Tag Archives: California

Apartment Building, Residential

Modesto, CA – Single sprinkler controls intentionally set fire by man under influence of methamphetamine

A Modesto man who set a pair of socks on fire to ward off a perceived intruder was arrested Sunday. Police say the man had been smoking methamphetamine earlier in the day. “These apartments have sprinkler systems,” said Modesto Fire Department Battalion Chief Hugo Patino. “One sprinkler activated and held the fire in check.” 

The incident occurred in the 2800 block of West Rumble Road just after 7 p.m., said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves. Officers believe the man might have been hallucinating due to drug use when he set the socks on fire. Graves said the suspect believed someone was trying to break into his home and thought the fire would scare him off.

The burning socks subsequently caught the bedroom on fire and the man had to evacuate with his wife and two children.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Riverside, CA – Sprinkler system helps control fire at sushi restaurant

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Firefighters responded to Sushi Station at 19029 Van Buren Blvd. shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday.  Smoke was coming from the rear of the restaurant and the building’s sprinkler system was active,  the Riverside Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. A restaurant employee said it will likely be closed for a couple of days while the damage is repaired.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Escondido, CA – Sprinkler system holds fire in check at shopping mall

A fire at Westfield North County mall in Escondido delayed its opening Sunday morning during the pre-Christmas shopping rush. The fire started near the Brookstone store on the south side of the mall, according to the Escondido Fire Department.  The sprinkler system above the fire area was activated, which helped contain the blaze while fire crews extinguished the remaining burning material. The Brookstone store suffered fire damage, and adjoining businesses sustained some smoke damage.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Watsonville, CA – Sprinkler activates to help control possible arson fire at auto body shop

Authorities investigated a small, Sunday night fire in the doorway on the first block of East Lake Avenue as an arson, Watsonville fire and police officials said.

About 10:30 p.m., police received a report of a structure fire at Auto Tech Auto Body at 18 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville police Sgt. David Rodriguez said. Officers responded to the scene to confirm the fire and firefighters arrived shortly after to extinguish it.

A door to the business was on fire but firefighters doused it within 5 minutes, Watsonville fire Capt. Rick Pettigrew said. Though there was no fire damage inside the building, a sprinkler system was set off by the heat.  Initial investigations showed the fire started at the door, leading investigators to believe someone started the fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Oakley, CA – Sprinklers keep fire from spreading at senior apartment complex

An automatic indoor sprinkler system kept a fire at an apartment complex for seniors from spreading, and fire personnel were able to evacuate residents before anybody was seriously injured, a fire chief said.

Fire Chief Hugh Henderson of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District said fire crews were called to the blaze at 4:18 p.m. and found light smoke coming from a hallway in the complex. Automatic sprinklers kept the fire contained to one room within a unit.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

San Leandro, CA – Sprinkler contains fire at manufacturer of shielding materials

The fire was reported around 7:45 p.m. at Nelco, a lead shielding manufacturer at 1840 Williams St., according to the Alameda County Fire Department.

Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the building and called a second alarm. The fire was contained within 30 to 40 minutes, and fire damage was limited to the area of origin, due to operation of a sprinkler head.

Firefighters had difficulty entering the building due to security modifications.  No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Pacifica, CA – Sprinkler helps contain hotel fire; No injuries and hotel remains operational

A fire broke out in the Pacifica Motor Inn, 200 Rockaway Beach, at about 9 a.m. last Tuesday, Dec. 2. Smoke and flames damaged a few rooms, but there were no injuries.

The first fire company that arrived reported smoke showing on the third floor. Fire companies worked their way up to the fire floor and made entry into a third floor room of the three-story hotel and found the fire, which was partially extinguished by the activation of a sprinkler head.

There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. Additionally, the hotel was able to remain in operation and guests were relocated to other rooms that were not affected by the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Visalia, CA – Sprinklers control fire at mall restaurant helping to minimize damage

Firefighters responded around 6:15 a.m. to the Sequoia Mall on south Mooney Boulevard after  maintenance workers called 911 to report a fire at the PHO KC Noodle and Rice Vietnamese restaurant. A sprinkler installed inside the mall managed to extinguish most of the fire and firefighters checked for flames in nearby areas of the mall.

Tulare County Environmental Health was called to evaluate total damage to the restaurant. Fire officials estimated the damage at $7,000 to the structure and about $1,000 to the contents of the restaurant. They estimated that $6.2 million was saved by fire sprinklers.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a small fan in the kitchen that was left on and malfunctioned overnight.