Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

Apartment Building, Residential

Green Bay, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at large apartment building

A fire in a large apartment building was stopped in its tracks by the sprinkler system Monday night.  The Green Bay Metro Fire Department blames careless use of smoking materials for a fire inside a closet in one of the apartments of Woodland Park on University Avenue. The sprinkler system activated and alarms went off just before 6:30 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they found the fire was already extinguished.  Woodland Park has 80 apartments, according to its website.  Neighbors were allowed back in their apartments after about 45 minutes.  The person living in the apartment, along with two cats, are staying with friends across the hall, GBMFD said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Wheeling, IL – Bedroom fire on 3rd floor of senior housing facility extinguished by sprinklers

Authorities say a sprinkler system helped avert disaster last week when fire broke out in a Wheeling senior housing facility.  Wheeling fire crews were called to the Addolorata Villa Senior Living Community, 557 McHenry Road, about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, in response to the fire.

The first firefighters to arrive found two fire sprinkler heads extinguishing a bedroom fire in a third-floor apartment of the four-story facility.  The resident of the unit was rescued by firefighters and admitted to a hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries, officials said. Firefighters and police evacuated several residents safely.

A Wheeling firefighter was admitted to Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview and kept overnight for observation of medical issues, according to the fire department.  The building where the fire started houses more than 100 residents and is one of four interconnected buildings at the facility, officials said. If not for the sprinkler system, it is likely the fire would have caused fatalities, Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac said in a news release. The cause of the fire is being investigated, but officials do not believe it was suspicious.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

McKinleyville, CA – Sprinkler system at Safeway store keeps fire from spreading, limits damage

Arcata Fire District firefighters were called to a reported structure fire at the McKinleyville Safeway located at 1503 City Center Road.  Battalion Chief Gomes arrived on scene first and discovered black smoke coming from a vent on the back of the building. Being Sprinkler familiar with the building layout, Gomes knew the fire was in the storeroom and directed the first due engine from the McKinleyville Station to make entry at the rear of the store, and initiate fire attack.  Store employees confirmed the fires location and had initiated a building evacuation.  The crews located the fire in the loft machinery room, above the rear storeroom and the building’s sprinkler system had been triggered.  The fire attack team used the buildings ladder way to gain access to the loft and deploy a hose line to the fire to complete extinguishment.  The second arriving engine from Mad River Station supported the fire attack operation by securing a water supply. The third engine from Arcata Station, and subsequent arriving CalFire and Fieldbrook engines, assisted with water removal to the sales floor and storeroom and applied salvage techniques to save computer equipment and merchandise.   

The fire loss was minimal, with an estimate of $2000 in damages.  Battalion Chief Gomes reports “The fire was held by the sprinkler systems that had activated properly, which assisted the firefighters in quickly extinguishing the burning material.  The combination of the two, saved this multi-million dollar building and its contents. Safeway was open for business the next day.”

The cause of fire was determined to be ordinary combustibles stored too close to hot mechanical equipment.

Additional engines from Humboldt Bay Fire and Blue Lake Fire covered District stations while the incident was occurring.

Arcata Fire District would like to remind all businesses and residents to keep adequate clearance around mechanical and electrical service equipment and ensure that sprinkler systems and extinguishers are checked regularly and functioning properly.

Apartment Building, Residential

Albert Lea, MN – Apartment fire limited with help from sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire Friday night at St. John’s Lutheran Community’s Knutson Place Apartments reportedly caused $35,000 in damage. The fire caused a temporary evacuation of residents to other parts of the facility not impacted by the fire. Third-floor residents were taken to the first floor dining room in the nursing home while first responders were on scene. Upon arriving shortly at about 8 p.m. to the apartments, at 901 Luther Place, Albert Lea firefighters and police reportedly found light smoke in a third floor hallway. The fire was contained to one apartment, according to a city press release. The fire reportedly spread to nearby furniture, which activated the sprinkler system and minimized damage to the building.

St. John’s Administrator and CEO Scot Spates said most of the damage includes burnt and wet drywall and carpet and floor damage. Spates credited the facility’s sprinkler system and first responders for limiting the damage from the fire. No injuries were reported. The fire was caused by a lampshade coming into contact with a light bulb and igniting, according to the release. The building was turned back to facility staff, and first responders cleared the scene at 9:30 p.m. Spates said two tenants have not been able to return to their apartments. One lived where the fire alarm alerted first responders to the fire, while the second tenant lived below the apartment. They are living in empty on-site apartments while the two rooms are remodeled. Residential and commercial services firm ServiceMaster assisted on scene following the fire. An insurance adjuster is expected to evaluate the facility today.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Chilliwack, BC, Canada – Kitchen fire at assisted living facility extinguished by sprinkler system

There were some nervous moments last night as the Chilliwack Fire Department (CFD) responded to reports of a fire at an assisted living facility on McIntosh Drive.  Neighbours reported on social media on Feb. 21 after 8:30 p.m. some visible smoke at Cascade Manor Assisted Living.  When firefighters from Halls 1 and 4 arrived they found a stovetop fire in the kitchen of a residential unit that had been completely extinguished by the facility’s automatic sprinkler system.

The CFD said the sprinkler system significantly limited fire damage to a small area around the stove and the kitchen cabinets. “Without a working sprinkler system in place, this fire had the potential of causing extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the care facility,” the CFD said in a press release.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by fire officials and is believed to be accidental in nature.

“The Chilliwack Fire Department strongly promotes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in homes. The presence of an automatic fire sprinkler system in conjunction with a working smoke alarm greatly reduces the risk of being injured or dying in a fire.”

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Ontelaunee, PA – Sprinkler system keeps fire in Ashley Furniture warehouse from spreading

A two-alarm fire occurred last Thursday night at a warehouse for Ashley Furniture in Ontelaunee Township .  Crews were dispatched about 7:20 p.m. to the first block of Ashley Way for the report of an automatic fire alarm.  Leesport Fire Chief Kenneth Quell said employees were evacuating the large building when firefighters arrived and were directed to an area where they were told that the sprinkler system had been activated.

Quell said firefighters encountered smoke in the building and discovered a small fire contained within a three-level rack system that holds finished furniture in the warehouse. Quell said firefighters knocked down the fire within minutes and had it under control within 30 minutes.

“The fire itself didn’t envelop a very big area,” Quell said. “The sprinklers contained it and kept it from spreading.” About 50 firefighters responded, Quell said. There were no reports of injuries to employees or firefighters. Ashley employees re-entered the building to help remove excess water on the floor from the sprinkler system, Quell said. A state police fire marshal was called to help in the investigation, Quell said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called out after the investigation was started, he said. Quell said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Restaurant

Brookfield, WI – Restaurant chimney fire is kept from spreading to attic by sprinkler system

Firefighters on Monday night, Feb. 12 were called out to Mr. B’s restaurant on Capitol Drive in Brookfield for a possible chimney fire. The call came in around 6:55 p.m. According to the City of Brookfield Fire Department, a passerby noticed heavy smoke and fire embers from a chimney and informed the business operator. Business patrons and employees evacuated without injury or incident.

During the chimney investigation, an attic-space fire sprinkler activated and extinguished the fire that had extended beyond the chimney. The alarm was upgraded and firefighters from the City of Brookfield were assisted on scene by crews from the Town of Brookfield. Other neighboring departments provided standby assistance at Brookfield fire stations.

This fire was burning in a concealed space and was quickly controlled by a single-fire sprinkler — preventing further threat and minimizing property damage. State and Federal agencies are assisting the City of Brookfield with the investigation. The cause and origin remains under investigation.

Other Business

Tulsa, OK – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in putting out fire at linen company

Tulsa firefighters had to battle heavy smoke to put out a rubber floor mat fire at a Tulsa business Monday evening.  The fire happened just before 8:30 p.m. at Superior Linen Company in the 500 block of South Rockford.  Firefighters say they got the call after someone noticed heavy smoke pouring from the building. They arrived to find a roll of rubber floor maps on fire. Firefighters say it wasn’t the fire, but that smoke inside the business that caused them problems.

“The amount of smoke from those floor mats really made it tough for us to operate inside that building,” said Tulsa Fire Captain Jason Gilkison.  He said they had to use thermal imaging cameras once inside to help guide them through the smoke.  Gilkison says with the help of the building’s sprinkler system, they were able to put out the fire.  The business was closed at the time and no injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Cambridge Springs, PA – Sprinklers help minimize damage in compressor room fire at manufacturer

A fire that occurred the evening of Feb. 5 at Lord Corp. in Cambridge Springs caused minimal damage, according to Cambridge Springs Volunteer Fire Department Jeff Murdock.  Cambridge Springs firefighters were called to a structure fire at Lord Corp. at 5 p.m., according to Murdock.  When crews arrived they found heavy smoke and a small fire coming from a compressor located on a mezzanine area, Murdock said.  The fire was declared out by 5:35, Murdock said. The sprinkler system in the building activated, which caused some water damage to a break room and restroom located under the sprinklers, according to Murdock.

A crew working in the building noticed the smoke and evacuated, according to Murdock.  “As they were evacuating they saw the fire start,” he said.  The fire is considered to be accidental due to an overheated motor and belt, Murdock said.  Cambridge Springs firemen were assisted at the scene by volunteer crews from Venango, Saegertown, West Mead 2 and Edinboro. Meadville Area Ambulance Service was also at the scene.

Apartment Building, Residential

Chesapeake, VA – Apartment fire caused by malfunctioning heater extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

An apartment building in Chesapeake caught fire Sunday night. Firefighters were called to the 2800 block of Parkside Drive around 8:35 p.m., and arrived 6 minutes later. Smoke was coming from the two-story building. As fire crews entered the building they found that a fire in a first floor apartment unit had been extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Water from the sprinkler system caused damage to three adjoining units. Officials said the cause of the fire was from a malfunctioning heater located in the fire damaged apartment. No injuries and the Red Cross has been contacted to assist the displaced occupants.