Tag Archives: Early AM (5am-7am)

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Durham, NC – Fire at hotel contained by fire sprinklers

A fire broke out in a Durham hotel room, but the sprinkler system kept it from damaging the rest of the building, authorities said.

The Durham Fire Department said 33 firefighters responded to Marriott at Research Triangle Park, at 4700 Guardian Drive, after a structure fire was reported around 5:30 a.m. Friday.

When crews went to the room on the second floor, they found smoke but no fire.

The sprinklers put out the fire quickly, authorities said, and damage was limited to the room.

Officials said the hotel has been under construction, and there was a problem with the heater in the room.

People in the hotel were evacuated but were later allowed in the lobby.

Government Office, Government/Military

Washington, D.C. – Sprinkler activation contains fire at US General Services Administration building; No injuries reported

A fire is under control at a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) building in downtown D.C. Monday morning, fire officials said about 6:20 a.m.

D.C. Fire and EMS crews were called for a fire on the sixth floor of the 10-story GSA Regional Office Building at 301 7th St. SW. It wasn’t immediately known what time they were called.

Sprinklers inside the building were activated and contained the fire, officials said. “Once again Sprinklers proved effectiveness in containing a potentially major fire in a key facility. Sprinklers save lives and property,” D.C. Fire and EMS tweeted about 6:30 a.m.

There are no reports of injuries.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

East Lyme, CT – Sprinkler system keeps fire contained to seafood department at grocery store; No injuries reported

Responders quickly knocked down an early morning fire Saturday at Tri Town Market in Flanders, saving tens of thousands of dollars in potential damage to the grocery store.

Acting East Lyme Fire Marshal Raymond Hart said the store would be closed the rest of the day as the damage is evaluated, repairs are made and cleanup is completed. He said his office and Ledge Light Health District will evaluate the building to determine when it is safe to reopen.

According to Hart, dispatchers received a call reporting the fire around 6:11 a.m. Flanders Fire Department responded to the fire, which was upgraded to a second-alarm fire, along with mutual aid from Waterford, Old Saybrook and Poquonnock Bridge.

He said the fire originated in one of the deli cases in the seafood department; he said it appears the compressor in the unit overheated, igniting the insulation and creating flames eight to 10 feet tall. The sprinkler units kept the fire contained to the area, and firefighters got it knocked down by 6:19 a.m.

There were no injuries or structural damage to the building, though some of the suspended ceiling and electrical work will need to be replaced. Due to the smoke and water damage, much of the merchandise had to be disposed.

Apartment Building, Residential

Scranton, PA – High-rise apartment fire held in check by sprinkler system

Fire crews in Scranton are on the scene of another high-rise fire.

The call came in around 5:45 a.m on Thursday for a fire at the Adams High-Rise Apartments on Adams Avenue.

Officials say the fire started in a storage unit on the second floor.  The sprinkler system did go off.

Two residents were taken to the hospital for breathing in smoke, and a firefighter does have a minor injury.

A fire inspector is looking into the cause.

This is also the second fire at a high-rise in Scranton in less than 24 hours.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Knoxville, TN – Sprinkler system helps extinguish fire at gas station; No injuries reported

Officials are investigating after crews responded to a fire at a gas station early Saturday morning.

Rural Metro crews said they arrived on the scene of a reported structure fire on the 2000 block of East Governor Highway and found the sprinkler system activated and flowing water.

Crews were already working a house fire in East Knoxville, so assistance was requested from the City of Knoxville and Seymour Volunteer Fire Department, according to reports.

Officials said crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire with the help of the sprinkler system.

The Marathon gas station was not open at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Lompoc, CA – Fire held in check thanks to sprinkler system after break in at dentist office

Lompoc Fire crews responded to a fire at a local business Monday morning.

At around 6:11 a.m., Lompoc Fire crews responded to a report of smoke coming from a commercial strip mall at 1133 North H Street. 

Fire units arrived on scene to find smoke coming from within the building along with the fire sprinkler system active. 

Fire officials located the fire in the office area of a dental office. 

The fire was held in check by the sprinkler system. 

The fire sprinkler system was shut down and the fire overhauled. 

The business sustained extensive damage from the fire along with water damage from the sprinkler system. 

Upon arrival, fire personnel noticed that the property had been broken into. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Officials say they are currently classifying this incident as arson. 

Other - Retail, Retail

San Luis Obispo, CA – Fire sprinklers contain fire at PetSmart to one room; No injuries reported

Firefighters responded to a fire at PetSmart off Froom Ranch Way in San Luis Obispo just after 5:10 a.m. Sunday.

Fire officials say an employee of PetSmart called the department after getting to work and seeing flames. No other occupants were inside the building at the time of the fire.

The blaze was contained to one room, but the building was filled with smoke, and water from the sprinkler system.

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire within 10 minutes without injuries.

Officials with San Luis Obispo City Fire say they were no pet casualties. However, some of the store’s product was damaged.

Firefighters were able to ventilate the building, but there will be significant clean up.

PetSmart employees say they’re hoping to have the store open by 5 p.m. Sunday.

Officials say this could have been an electrical fire, but the fire marshal is still investigating.

Apartment Building, Residential

Coralville, IA – Fire contained to 3rd floor balcony thanks to fire sprinklers

Coralville Fire Department responded to a fire in the 900 block of 20th Ave. around 5 a.m. on October 16.

Firefighters say the sprinkler system extinguished the fire, and damage was contained to the balcony of the 3rd floor apartment.

Firefighters stayed on scene until 6:30 a.m.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The damage was estimated at around $10,000.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Longmont, CO – Early morning suspected arson fire at local church controlled by sprinkler system

An arson investigation is underway after police say a man broke into a historic church in Longmont and set it on fire.

Police say a man broke into the CENTRAL Longmont Presbyterian Church on Kimbark Street at 5:40 a.m. on Sunday. Fire investigators say suspect used accelerant to start the fire. The fire caused more than $5,000 in damage, but the alleged perpetrator was caught on camera.

As the sun filtered through the trees along Kimbark Street Sunday, the sound of mallets tapping lightly on a table could heard in a peaceful rhythm.

“The weather is beautiful today,” Carol Duarte with the Northern Colorado Caledonia Pipe Band said.

The Northern Colorado Caledonia Pipe Band was holding an outdoor lesson, after police say a man set fire to the church where they hold practice.

“Any time anybody is disrespectful or vandalizes someone else’s property it’s a sad thing,” Duarte said.

In the surveillance video a man can be seen peering into the glass door, near the Recovery Café area of the church. Then he readjusts his scarf to cover his face and that’s when police say he broke in.

“Like all our faith communities, they do incredible work in our community all the time. So it breaks our heart when our churches get targeted,” Jeff Satur, Longmont Deputy Chief, said.

Police said the suspect poured an accelerant on the floor, that some said smelled like gasoline, and took off. Officers credit the sprinkler system and fire crews for their quick response.

The church, which was built in 1905, suffered extensive damage. The band members said they will continue to improvise and have confidence the church community will be resilient.

“It’s a very vibrant church with a lot of programs that a lot of people benefit from,” Duarte said.

Police are hopeful someone will recognize the man in the video and help them make an arrest. If you have any information, call Longmont Police Dispatch at 303-651-8501.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, Uncategorized

Warrenton, VA – Stove top fire at senior citizen apartment complex extinguished by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Moffett Manor, a senior citizen apartment complex at 115 Manor Court, was evacuated Wednesday morning when a fire alarm summoned the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department, according to Chief Jason Koglin. No injuries were reported from a small fire in one of the apartments. 

A little before 6 a.m.an engine from the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at the apartment complex, Koglin said. 

Upon investigation, firefighters noticed the sprinkler system had been activated. They found smoke on the second floor and upgraded the call to a building fire just after 6 a.m.  

Firefighters found an apartment involved and discovered a small stove top fire that had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, Koglin said. 

The building was cleared for re-occupancy soon after.