Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

Manufacturing, Storage / Warehouse

Royersford, PA – Sprinkler system controls fire at chemical warehouse until fire crews arrive

A chemical warehouse in Royersford caught fire on Saturday night, bringing first responders from around the area together to battle the blaze.  The incident was first reported at around 7:40 p.m. at Hectrio Specialty Chemical System, located on the 400 block of First Avenue.  Crews forced entry to the rear of the building, and used hand lines to battle the blaze, which was contained to a small area in the manufacturing part of the building, according to officials. Firefighters were on the scene containing the smokey fire for close to two hours.

Royersford Fire Department said that the sprinkler systems were very effective in controlling the blaze until crews arrived. That, along with the swift response from first responders, helped quell the “potentially hazardous” blaze.  Despite the bad smell reported by neighbors, the chemicals posed no danger to the public, officials said. According to their website, Hectrio produces and stores chemicals like tin, lead, copper, silver, bismuth, iron and potassium.  The cause of the blaze and extent of the damage are not yet clear. The fire appeared to be contained to the manufacturing section of the warehouse, but there was heavy smoke involved.

Royersford Fire Department was assisted by Liberty Fire Co. of Spring City, along with crews from Trappe, Skippack, Limerick, and Linfield.

Apartment Building, Residential

Sterling, IL – (Fire Dept. Reported) Bathroom fire in loft apartment building extinguished by single sprinkler

** No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported **

Date: September 13, 2018
Time: 20:53
Location: 218 First Avenue, Sterling, Illinois
Property: Lawrence Lofts – 5 story residential structure
Sprinklers Activated: 1

Event details:
Dispatched to a water flow alarm at five-story residential structure. Upon investigation, found a fire had occurred in a bathroom in a 4th floor unit.   Fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

This is a 20-unit apartment building with 5 floors above the Whiteside County East Courthouse.  Two courtrooms all open for business the next day.  “If not for sprinkler, life and property would have been lost.”

*Reported by Gary Cook, Fire Chief, Sterling, IL

 

Apartment Building, Residential

Norcross, GA – Sprinkler system helps contain apartment fire; Woman charged with arson

A Norcross woman has been charged with arson after allegedly setting her own bed on fire, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said.  Mirtha Valcin, 29, was arrested Sept. 6 in connection with the Aug. 26 fire at The Retreat at Arc Way Apartments in Norcross.

Firefighters responded to the apartment complex around 9 p.m. on Aug. 26 and found Valcin’s bedroom extensively damaged by the fire. The flames had been contained to the mattress and headboard, but caused damage to items throughout the room and sent smoke through the entire apartment, the department said in a release.

There was also a smaller fire in the laundry room that appeared to have started with a pile of clothes. That triggered a sprinkler system to go off, causing water damage, according to the department.  Valcin told firefighters she fell asleep and discovered the fire when she was awoken by a noise, the department said. She was the only one in the apartment at the time of the fire and lives alone, according to the department.

Valcin’s story changed in a follow-up interview, according to fire investigators, leading her to be charged with arson. The department is not releasing information about how the fire was set or Valcin’s alleged motive at this time, a release says.  Valcin is being held at the Gwinnett County Jail on $27,700 bond.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

London, ON, Canada – Fire at retirement community extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A heating pad is getting the blame after a small fire broke out a retirement community in London.  The London Fire Department said on Monday around 7:25 p.m., a smoke alarm notified fire crews of the fire in an apartment unit at The Manor Village at 230 Victoria St. When firefighters arrived, smoke could be seen coming from the apartment but the fire had already been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.  According to fire officials, the fire was caused by a heating pad that had been left too close to combustibles and resulted in a living room chair catching fire.

All of the residents affected were safely moved from the area by staff at the retirement home before firefighters arrived. No injuries have reported.  The fire and smoke damage were contained to the one apartment unit.

Other - Residential, Residential

Santa Barbara, CA – Electrical fire at homeless shelter extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

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A small fire at the Transition House homeless shelter in Santa Barbara was kept in check by fire sprinklers Tuesday evening, but the resulting water flow caused damage to the facility’s child-care area, according to the Santa Barbara City Fire Department.

A single engine crew responded shortly before 7 p.m. to the shelter at 421 E. Cota St. after the shelter’s fire alarms began ringing, said fire Battalion Chief Robert Mercado.

Initial investigation did not reveal any sign of a fire, Mercado said, but crews were unable to gain access to the building.

A few minutes later, they noticed water coming out the building, which indicated the fire sprinklers had activated, Mercado said, adding that light smoke was seen coming from one of the doors.

A full structure-fire response was then ordered, with additional engines and a truck dispatched to the scene.

“After gaining entrance to the building, we found that a small fire had been suppressed by the sprinkler system,” Mercado said. “The sprinklers did their job, and were able to keep the fire in check.”

Occupants on the second floor of the building were evacuated, but were later allowed to return.

A Santa Barbara City firefighter helps salvage water-soaked items from the child-care area at the Transition House homeless shelter on Tuesday evening following a small fire. (Peter Hartmann / Noozhawk photo)

An investigator found a small fire, likely electrical in nature, in the child-care area of the building, Mercado said.

“A lot of water got into the child-care for infants and toddlers,” Mercado said. “A lot of baby-related items and toys and play mats were soaked. It doesn’t like like they will be able to have children in there tomorrow.” 

He estimated the overall damage at less than $10,000.

No injuries were reported.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

St. Petersburg, FL – Trash can fire at movie theater prompted sprinkler system to activate

The action on screen came to an abrupt halt for Moviegoers at the AMC Sundial 20 Monday evening.

A trash can fire inside the movie house in downtown St. Petersburg activated a sprinkler and prompted an evacuation.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Steven Lawrence said firefighters responded to the call at 6:45 p.m. There were no injuries, he said.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Brantford, ON, Canada – Fire following explosion at paint factory is extinguished by sprinkler system

Investigators from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, Ministry of Labour and Brantford Fire Department are trying to determine the cause of a Thursday explosion that sent one person to hospital.  The explosion occurred at the Sherwin-Williams paint factory at 140 Garden Ave. at about 6:30 p.m.

The injured worker, a woman, was cleaning a vat when the explosion occurred, said Janet Deline of the Ministry of Labour.  The worker was taken to a Hamilton hospital for treatment. The spokesperson for the company said she’s OK.  No other injuries were reported.

“The incident remains under investigation,” Mike Conway, director, corporate communications for Sherwin-Williams, said in a statement sent to The Expositor. “Sherwin-Williams is working closely with Brantford officials to determine the cause.  “There is no impact to air or water supplies.”

Brantford firefighters were called to the plant, located in an industrial area, just after 6:30 p.m.  Firefighters confirmed an explosion had taken place and a fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters remained on the scene overnight and were still there Friday morning.  The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office was called immediately and investigators started work on Thursday and were continuing their investigation on Friday.

The blast caused a wall relief panel on the side of the building to pop open, fire prevention officer Scott Hardwick said Friday.  Walls in buildings like the paint factory are designed to pop out to relieve built-up pressure and prevent entire buildings from exploding, he added.

There are a lot highly inflammable materials in the plant, including solvents and paints.

The fire marshal’s office is called in to investigate incidents involving an explosion, Hardwick said.

Firefighters were called to the plant on Dec. 18, 2014 following an explosion and small fire. One male worker sustained minor bruises to his shoulder after being pushed into a wall during the explosion.

The worker didn’t require medical attention.

Apartment Building, Residential

Port Royal, SC – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in controlling apartment fire; Device being charged caught fire

Residents of 9 apartments were displaced Tuesday night after an electronic device caught fire on a resident’s couch at the Parc at Broad River complex in Port Royal, according to fire officials.  Fire Chief Reece Bertholf, of the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department, said the device, which was being charged when it caught fire, was burned up in the blaze.

He would not specify what type of device it was but said insurance investigators would be making that determination.  The building’s sprinkler system was activated and residents were evacuating when firefighters arrived just after 6:30 p.m., according to a news release from the fire department.  Smoke was coming from the third-floor apartment where the couch was burning, the news release said.

It said firefighters were able to put out the fire “within minutes” of arriving. The apartment where the fire started sustained fire, water and smoke damage, Bertholf said. Neighboring apartments sustained various levels of water damage.

Attempts to reach apartment managers by phone on Wednesday were unsuccessful.  Bertholf said there are 36 apartments in the building.  No one was injured in the fire, the news release said. Burton and Parris Island firefighters also responded to the scene. Burton Fire District posted a photo on Facebook of a firefighter holding a cat that was rescued from the building.

 

Office Building, Other Business

Hyannis, MA – Sprinkler system douses fire in commercial office building; No injuries reported

Firefighters were called to an automatic fire alarm at 45 Plant Road in Hyannis about 7 PM Friday evening. Crews investigated and discovered a small fire on the second floor of the commercial structure that had been doused by sprinklers. There was some water damage. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

El Dorado, AR – Kitchen fire at county jail controlled with help from sprinkler system

The Union County jail is picking up the pieces after a fire broke out in their kitchen Wednesday evening.  One of the staff spotted it first.  Smoke was coming out of one of the storage areas which was once a cooler.

“They activated the alarm, activated the sprinkler system and then began calling everyone out,” said Captain Jeff Stinson, UCSO.  Water filled the halls.  The power was out, and they were without part of the kitchen.  The clean-up process began immediately, and all inmates were taken to a safe area.

“From what we can tell, it’s going to be electrical, somewhere in the ceiling, but at this point, we can’t say for sure,” said Stinson.  While they were going through turmoil, The Salvation Army stepped in, serving over 200 inmates breakfast.

“We have an old slogan in the salvation army that says need has no season,” said Captain Jason Perdieu, The Salvation Army. “A lot of people think there’s only need at Christmas time.”

They stress that they always are looking for volunteers and donations for situations like this.  “At a moment’s notice, a need arises,” said Perdieu.  As for the sheriff’s office, they are getting things back up and running.  They are building a new wall to separate the kitchen from the fire damage.