Tag Archives: California

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.

Residential, Single Family Home

Lafayette, CA – Sprinkler system helps stop fire in single-family home, Fire crews rescue dog

Crews responded around 8:45 a.m. to reports of a fire at a house on Kim Road and arrived to find that a sprinkler system inside the home had helped prevent the blaze from spreading, fire Capt. George Laing said.  Firefighters rescued a pet dog from a fire that damaged a hillside home in Lafayette this morning, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman said.

The home’s hillside location and its distance from the nearest fire hydrant made it tough to access and douse the flames, but crews were able to get the fire under control around 9:20 a.m., Laing said.

“All in all, this was a great job by the crews and a save by the sprinkler system,” the fire captain said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Chico, CA – Sprinklers contain fire at senior adult care facility

A Chico police officer rescued an elderly woman from her smoke-filled room Friday after a fire broke out at a senior adult care facility. Officer Carlos Jauregui was the first to arrive to The Courtyard at Little Chico Creek, 1777 Humboldt Road, where a small fire was sending thick, black smoke billowing into the room.

A facility employee called 911 just before 8:40 a.m. to report the incident, Chico interim fire chief Shane Lauderdale said. The small fire was contained by the facility’s sprinkler system, but several residents at the facility had to be evacuated.

Other - Retail, Retail

Costa Mesa, CA – Fire at Home Depot store held in check by sprinkler system

Costa Mesa firefighters doused a small blaze at a Home Depot store and a home on Thanksgiving.  The fire started around 9:30 a.m. when an extension cord malfunctioned at The Home Depot at 2300 Harbor Blvd., according to authorities.

When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke coming from the store’s garden center and forced their way in. A crew of about 17 quickly extinguished the flames, which had been held in check by a sprinkler system, according to the Fire Department. The fire caused about $1,000 in damage.