Tag Archives: California

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

South Lake Tahoe, CA – Fire in attic mechanical room at Target store contained by sprinkler system

A fire broke out in a furnace room at the South Lake Tahoe TJ Maxx store just before 7:00 p.m. Monday night, resulting in the store filling up with smoke and water.  South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue personnel responded, and found the store’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire from spreading and it was contained to the one room.  The furnace was located above the store’s dressing rooms. With all of the water used to put out the fire, the ceiling collapsed and created quite a mess in that portion of the store.  “Much of the floor is very wet,” said SLTFR Battalion Chief Tim Spencer. “There was light smoke inside so there may be some smokey clothing.”

With the freezing temperatures in South Lake Tahoe, Spencer said they had concern about frozen water. As of 8:45 p.m., they are in clean-up mode and making sure the scene is safe. “We are ready to turn the store back to manager,” said Spencer. “It’s now up to the insurance and restoration companies.”  Firefighters from Lake Valley Fire also responded to the store which is located at the Y.

Apartment Building, Residential

Vacaville, CA – Apartment fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

A one-alarm fire Saturday in Vacaville resulted in the activation of an indoor sprinkler system. The fire, which occurred at an apartment in the 100 block of Burton Drive, was reported shortly after 12:30 p.m.  The fire warranted a full response from the Vacaville Fire Department.   However, units were canceled after the small fire was quickly extinguished.  According to Vacaville Fire Battalion Chief Matt Lage, the fire was started by a household appliance in the apartment’s master bedroom.   No one was injured in the incident.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Oakland, CA – Warehouse fire at leather company stopped by sprinkler system

A fire at a leather company warehouse in East Oakland Friday morning was almost extinguished when firefighters arrived on the scene, thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, authorities said. Some wooden pallets and debris were the only items burned in the blaze, the cause of which is under investigation.  Battalion Fire Chief Demond Simmons credited the sprinkler system for preventing further damage.  “It pretty much stopped the fire and made sure it did not spread,” he said.

The fire was reported about 7:52 a.m. Friday at a warehouse in the 800 block of 81st Avenue that is a storage and distribution center for California Leather Creations, officials said. The building is on a large piece of property that used to be the site of Mothers Cookies.  When firefighters arrived they had to force entry through a large metal door.  The items that had caught fire were mainly smoldering thanks to the building sprinkler system that had activated.  Firefighters made sure there were no flareups and called the fire under control at 8:14 a.m.  There were no injuries.  Simmons said a damage figure has not been determined.

Other - Retail, Retail

Hanford, CA – Arson fire at furniture store contained by sprinklers; Damage limited to few pieces of furniture

Police and fire officials are investigating after a Hanford furniture store was vandalized and set on fire early Thursday morning. The damage forced the Oak and Sofa Liquidators store at 295 N. Redington Street to close its doors for repairs.  Store owner Brandon Mason the total damage was not immediately clear, but he hopes to reopen the Hanford store as soon as possible. Mason said Oak and Sofa Liquidators has been notifying customers who have purchased furniture to pick up their orders at the store’s Visalia location.

“People want their stuff before Christmas, so we’ve got to get it to them,” Mason said. Around 2:55 a.m. Thursday, the Hanford Fire Department was called to a structure fire at the store, located in the 200 block of North Redington Street. The Hanford Police Department responded to a burglar alarm at the store at 2:52 a.m.  One of the windows at the northeast end of the building had a large hole through the holiday-themed paint job.  Battalion Chief Erik Brotemarkle said it appears that someone threw something flammable through the window. Brotemarkle said it appears the flammable substance started a fire inside, about 15 feet inside from the broken window.

Due to thick smoke, firefighters had to use a thermal imaging device to locate the fire. Brotemarkle said the building’s sprinkler system confined the fire to a few pieces of furniture. Other merchandise sustained water damage from the sprinklers. Brotemarkle said the fire was mostly extinguished by the time firefighters arrived. Firefighters used a ventilation fan to clear out the heavy smoke.  “The sprinkler system for this building did its job,” Brotemarkle said.

Mason said the sprinkler system was only activated in the area around the fire. A commercial cleaning and restoration company began cleaning other areas of the store Thursday morning. Fire investigator Capt. Frank Etulain said the fire appears to be the result of arson. Etulain said he could not disclose the exact cause due to the ongoing investigation, but evidence suggests something was likely thrown through the window from the outside. There were no signs that anyone had entered the store.  Etulain said firefighters were able to control the burning by moving items around under the sprinkler.  A total of 14 personnel responded to the fire. The Hanford Police Department, Kings County Sheriff’s Office and Kings County Fire Department assisted with the incident.  Hanford police Capt. Karl Anderson said police are aware of about a half-dozen incidents involving broken windows in the downtown area over the past few weeks. Those have included the Hanford Antique Emporium, Kings Christian Thrift Store and vacant storefronts in the 100 block of East Seventh Street and the 100 block of North Douty Street.  On Dec. 12, police responded to a burglary report at the International Church of God in the 500 block of East Seventh Street. Police said someone smashed a window and stole a computer and printer.

Residential, Single Family Home

El Granada, CA – Home sprinkler system assists firefighters in suppressing deck fire at home

A small fire damaged a deck and portion of an El Granada house Friday afternoon. Maresha Leeds, who lives in the home at Isabella Avenue and Columbus Street with her husband, was in her kitchen when the fire struck around 1 p.m. “I don’t know how it happened,” she said. “It seemed so spontaneous.”

Leeds said she was feeling uneasy around the time the fire started and didn’t know why. When her two golden retrievers started barking she thought something must be up. Then a ring of the doorbell clarified things. “My gardener and my UPS man told me my house was on fire,” Leeds said. The pair called 911 and Leeds worked on getting her dogs and her pet bird out of the house.

Coastside Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Ari Delay said at the scene that the cause of the fire was still under investigation, but appeared to originate from the second-level deck. He said flames were shooting up 10 to 20 feet when firefighters arrived and smoke from the blaze could be seen all the way from Half Moon Bay. Leeds said dog beds and dog houses were the only items on that second-level deck. She noted that her gardener reported smelling something like gasoline coming from the flames, but that she doesn’t store any gasoline in her home.

Delay said roughly 25 firefighters responded to the fire. A home sprinkler system assisted the firefighters with the dousing of the flames. Structural damage affected the deck and the neighboring room inside the home. A larger portion of the home suffered smoke and water damage, Delay said. Leeds indicated that she was fortunate the fire didn’t escalate into anything worse. “I’m so glad I was home,” she said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Temecula, CA – Hotel room fire contained by sprinkler system; Further damage prevented

Two rooms were damaged and one victim suffered minor injuries after a mattress caught fire at a hotel Friday, Nov. 25. The fire happened at the Quality Inn located in the 27000 block of Jefferson Avenue, north of Winchester Road in Temecula.

The victim, who has not been identified, was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and declined further treatment. It was not immediately known if the victim was an employee or guest of the hotel.  17 Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters from four engine companies and one truck company were dispatched to the hotel at 11:54 a.m., according to Cal Fire Spokeswoman April Newman.

“Firefighters responded to reports of smoke coming from a room,” Newman explained after the fire was contained at 12:03 p.m. “The fire was contained to a mattress by the structure’s sprinkler system.”

The damage to the two hotel rooms was estimated at about $25,000. The hotel’s fire sprinkler system saved the rest of the hotel from further damage, estimated at $6.8 million dollars.

At 12:30 p.m., Newman updated that fire resources were expected to remain at the scene for about one hour for water salvage and mop up operations.  There were no evacuations related to the fire.

Department Store, Retail

San Diego, CA – Sprinklers activate to help firefighters stop blaze at Home Depot

A fire that started in a big rig full of Christmas decorations spread into a  Home Depot Wednesday night, forcing employees and shoppers to evacuate.

Employees at the Home Depot at 355 Marketplace Ave. in the Mountainview neighborhood called 911 at about 10:20 p.m. to report the fire. When firefighters arrived, the trailer was in flames in a loading dock and the fire had spread both inside and outside the warehouse, San Diego Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve Ricci said. Several propane tanks that were stored outside the warehouse exploded.

The first fire units called for additional help. They knocked down most of the flames in about 10 minutes. The fire caused the warehouse sprinkler system to go off and firefighters sprayed down the flames inside the warehouse, so there was both fire and water damage, Ricci said.

The Metro Arson Strike Team was trying to determine what started the trailer fire, Ricci said.

Other - Retail, Retail, Uncategorized

El Segundo, CA – (No Media Coverage) Sprinklers hold fire in check at exotic fish store

***NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED*** On Monday, November 7th, El Segundo fire units responded to a water flow alarm at 1924 E. Maple Avenue. Upon arrival, suppression crews found a fire being held in check by an activated sprinkler. The business sells exotic fish and there was a fire in the area of an ultraviolet light filter. The fire was contained to the filter and adjoining sides of 2 polypropylene fish tanks. The fire was extinguished by a 1 3/4 inch hand line. There was no damage to the structure and light smoke damage in the area of the fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sacramento, CA – Sprinkler system slows spread of fire that started in electric player piano

A fire that is believed to have begun in an electric player piano at a senior assisted living center in south Sacramento led to four residents being taken to the hospital.

The fire suppression sprinkler system slowed the spread of the small blaze, but smoke filled parts of the Regency Place assisted living center, 8190 Arroyo Vista Drive, about 1 a.m. Thursday. Residents had to be helped from the smoky center in the Valley Hi neighborhood.

“The fire stayed confined to the piano and the general area around it,” said Sacramento fire Capt. Dave Lauchner. “It was controlled by the fire sprinkler and extinguished by the first crews.”

The piano was in the front area of the assisted living center, Lauchner said.

“The main problem was not so much fire, but the smoke that filled the place up, including the hallways,” Lauchner said. “After putting out the fire, we had to get people out. I believe four went to the hospital. There were different injuries. All minor.”

Lauchner said the fire eventually went to two alarms to bring enough firefighters to help with building evacuation.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Oxnard, CA – Overnight fire at golf course clubhouse contained with help from sprinkler system

Thanks to the quick response of the Oxnard Fire Department and the help of fire units from the city of Ventura, Ventura County and Santa Paula, River Ridge Golf Course was spared any serious damage from a fire that broke out in the early morning hours last Thursday.

The fire, which was initially reported at 2:35 a.m., was located on the exterior portion of the west side of the clubhouse building which is on the opposite side of the pro shop.

Fire crews had the flames basically out by 3:12 a.m.

“We got lucky,” River Ridge General Manager Otto Kanny said. “The pictures looked pretty spectacular but we’re fine. We got a great response from the fire crews so the fire was contained on the west side exterior of the building.

“We had a lot of cleanup and patching up, tedious stuff like that and trying to get the stink out. But we got really lucky.”

When Kanny arrived that morning he said there were at least 20 firetrucks battling the blaze. It started on the farthest corner of the outside railing of the building and the flames worked their way up the pillars on the outside of the patio on that side of the building.

But thanks to the firewalls on the outside of the building, the sprinkler system and the quick work of the firefighters, the area the fire got into was minimized.

“The fire got within four feet of getting to the drapes in the banquet room,” Kanny said. “Had that happened, the fire would have climbed into the attic and that point we would have lost half of the clubhouse. We were very fortunate.”

The last of the fire crews left at 6 a.m. and Kanny said the first golfers started arriving at 6:30.

They had no power until 11 a.m., but Kanny said the pro shop staff and the rest of the River Ridge crew did yeoman’s work in making sure customers were taken care of and that golfers were able to play Thursday.

Because of the water used to put out the blaze, the banquet facility is not operational. As word got out about the fire, people in the golf business, such as Eric Burton at the city of Ventura and Saticoy Country Club general manager Phil Lopez called and offered any help they could provide.

“It was amazing to see the outreach from people in the community,” Kanny said. “With the help of others in the community we were able to hold all of the functions that were scheduled this weekend.”

Kanny said there is no word yet on what caused the fire and there is a good chance the exact cause will never be determined.