Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

Haverhill, MA – Restaurant basement fire kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A basement fire in the Roma Restaurant interrupted dinner for several dozen customers Thursday evening.

The sprinkler system did its job and kept the blaze from causing more extensive damage, according to Deputy Fire Chief Eric Tarpy. Employees and diners left the 29 Middlesex St. restaurant quickly and there were no injuries, Tarpy said.

It was too soon Thursday night to say whether the popular restaurant, a fixture in Haverhill for more than 50 years that specializes in Italian cuisine, would be able to reopen, Tarpy said. City inspectors will assess the situation, he said.

The fire was reported at 7:33 p.m. Engine 3, from the main station on Water Street, was the first to arrive and firefighters encountered heavy smoke in the kitchen, Tarpy said. A thermal imaging camera helped firefighters get to the source of the fire in the basement, he said.

They hooked up a line to a hydrant located in front of the Roma and doused the fire. Firefighters then went to work ventilating the building.

An alarm at the restaurant alerted the Fire Department, Tarpy said. Telephone callers also reported the fire, he said. The single-alarm blaze brought a full response from the city’s firefighting force. Besides Engine 3, Engines 2, 4 and 5, Ladder 1 went to the scene. Three Trinity ambulances also responded.

Companies from Groveland, Lawrence and Methuen provided coverage at the 16th Street, High Street and Water Street stations while Haverhill firefighters were deployed to the Roma. Salem, New Hampshire sent its ladder truck.

Many of the diners and employees went to the parking lot across the street from the restaurant. Daniel Stanford, who has been a cook at the Roma for six years, said it appeared the compressor on an ice machine in the basement caught fire.

The sprinklers activated quickly and doused the fire, he said, but it still produced thick, black smoke.

Sharyn Linzey, of Haverhill, a regular customer at the Roma, said she had just finished eating a pizza when the smoke alarms went off. Employees ordered “everybody out!” she said.

“I didn’t get to finish my soda,” she said. “I hope they reopen tomorrow (Friday) because they have karaoke at 9.”

Terry Connolly and his wife Peggy were sitting at the bar sipping wine, waiting for dinner.

“Her salad had just come out. Next thing I know, the alarms go off,” Terry said. He never did get to enjoy his garden salad with chicken, he added.

The Connollys, of Haverhill, have been regular customers at the Roma for many years. They generally eat there once a week, they said.

“Everybody was good about getting out,” Terry said.

Fire engines began leaving the scene by around 9 p.m.

Salt Lake City, UT – Sprinkler system puts out oil fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

Crews responded to a report of  an oil fire at an apartment in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City Thursday evening.

“Fire crews responded to a fire alarm at 150 E. 1st Ave. with reports of flames,” said a tweet from Salt Lake City Fire Department at 8 p.m. “Upon arrival sprinkler activation had extinguished an oil fire on a cooking range.”

No one was injured as a result of the fire.

“Crews are assisting in shutting off the sprinkler and will be clearing shortly,” the tweet said.

Shrewsbury, NJ – Sprinkler system puts out dryer fire at assisted living facility

Residents who are part of an assisted living community off Route 35 were temporarily evacuated Thursday evening after a fire broke out in a basement dryer in one of the residential buildings, authorities said.

The incident occurred at Brandywine Living at The Sycamore, according to Facebook post from Shrewsbury Hose Company 1.

The incident was first reported after 6 p.m.

“The fire was quickly extinguished by the sprinklers and our firefighters,” the post said. “An evacuation of the facility was initiated with the assistance of Shrewsbury PD (Police Department), and several Fire and EMS partners were requested for assistance. Damage was limited to the dryer room, and all of the residents were returned to the building.”

The Eatontown Fire Department and EMS, Little Silver Fire Department and EMS, Oceanport Fire Department, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County EMS Task Force and Shrewsbury and Eatontown police departments all responded to the blaze, the post said.

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system activation extinguishes fire at a Las Vegas Strip casino

Firefighters investigate reports of a fire at a Las Vegas Strip casino.  

Clark County Fire officials responded to a reported fire at the Palazzo Hotel Wednesday night around 6:46 p.m.

The fire was reported to be in an area under construction in what was referred to as a “Fan” room, according to Clark County Fire officials. 

The Battalion Chief requested an additional engine, truck and rescue to be added to the response. While arriving at the property, the crew found smoke coming from a below grade area. The fire sprinkler system activated and appeared to extinguish the fire.

Once crews were able to access the area, firefighters found the fire had been contained to some trash that had accumulated.

There was no damage reported to the structure and there were no injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Quincy, IL – Compressor fire kept in check by fire sprinklers

QUINCY, IL — Tri Township Fire responded to a fire at Titan International Inc. at 27th and Spruce in Quincy Tuesday night.

Assistant Fire Chief Darren Smith says the compressor caught fire in the compressor room around 6 p.m. and spread into the employee locker room.

Firefighters found heavy smoke on arrival.

Smith said even though the sprinkler system kept the fire in check, extensive repairs are needed.

Plainfield Township, MI – Classroom fire quickly extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Sprinklers put out a small fire in a Northview High School classroom Monday evening.

The Plainfield Township Fire Department says the fire was out by the time fire crews got on the scene. No one was hurt.

Photos posted to the department’s Facebook page show minimal fire damage to a lab.

The cause of the fire has not yet been released.

Tuesday classes are not expected to be affected.

Kent, WA – Sprinkler system in bedroom of apartment keeps fire contained to one room

A fire alarm helped a family evacuate a burning Kent apartment Wednesday night, the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority reported.

The fire, reported at 7:07 p.m. started in the bathroom then burned through the door into the bedroom, causing the sprinkler head to activate along with the fire alarm at the Riverwood Apartments, 24600 block of Russell RoadSouth.

Hearing the alarm, family members were able to safely evacuate the apartment and call 911.

Puget Sound Fire units arrived with smoke coming from the front door. Entry into the home was quickly made, and the fire extinguished in the bathroom.

Thanks to the sprinkler in the bedroom, the fire did not get beyond the bathroom door, Puget Sound Fire said.

The apartment below the fire had damage from the water used to extinguish the fire above.

American Red Cross was called and arrived to help the two displaced families.

The cause of fire is still under investigation.

Spencer, IA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in Livestock Pavilion at fairgrounds; No injuries reported

Authorities say a sprinkler system likely helped to reduce damage when a fire broke out inside a massive building on the Clay County Fairgrounds Sunday night.

The Spencer Fire Department encountered a large amount of smoke coming from the Livestock Pavilion when it arrived on the scene about 8:45 p.m.

Authorities say a truck parked inside the building had caught on fire, but what was left of the fire was quickly extinguished.

No injuries were reported.

Fair officials are assessing damage Monday.

They say owners of items stored in the building will be contacted today by fair officials.

Winter Haven, FL – Fire at senior citizen apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A kitchen fire led to major damage at a Winter Haven apartment complex for senior citizens.

Before 8 p.m. Monday, Winter Haven firefighters responded to an alarm call at E.C Towers, located at 500 Avenue L NW.

They said the fire was out when they arrived, but there was water damage to apartment units below where the initial fire took place. More than 200 residents were evacuated. They said about 50 units were damaged and those residents will be temporarily displaced. Red Cross is assisting. 

“The fire sprinkler system did exactly what is was designed to do,” said Public Safety Director Charlie Bird. “Although there is some water damage to lower units, there is minimal damage overall.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire sprinkler systems can reduce the risk of dying in a fire by 85 percent.

There were no reported injuries. It’s unclear when or if residents can return to their homes. 

Cedar Rapids, IA – Sprinkler system activated for second fire in two days at cafe

At 8:03 p.m. Friday night, firefighters responded to a fire alarm and sprinkler flow alarm at Riley’s Cafe.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Hiawatha Fire Department both responded to the scene, where an official release says they found a light haze inside Riley’s Cafe. Using thermal imaging, firefighters reportedly checked the ceiling in an area already impacted by a fire Thursday afternoon. After discovering hot spots, the firefighter reportedly began removing ceiling tiles and identified burning insulation and falling embers. Firefighters reportedly discovered multiple instances of burning insulation above both Riley’s Cafe and the neighboring Broken Spoke, both of which had already been closed because of Thursday’s fire.

According to the report, potable and fire suppression systems were damaged. Riley’s Cafe was impacted by a broken line in the ceiling and Broken Spoke reportedly had an impacted hot water line.

The report states both Thursday and Friday’s fire have been ruled unintentional. Thursday’s fire is reportedly the result of radiant heat exposure that ignited wood behind the stainless steal surrounding the stove in Riley’s Cafe kitchen, and Friday’s fire was reportedly the result of an electrical fire.