Tag Archives: California

Residential, Single Family Home, Uncategorized

Rancho Cucamonga, CA – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Single sprinkler activates to extinguish residential fire

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ** On August 5, 2016 at 3:20 p.m. Rancho Cucamonga (CA) Medic Engine 174 and Medic Truck 174 were dispatched with automatic aid resources to a reported residential structure fire in a two story single family detached home. The first arriving unit reported that a small fire had been extinguished by the activation of a single residential sprinkler. The fire was confined to the contents originally ignited. Fire, smoke, and water damage was minimal. Medic Engine 174 and Investigator 2150 shut down the sprinkler system, replaced the activated head with a new head from the spare sprinkler box, and recharged the fire sprinkler system. The Fire Inspector for the area followed up with the residents and coordinated an inspection with the Building Inspector.

Apartment Building, Residential

Temecula, CA – Arson fire at apartment building doused by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A Temecula man was arrested Friday, July 29 for allegedly breaking into his ex-lover’s apartment and starting a fire. Jack Wayne Hill, 45, was arrested on suspicion of arson, burglary, making criminal threats, vandalism and stalking and booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta. Bail information was not immediately available.

According to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Jon Wade, deputies had been called to the apartment in the 28800 block of Pujol Street, just west of Interstate 15, over the past week to contend with complaints that Hill was allegedly harassing the victim and had caused damage to her vehicle.

The woman, whose identity was not released, obtained a criminal protective order Wednesday, barring the construction worker from coming close to her or her residence, Wade said.

About 8 a.m. this morning, Hill allegedly went to the property, forced his way inside and ignited a fire. County fire personnel were the first to respond but discovered that the sprinkler system in the building had doused the flames. 

Deputies located the suspect at his job site, where he was taken into custody without incident.  Court records show no documented felony or misdemeanor convictions for Hill in Riverside County.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Lompoc, CA – Sprinkler systems keeps fire at nursing home from spreading

The spontaneous combustion of rags used to clean kitchen grease is what caused a fire at a Lompoc nursing home Sunday night, according to the Lompoc Fire Department.  Firefighters responded at about 7:42 p.m. to the location on the 1400 block of West North Avenue and assisted staff and police with the evacuation of the 60 patients, fire officials say.  

The fire was reportedly contained to the laundry room and a fire sprinkler system is being credited for keeping the flames from spreading.   Patients and staff were allowed back inside while crews worked to put out the flames and remove smoke and water from the building.

Damage is estimated at $2,000. No one was injured.  The executive director of the facility says operations have returned to normal. 

Crews from Santa Barbara County and Vandenberg fire departments also assisted. 

Residential, Residential High Rise

San Jose, CA – Early morning fire in high-rise apartment building held in check by sprinkler system

Roughly 40 to 60 residents in a 12-story high-rise apartment building in downtown San Jose are without a home for at least a week after a Sunday morning fire, San Jose fire officials said.  A faulty light fixture sparked the blaze at 4:22 a.m., immediately activating the building’s sprinkler system, San Jose Fire Department Captain Mitch Matlow said.

“The sprinkler system did it’s job,” Matlow said.

The fire, which was reported at Sixth and East Santa Clara streets, was extinguished quickly, but cleaning up the water damage will keep residents out of the building for at least a week, according to Matlow. “The people were sheltered in a VTA bus for a while, then they had to go back in and get their belongings because it’s going to be about a week before these people can come back to their homes,” Matlow said. “They have to dry the building out and make sure all the electrical is working before they can reoccupy the building.”

The American Red Cross will temporarily house and feed the displaced residents, according to Demetrious McCarthy from the Red Cross. That shelter is up and running at Burnett Middle School in San Jose, the Red Cross said.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

San Diego, CA – Fire at Petco Park food court extinguished by sprinkler system during MLB All-Star events

At least one restaurant at the Petco Park food court was to remain closed Sunday afternoon during some All-Star related events, due to a grease fire in a kitchen.  The fire activated the sprinkler system, and was out by the time San Diego Fire-Rescue firefighters arrived on scene, according to spokesman Lee Swanson.

Firefighters were dispatched to Petco Park at about 10:15 a.m. Two engines, one truck and a battalion chief, were sent, but the first crew to arrive cancelled some of the responding firefighters when they discovered the fire had already been extinguished, Swanson said.

It was unclear which restaurant was affected, but Swanson said the San Diego County Health Department would have to re-certify the restaurant before it could serve food again.  San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief Brian Fennessy tweeted photos from the scene, showing the fire had been contained to a small area.

Two events were scheduled to take place at Petco Park Sunday, in advance of the Major League Baseball All-Star game on Tuesday. The All-Star Futures game was scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by a softball game at 7 p.m. featuring celebrities, athletes and former MLB players.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Daly City, CA – Residential sprinkler system helps firefighters extinguish townhouse fire

Three residents were displaced by a structure fire reported in Daly City Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency crews were dispatched to a townhouse in the 300 block of Michelle Lane to find flames coming from the rear deck.

As they entered the home they determined that the fire had spread into the family room and attic.

Their efforts to extinguish the fire were aided by the home’s fire sprinkler system as well, firefighters said.

Crews remained on scene for an additional two hours to overhaul the structure.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Santa Cruz, CA – Laundry room fire at assisted living center held in check by sprinkler system

Residents of Paradise Villa Assisted Living on 17th Avenue were evacuated Monday morning after a fire broke out in a laundry room.  No one was injured, said Central Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Breasher.

The blaze started about 9:55 a.m. at the two-story complex at 2177 17th Ave. in Live Oak. Residents were evacuated as thick smoke spread from a laundry room, Breasher said. Firefighters found a clothes dryer on fire.

“The automatic fire sprinkler system activated and held the fire in check until the firefighters could finish extinguishing the flames,” Breasher said.  It took about 15 minutes to contain the blaze and 30 minutes to fully control it, Breasher said.

Members of the American Red Cross of the Central Coast provided shade tents and drinking water to 23 residents and nine employees who were evacuated, Breasher said. Firefighters removed smoke and water from the building and residents were allowed to return.

Firefighters continued to investigate the exact cause of the fire on Tuesday.  Santa Cruz Fire, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, American Medical Response, California Highway Patrol and PG&E also responded.

Department Store, Retail

Fresno, CA – Elevator machine room fire at J.C. Penney store held in check by sprinkler system

The J.C. Penney store at Fashion Fair Mall closed for business Sunday after an electrical fire prompted its evacuation.  Firefighters got to the store at 11:15 a.m. after smoke started flooding the area inside, Fresno Fire Capt. Brian Price said.

The damage was contained to the elevator equipment room where there was wire damage, Price said, and the sprinkler system already had the fire “in check.”

The fire was put out, and fire personnel worked on getting the system back in working order. The store is still closed, but Price said store staff said they hoped to reopen Monday morning.  “They’ve got some significant cleanup to do,” Price said.

 

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Irvine, CA – Fire at metal finishing business held in check by sprinkler system

Firefighters worked 25 minutes Sunday to extinguish a blaze at a metal finishing company. The blaze was reported around 2:30 p.m. at Electrolurgy Inc. at 1121 Duryea Ave., said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.  Thick black smoke from the fire was visible on the 405 freeway, he added.

A sprinkler system in the business kept the flames in check and firefighters extinguished the blaze around 2:55 p.m., Concialdi said. An OCFA hazardous materials team responded because chemicals in the business were involved.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and damage estimates were not immediately available.

There were workers in the business when the fire broke out, but they managed to escape without injury.

Seven firefighters initially entered the building to extinguish the blaze and were decontaminated at the scene, Concialdi said. They were not injured. An OFCA hazardous materials team wearing protective gear later went into the business to determine what kind of chemicals were inside, said Concialdi.

It was determined the fire reached vats of liquid chromate, Concialdi said. A total of 40 firefighters responded.