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

Primary / Secondary School

Dallas, TX – Sprinkler system activates to help control early morning fire at school

Some classes at Parish Episcopal School’s Hillcrest campus are canceled Tuesday and Wednesday due to damage suffered while crews put out a fire at the school Sunday morning. Minor fire damage was done by the flames, which broke out in the attic of Building E — home to the Lower School’s main office, library and several classrooms — around 5:30 a.m., but water from firefighters and the building’s sprinkler system did “extensive” damage.

The fire was “quickly extinguished,” according to a Parish Episcopal School spokesperson. David Monaco, the Head of School at Parish Episcopal, wrote on Twitter that anything lost in the fire was “replaceable.”

Students in Pre-K through second grade will not have class Tuesday or Wednesday following the MLK holiday Monday. The after-school program was also cancelled for those days. Updates on any additional cancellations or relocations would be provided Wednesday. School officials have asked people to avoid going to the campus during the cleanup process, which began Sunday.  The Church of the Transfiguration, which shares the campus, did not suffer any damage to its buildings.

Other - Retail, Retail

Iowa City, IA – Early morning fire at Menards store doused by sprinkler system

Iowa City Fire officials say a sprinkler system did its job after a fire broke out at Menards on Tuesday. Fire crews responded to a fire alarm at the Naples Avenue business about 3:30 Tuesday morning. But officials say by the time crews arrived the fire had been mostly extinguished by the sprinkler system, with some small spot fires still going in the rack storage of a detached lumber storage building. No one else was at the store at the time and no firefighter injuries were reported. Battalion chief Brian Platz says the building mostly housed lumber and shingles and damage is estimated at $15,000. Platz says the fire appears to have originated in the area of a wood cutoff saw and was accidental in nature.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Brick, NJ – Single sprinkler head contains laundry fire at nursing home

Laundry ignited inside a nursing home early Wednesday morning, but one sprinkler kept the fire from spreading, Brick Fire Safety Chief Kevin Batzel said.

Brick police and firefighters were called to the Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation center on Jack Martin Boulevard at 4:40 a.m. where they found smoke in the facility’s basement, Batzel said.

The fire was inside a large, industrial-sized laundry cart filled with towels that had been pulled from a dryer, he said.

“It was being contained by a single fire sprinkler head, which had activated and caused an alarm in the building,” the fire safety chief said. “What could have been a potential catastrophe was prevented.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Encinitas, CA – Sprinkler system contains early morning apartment fire to room of origin; No injuries reported

The spread of a fire that broke out Thursday morning in an Encinitas apartment building was stopped by a fire sprinkler system, a city fire official said. A fire alarm was triggered just after 5 a.m. as the apartment’s sprinkler system was activated, alerting the Encinitas Fire Department to respond to the building in the 3000 block of Manchester Avenue in Cardiff, according to Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Kerri Berberet.

“The resident smelled smoke and attempted to extinguish a fire caused by a candle,” Berberet said. “During the process, a single fire sprinkler activated due to the heat produced by the fire.” Two engine crews were dispatched to the scene.  “The fire was out upon arrival of the initial fire crew; a second unit was requested for assistance,” Berberet said.

No injuries were reported, and other residents and apartments were unscathed. “With the activation of the fire sprinkler system and quick response by firefighters, the fire was contained to the room of origin,” she said.

Berberet pointed out that according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half, while an automatic fire sprinkler system cuts the risk of dying by about 80 percent, according to the association.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Coventry, RI – Early morning fire at business controlled with help from sprinkler system

Several businesses in Coventry were damaged Wednesday morning after a small fire triggered the emergency sprinkler system. The fire started at about 2:30 a.m. inside a building at 577 Tiogue Ave. The fire scorched an exterior door, but the sprinkler system kept the flames from spreading until fire crews could arrive at the scene.

Several businesses sustained heavy damage from the amount of water used by the sprinkler alarm. Central Coventry Fire District Chief Peter Lamb said the fire was accidental but would not comment on the cause. Nobody was in the building when the fire broke out.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Rapid City, SD – Fire at Safeway store held in check by sprinkler system; Store opens next day

According to a release from the Rapid City Fire Department, firefighters were summoned about 5:44 a.m. on Christmas Day to a fire alarm at the Safeway store, at 2120 Mount Rushmore Road. A fire in the deli area had activated two sprinkler heads, which kept the fire down until firefighters could douse the flames.

Some produce had to be discarded because of smoke exposure, and Oliver White, the department’s spokesman, said there was a small amount of water damage, but he added that the sprinklers were effective in keeping the small fire from spreading. The store was able to open the next day.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Shawnee, KS – Sprinkler system helps minimize damage in fire at Hy-Vee store

Shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday, a fire broke out in the deli kitchen area of the Shawnee Hy-Vee. Firefighters say workers were setting up for the morning buffet, when a hot steno lighter was put in storage. It spilled and caught fire.  Employees tried to extinguish the fire and a sprinkler inside the store did activate.  Fire Marshall Cory Sands says the fire was put out fairly quickly, but there is extensive smoke damage throughout the store.  Sands says all opened food will be thrown out, with a value of about $300,000.

A quick staff response – and sprinkler activation – helped save over $1 million in food and items. The store was evacuated, and no injuries were reported.  The Department of Agriculture has been called. They will have to inspect the store before it re-opens. Sands says he expects the store will be able to re-open this afternoon.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Pelham, AL – Equipment fire at manufacturing plant contained by sprinkler system

A Wednesday morning fire at a Pelham plant sent one employee to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Fire crews responded to a call at Coosa Composites LLC at 105 Pardue Road at 7 a.m. Plastic material and a piece of machinery caught fire, but it was mostly contained by the plant’s sprinkler system, according to the Pelham Fire Department.

Other Business

Easton, MA – Fire at team sports apparel company is minimized with help from sprinkler system

The fire at Pop Tops Sportswear, 10 Plymouth Drive, was reported to the Easton Fire Department about 6:52 a.m. when the fire alarm was tripped.  Pop Tops manufactures and sells custom team uniforms, apparel, work wear and promotional products.

When firefighters arrived, smoke was coming from the building. The 100×200-square-foot warehouse was filled with thick, heavy smoke, said Easton Fire Captain James Walsh. It took firefighters about 10-15 minutes to locate the fire inside the building.

“The toughest part was locating it because of the smoke conditions. The building was full of smoke.” Walsh said. “There was zero visibility.”

The blaze started inside of a room where equipment is cleaned. Walsh said one of the pieces of equipment ignited the fire.  The sprinkler system went off inside the building soaking some of the company’s merchandise.

“A lot of merchandise was ruined,” Walsh said.  The Stoughton and Raynham fire departments also responded to the scene and the Brockton Fire Department provided station coverage for Easton, Walsh said.

Given the materials inside the building – including clothing and chemicals – the fire could have been a lot worse, Walsh said.  “Everything worked well. The sprinkler system worked well, the alarm system went off. The guys were able to get in there quick and knock it down,” Walsh said.

Other Business

La Crosse, WI – Sprinkler system credited with controlling early morning fire at corrugating business

Firefighters are crediting a sprinkler system for controlling a business fire in La Crosse.  According to the La Crosse Fire Department, they were called to Badger Corrugating on Green Bay Street in La Crosse around 4:45 Tuesday morning.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke throughout the entire building, but the sprinkler system was controlling the fire.   There were no injuries but the building suffered moderate smoke and water damage.