Tag Archives: California

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Riverside, CA – Fighter jet crashes into warehouse causing fire, fire sprinklers control fire

An F-16 fighter jet crashed Thursday into a warehouse just outside March Air Reserve Base in California, sending a dozen people to hospitals for evaluation after they were exposed to debris, authorities said.

The pilot ejected and parachuted to safety, said Maj. Perry Covington, the base’s director of public affairs. The cause of the crash was under investigation.

Interstate 215, which runs between the base and the warehouse, was closed in both directions, backing up rush-hour traffic for miles.

Television news showed a large hole in the roof and sprinklers on inside the building about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.

Cellphone photos and video from inside showed what appeared to be the tail of the plane buried in twisted metal and piles of cardboard boxes.

Daniel Gallegos, a warehouse worker, said he’s used to hearing the sound of planes coming and going, but the noise just before the crash was deafening.

“Next thing I know I just hear this explosion and turn around to the back of the building, and I just seen a burst of flames and just the ceiling started falling through every part of the building,” he told KABC-TV . “I turned around, and my co-worker just told me to get out, so I just made a run for it.”

A dozen people were hosed down and taken to hospitals, and there were no major injuries, state fire Capt. Fernando Herrera said.

The crash also caused a small fire doused by the warehouse sprinkler system, Herrera said.

The crash happened as the pilot was landing following a routine training mission, March Air Reserve Base Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Holliday said.

“The pilot was having hydraulic problems,” Holliday said. “He started losing control of the aircraft.”

The jet’s cockpit canopy was on a runway, and a parachute had settled in a nearby field.

Damage to the warehouse was relatively minor, and there was no major fire, which Holliday called “a miracle.”

The pilot, the only person on board, was taken to a hospital for examination, officials said.

The F-16, assigned to the Air National Guard, was carrying standard armaments, Holliday said. It will be recovered once authorities make sure the weapons don’t pose a risk, he said.

The base is home to the Air Force Reserve Command’s Fourth Air Force Headquarters and various units of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, California Air National Guard and California Army National Guard.

The pilot is from the 144th Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard unit based in Fresno, and the F-16 belongs to the South Dakota Air National Guard in Sioux Falls.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Tracy, CA – Automatic sprinkler system contains fire originating in storage area for collapsed cardboard boxes

Two police officers caught a fire that was just beginning behind a Tracy Boulevard grocery store in time for firefighters to arrive and keep the flames from spreading inside.

The officers with the Tracy Police Department were looking for a group of young men who were reportedly trying to break into cars at a nearby business when they spotted smoke behind La Plaza Market at 3225 N. Tracy Blvd. They drove behind the shopping center, spotted flames coming from a storage area at the back of the store and called in the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority.

According to Battalion Chief Scott Arganbright, four Tracy fire engines and a ladder truck were employed to control and extinguish the fire. He said an automatic sprinkler system on the loading dock of the grocery store activated and helped contain the flames.

The fire began in an area where collapsed cardboard boxes were stored. Arganbright said firefighters in the store and on the roof confirmed that no flames made it inside. The store did have light smoke damage and fire crews had the power to the complex shut off while they were working to prevent water from creating a short or electrocuting someone.

Investigators are looking into whether the fire was intentionally set.

Apartment Building, Residential

Santa Rosa, CA – Electrical fire in sixth floor apartment doused by sprinkler system

Fire broke out early Wednesday in a top‑floor apartment of downtown Santa Rosa’s historic Rosenberg Building, trapping a female resident who was rescued by firefighters, displacing five and forcing the evacuation of the large building, according to Santa Rosa fire officials.

The woman, believed to be 35 years, was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.

The fire’s origin was traced to an electrical issue from a power strip extension cord — including one plug used for a pet lizard’s heat lamp, said Battalion Chief Matt Dahl.

Several people reported the fire just before 12:50 a.m., warning firefighters that one person appeared trapped. A Santa Rosa fire engine already was out on a call and the crew arrived within one minute, finding several residents spilling out into the street and sidewalk, some with wheelchairs and walkers.

The large Mendocino Avenue building, built in 1921 just off Old Courthouse Square, now is home to 77 subsidized low-rent apartments. There was no sign of fire from outside but firefighters found smoke on the sixth floor and a fire in an apartment there. The flames mostly had been doused by the apartment’s sprinkler system but the residence was smoky, hindering the woman’s ability to get out, Dahl said. Firefighters helped her down to an ambulance and evacuated others on the fifth and sixth floors.

The flames hadn’t spread to other apartments but there was water damage from sprinklers to four apartments and Dahl estimated the overall loss at $100,000.

The Red Cross and building property manager arranged temporary accommodations for residents of the five damaged apartments, Dahl said.

Three dozen Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Fire firefighters responded with seven engines and two ladder trucks — a show of force due to the size of the building and the need for evacuations. The effort wrapped up about 3 a.m.

The Rosenberg Building originally was the tallest structure north of San Francisco and has been a downtown Santa Rosa landmark for almost 100 years. About 30 years ago it was converted to apartments and sprinklers were added.

Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshal Ian Hardage said the sprinklers likely saved the building from a much larger fire and may have saved lives. It saved at least one, Hardage said — the lizard.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707‑521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

Office Building, Other Business

Newark, CA – Sprinkler system holds fire at local business in check; No injuries reported

NEWARK, CA — A 2-alarm fire at a Newark business was contained to a test room within 30 minutes of Alameda County firefighters arriving at the scene Thursday morning, according to fire department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles.

The fire broke out at NTS Newark Test Lab, located at 38995 Cherry Street. “A large lead-acid battery caught fire and was held in check by the sprinkler system. The battery is approximately 3’x2’x2′,” Knowles told Patch. “The business had some residual smoke through the adjacent office space, but minimal damage overall in the test room.”

No injuries were reported.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Los Angeles, CA – Fire at high school extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire at San Pedro High School damaged a single classroom on Tuesday morning but was out by the time firefighters arrived at the campus.

Firefighters, shortly before 8 a.m., responded to reports of smoke and fire on the campus at 1001 W. 15th Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

They arrived to find that a sprinkler system had extinguished the fire.

Firefighters helped clean up.

There were no reported injuries, or ongoing hazards, to students or staff, fire officials said. The cause of the fire and the amount of damage it caused were under investigation.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Studio City, CA – Fire that started after woman crashed car into dealership is contained with help from sprinkler system

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A woman in her 20s was taken into custody after crashing her car into the glass window of the Century West BMW dealership around 2:00 a.m. the Los Angeles Police Department noted on Wednesday, April 24. The woman was taken into custody by authorities on suspicion of driving under the influence at the time of the crash. Surveillance video captured in incident. The red four-door Subaru stopped half way inside the building before catching fire and activating the sprinkler system. The woman can be seen getting out of the vehicle and walking away. There were no reports of any serious injuries during the incident. The identity of the driver has not been disclosed to the public. The Los Angeles Fire Department, responded to the scene and extinguished the fire on Lankershim Boulevard and Whipple Street. BMW Manager Joe Deitrick arrived to the scene where two vehicles were reported damaged inside the newly remodeled showroom floor including a BMW i8 worth at least $150,000.

Restaurant

Sacramento, CA – Restaurant saved by sprinkler system following early morning fire

Firefighters are investigating after a small fire that damaged a Sacramento restaurant early Monday morning. Fire crews were called to the Shabu Pub on Freeport Boulevard. Both the burglar and fire alarms were going off. Firefighters say the front door had been broken into and a small fire was burning in the kitchen. The sprinkler system was activated, the business was saved.

Restaurant

Menlo Park, CA – Early morning restaurant fire held in check by sprinkler system

After receiving a call from the early morning staff at Peet’s Coffee in the Safeway Shopping Complex in Menlo Park reporting they smelled smoke and gas fumes next door, Captain Ken Babcock and the crew of Menlo Fire Engine 6 arrived on-scene at 4.45 am and found the Rubio’s Coastal Grill full of white smoke.

Captain Babcock requested a full first alarm structure fire response which brought in five Fire Engines, one Aerial Ladder Truck and two Battalion Chiefs with 21 total personnel. The Fire Crew of Engine 6 then gained access to the restaurant and found what was left of a smoldering and melted garbage can that had been on fire but was successfully held in check by a single activated sprinkler head.

Firefighters checked for hidden fire in both the walls and the common attic space above the store and found none. A nearby floor drain and all tile floor assisted with a relatively quick clean up once the Sprinkler System was shut down. Firefighters used a water vacuum, squeegees and mops to remove all of the remaining standing water and a fan to dissipate and evacuate the remaining smoke. The incident was brought under control by 5:00 am.

“The sprinkler water suppression system, quick action of the Peet’s employees in calling 911 and fire crews that minimized further damage, saved the day, insuring that this business will be back up and serving the community in days, not months, as we have experienced in other commercial business fires in this area,” said Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman. “In downtown Menlo Park, half of the older buildings are still not equipped with Fire Suppression Systems and are extremely vulnerable to fires and rapid fire spread.”

Office Building, Other - Hospital/Medical

Pasadena, CA – Overnight fire at commercial medical building extinguished by sprinkler system

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Pasadena firefighters responded to a fire alarm at 39 Congress Street early Wednesday at a multi-story commercial medical building. The sprinkler system activated in response to the fire authorities that believed was caused by an electric cup warmer left plugged in, and placed in a wooden box with coffee break items, according to the Pasadena Fire Department. During the course of the night, heat from the device warmed surrounding materials enough to ignite a fire that burned the box and cabinet above, the report said. When firefighters on Engine 31 arrived at about 1:37 a.m., they found water from the sprinkler had put out the fire.

The fire crews helped clean up the water damage on the third and second floors, and reset the fire alarm to normal operations, before releasing control of the scene at about 3:46 a.m. The Pasadena Fire Department also issued a reminder that small accessories, such as the cup warmer in this case, can lead to bigger fires, activated sprinklers, and water damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Mission, CA – Sprinkler system holds apartment fire in check; No injuries reported

Mission Fire Rescue Services responded to an alarm at a downtown apartment building on Tuesday (April 9) afternoon. The fire started just after 4 p.m. in a fourth floor apartment at Mission Manor, located at 33165 Second Ave. The first crew to arrive on scene discovered smoke coming from the suite. “At that time we activated a full alarm assignment for all three stations,” explained Mission fire chief Dale Unrau. Originally, the fire was believed to be inside the walls of the apartment, but the real cause was soon discovered. “There was an unattended pot on the stove that caught into the kitchen cupboards,” said Unrau. The fire was contained to the inside of the cabinet as the sprinkler system held it in check. Unrau said firefighters had to extinguish few hot spots embedded in the cabinetry, but after that the situation was under control.