Tag Archives: California

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Camarillo, CA – Sprinkler activates to help control overnight fire at senior living center

The Ventura County Fire Department responded late Tuesday to investigate a fire alarm at a senior living center in Camarillo. The alarm was reported at 11:48 p.m. at Alma Via of Camarillo in the 2500 block on North Ponderosa Drive. Crews at the scene said there was a light smell of smoke in a maintenance room and that a fire-suppression sprinkler had activated. At 12:20 a.m., crews on the scene said the small fire was out.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant, Retail

Hermosa Beach, CA – Sprinkler system helps control pizza shop fire; Neighboring businesses spared

The Hermosa Beach Fire Department responded to a fire inside Pedone’s Pizza and Italian Food, near 14th Street, about 6 a.m., said HBFD Capt. Mike Garofano. Authorities were alerted to the fire by an alarm linked to the restaurant’s automatic sprinkler system, Garofano said. Four engines, one truck and a battalion chief from HBFD responded to the blaze, and the sprinkler system was keeping the fire in check when they arrived.

Because the business was closed, firefighters had to break down the business’ front door to fight the fire, Garofano said. Units from fire departments in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance arrived shortly thereafter, and the group knocked down the fire after about 15 minutes. As of 9 a.m. Monday morning, Pedone’s was sealed off with red caution tape. There were no visible marks to the exterior, but the smell of burnt wood lingered in the air.

Pedone’s Pizza is one of several businesses located in the structure at 1332 Hermosa Ave., including a Pilates studio across a common hallway, but damage from the fire was confined to the restaurant, Garofano said. No one was injured in the blaze.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, Garofano said. Standard procedure requires bringing in an arson investigator to examine heat signatures and determine the blaze’s point of origin. Initial examination suggests an electrical fire, but this has not been confirmed

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Porterville, CA – Patio fire at senior apartment complex held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Fire sprinklers on the patio of an apartment at Santa Fe Plaza, a housing complex on North Third Street in Porterville, prevented a fire from spreading Friday afternoon. “This is one of the places we’re always concerned about because of the number of residents,” said City Fire Battalion Chief Glen Hall.

The fire began on the patio of a first-floor apartment, but was contained by the overhead sprinklers. “The fire was held in check by the sprinkler system,” said Hall, adding that it appeared to be contained to a box on the patio and the structure was not burned at all.  Also, the sprinkler only activated on the patio, so there was no water damage to the apartment or any other part of the complex.

However, smoke filled the first floor of the north wing of the complex and the alarm sent more than a dozen residents outside. “I saw smoke billowing … and I grabbed my cat and split,” said resident Sharon Ritchie, who stood outside with several other residents as firefighters inspected the building and worked to clear the smoke.

“I heard the alarm go off and the hallway was full of smoke,” added Norma Fox who lives jus a few doors down from where the fire stated. The fire was reported at about 1:50 p.m. and the city had a full response with five engines, including a ladder truck, and one engine from the county. More than a dozen firefighters were joined by two Porterville police officers who assisted residents out of the smoke-filled complex. One lady in a motorized chair waited outside until a firefighter brought her dog to her. Seeing her dog brought a big smile to her face.

Medical personnel were called to the scene to check out the residents, but no one was injured or sickened by the smoke. One lady said she was winded after walking down three flights of stairs. Hall said the fire was still smoldering when firefighters arrived and they extinguished it at that time. He said there are 105 apartments in the complex, but only the north wing was affected by the fire.

The residents, including the one who lived in the apartment where the fire occurred, were allowed to return to their apartments after about 45 minutes outside. The cause of the fire is under investigation

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

San Leandro, CA – Room fire at mental health hospital controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries

The Villa Fairmont Mental Health Rehabilitation Center remained fully functional after a room caught fire Tuesday night. Fire crews responded to a report of a fire at 7:01 p.m. at the center located in the 15000 block of Foothill Boulevard in unincorporated San Leandro, according to the Alameda County Fire Department. The blaze was confined to a room near a fire sprinkler and firefighters quickly extinguished it. There were no reports of injuries. The cause of fire was still under investigation as of Tuesday night. One room suffered moderate smoke and water damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Encinitas, CA – Sprinkler system contains early morning apartment fire to room of origin; No injuries reported

The spread of a fire that broke out Thursday morning in an Encinitas apartment building was stopped by a fire sprinkler system, a city fire official said. A fire alarm was triggered just after 5 a.m. as the apartment’s sprinkler system was activated, alerting the Encinitas Fire Department to respond to the building in the 3000 block of Manchester Avenue in Cardiff, according to Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Kerri Berberet.

“The resident smelled smoke and attempted to extinguish a fire caused by a candle,” Berberet said. “During the process, a single fire sprinkler activated due to the heat produced by the fire.” Two engine crews were dispatched to the scene.  “The fire was out upon arrival of the initial fire crew; a second unit was requested for assistance,” Berberet said.

No injuries were reported, and other residents and apartments were unscathed. “With the activation of the fire sprinkler system and quick response by firefighters, the fire was contained to the room of origin,” she said.

Berberet pointed out that according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half, while an automatic fire sprinkler system cuts the risk of dying by about 80 percent, according to the association.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Palm Springs, CA – Sprinkler system successfully activates in hotel fire; No injuries

A hotel fire in Palm Springs caused the sprinklers to go off and evacuated guests about 9:30 p.m. Monday night. It happened at the Extended Stay Hotel on Tahquitz Canyon Way.

Firefighters believe the fire was started by one of the guests but aren’t saying how it started. There are no reports of injuries.  Sixteen guest rooms were affected by water damage.  Fire crews continued to mop-up the mess Monday night.  The hotel is working on finding new places for guests to stay.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Wildomar, CA – Fire in storage closet at hospital suppressed by sprinkler system

On Dec. 14, firefighters responded to Inland Valley Medical Center regarding the report of a commercial structure fire at the location.

The hospital is located at 36485 Inland Valley Drive, near Clinton Keith Road in Wildomar. Inland Valley Medical Center is a 122-bed, General Acute Care Hospital with Basic Emergency Services and a Level III Trauma Center. The hospital serves most of Temecula Valley and surrounding areas.

In a press release from CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, press information officer April Newman explained at about 5:27 p.m., 10 firefighters from two engine companies and one truck company responded to the reported fire.

The first arriving engine company found a single-story commercial building with no signs of fire or smoke showing. Upon further investigation, firefighters determined a small fire had occurred in a storage room at the hospital.

According to Newman, the fire was contained to the storage room by the hospital’s fire suppression sprinkler system. No damage was reported to have occurred as a result of the fire, however the fire sprinklers caused minor water damage to items within the storage room.

Fire department resources reportedly remained on scene for approximately one hour to assist with water salvage and cleanup.

There were no reported injuries associated with this incident.

 

Other Business

San Luis Obispo, CA – Suspicious fire at commercial building suppressed by sprinkler system

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department is investigating a series of suspicious fires that have occurred over the past couple weeks. Fire crews were on the scene of two fires Friday night and one fire early Saturday morning.  All three fires are suspicious in nature, according to the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department.

The first incident took place at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Friday, in a commercial building located at 346 Pacific Street. When freighters arrived on scene, they found three burned garbage containers. The building’s sprinkler system was able to suppress most of the fire. But crews still had to overhaul the fire.

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department says there were cigarettes found in the area, which could have caused the fire. However, there are no leads to whether the incident was accidental or on purpose.

The second fire took place at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Friday, behind a commercial building located at 3046 Higuera Street. In this fire, a dumpster and the majority of its contents were burned, according to the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department. Crews were on scene for approximately 15 minutes.

At 3:08 a.m. on Saturday, San Luis Obispo City firefighters responded to a third fire. This took place behind Fire Station 1, at the end of Round House Street. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a large cluster of Eucalyptus trees engulfed in flames. The fire burned about 600 square feet of vegetation and took firefighters approximately 30 minutes to extinguish. Bob Bisson, San Luis Obispo City Fire Department Chief, says this particular fire required the use of fire hydrant water.

The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department says they’re concerned about the pattern of fires that have occurred in the city. Last weekend, firefighters also battled fires under suspicious circumstances.

Investigators are working to determine their cause.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Riverside, CA – Hotel fire in third floor linen closet extinguished by sprinkler system

A small fire that broke out Friday in a Riverside hotel after a holiday lighting ceremony was quickly extinguished by a fire sprinkler, officials said.  Fire officials noted smoke and an electrical burning smell in the Mission Inn Hotel lobby and upper floors shortly after an annual switch-on Christmas lighting ceremony took place, the Riverside Fire Department said in a press release.

A sprinkler in a third-floor linen room was activated and the fire was quickly extinguished, officials said. Fire crews shut down the sprinkler and water seeped through the floor, leaking into the second and first floors of the hotel.

Visitors and guests were temporarily displaced from the hotel and were allowed back into their rooms when the leaks were controlled.  Discarded fireworks debris from the Festival of Lights switch-on ceremony was ignited in a trash can and started the fire, investigators said.

Mission Inn officials said they will continue in-house salvage operations. Initial reports stated that only two guest rooms had water damage. There were no reported injuries.