Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Redwood City, CA – Possible arson fire at restaurant contained with help from sprinkler system October 12, 2015 viking210 Investigators say that a restaurant fire in Redwood City early Wednesday morning may have been caused by arson, according to police. Police and firefighters responded to Max’s Cafe in the 1000 block of El Camino Real around 5 a.m. Wednesday. Smoke was coming from the building and the automated sprinkler system had been activated, according to firefighters. Once inside the building, they were able to contain the fire to the kitchen. After the fire was out, firefighters began to notice signs that it may have been intentionally set, and investigators later determined that an accelerant was used, according to police. The restaurant sustained smoke and water damage, police said.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Mesa, AZ – Single sprinkler prevents fire from spreading at large business complex September 29, 2015 viking210 A sprinkler system kept a fire from spreading through a large Mesa business complex Monday morning. Crews from Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix and Chandler responded to the fire near Broadway and Alma School roads at around 6 a.m. The fire started in an area of the building that was packed with auto parts. Firefighters were able to gain control of the fire pretty quickly thanks to a working sprinkler system. “We know that sprinklers of course save lives but we also know, importantly for a business, that it saves a building and a business in itself,” said Deputy Chief Forrest Smith with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department. Smith said it appeared that one sprinkler head kept the fire in check. Officials said hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise and property were saved. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Food Processing, Manufacturing Columbus, GA – Sprinklers extinguish early morning fire at Kellogg plant September 28, 2015 viking210 Fire crews extinguished an early morning fire at the Kellogg plant on Victory Drive on Monday, according to Fire Marshal Rickey Shores. The fire happened around 5:22 a.m., originating in a commercial oven on an assembly line and activated the fire alarm. The sprinkler system activated by the alarm put the fire out. The oven was damaged and there was minor damage to the room; there was also no food on the line at the time of the fire and it appears to be accidental. There were no injuries in the fire and there is no estimated cost of damage. The Kellogg Company released a statement saying: “Kellogg’s Columbus, Ga., plant experienced an exhaust fan fire this morning, at approximately 5:45 a.m. No one was injured, as the plant was immediately evacuated and production has been halted, while we work to determine the extent of the damage,” said company spokesperson Kris Charles.
Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential Hampton, VA – Early morning fire at senior apartment building controlled by single sprinkler; No injuries September 27, 2015 viking210 Hampton fire officials say several units inside a retirement community were damaged after a fire early Thursday morning. It happened at the Seton Manor Apartments on Marcella Road. No one was hurt. According to Hampton fire officials, someone was cooking around 6:30 a.m. A pan with grease caught fire and set off the sprinkler. Bertha Davis said she and her neighbors woke up to fire trucks and sirens. “I heard the alarm go off and then I went to the door. People were in the hallway,” she said. “A lot of people had to come out in their night clothes. The ones that had walkers, they were in the hallway.” Despite the damage and the inconvenience, officials said the sprinkler system worked. “It did its job. It stopped the fire. That’s the most important part,” Stowers said. Stowers said it should take at least three days to completely clean the damage. 10 On Your Side tried talking to apartment managers about what happened and where the people displaced will go. They refused an interview, but sent a statement to 10 On Your Side late Thursday afternoon. The apartment says all affected residents to family homes or hotels while restorations are being completed.
Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail Mt. Pocono, PA – Daily operations unaffected at Walmart after sprinklers activate to control early morning fire September 22, 2015 viking210 No injuries or significant damage were reported in a fire occurring shortly before 6:30 a.m. Monday at the Mount Pocono Walmart, said Walmart corporate spokesperson Erin Hoffman. An HVAC unit malfunction started the fire, activating the sprinkler system which then damaged a small amount of store products in a back room, said Hoffman. The store was closed from 6:30 to 9 a.m., but daily operations otherwise will not be affected.
Other - Retail, Retail Tampa, FL – Early morning arson fire at business extinguished by sprinkler system September 19, 2015 viking210 An early morning fire at the Hookah Hut in South Tampa today has been ruled an arson, firefighters said. Tampa Fire Rescue responded to the business, 3215 Henderson Blvd., at 6:19 a.m. and found that the fire had already been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, according to a release from the agency. The Fire Marshal arrived to investigate and found that the front and rear doors of the business showed signs of forced entry, the release said. The Fire Marshal also discovered that the fire started in multiple places and found an unknown liquid with a strong odor. Tampa Fire Rescue’s HAZMAT team was called in to investigate the liquid. About $20,000 in damage was caused to the building and contents, firefighters said. Firefighters continue to investigate. Anyone with information should contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at (813) 274-7000 or use the anonymous tips page at www.tampagov.net/arsontips. Rewards of up to $2,500 or more are available for information leading to an arrest.
Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse Hanover Twp, PA – Warehouse fire held in check by sprinkler system September 16, 2015 viking210 A fire in the warehouse of CVS Caremark is under investigation. Crews responded to the facility shortly before 7 a.m. for commercial fire alarm — scanner reports indicated a commercial structure fire a short time later. Lt. Bill McDaniels of the Hanover Township Fire Department said that the fire was in the warehouse area where medicine was stored on racks. The fire did not spread and cause any structural damage to the building. “The sprinkler system activated, held it right there until we got in there,” he said. McDaniels added that crews extinguished the blaze quickly. Smoke billowed out of the building from a loading dock, and crews used fans to help ventilate the building. McDaniels said employees were in the building at the time of the fire, and said employees in the office portion of the building would be able to continue working. The warehouse, he said, would be off limits until the smoke cleared. McDaniels said the source of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Other Business, Place of Worship Amherst, NY – Sprinkler system activates to contain church arson fire September 8, 2015 viking210 A Molotov cocktail was thrown into a chapel early Saturday morning in Amherst. Amherst Police say that around 5:30 a.m. they responded to a fire alarm at the Chapel at Crosspoint. When they arrived they found that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown through a glass door and started a fire. A sprinkler system contained the fire. Damage was estimated to be $10,000. Amherst Police and the A.T.F are investigating the incident, including checking security cameras belonging to the Chapel and nearby businesses. Anyone with information is asked to call (716) 689-1364.
Food Processing, Manufacturing Enid, OK – Fire at food production facility controlled with help from sprinkler system August 30, 2015 viking210 AdvancePierre Foods had a small fire in one of its cooking stacks early Thursday morning. The fire, at 6:03 a.m., may have been caused by grease accumulation, said Enid Fire Marshal Kenneth Helms. The fire is categorized as a cooking fire and activated two sprinkler systems. Helms said firefighters had to pull back part of the roof membrane, and units were there for a couple of hours. No injuries were reported. The plant was shutdown for a short period. The plant is now open and the impacted area is closed until repairs can be completed.
Apartment Building, Residential Lexington, KY – Sprinkler system confines apartment fire to attic; No injuries August 25, 2015 viking210 A passerby spotted smoke coming from the roof of a building at the Forest Creek Apartments on Appian Crossing Way and called 911 around 6:30 a.m. Everybody made it out of the building safely. Firefighters say the fire started in the attic and sprinklers confined it there until crews arrived. The fire did not cause much structural damage, but some of the residents’ belongings did sustain some water damage. Officials say 12 families live in the building, but the fire only impacted two. Firefighters say it appears the fire was likely caused by an electrical problem. They say the sprinkler system likely saved the building.
