Tag Archives: California

Apartment Building, Residential

Arcata, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at multi-unit apartment building

On August 6, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. Arcata Fire District units along with multiple other fire, law enforcement and EMS agencies were dispatched to a reported commercial structure fire at 4975 Valley West Boulevard.

Arcata Police officers in the area had arrived first and reported smoke coming from a single apartment of a two-story multi-unit apartment building. The police officers immediately began evacuating occupants of the building. Arcata Fire District units arrived on scene and found an apartment with heavy smoke and active fire. The automatic sprinkler system had activated and was preventing the fire from spreading beyond the original apartment.

Due to the size of the structure and potential for threat to life, Arcata Fire District requested Humboldt Bay Fire, who already had an engine responding to assist, dispatch their ladder truck for additional specialized equipment and staffing. The Arcata Fire District units that were at scene attacked the fire, performed secondary searches and confirmed the building was completely clear.

The fire was controlled in about 10 minutes. Arcata Fire personnel ventilated smoke from the building.

While evacuating the structure, Arcata Police officers located an occupant who was suffering from smoke inhalation. The patient was assessed and treated by ambulance personnel at the scene.

The Arcata Fire District Volunteer Logistics responded with salvage equipment to allow fire personnel to remove water, expediting the ability of occupants to re-enter the building. Arcata Fire District personnel conducted an investigation of the cause of the fire, which is undetermined at this point and remains under investigation.

Damages to the building are approximately $10,000. Arcata Fire District would like to thank its allied partners for all of their assistance as the fire had potential to develop into a major incident. Arcata Fire was assisted by Blue Lake Fire, Fieldbrook Fire, Humboldt Bay Fire, Arcata Police Department, Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, Cal Fire Emergency Command Center in Fortuna, and Pacific Gas and Electric.

Arcata Fire would also like to recognize the importance of smoke alarms and automatic extinguishing systems. Combined, these systems allow for early notification which most certainly saves lives and reduces fire spread.

Self-Storage Facility, Storage / Warehouse

Fresno, CA – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at storage facility

Firefighters were able to contain a fire at a storage facility in Fresno Monday morning.

Firefighters were called to the Dakota Park RV Storage on Dakota Avenue near Highway 99 for a fire alarm at the facility.

When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from a commercial-sized storage unit and requested additional resources.

The storage unit contained a large amount of property including lithium-ion batteries, which are believed to have caused the fire.

With help from the fire sprinkler system, crews were able to keep the fire contained to the single storage unit.

About 20 other units were impacted by smoke.

Lithium-ion batteries provide power for devices like our smart phones and laptops, e-scooters, and e-bikes. The batteries store a lot of energy in a small amount of space. Fresno Fire public information officer

Josh Sellers says always keep safety in mind. “Always use the appropriate charging device tat came with the instrument. If you need a replacement get a replacement from the manufacturer,” Sellers said.

As a reminder, the National Fire Protection Association recommends removing lithium-ion batteries from their chargers once charging is complete and storing these batteries at room temperature whenever possible.

Apartment Building, Residential

San Diego, CA – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire at apartment building

San Diego Police are looking for a man suspected of starting a fire inside a downtown apartment building early Tuesday morning.

At around 2 a.m., SDPD officers and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department crews were dispatched to the apartment on 1453 Fourth Ave. after a woman reported a man setting things on fire in the building.

The fire inside set off alarms, which forced tenants to evacuate from the building. ABC 10News learned one man was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

As the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire, responding firefighters helped prevent most of the water damage from the sprinklers.

Officers forced their way into the apartment where the fire started, but the suspected arsonist was not inside.

Police questioned the woman who called 911 to report the incident; her relationship to the suspected arsonist was unclear.

A description of the man was not immediately available.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Clovis, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at mall; No injuries reported

The Sierra Vista Mall is closed for the rest of the day following a fire near Game Stop.

Clovis Fire Department says the fire started around 2:15 p.m.

When crews arrived, they found smoke in the Game Stop area with flames coming from the attic above the restroom.

Officials say the sprinkler system did a good job of keeping the fire from spreading.

Both the City of Fresno and Fresno County Fire Department assisted Clovis with the fire.

No injuries have been reported.

The fire is still under investigation.

Residential, Single Family Home

Montecito, CA – Sprinkler system contains garage fire; No injuries reported

Fire crews were called to the scene of a garage fire on Monday afternoon in Montecito.

Crews arrived in the 200 block of Olive Mill Road and found light smoke coming from the garage, according to the Montecito Fire Department (MFD).

Fortunately, a sprinkler system within the garage effectively contained the flames, resulting in minimal damage confined to the garage and no reported injuries.

To ensure the safety of residents and motorists, the section of Olive Mill Road between Hot Springs Road and the Olive Mill roundabout at Coast Village Road was temporarily closed while firefighters continued their operations at the scene.

The closure allowed the crews to conduct mop-up activities and investigate the possible cause of the fire.

Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse

Otay Mesa, CA – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion storage facility fire

A flare-up at a lithium-ion energy storage facility in Otay Mesa has prompted authorities to re-issue evacuation orders.

The fire first erupted at the Gateway Energy Storage in the 600 block of Camino De La Fuente late Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. It took crews roughly 24 hours to get the blaze under control and evacuation orders were lifted. But by Friday, the fire had re-ignited and evacuation orders were once again put in place for those in the surrounding area.

By Saturday morning, the fire had spread into other parts of the building and burned a portion of the roof but had not affected any other buildings, according to CalFire. The lithium-ion batteries at the warehouse “continue to experience thermal runaway,” which is when a battery goes into an uncontrollable self-heating state, according to a report released Saturday morning.

Cal Fire said the evacuation orders were issued as people in the area could be affected due to potential poisonous vapors and potential explosions. A shelter-in-place order was, at one point, issued for nearby Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.

Due to the hazardous fumes filling the energy-storage complex, firefighters used streams of water from powerful hoses to subdue the blaze from outside, supplementing an internal sprinkler system at the business, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.

A hazardous materials team was at the scene to ensure air quality and water runoff is not polluted, Cal Fire said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, Cornette said.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Fresno, CA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at eight-story building

A water sprinkler doused a fire Friday afternoon at an eight-story building in downtown Fresno.

The Fresno Fire Department responded to the fire at 4:45 p.m. at Fulton and Amador streets with reports of a fire that started on the balcony, spokesman Jonathan Lopez said.

The sprinkler system had already extinguished the fire when crews arrived.

No one was displaced.

Lopez credited the Silvercrest Retirement Residence management for helping fire crews get to where the fire started and stressed the importance of having a working sprinkling system.

”This incident really highlights the importance of not having working smoke detectors, but especially in buildings like this working fire suppression,” he said. ”Sprinklers and self-closing doors really minimize the potential disaster that could happen in a high-rise building without these fire protection features.”

Five engines and two ladder trucks responded to the commercial fire.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Riverside, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at auto care shop; No injuries reported

At 2019 on May 14th engine 10 was dispatched to a fire alarm at Otwells Auto Care at 7304 Indiana.  They arrived to find smoke coming from a large commercial building.  A structure response was dispatched, and the crew immediately initiated fire attack.  On entry what they found was a vehicle on fire burning while up on a lift. The fire was being held in check by a fire sprinkler directly above the vehicle.  The fire was brought under control at 2040.  The damage was estimated at $30,000 to the vehicle and building.  There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.  Care of the scene was returned to the business owner.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fresno, CA – Sprinkler system contains fire at grocery store; No injuries reported

A fire inside the Foods Co grocery store on Shields Avenue caused customers and employees to scramble from the store Sunday morning.

The two-alarm fire began on the paper-products aisle shortly after 8 a.m. with flames nearly reaching the ceiling, said a store employee who asked not to be identified. A possible suspect was seen running from the area and out of the store through an emergency exit, the employee said.

The store quickly filled with smoke, while Fresno Fire Department crews arrived within minutes.

Battalion Chief Kirk Wanless said no one was injured and the fire was contained to one aisle with the help of a fire sprinkler inside the store. It took crews about 10 minutes to knock down the fire that started among the toilet paper and paper towel products.

Wanless said the department’s fire investigator was on scene Sunday morning.

The store employee said someone tried tried to light a fire inside the store several months ago but was unsuccessful.

Fire crews remained at the store for several hours, clearing smoke and checking to make sure no one was inside. It was unclear how the fire would affect the store’s hours.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Gold River, CA – Sprinkler system activated for early morning fire in warehouse; No injuries reported

Firefighters say an early morning warehouse fire in Gold River could have been much worse due to what was inside the building.

Metro Fire of Sacramento crews responded to the scene along Gold River Road a little after 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The fire was inside a warehouse but, luckily, the flames were being held in check by the sprinkler system.

No injuries were reported.

Due to the contents inside the building, and its proximity to a large storage facility, firefighters say the incident could have been a lot more significant if not for the sprinklers.

The fire won’t impact the business’ opening later in the morning.