Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

Apartment Building, Residential

Roanoke County, VA – Sprinkler system controlled apartment fire until fire crews arrived

Crews from the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department battled an apartment fire Saturday evening.

According to fire officials, crews responded to a report of a commercial fire alarm in the northern part of the county at approximately 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 in the 5300 block of Hawthorne Road.

When crews arrived on scene, they found smoke showing from a third story window of a large multi-story apartment building.

The apartment was occupied at the time of the fire by a single adult.

Everyone in the building was able safely evacuate the building without injury. In addition, the fire was knocked down within about 10 minutes.

The department says the building’s sprinkler system was able to keep the fire controlled until firefighters arrived.

According to fire officials, damage is minimal but some water damage did occur in the apartment the fire originated as well as some of the units below.

The occupant of the apartment will be displaced and is being helped by the American Red Cross.

The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Apartment Building, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler systems kept weekend fires in check

Firefighters are crediting automatic sprinklers with keeping weekend fires under control over the weekend.

Officials with the Madison Fire Department said crews were first dispatched to a building on Research Park Boulevard Friday evening for a report of a machine on fire. When they made it to the fire, firefighters found it had been contained to the machine it started in thanks to an activated sprinkler just above it. Crews fully extinguished the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher.

All of the employees at the facility safely evacuated when the fire alarm first sounded. No one was injured.

On Sunday morning, firefighters responded to the 5600 block of Black Onyx Drive after a caller reported seeing flames coming from a balcony.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire had been extinguished by a sprinkler on the second-floor balcony. Crews made their way to the balcony and confirmed there was no active fire, but they did find evidence there was one.

The fire didn’t extend past the siding into the building. Officials determined it was caused by a candle that had been burning on the balcony above.

No one was displaced by the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a report of a structure fire at the El Lago Apartments, 3400 Craig Dr., at 6:40 p.m., Monday, April 19.

The fire originated on the balcony and a single fire sprinkler head in the apartment’s living room area extinguished the fire and kept the flames from spreading into the apartment.

Fire investigators determined the fire was started by a child playing with a lighter. The child was referred to the MFD’s Youth Firesetter Program.

Here is information for teaching your child about fire safety:

  • Lead by example. You cannot expect your child to treat fire any differently than you do.
  • Explain why they cannot use fire.
  • Treat matches and lighters like tools. Give these items the same respect you would knives, kitchen appliances, hammers, etc.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of reach of all children.
  • Reward children for making right decisions with matches and lighters.
  • Make clear the punishment for the improper use of matches and lighters.
  • Encourage your child’s school to promote fire safety in the classroom.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 7,000 fires annually are started by children playing. More than half of those fires are started with a lighter.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Grand Forks, ND – Fire contained by sprinkler system at mill; No injuries reported

A piece of machinery at a mill in Grand Forks started on fire, leaving $10,000 in damages at the plant.

The Grand Forks Fire Department says they were called to the State Mill in the 1800 block of Mill Rd. around 8 p.m. on Monday, April 19.

When crews arrived, they learned a sprinkler system in the building went off and contained the fire the single piece of equipment.

Firefighters believe the fire started because of a mechanical failure.

No one was injured by the flames.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

Clark County Fire Department responded Tuesday evening to a fire at a Walmart on Boulder Highway.

At approximately 9:33 p.m. firefighters responded to occupants evacuating the building which had light smoke throughout. A pallet of paper goods had burned setting off sprinklers in the store.

The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported.

The cause is unknown at this time.

This is is an ongoing investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Spokane, WA – Fire at apartment complex controlled by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived; No injuries reported

At least two residents of a 32-unit Spokane apartment complex were displaced Sunday by a fire caused by a candle placed “too close to combustibles,” according to the Spokane Fire Department.

The fire was reported at around 6:15 p.m. at the West 315 Apartments on Mission Avenue and Washington Street.

The caller reported smoke from a second-floor apartment window and a fire alarm going off, according to the fire department.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes to a blaze on the second floor of the three-story apartment building.

The building, according to the fire department, is equipped with a fire and life safety system that includes a commercial fire sprinkler system, which did help keep the fire’s growth under control until personnel arrived.

More than 30 firefighters were needed to search the burning apartment, evacuate nearby units and survey the damage, firefighters said.

Nobody was injured, while firefighters rescued three cats.

Those affected have accepted assistance from the Greater Inland Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross. Firefighters said Monday afternoon that up to six more disabled residents could be temporarily relocated.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental.

“The SFD reminds our community that when using lit candles, to place them in sturdy, safe candle holders that will not burn or tip over,” department officials said in a statement. “Although we prefer battery-operated flameless candles, if candles are used, please keep them at least 12 inches from materials that can burn and never leave a candle unattended.”

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Walmart

Fire investigators believe a Sunday night fire at the Walmart Supercenter on at Charleston and Decatur boulevards was “intentionally set.”

The fire started just before 8 p.m. in the rear of the store in the paper towel aisle creating a large amount of smoke. According to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, automatic fire sprinklers quickly helped douse the flames.

When fire crews arrived at the scene, people were already in the process of evacuating the store. One person was injured when they tripped and fell during the evacuation. That person was treated by paramedics and transported to the hospital.

Damage was estimated at $200,000, mostly due to smoke damaging items in the store. Structural damage was estimated at less than $10,000. Firefighters and employees of Walmart worked quickly to make sure water from the sprinkler system did not damage the store further.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment kitchen fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters are crediting automatic sprinklers installed in an apartment on Madison’s near east side with quickly extinguishing a kitchen fire before it could spread further.

Authorities said occupants of the apartment complex in the 800 block of Williamson Street were evacuating the building as firefighters arrived just after 6 p.m. Tuesday.

When crews entered the building and made it to the second floor where the fire initially broke out, they found an automatic sprinkler flowing, but no active fire. Crews then shut off the sprinkler system and worked to remove water from the unit.

The occupant of the unit where the fire started told firefighters they were heating up a butane-powered hot pot when flames began coming from the butane bottle rather than the burner. The occupant threw water on the flames which caused a flare-up that triggered the sprinkler. The sprinkler put out the fire before firefighters arrived.

No one was injured in the incident, according to fire officials.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Tempe, AZ – Sprinkler system extinguishes stove fire at University Towers

One person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a small kitchen fire broke out at the University Towers student housing complex Tuesday evening, according to Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department spokesperson Brandon Siebert. 

The occupant who was injured suffered smoke inhalation and other minor injuries after falling while evacuating the building. Another person was evaluated by paramedics on scene but declined any further care, Siebert said.

Three people were temporarily displaced by the fire: two people from the unit that caught fire on the second floor, and one in the unit below, which sustained water damage, Siebert said.

The fire started after a frying pan with cooking oil was left on the stove unattended, Siebert said. The building’s automatic fire sprinkler system extinguished the flames and prevented the fire from spreading to other apartments.

University Towers is located at 525 S. Forest Ave. in Tempe.

Other - Retail, Retail

Elkhart, IN – Fire at paint shop held in check by sprinkler system until fire crew arrived; No injuries reported

Elkhart Fire Department crews were called to a local paint shop after a motor home inside the shop caught fire.

The blaze was reported around 6:50 p.m. on Friday, March 19, in the 5300 block of Beck Drive.

While en-route multiple 911 callers reported the structure on fire.

A large plume of smoke from the roof was seen by crews arriving at the site.

Employees told crews the fire was actually a large diesel motor home inside a paint booth.  They said they tried to use fire extinguisher but were unsuccessful in putting out the fire.

It took about 90 minutes to douse the flames.

There was no significant structural damage to the building and no firefighter or civilian injuries reported. 

The building was equipped with a fire sprinkler system within the paint booth which held the blaze in check until fire crew arrived.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.