Tag Archives: Canada

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

View Royal, BC, Canada – Condominium fire suppressed by home fire sprinkler system

Fire crews from both View Royal and Colwood responded to alarm bells ringing at the Four Pillars condo complex on Watkiss Way at 9:40 a.m. Friday.  The fire started in a bedroom and was caused by unattended candles and incense.

“If this hadn’t been a sprinkled building, this would have been a significantly different event,” said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst. “Thankfully the sprinklers kicked in and controlled the fire. It’s a good outcome today.”

Under provincial building code regulations this structure would not have been required to have fire sprinklers but thanks to the Town of View Royal’s proactive fire sprinkler bylaw, the damage was contained. This bylaw requires all new construction of duplexes or larger in the town to have fire sprinklers.

Officials say the fire was contained quickly, but there was some water damage and crews remained on scene to help salvage items, tarp other units and vacuum up the water. A neighbouring suite also experienced some water damage.

Three people in the suite were able to escape with no injuries and the displaced residents will be helped by Emergency Social Services with finding accommodations until their insurance can assess the damage.

Hurst noted the suite is not livable and temporary accommodations have been made for the family.

B.C. Ambulance Service, West Shore RCMP and BC Hydro were also on scene.

Retail

Blenheim, ON, Canada – Fire at tire store held in check by sprinkler system

There is still no word on how extensive the damage is after a fire broke out at the Canadian Tire store in Blenheim on Thursday morning. According to a spokesperson for the CK fire department, the damage estimate is still under review “due to the complexities of smoke and water damage.” The investigation continues but Chatham-Kent fire officials are confident it was an accident.

The fire started in the middle of the store and as firefighters began to extinguish the blaze, the sprinkler system discharged and contained the fire. “This incident has proven once again that fire suppression systems such as sprinklers provide another layer of defense against the dangers of fire,” says Assistant Chief Chris Case. “The activation of the system in this case managed to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading. Systems such as these protect lives and livelihoods.”

The fire department says automatic sprinkler systems have sustained an enviable record of protecting life and property for over 100 years. Yet, there are still common misunderstandings about the operation and effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems.

“A number of people believe that water damage from a sprinkler system will be more extensive than fire damage or that when a fire occurs every sprinkler head goes off,” explains Public Educator, Whitney Burk. “This is not the case as water damage from a building sprinkler system is less severe than the damage caused by a fire that is able to spread and sprinkler heads are individually activated by temperature.”

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Thunder Bay, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes oil fire at sawmill

On November 20, 2017 , at approximately 3:30 pm, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Service responded to the Resolute Saw Mill for a fire involving the heating system for the lumber drying kilns.

A total response of five pumpers and an aerial ladder, carrying twenty-one firefighters responded.

A power failure to the mill caused the circulating pump for the hot oil from the boiler to stop functioning. The circulating system was over pressured and the oil caught fire. The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the flames but the system remained pressurized and overheated.

After conferring with onsite staff, a plan was formulated to not interfere with the heating system and to let it cool naturally. Fire crews remained on scene until the oil had cooled to a safe temperature and the mill staff was confident the danger of fire or explosion had passed.

Staff will continue to monitor the system overnight and make assessments as to damage and repair costs in the morning.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Montreal, QC, Canada – Sprinklers help protect warehouse from suspicious fire

The arson squad is investigating what is being described as a suspicious fire in Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough.

The fire started inside a storage warehouse business located on Pontgravé Street, near Laurentien Boulevard at around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Police said the fire triggered an alarm which alerted firefighters and activated the sprinkler system.

The blaze was quickly put out and damage to the building was limited.

Montreal police spokesperson Manuel Couture said the fire started just inside the front door of the business.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they noticed that the glass door was shattered, raising the possibility the blaze was intentionally set.

 

Other Business

Montreal, QB, Canada – Overnight arson fire at business brought under control with help from sprinkler system

Montreal police are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out Saturday night in a commercial building in the Ahuntsic–Cartierville borough.  A fire alarm went off about 12:30 a.m., activating the sprinkler system in a business on Pontgravé St. The flames started near a trade entrance door but the fire was quickly brought under control with the sprinklers and the firefighters’ intervention.  A preliminary investigation suggests the fire was criminally set. When the fire department arrived, they noticed that the door was shattered, indicating arson, said police spokesperson Manuel Couture

Retail, Shopping Mall

St. Catharines, ON, Canada – Fire in loading dock area of retail store contained by sprinkler system

A partial evacuation of the Pen Centre was initiated late Thursday afternoon after a small fire started at the Dollarama store.  St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services Platoon Chief Rob Denhollander said the fire that broke out in the loading area was contained by the store’s sprinkler system.  Firefighters were dispatched about 5:25 p.m.  “Fire damage is minimal, but smoke and water damage is to be assessed,” he said on scene.

He said it will be up to an insurance adjuster to determine what store items can be salvaged.  The store is located opposite Winners, separated from the main part of the mall above an escalator.  Many shoppers and moviegoers had to leave the mall, Denhollander said.  “I’m sure there’s quite a few people who missed an ending (to a film),” he said, noting alarm bells were ringing.  No injuries were reported, he added, while also noting stores remained open.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Hamilton, ON, Canada – High rise apartment fire that started in garbage chute limited by sprinkler system

At 2:01 a.m., fire crews were called to a high rise apartment building at 43 Forest Ave. They found a fire on the second floor at Villa Marie III, in the building’s garbage chute. Fire officials say there was heavy smoke on the 17th and 18th floors.   There are no injuries, however, residents of the building were without power. The sprinkler system was activated during the fire, causing damage to the electric system in the apartment. Electra Utilities shut down power to the entire building, pending an inspection by the electrical safety authority.  Damage is estimated at $10,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kelowna, BC, Canada – Apartment balcony fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster says it is suspected the fire started when a cigarette butt was disposed of in a planter on the balcony by a resident at about 2:30 a.m. The peat in the planter ignited shortly before 5 a.m.  “But the good part of it is — and we are very big advocates of, not all buildings have them — is sprinklers on balconies,” he said. “The sprinkler activated and extinguished the fire as the guys got on scene. We didn’t actually spray any of our water on it.”  The fire caused significant damage to the balcony and vinyl siding, but was contained to that area.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Brandon, MB, Canada – Overnight fire at food processing plant suppressed with help from sprinkler system

Brandon firefighters and police responded to a report of a fire at the Maple Leaf Foods plant at 2:36 a.m. Tuesday morning. In a brief phone call this morning, Capt. Wade Ritchie confirmed news of the fire, which burned deep inside the hog processing plant. Ritchie said there was heavy smoke coming out when firefighters arrived on scene.  Brandon firefighters and police responded to a fire at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Brandon in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 3. No injuries have been reported.  Details regarding the nature of the fire were not yet available this morning, though Richie stated that the sprinkler system activated within the building, aiding efforts to douse the blaze.  Both police and firefighters said there were no injuries reported to authorities.

Brandon Police Sgt. Dave Andrews told the Sun that the fire was not considered to be suspicious in nature. Police attended the scene shortly after the fire began, but soon ended their involvement on scene.More information is expected later this morning.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charlottetown, PE, Canada – Sprinkler system activates to help control apartment fire

A Charlottetown woman will be out of her apartment for a couple of days after a fire in another apartment set off the sprinkler system in hers, says the Red Cross.  The occupants of seven apartments on Royal Court, off Queen Street, were forced from their homes by the fire early Sunday morning.  Most were able to get back into their apartments a short time later, the Red Cross said, but the woman living below the place where the fire started had her unit flooded. The Red Cross is helping the woman with food and a place to stay for the next couple of days.