Tag Archives: Evening (6pm-9pm)

Manufacturing

Marlborough, MA – Sprinklers limit spread of machinery fire; Business spared from more significant damage

Shortly before 8 p.m., a rolling machine, which turns flat cardboard into boxes, caught fire. The building’s sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading to other machines or sections of the warehouse, said Fire Capt. Bill Pappas.

 Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze in about 15 minutes, said Pappas. “It was a small fire,” he said. Pappas is unsure what sparked the fire in the machine and said crews are investigating. A few employees were inside the building at the time of the blaze and were evacuated. There were allowed to return inside about an hour after the fire was extinguished. No one was injured, said Pappas.

Other Business

Clinton, MO – Sprinklers contain fire at laundry business to area of origin

Department Store, Retail

Houston, TX – Arson fire at HEB store controlled with help from sprinkler system

An HEB in southwest Houston will be closed indefinitely after a fire was started inside the grocery store Wednesday evening.  The fire erupted around 7:30pm at the store in off Beechnut and the Beltway.

According to fire officials at the scene, someone set fire to toilet paper in the back of the store. Fire officials on the scene say when the fire started, employees tried to put it out with extinguishers. Firefighters then arrived to help.  The store’s sprinkler system activated to help control the fire.  

An HEB spokesperson said everyone was evacuated and no injuries were reported.  Officials said the store will be shut down until health inspectors can examine what kind of damage was made to the products inside. The HEB spokesperson didn’t know how long that process will take.  HEB says it is working with HFD on the investigation, which they’re classifying as arson.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wilmington, DE – High-rise apartment fire controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Residents safely evacuated their high-rise apartments last Thursday night after a fire on the ninth floor of Compton Tower Apartments in Wilmington, officials said.  Approximately 35 fire and EMS personnel responded to the fire at 325 East 5th St., which was reported about 7 p.m.

After assessing the damage, residents were allowed back into the building, where they were held on the first floor while firefighters continued to take the fire under control.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Lee’s Summit, MO – Small business saved from fire thanks to sprinkler system

An automatic fire sprinkler system at a commercial building in Lee’s Summit helped the business avoid major damage from a fire caused by malfunctioning equipment.

According to the Lee’s Summit Fire Department, emergency personnel responded at 7:34 p.m. Feb. 16 to R&D Tool and Engineering, 1008 SE Browning St. Multiple callers from inside the building reported a fire involving a piece of machinery. At the same time, the alarm company reported activation of the automatic fire sprinkler system and alarm.

When the fire department arrived, no smoke or fire was visible from the outside of the two-story building, which was being evacuated.

Fire officials said crews entered the building to find smoke inside the manufacturing portion of the building. A sprinkler head over a laser etching machine enclosure was activated by heat, and extinguished much of the fire, which was under control by 8:04 p.m.

According to fire officials, the sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading from plastic exhaust tubing coming out of the metal dust collector on top of the machine enclosure and up to the roof. The fire originated in the metal dust collection system.

Damage was limited to a small area on top of the machine enclosure with minor smoke damage to the remainder of the manufacturing area. Water did get into the equipment below.

Crews remained on scene to assist with getting smoke out the building and water removal. The building was later able to be reoccupied.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Grand Forks, ND – Sprinkler system contains fire on 6th floor of apartment building for seniors and disabled

The fire ignited in a sixth floor apartment in the Ryan House, which houses people at least 62 years of age or with disabilities regardless of age, last Monday evening. The fire was contained to the one apartment, but there was water damage throughout the building from the sprinkler system.  The Grand Forks Fire Department determined the fire was caused by a cigarette that wasn’t properly extinguished.

Apartment Building, Residential

Payson, AZ – Kitchen fire at apartment complex smothered by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system saved a kitchen and likely an entire apartment complex from extensive damages last Thursday night after a pot of oil boiled over, officials say. The resident was heating up the oil to cook some chicken in an upstairs apartment at Northview Apartments, 213 W. Bonita St., around 7 p.m. when he stepped outside.

Within minutes, a grease fire erupted. Flames licked up the backsplash and to the overhead cabinets. Heat triggered a sprinkler in the center of the kitchen ceiling, smothering the flames.

Fire Capt. Rick Winton said when firefighters arrived, the fire was out, but the sprinklers were still going. Crews turned the system off. They then entered the unit below Jones’, grabbed everything on the ground, piled it on the beds and covered it with tarps. Water did seep into the lower unit via the ceiling and walls, but was contained to the kitchen, Winton said.

“The sprinklers definitely served their purpose,” he said. “Everyone was able to get out of the building safely.”  If the building had not had sprinklers, firefighters would have battled a roaring grease fire, he said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Meriden, CT – Hotel manager thankful that sprinkler system contained fire

An East Main Street hotel is undergoing repairs after an electrical fire Saturday night caused the building to be evacuated and the power shut off.

The fire shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday at the Hawthorn Suites at 1151 E. Main St. caused significant damage to the hotel. Fire Marshal Steve Trella said the fire broke out in two control rooms and was contained by the sprinkler system.

After city electricians and cleaning crews worked through the night, electricity was partially restored Sunday afternoon. General Manager Amit Arora said it could be a day or two before occupants are allowed back.

“Water always does more damage than fire but I’m just thankful (the sprinkler system) was able to control the fire and no one got hurt,” Arora said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ontario, OH – Kitchen fire in off-campus apartment at Ohio State University controlled by sprinkler system

Springfield Township Fire Department Capt. Steve Krock said grease from a pan of food — possibly bratwurst — caused a fire about 8 p.m. Sunday in Buckeye Village Apartments.  “The sprinkler system went off and did what it was supposed to do,” Krock said. “Without that, we would have rolled up here and there would have been fire coming out of that front window.”

The fire caused smoke damage to neighboring apartments and displaced at least six residents. The fire triggered the smoke detector as well as the sprinkler system, the latter of which, Krock said, played a key role in containing the fire before firefighters responded.

All residents made it out of the apartment complex before firefighters responded.  Krock said four residents had to be moved to a vacant apartment complex for the night. Firefighters used fans to ventilate smoke from the apartment and used brushes to sweep out excess water on the first floor.

The Madison Township and Shelby fire departments assisted the Springfield Township Fire Department in containing the situation.  No one was injured as a result of the fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Annapolis, MD – Sprinklers extinguish fire at senior apartment complex; No injuries reported

Crews were called to an apartment fire at the Morris A. Blum Senior apartments in Annapolis around 7 p.m. last Wednesday. Arriving crews found a small fire in a wicker cabinet that was extinguished by two sprinklers that were activated by the fire.

Officials said in addition to the apartment where the fire happened, several units along the corridor and the first floor recreation area were affected. Officials said damage estimates are still being evaluated. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.