Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

College/University (on campus), School / University

Dallas, TX – Fire at university high-rise building suppressed by sprinkler system

A firefighter was overcome by heat after crews put out a possible electrical fire Friday night at a high-rise in Stemmons Corridor.

The firefighter was taken to a hospital for observation and is expected to be OK after working the fire at West Coast University, 8435 North Stemmons Freeway, about 8 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said. The college offers degrees in the healthcare field. 

The first crews saw smoke on the sixth floor and found the fire in a break room. The cause hasn’t officially been determined, but it appears to have started near a microwave and be electrical in nature, according to fire investigators.

The fire triggered the automatic sprinkler system, which contained it to a small area, Evans said. Fire crews finished putting it out upon arrival.

There was minimal fire damage. Additional crews ventilated the building because smoke could be smelled throughout.  The fire itself didn’t cause any injuries.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Spartanburg, SC – Sprinkler system activates after explosion at Sleep Inn motel

Several fire department were called to a motel Saturday night after reports of an explosion that came from one of the rooms,the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said.

County dispatchers said crews were called out to the Sleep Inn on South Blackstock Road in Spartanburg County just after 6 p.m.

Deputies said the motel was evacuated and the house sprinkler system was activated.

The cause of the explosion is unknown at this time, and deputies said there is no indication it was a result of a meth lab, officials said.

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Brockton, MA – Apartment kitchen fire is kept from spreading thanks to sprinkler system

A kitchen fire displaced 11 residents of a Brockton home Wednesday night. The Brockton Fire Department responded to 18 N. Arlington St. about 8:16 p.m. for a report of a grease fire on the stove in an apartment in the building.  The fire extended to the kitchen cabinets and into the wall, Brockton Fire Deputy Chief Mark Baker said.  A sprinkler went off in the building, which helped to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Ladder 1 responded and put out the flames with a hose. The building sustained about $50,000 worth of heat, smoke and water damage, Baker said.  The home’s 11 residents were displaced and were assisted by the Red Cross in being placed in other properties owned by the landlord.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Danville, VA – Damage from fire at flooring manufacturer minimized thanks to sprinkler system

Smoke poured out of the loading dock doors in one of the plants at Columbia Flooring on Maxine Road as Danville firefighters arrived in response to a reported fire at about 7 p.m.

About an hour later, sweating and parched firefighters gathered near one of the six engines at the scene, to wrap their heads in wet towels and drink water or energy drinks — the fire was considered under control, Fire Marshall Shelby Irving said, though smoke still billowed out of the loading dock doors.

As firefighters began carrying fans toward the building to help clear the smoke, Irving said it was impossible to look for the cause of the fire until the smoke was cleared.

“There’s so much smoke in there you can’t see anything,” Irving said.

But the sprinkler system in the plant had done its job, Irving said.

“The sprinklers did activate and keep the fire in check,” Irving said. “Because of that, the [firefighters] were able to get in there pretty quick and get a line on the fire … the damage will be much less than it could have been.”

The fire was in a production area of the plant and caused extensive damage to machinery and electrical equipment, according to a news release. This section of the plant will be closed for two to three days. 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Windsor Locks, CT – Laundromat fire contained by sprinkler system

A fire that started in a dryer at Cozy Corner Laundromat injured one patron Tuesday evening before firefighters could douse the blaze.

At 6:35 p.m. firefighters responded to an emergency call from the laundromat, located at 255 Main St., and found heavy smoke when they arrived, Assistant Fire Chief Francis DeBella said.

“The sprinkler system held the fire in check, while we were able to get in there and extinguish it in about an hour,” he said.

The fire originated in a dryer, DeBella said, and burned a female customer who had tried to douse the flames.

The woman’s burns were minor ones, he said, and she was evaluated by the Lions Club ambulance crew.

Firefighters from Bradley International Airport responded to the scene with their ladder truck, and police assisted with traffic control.

The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Apartment Building, Residential

Elgin, IL – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Sprinkler activates to extinguish apartment kitchen fire

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

On Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 at 6:35p.m., members of the Elgin Fire Department responded to 717 West Highland for an automatic fire alarm.

Upon arrival fire companies found a moderate smoke condition on the 4th floor with smoke coming from apartment 405.  It was quickly determined the sprinkler in the apartment had activated and extinguished the fire that was located in the kitchen.

A total of seven Elgin Fire companies responded to the scene and there were no civilian or fire department injuries sustained during the incident.

The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking on a stove using grease. Total damage was estimated to be approximately $5,000.

The Elgin Fire Department would like to remind its citizens to never leave food cooking unattended on a stove.

Apartment Building, Residential

Barnstable, MA – Kitchen fire at large apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler system

A kitchen fire activated the sprinkler system on the third floor of a large apartment complex in Barnstable around 8 p.m. Monday. The initial reports prompted a second alarm response to the Village Green Apartments at 767 Independence Drive. The fire was out on arrival but crews checked to make sure the fire hadn’t extended to the attic. No injuries were reported. The Red Cross was called to provide temporary housing for the occupants of the apartment.

Apartment Building, Residential High Rise

Houston, TX – High-rise apartment fire quickly extinguished by sprinkler system

A high-rise apartment building in southwest Houston was evacuated Tuesday night after a fire erupted in one of the units. The blaze broke out about 7:45 p. m. at the Conquistador apartments at 7575 Bellaire near Fondren, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Officials said the small fire was in an eighth-floor kitchen of the seventeen-story building. The sprinkler system operated well and the fire was quickly extinguished. Firefighters evacuated the building, cleared smoke from the high-rise and inspected electrical equipment to make sure water had not created hazards. Later, residents were allowed back inside their apartments. No injuries were reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Newark, NY – Nursing home fire doused by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system is being credited with preventing a potentially large fire last Thursday evening at the Newark Manor Nursing Home on West Pearl Street.

Dick Colacino, the Newark Volunteer Fire Department’s public information officer, said firefighters responded to the site following an automatic box alarm and calls to 911. Assistant Chief Kevin Velte, who was first on the scene, reported smoke in the building and Chief Gerald VanDewalle called for mutual aid from Fairville and Lyons to assist with possible evacuation.

The cause was determined to be a portable air conditioner that caught fire. The blaze was doused by a sprinkler in a data closet housing the nursing home computers, preventing more extensive damage.

VanDewalle said a combination of the automatic smoke and fire alarm system, and a working sprinkler, prevented a much more serious incident. There was fire and smoke damage in the data room, as well as damage to computers and other equipment.

VanDewalle commended nursing home staff, firefighters, Newark police and EMS personnel for evacuating and isolating residents. Thirty-five firefighters were at the scene for more than two hours, clearing smoke from the building with fans.

Colacino said the working sprinkler system is a testament of their value, and firefighters are disappointed that the state Legislature has not passed a fire sprinkler law for all new one- and two-family homes.

 

College/University (on campus), School / University

Billings, MT – Fire in storage room of university gymnasium extinguished by sprinkler system

Billing firefighters responded to a fire in a storage room at Montana State University Billings’ Alterowitz Gym, 1500 University Drive, on Thursday evening.  The fire was contained to physical education equipment and the storage room sustained smoke damage, said Deputy Fire Marshal Trever Schilling. The fire was reported at about 6:13 p.m. Electrical wiring failed, igniting nearby combustibles.

A sprinkler system extinguished the fire and minimized damages to the building and contents. The fire was accidental and damages are estimated at $1,000. The property is insured.