Tag Archives: Connecticut

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Stratford, CT – Sprinklers help contain fire at business caused by malfunctioning fluorescent light

A malfunctioning light fixture is the apparent cause of a Wednesday night fire on East Main Street.  Firefighters were called at about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday from an employee of Ashcroft Inc., who reported that there was a fire inside the building located at 250 East Main St. Several second shift workers told the Stratford Fire Marshal’s Office that worsening smoke conditions were visible inside the production area.

Nearby employees evacuated the facility and some used three portable fire extinguishers to control the fire. Fire department officials said the building’s sprinkler system was activated due to worsening conditions, which held the fire in check until firefighters arrived at 10: 27 p.m.  Firefighters under the command of Assistant Chief Timothy Brennan extinguished the fire a short time later. Power was cut to the affected area of the building, fire officials said.

No injuries were reported. The fire marshal’s office investigator determined the cause of the fire was a malfunctioning fluorescent light fixture. Firefighters cleared the scene by 12:08 a.m. Thursday.

Apartment Building, Residential

Westport, CT – Apartment kitchen fire put out by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire sprinkler system last Tuesday, January 20, is credited with putting out a stove fire at 1655 Post Road East, Unit 2901, said Assistant Chief Jeff Gootman. Arriving firefighters found flames had extended to the cabinets in the affected unit of the four-family town house. The Westport Housing Authority, which operates the complex, coordinated the cleaning and temporary relocation of two families, Gootman said. “The Westport Fire Department reminds residents to pay careful attention while cooking at all times,” he said. Westport Fire Department photos

Apartment Building, Residential

Norwalk, CT – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in controlling apartment fire; No injuries reported in 54-unit complex

Dozens of residents were displaced when fire broke out at a condominium building on Richards Avenue in Norwalk Monday. Officials from the Norwalk Police department said firefighters responded to a large fire at a condominium complex at 100 Richards Avenue around 4:30 p.m.

The 54-unit complex had to be evacuated as firefighters spent hours trying to control the fire. Flames were limited to one section of the building, but water from the sprinkler system and fire fight left all of the units close to uninhabitable.

Everyone who lives in the building got out safely and firefighters were able to rescue several pets, including Heather Smith’s dogs Annie and Mabel.  “I feel a little sick to my stomach. Right now I’m just glad to have these guys,” Smith said.

Firefighters from Norwalk, Rowayton and Darien all responded. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  The Norwalk Fire Department and Red Cross are assisting the victims and looking for donations. Gift cards or checks can be mailed or dropped off to the Norwalk Fire Department C/O Deputy Emergency Management Director Michele Deluca at 121 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk CT 06854.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Milford, CT – Early morning fire at senior apartment building controlled with help from sprinkler system

A firefighter suffered a minor injury but no tenants were injured in a fire early Tuesday morning at a senior housing apartment complex at 264 High Street. Firefighters said that at 4:23 a.m., Milford Fire Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a fire on the fifth floor of the 46-unit senior housing apartment complex. Milford firefighters arrived in three minutes and found active fire venting out of a fifth floor window.

“The structure is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, which had activated and slowed the fire’s progression,” said Battalion Chief Anthony Fabrizi. Firefighters deployed a hose line and made an aggressive interior attack, bringing the blaze under control very quickly. The fire was confined to the single fifth-floor unit, although smoke and water damage affected other units and floors within the structure. The occupants of the unit that burned managed to escape safely prior to the firefighters arrival. “Multiple tenants were evaluated on the scene by Milford Fire Paramedics but no injuries were reported,” Fabrizi said. “A Milford firefighter suffered a minor eye injury and was treated on the scene.”

The Milford Housing Authority was on the scene to assist any tenants affected or displaced by the fire. An investigation was conducted by the Milford Fire Marshal’s Division, and a cause has not been released at press time.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Orange, CT – Sprinkler system contains fire at TGI Fridays during busy Saturday night

A fire Saturday night at TGI Fridays was accidental and started in a kitchen exhaust hood, likely because of a malfunction, Fire Marshal Tim Smith said Sunday.

“It had nothing to do with cooking,” Smith said.  An alarm at the restaurant set off by the sprinklers being activated came into fire headquarters just about the same time an astute manager noticed water dripping from the ceiling was discolored, indicating fire, Smith said.

Smith said that because it is a wooden building, the restaurant at 348 Boston Post has sprinklers above and below the ceiling, as required by law.  He said that while the fire was contained to the ceiling area and extinguished quickly between sprinklers and firefighters, there is extensive smoke damage to the entire restaurant, the electricity had to be cut off and the food can’t be kept, so there is no saying when the business will reopen, Smith said.

 It was a busy Saturday night and all customers and employees evacuated safely, as employees handled the event well, he said. “If that building didn’t have sprinklers, it would have been a different outcome now,” Smith said. He said even if not required by code, sprinklers are a great idea.

Fire agencies from Orange, Woodbridge and West Haven responded to the call that came in at 8:44 p.m., Smith said.

Although the sprinkler system worked as it should have, firefighters had to open the roof up to locate the fire and assure the fire was out.

Smith said cleanup by a restoration company is underway.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Shelton, CT – Sprinkler system activates to contain restaurant fire

On 10/05/17 at 10:26 am the Huntington Co. #3, Echo Hose Co. #1 and the Pine Rock Co. #4 responded to a fire alarm sounding at the Red Lotus Restaurant #880 Bridgeport Avenue. Upon arrival firefighters found the occupancy filled with smoke and the fire sprinkler system activated. Further investigation by firefighters found a fire had occurred in a pot of food in the rear of the restaurant. The fire sprinkler head that activated kept the fire contained until firefighters arrived. The restaurant sustained smoke and water damage while adjacent stores sustained water damage. Two engines and one ladder truck responded.

Child Care Facility

Ridgefield, CT – (No Media Coverage) Fire at child daycare extinguished by sprinkler system

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE ** A “Sprinkler Saves” blog follower has reported that an activated sprinkler system helped put out a fire at Almost Home Childcare last week in Ridgefield, Connecticut.  No injuries were reported to children or staff.  There was no media coverage of the fire, however, the Almost Home Facebook page includes additional details … https://www.facebook.com/AlmostHomecc/

 

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

Stamford, CT – High rise apartment fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The occupants of four apartments at 66 Summer St. were displaced Sunday by a small fire that broke out in the kitchen of a sixth-floor unit of the 14-story building, according to the Stamford Fire Department. No one was reported injured in the fire shortly after 2:30 p.m., which drew a major response from the fire department. At 2:39 p.m. the Stamford fire department received an automatic alarm notification for the building, followed by reports of smoke on the sixth floor, according to Deputy Fire Chief Pat Tripodi.

The fire was quickly doused by the sprinkler system of the building, but firefighters sounded a second alarm, bringing a total of five engines, two trucks, a heavy-rescue vehicle and a deputy chief to the scene based on finding smoke on the sixth floor, according to the fire department. The sprinkler system contained the fire to the kitchen area where it started, Tripodi said. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the city’s Fire Marshal’s Office. The occupants of the four apartments were being relocated, according to the fire department.

Apartment Building, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Hamden, CT – Fire at university apartment complex contained with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Three Quinnipiac University students in three apartments were displaced due to water damage after a kitchen fire in a student housing complex Tuesday evening, officials said. There were no injuries reported in the fire at the Whitney Village Quinnipiac University student housing complex at 3075 Whitney Ave.  The Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to the kitchen fire at 6:24 p.m. after being notified by the Quinnipiac security office.  Engine 5 arrived on scene at 6:26 p.m. and said students were already evacuating the building into the parking area, according to a released from the fire department. Light smoke was showing in the interior hallways and stairwell leading to the second-floor apartment, the release said.

Capt. Ed Evers reported a sprinkler activation in the kitchen of apartment six. Hamden firefighters confirmed the fire had been extinguished and checked for extension into the walls and attic area. Salvage work to contain the damage from water run-off and ventilation of the building followed, according to the release. Quinnipiac security and maintenance personnel were on scene to assist students. All three displaced students were successfully relocated by the university, officials said.

Hamden Fire Marshal Brian Dolan determined the fire ignited as a student resident was cooking on the stove top. The student attempted to control the fire with a hand-held extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. The resident in apartment six notified the building resident assistant of the fire, who in-turn notified QU security and the fire department, and assisted with the safe evacuation of students, fire officials said.

“Residential sprinkler systems, such as the one in place at this location, are an effective means of fire control and help to minimize structural damage,” fire officials said in the release. “When combined with an audible and monitored alarm system, residents have timely notification of incipient fires and a greater chance of safe building evacuation.” The Hamden Fire Marshal’s office and the Quinnipiac Safety Department work together in an on-going basis to maintain and inspect these important systems, officials said.  “We are grateful that there were no injuries reported,” Quinnipiac spokesman John Morgan said. “That is due in large part to the swift action by the Hamden Fire Department and the university’s public safety and facilities departments to extinguish the fire and contain the damage to the building, which has a fully functional fire-protection system. The three students affected by the fire have been reassigned to new units while the damaged units are being repaired.”

Other Business, Place of Worship

Hartford, CT – Sprinkler system keeps fire in check at commercial building; No injuries reported

Several tenants are assessing damage on Sunday after a fire at a commercial building that housed a church in Hartford on Saturday night.

Firefighters say flames sparked around 10 p.m. on 806 Windsor Street in the Capitol City.

Officials are saying the sprinkler system helped to keep the fire in check.

According to the Hartford Courant, there were no injuries reported.

It is not clear what started the fire or how much damage the building sustained.