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

Apartment Building, Residential

Spokane, WA – Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system before fire crews arrive

At 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, Spokane firefighters responded to fire alarms going off at a South Hill apartment complex at 3210 E 44th Ave. 

A mom and her baby were in their apartment when a candle was accidentally knocked onto a bed and started the fire. The mother and child safely got out of the building.

According to Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer, the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire before crews even arrived. Damage was contained the bedroom where the fire started.

Fire alarms effectively notified people in nearby units. Up to 25 people evacuated but were able to return to their apartments when fire crews got there. 

The mom and baby are now unable to stay in their unit because of smoke damage. Chief Schaeffer said Tuesday the building owner was working with the mother on a place for them to stay. 

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Houston, TX – Sprinkler system helps contain warehouse fire near Bush Airport

Firefighters with the Houston Fire Department put out a warehouse fire near Bush Intercontinental Airport early Thursday morning.

Just after midnight, seven HFD units responded to the large fire at the warehouse on Lee Road at North Road.

Heavy smoke was coming from the warehouse where a pallet with merchandise on it somehow caught fire.

According to District 102 Chief Charles Medina, the sprinkler system inside the warehouse kept the fire contained.

If the sprinkler system hadn’t been in place, Chief Medina said, the fire could have become a 2-alarm or 3-alarm fire.

“That sprinkler really did helped out a lot. It kept (the fire) in check. And that’s what a sprinkler system does, it doesn’t completely extinguish it, but it does keep it in check.” he said.

There was merchandise from various businesses, like Amazon, inside the warehouse to be shipped by plane.

Medina said there was no structural damage and no injuries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

San Carlos, CA – Sprinkler system prevented fire from spreading in commercial building

San Mateo County Fire Department crews battled a 2-alarm fire at a commercial building in San Carlos early Tuesday morning, according to fire dispatch and reports.

The blaze was first reported at 6:01 a.m. at 642 Quarry Road in San Carlos. Redwood City fire crews also responded to the scene and reported on Twitter that the building’s sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading further.

Crews said the cause of the fire was under investigation and additional information was not immediately available.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Suffolk, VA – Early morning fire at peanut processing facility extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Birdsong Peanuts processing plant on Factory Street in Suffolk caught fire Monday morning.  According to a news release from the Suffolk Fire Department, crews were called to the 300 block of Factory Street around 5:10 a.m. after receiving reports of a fire at Birdsong Peanuts. When crews arrived there were no visible signs of smoke or fire from the outside, but after a physical inspection of the property, firefighters found heavy smoke and fire on the 7th floor of the facility.  Crews used ladder trucks and the help of a sprinkler system to extinguish the fire.  Seven employees were evacuated from the building and no one was injured.

Other / Not Specified

Erie, PA – Several animals rescued after sprinkler system controls fire at environmental center

Firefighters were called to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center to put out a fire in a laboratory room Sunday morning.  It was reported around 5:41 a.m.  An aquarium system caught fire, creating smoke in the east wing of the building, according to West Lake Fire Department.  The fire activated a sprinkler, but firefighters had to extinguish what was left of the fire, the fire department said.  Several turtles and a garpike were rescued.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Concord, MA – High school fire caused by malfunctioning electrical equipment with fish tank is contained by sprinkler system

A fire started in Concord-Carlisle Regional High School the morning of Tuesday, July 31 at approximately 5:40, according to district spokesman Tom Lucey.  Members of the Concord Fire Department and the state fire marshal were still investigating the incident, but the officials suspect electrical equipment associated with a fish tank caused the fire.  Lucey said the fire was contained quickly by the school’s sprinkler system and only one room was damaged by the fire. The Concord Fire Department arrived shortly after to make sure the fire was out and the area was safe.  Water damage from the sprinklers was more extensive, affecting 12 classrooms on the third and fourth floors and the school’s gymnasium.  No one was believed to be injured as a result of the fire, according to Lucey, who said he believed the building was empty when the fire started.

While the school is still assessing the damage, Lucey said the fire was unlikely to change the start of the school year, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Massillon, OH – Ventilation system fire at corrugated paper mill extinguished by sprinkler system

Firefighters investigated small fire in the ventilation system at Fibercorr Mills, LLC Friday morning on the city’s northwest side. Firefighters arrived shortly after 6:30 a.m. to the corrugated paper mill at 670 17th St. NW. The fire was extinguished by the company’s sprinkler system prior to their arrival.  Capt. Chris Schweier said the fire was still smouldering and firefighters checked the building for hot spots.  Paper making is a messy process that generates a lot of dust and paper particles, he said. The dust collected in the ventilation system and caught fire after being exposed to heat.  No injuries were reported, Schweier said.

Other - Retail, Retail

Hilltown, PA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at Home Depot

A June 28 fire at Home Depot in Hilltown Plaza on Route 113 was extinguished by the store’s sprinkler system, A.J. Mazzola, district manager for Home Depot Philadelphia, said.

The fire company also responded and made sure the site was safe, he said.

The fire happened a little before the store’s 6 a.m. normal opening time, he said.

“It was contained pretty fast and nobody was injured,” he said.

The store opened for the day about 11:30 a.m., he said as clean-up crews continued to work in the main entrance area about 12:30 p.m. Although the main entrance was still closed at the time, customers were able to enter the building through other entrances.

“Now we’re just cleaning up the residual water from the sprinklers,” Mazzola said.

“It’s crazy how much water comes out of those sprinklers,” he said, “which is good. It keeps everybody safe.”

At some places in the store, the water was initially two to three inches deep, he said.

The fire was apparently from an electrical malfunction, Mazzola said. The fire marshal and electricians were on the scene, he said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Prince George, VA – Early morning apartment fire caused by water heater is quickly put out by sprinkler system

A Prince George woman says an issue with her water heater forced her family to run from smoke and flames Wednesday morning.  Eleven people – six adults and five children – had to leave from their homes, but it’s thanks to the building’s fire suppression sprinkler system that the fire was quickly put out. All three floors of the apartment building suffered water damage, and no one was injured.

“I got my children up for school, and I saw nothing but smoke when they were taking a shower,” explained Tasha Powell. “I woke up and I smelled some burning, and I got up and got the kids out and there was a flame coming from up under the door.”

Powell says the fire started in her third floor apartment around 6:30 a.m. at Denmark Square at Puddledock Apartments. Firefighters said a water heater caught fire on the third floor. Powell says just a day before the fire, she had complained to maintenance about a burning smell coming from the water heater.

“Yesterday, I did complain to the office. I thought they had come and corrected the problem, because yesterday, they knocked my breaker off, and when I came back, the breaker was on,” said Powell. “I guess they hadn’t fixed the problem.”

Neighbors say they have been told it could be up to three days for those on the second floor to get back to their homes. Those who live on the third floor, with the most damage, have not been given a timeline. All three floors of the apartment building suffered water damage.

The leasing office of the Puddledock Apartments had no comment about the situation and could not give a timeline of when people can return home.

Fire crews are continuing to investigate what caused the water heater to ignite.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Plymouth, MA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in high school classroom

Classes will take place as scheduled at Plymouth North High School despite a small fire that broke out inside a classroom early Monday morning.

The fire started just after 6 a.m., but was put out by the sprinkler system.

No students were inside the school yet. Some students and staff members who were in the parking lot were held in their cars and buses while firefighters investigated.

They were then sent to the performing arts center, school library, and classrooms that were safe to enter.

The Plymouth Fire Department said the fire does not appear to be suspicious. A cause was not released.

“We are thankful to the Plymouth Fire Department and our staff for their swift and efficient response,” the school said in a statement.