Cox said that malfunctioning electrical gear sparked the fire in the attic of the warehouse, which was discovered by night shift workers, who attempted to stop the flames with an extinguisher.

According to Cox, Corona and Riverside fire personnel arrived within a few minutes and found the building’s emergency sprinkler system already in operation, suppressing the flames.

The blaze was knocked down in a half-hour, Cox said, estimating the value of contents saved at $3 million.

Residential, Single Family Home

Redlands, CA – Home office fire contained by residential sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A residential fire sprinkler did its job, activating moments after a fire began and likely saving a home from catastrophic damage and a family from potential injury or loss of life.

Redlands Firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire in the 700 block of Creekside Drive shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday, March 14.

Medic Engine 262 arrived to find all occupants of the home already evacuated and light smoke coming from the residence.

The fire, which began in an office inside the residence, was contained to that room thanks to activation of the fire sprinkler. Firefighters assisted the homeowner in changing the sprinkler head to keep the system active and with salvage operations to limit the water damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage from the incident is estimated at approximately $80,000.

The Redlands Fire Department would like to remind residents to check your smoke alarms regularly, and practice exit drills in the home with your family.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Cherryland, CA – Sprinkler system extinguished fire at assisted living center

One resident of Landmark Villa Senior Residential & Assisted Living center in Cherryland suffered smoke inhalation in a fire early Friday morning. The victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

The Alameda County Fire Department responded to the cooking fire at 4:17 a.m. The building’s sprinkler system doused the flames before firefighters arrived.

Water damage is reported in the room where the fire started and the room below it. The fire started on the third floor.

Cherryland is in unincorporated Hayward.

Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse

Salinas, CA – Fire in storage unit building controlled with help from sprinkler system

Salinas firefighters doused flames at a storage unit building at Bridge and Lake streets early last Friday. The fire was reported around 8:24 a.m. No one was injured in the fire and firefighters had it under control in about half an hour. The building’s automatic sprinkler system was activated before firefighters arrived and helped keep fire under control, Acting Battalion Chief Keith Emery said.

It’s unclear whether the fire originated outside the building or inside, Emery said. The cause remains under investigation. Jose Luis Hernandez is a nearby business owner and he alleged that the fire was started by people camping along the railroad tracks and trying to stay warm. This was the second fire that he said his employees reported in the last two days. Emery said firefighters respond to about two fires near railroad tracks daily.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Palo Alto, CA – Sprinkler system activated in fire at Stanford residential building

Note: On January 19, 2000, a fire in a dormitory at Seton Hall University tragically took the lives of three students and injured many more. The residence hall did not have a sprinkler system.

At around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday night, some residents of Studio 1 at the Escondido Village residential complex were evacuated after a cooking fire contained to one apartment set off a sprinkler. A Studio 1 resident said that she and a group of other residents were not permitted to re-enter their complex for one hour and 20 minutes, and stayed at the nearby Community Graduate Center instead. At approximately 8:20 p.m., the alarms stopped ringing and students and visitors began to re-enter the complex, the resident said. The Palo Alto Fire Department had no additional information to offer as of Monday evening.

Department Store, Retail

Paso Robles, CA – Sprinkler system held fire in check at Lowe’s Home Improvement until fire crews arrived

A fire started inside the Lowe’s Home Improvement in Paso Robles on Saturday night.

According to Paso Fire Battalion Chief  Scott Hallett, a fire started in the rear of the building, in the receiving and storage area of the store around 8:30 p.m.

Multiple resources responded alongside Paso Robles Fire including CAL FIRE and Atascadero Fire Department.

The fire was “held in check” by the sprinkler prior to the arrival of firefighters, Hallet said.

Crews worked about three hours, working on smoke evacuation and water removal. Hallet reported the fire caused minor damage to merchandise and damage to storage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Taking the damage into account, Lowe’s Home Improvement is likely to reopen on Sunday, Hallett said.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Santa Monica, CA – Sprinkler system keeps high rise building fire from spreading

A Santa Monica high rise by the beach caught fire last Monday night before Santa Monica and Los Angeles firefighters put out the blaze, according to the Santa Monia Fire Department (SMFD).

On Monday, February 11, at 7:15 p.m. SMFD Engine 2 responded to the Shores Apartments at 2800 Neilson Way to investigate a fire alarm activation. Upon their arrival firefighters discovered smoke billowing from an apartment balcony on the 10th floor of the 17-story high rise building. Additional resources were immediately requested, bringing in all SMFD resources as well as aid from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, which were kept from spreading to the common hallway of the building thanks to an activated fire sprinkler head, according to the SMFD.

“A challenging component to this high-rise fire incident was keeping the dozens of impacted residents safe and out of harm’s way. Firefighters used a combination of sheltering occupants in place until the fire was brought under control, as well as systematically evacuating those who could be, safely out of the building,” SMFD Captain and Public Information Officer Patrick Nulty said in a press release. “Thanks to a functioning fire alarm and fire sprinkler system, residents were alerted to begin evacuating immediately and the fire was kept from spreading.”

According to the department, it took 33 firefighters approximately 19 minutes to suppress the flames, which were confined to the kitchen and living room area. There was extensive water damage to several units below the fire from the fire sprinkler. No injuries to residents or first responders were reported. The resident of the apartment where the fire occurred was not home at the time of the fire, and was displaced as a result of the damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

South Lake Tahoe, CA – Kitchen fire kept in check by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived

Hunan Garden on Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe is closed after a fire broke out in the kitchen’s grease shoot, spreading to the stove and exhaust vent.

At 11:09 p.m. on January 18, crews from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue arrived at the restaurant and saw flames shooting out of the vents on the roof. Not knowing the extent of the fire they called in Lake Valley Fire and Tahoe Douglas Fire to assist.

The hood system worked and kept the fire in check until the crews could extinguish the fire.

On Saturday morning, the building and health departments were on the scene with Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen to evaluate the damage. The restaurant will be closed until the stove and sprinkler system are back in service, clean-up of the fire aftermath is completed and the building can be re-inspected.

Residential, Single Family Home

Redding, CA – Vehicle fire in garage of home controlled with help from sprinkler system

A sprinkler inside a garage and firefighters quick response helped keep a vehicle fire from spreading beyond the garage Thursday morning. According to the Redding Fire Department, firefighters responded to a vehicle fire that was spreading into the garage of a home located at 2991 Sinaloa Trail off Hartnell Avenue around 4:40 a.m. When firefighters arrived on scene they found a vehicle fully involved in the driveway of the home and the flames were moving to the garage of the home.

A sprinkler inside the garage along with firefighters aggressive firefighting got the fire under control in about 10 minutes and prevented the flames from moving into the living quarters of the home. Officials said the home sustained moderate damage and the cause is still under investigation. Redding Fire officials would like to use this as an example of how effective residential fire sprinklers can be to minimize damage but more importantly, save lives.

Hotel / Motel

Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Sprinkler system activates in hotel fire; Assists firefighters in extinguishing blaze

A number of hotel guests had to be evacuated after a fire broke out at Four Points by Sheraton hotel, Tuesday night. Firefighters responded to the reported fire at the Four Points by Sheraton in the 11900 block of Foothill Boulevard around 9:55 PM. Units arriving on scene found a small fire in a third-floor room and quickly extinguished it. The flames were enough to activate the building’s sprinkler system. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation.