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

Retail, Shopping Mall

Lancaster, PA – Sprinkler system control fire at mall food kiosk

A fire caused damage at Park City Center in Lancaster on Friday morning.

The fire started in a food warmer at a kiosk in the center of the mall around 6:30 a.m., firefighters said.

The fire activated the sprinkler system. According to firefighters, there were two to three inches of water in the center of the mall and smoke throughout every wing.

There was moderate to heavy smoke in the center court.

Fans were brought in to clear out the remaining smoke. Some stores are now open.

Because there are restaurants in the mall, the health department was brought in to inspect them.

The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Mooresville, NC – Sprinkler system successfully extinguishes grease fire at hotel

Mooresville fire officials are crediting a hotel sprinkler system at the Hilton Garden Inn for protecting occupants and $11 million in property after it successfully extinguished a grease fire Sunday.

The March 1 grease fire began around 5:30 a.m. in the kitchen of the hotel located at 159 Gateway Boulevard in Mooresville.

“Although the hood suppression system activated, the fire spread to nearby cardboard boxes but was successfully extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system when three sprinkler heads activated,” and put the fire out before firefighters arrived on the scene, Mooresville Fire-Rescue said Monday morning in a statement.

Damage was limited to a small area of the kitchen, according to fire officials, who say the incident is a reminder to stay vigilant about fire safety when traveling.

“According to the US Fire Administration, each year, there are an estimated 3,900 hotel and motel fires that cause 15 deaths, 100 injuries, and $100 million in property losses,” MFR said. The hotel has a fire sprinkler system because building codes required it at the time it was built in 2007.

Apartment Building, Residential

Des Moines, IA – Fire sprinklers contain kitchen grease fire; No injuries reported

Residents were evacuated from an apartment on the south side of Des Moines early Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were called to 1516 Evergreen Avenue at around 5:45 a.m.

Fire officials say there was a grease fire in the kitchen of a first-floor apartment that caused water and smoke damage to the apartment and the hallway.

Fire Captain Tim Patava said there were no injuries in the fire and more than a dozen were evacuated.

Alarms and sprinklers were tripped by the fire and the fire was contained to that apartment.

Apartment Building, Residential

Dallas, TX – Early morning fire at high rise apartment sparked by wheelchair put out by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Flames inside a high-rise apartment were caused by a wheelchair that caught fire, officials say. 

Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded to a fire call around 6 a.m. Wednesday at the Cliff Manor Apartments near the 2400 block of Fort Worth Avenue. 

Investigators say the blaze was sparked by a wheelchair at the elderly housing community. 

Firefighters say when they arrived at the complex they could see light smoke coming from the top floor. When they reached the unit where the smoke was coming from, they say the sprinkler system had already extinguished the fire. 

Medics say an elderly man was in the unit when the fire sparked. He was transported to the hospital for a pre-existing medical condition, according to officials. 

Authorities say no one was injured during the incident. 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Kingston, NC – Fire sprinklers control two pallets of firewood set on fire outside Food Lion; No injuries reported

An individual seen in a Food Lion parking lot Friday morning is in custody after the grocery store’s outside firewood was set on fire.

The Kinston Fire Department received the call at 5:40 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, that two pallets of firewood were burning at the Food Lion, located at 2410 N. Herritage St., just outside the left entrance.

KFD Chief Damien Locklear said the store’s sprinkler system activated on the outside and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames. He said no firefighters were injured and the store was not open at the time.

“There was an individual in the parking area,” Locklear said. “The person is (in custody) with the KPD and we cannot release a name or age.”

The Kinston Police Department said a juvenile male is in custody in regards to the arson case, but the KPD was unable to release the juvenile’s motive for setting the pallets of wood on fire due to a joint investigation between the police and the fire department.

The Free Press was unable to reach Food Lion’s corporate office for comments.

Uncategorized

Mankato, MN – Sprinkler system stops commercial dryer fire; No injuries reported

Mankato authorities investigate the cause of a fire early Sunday morning.

The city says a commercial dryer fire started near 6:00 a.m. at 100 Raintree Road. The building’s internal sprinkler system was able to extinguish the fire by the time responders arrived.

The estimated damage cost is around $25,000.

According to the city, all occupants of the building got out safely with no reported injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

Appleton, WI – Apartment kitchen fire put out by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Officials credit a sprinkler system for limiting the spread of an Appleton apartment fire. Crews were called to the units along the 400-block of North Richmond Street around 6:00 this morning on the report of a water flow alarm. They found that a fire had started in the vent hood of a microwave–but was put out by the sprinklers. The apartment was vacant at the time and was being cleaned out. No one was hurt. Damage is estimated at 60-thousand dollars.

Apartment Building, Residential

Springfield, MA – Mattress fire on the 12th floor of apartment contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

The Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad is looking into what led up to a fire on the 12th floor of an apartment building.

Springfield Fire Capt. Brian Tetreault told 22News that the sprinkler system went off on the 12th floor at 414 Chestnut Street, after a burning mattress was dragged out of an apartment and into the corridor shortly before 6:00 A.M.

No one was injured in the fire.

A stretch of Carew Street near the building was briefly closed by police while firefighters worked.

Department Store, Retail

Durham, NC – Fire sprinkler helps put out fire at Home Goods store, caused by cash register; No injuries reported

Fire officials say an issue with cash register was the cause of an early morning fire at the Home Goods store located in the 8200 block of Renaissance Parkway.

Firefighters responded to the store to find several alarms activating and heavy smoke coming from the front door.

Authorities say 32 firefighters, with the help a full sprinkler system, quickly extinguished the fire.

The entire store sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

No one was injured and no other stores were affected.

The store will remain closed until the damage is repaired.

Apartment Building, Residential

Evansville, IN – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire thought to be arson

Early this morning, a fire call came in to dispatch.

The caller said someone had been set a fire outside an apartment on the 5th floor of Grandview Towers.

The sprinkler system went off and helped contain the fire until vcrews could make it upstairs and put it out.

Then about 20 minutes later, other crews were called to the Crossings Apartments, just a few blocks away, for another fire.

It was darkened down quickly as police became involved in the investigation.

Investigators believe both fires were deliberately set by the same person, and they are developing clues.

Grandview Towers has been in the news this week for elevators that do not work, where wheel-chair bound tenants on the 10th floor have no way down.

It’s unclear whether the elevators were working at the time of the fire.

This is a developing story…