Other - Retail, Retail Ventura, CA – Sprinklers help contain arson fire at commercial retail complex May 27, 2015 viking210 Two structure fires were knocked down in Ventura Tuesday morning, officials said. The first fire, which was determined to be arson, was reported at 2:28 a.m. in the 9200 block of Telephone Road. The facade of a commercial retail complex on Telephone Road was purposely set on fire in the first incident, officials said. Responding crews discovered an exterior commercial sign in flames that had lapped onto the adjacent exterior wall of the building, officials said. The blaze triggered a fire sprinkler that held the fire in check.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Redding, CA – Sprinklers keep fire from spreading at manufacturing plant May 26, 2015 viking210 A fire in a tank of detergent was doused Sunday by the sprinkler system at a Redding manufacturing plant, a Redding Fire Department official said. Shortly after 5 p.m. a fire alarm went off at Seco Manufacturing on Oasis Road, Battalion Chief Steve Reilly said. The fire alarm was activated by a fire in a tank of detergent used in a process to anodize aluminum that is used to make surveying equipment, he said. A fire sprinkler turned on above the tank, keeping the fire from spreading, he said. Shortly after the fire broke out, firefighters with Redding’s Engine Co. No. 6, which is across the street from the plant, heard the fire alarm and saw a light smoke coming from the rear of the business, Reilly said. The firefighters got access to the rear of the building and were able to put it out by about 5:30 p.m., Reilly said. The business was closed for the Memorial Day weekend. The fire was confined to the tank, he said. He said the fire was caused by a malfunction in how the tank operates.
Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, Residential High Rise San Diego, CA – Sprinklers help contain blaze at senior residential high-rise; No injuries May 19, 2015 viking210 A fire of unknown origin erupted in a City Heights senior-housing high-rise Monday afternoon. The non-injury blaze began spreading on the seventh floor of the 10-story building in the 4100 block of 42nd Street about 2:45 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. It took crews about a half-hour to extinguish the flames, which appeared to have originated on or near an outdoor deck, SDFRD Capt. Joe Amador said. A built-in fire sprinkler helped keep the blaze from rapidly spreading prior to the arrival of emergency personnel, he said. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the unit where it originated, though several nearby ones sustained smoke and heat damage, according to Amador. Authorities evacuated about 70 people from the building and directed others to remain in their apartments for a time as a precaution. The American Red Cross was called in to help arrange interim lodging for those unable to return to their residences immediately.
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential Los Angeles, CA – Late night dormitory fire at USC held in check by sprinkler system May 18, 2015 viking210 USC students knee deep in final exams evacuated a dormitory where a mattress caught fire last Sunday night. The fire, quickly extinguished by the Los Angeles Fire Department, left 12 people temporarily displaced and caused $2,500 in damage, more than half to the structure itself, according to a fire spokesman. No one was injured when the fire broke out at about 11:30 p.m. but about 60 people evacuated the building in the 600 block of W. 35th Street, fire and school officials said. Twelve students were relocated to other housing locations, according to USC Dept. of Public Safety Deputy Chief David Carlisle. The other students were allowed back into the residence at 12:30 p.m. Fire investigators determined that candles that were briefly left unattended caused the mattress fire in a room on the third floor, fire officials said. Fire sprinklers held the smoky fire in check before 20 firefighters put out the fire entirely. “If you’re going to use candles, be very, very careful as to how close those candles, or open flame, are going to be to anything that could catch fire,” Battalion Chief Jamie Moore said. Students said they got the message and would start taking the school rule against candle use in the dorms more seriously. “We have a candle in our room,” Vachuska said. “We never think to light it. Gonna throw that out!”
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Novato, CA – Single sprinkler prevents fire from spreading at restaurant May 15, 2015 viking210 An automatic sprinkler located above a dumpster next to a restaurant put out a fire Wednesday that could have spread to the restaurant, according to the Novato Fire District. Firefighters responded at about 10:30 p.m. to the fire in the dumpster in the 100 block of Vintage Way and verified that the fire was out. “This is a great example of how automatic fire sprinklers protect property, and keep businesses open,” Novato Battalion Chief, Fire Marshal Bill Tyler said in a statement. “If there was no fire sprinkler present, we could have had a large structure fire.” Crews replaced the sprinkler head and restored the automatic sprinkler system to its regular operating condition. Restaurant employees had discarded mesquite and hot coals into the dumpster, igniting the paper and cardboard inside. The sprinkler that put out the fire is on a wood trellis above the dumpster.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Napa, CA – Sprinkler puts out fire in hotel caused by unattended candle May 4, 2015 viking210 A lit candle on Friday morning ignited a hand towel in a guest room at the River Terrace Inn on Soscol Avenue, according to the Napa Fire Department. The hotel was evacuated. There were no reported injuries. Firefighters, who responded to the fire at 11:17 a.m., found an operating fire sprinkler-head in the bathroom of an occupied room on the third floor, said Fire Marshal Darren Drake. The sprinkler put out the fire, he said. One room was damaged, and 74 out of 105 rooms were rented when the fire broke Friday morning, Drake said.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Vallejo, CA – Sprinklers help limit damage in early morning restaurant fire April 28, 2015 viking210 Vallejo’s Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill will be closed for a week or more after suffering damage from a fire early Sunday that was still under investigation Monday, Vallejo Fire Department officials said. Firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at the Plaza Drive restaurant at about 5:22 a.m. Sunday and arrived to find the sprinkler system activated, Fire Prevention Manager Vince Sproete said. “The sprinklers kept the fire contained until crews arrived” and extinguished the small blaze that remained, he said. Fire damage was minimal and water damage, moderate, he said. All the surrounding establishments — Kaiperm Federal Credit Union, GameStop and Cold Stone Creamery — remain open for business, Sproete said. The fire’s cause is officially undetermined at this time, and Fire Department officials are working with the Vallejo Police Department on the ongoing investigation, he said.
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential Riverside, CA – Sprinklers hold flames in check at UC Riverside dormitory April 27, 2015 viking210 A trash compactor blaze triggered fire sprinklers that held the flames in check at a UC Riverside dormitory. The sprinkler alarm went off at 3:39 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Lothian Residence Hall, 500 West Big Springs Road. When firefighters arrived, smoke was billowing from the basement and first floor, and occupants were evacuating, Battalion Chief Thomas Jay said in a written statement. Crews found the fire in a basement trash compactor. Fire sprinklers held the blaze in check, and the crews of two fire engines and two ladder trucks soon put out the flames.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Belden, CA – Sprinklers help keep fire from spreading at guest lodge April 21, 2015 viking210 A fire of unknown origin burned a cabin and mobile home adjacent to Belden Town’s guest lodge Sunday, April 19, crackling to life in the wee hours of the morning. Quincy Fire Chief Robbie Cassou said a sprinkler system helped to keep the fire contained. He said the owner was also spraying water on the building when fire crews arrived. Apartments connected to the main lodge also suffered damage. According to resort manager Richard Folen, guests were evacuated as soon as the fire was discovered. Folen said there were three rooms with guests in them. He said there were also guests in cabins on the far side of the lodge from the fire, but they were allowed to stay in their rooms. The fire affected Cabin 8 and the west side of the lodge. It included the master suite, which owner Ivan Coffman calls home. Firefighters from communities all over the county responded to the fire along with the U.S. Forest Service and a Cal Fire crew from Butte County.
Auto Dealership, Retail Eureka, CA – Sprinklers help limit damage in fire at auto body shop April 21, 2015 viking210 An alert passerby coupled with a sprinkler system helped quell what could have been a much worse fire at Fred’s Body Shop on Saturday night. A malfunctioning paint recycler — an apparatus which separates and reclaims solvents from waste paint for reuse — at the shop, located on Indianola Cutoff, was the cause of the fire but the business’ commercial fire sprinkler system suppressed much of the flames. A passerby reported smoke and a small amount of fire coming from the shop and, at about 6:40 p.m., units from the Humboldt Bay Fire and Arcata Fire headed to the scene. The first arriving battalion saw smoke coming from the roof vents and forced open a door and found the fire in the back of the shop. Additional crews arrived and extinguished the flames with 15 minutes. As a result, Indianola Cutoff was closed for about an hour and a half. Damages were estimated at $6,000 but fire officials note the early notification and fire suppression system greatly minimized the damage potential for the body shop.
