Tag Archives: Florida

Residential, Single Family Home

Apopka, FL – Overnight garage fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A family of three is lucky to be alive after a fire broke out in their garage.

Orange County firefighters were called to the home in the 700 block of Tortoise Ct. in Apopka. They say they got to the scene just in time to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the house.

Battalion 1 fought this house fire in the 7000 block of Tortoise Ct. Crews credit residential sprinkler system AND working smoke alarms from preventing what could have been worse. Most damage contained to garage. Two residents and pets escaped without harm.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

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. 

Retail

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Firefighters credit sprinkler system with saving Habitat for Humanity store after late night dumpster fire

Fire investigators are trying to figure out the cause of a fire that nearly destroyed a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said the fire started in a dumpster and spread to a City Furniture trailer outside the store near Southwest Fifth Avenue and Broward Boulevard, around 12:12 a.m., Monday. Firefighters said the sprinkler system that was triggered by the fire may have saved the store from any damage.

Surveillance cameras captured a man surveying the area where the fire would later break out before knocking out the security camera, Sunday afternoon. However, officials have not yet confirmed a connection.

“When you have that much fire load, and then you have the flames now coming up the building as well as the smoke and everything else, it’s more than just a dumpster fire. It becomes a commercial structure fire,” said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan. The store almost went up in smoke after the dumpster fire.

“They were smelling a lot of smoke. They had to open all the doors and put big fans to get the smoke out of here,” said manager Pana Geullier.

The store sells used, donated and refurbished furniture to finance charitable projects, such as homes that are built from scratch for people in need.

“My sister is a Habitat homeowner, so I know the feeling. I know what we do,” said Geullier.

Officials said there was no structural damage to the building and that merchandise was not affected.

“Fortunately, this was outside. It was in an overhang area where we had sprinkler heads, so the sprinkler system went off,” said general manager Casey Huber.

Fire investigators will now determine if the fire was an accident or otherwise.

Huber said the fire would have affected more than just one store if someone started it deliberately.

“Really shocked and flabbergasted that somebody would do this, particularly to an organization like ours,” said Huber.

A business across the street from the store said they have surveillance video that showed a man crawling under a dumpster shortly before it erupted in flames.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Palm Beach, FL – Sprinkler system helps limit spread of fire at country club

Fire crews responded to a small electrical fire this afternoon at the Palm Beach Country Club. The fire occurred in a concrete storage area just behind a section of the golf course that fronts North Lake Way in Palm Beach. There were no reported injuries and only minimal property damage after a lighting ballast caught fire, spread to the rafters and then fell onto a cart, igniting it. The sprinkler system engaged, and there was no reported water damage.

“Had this fire been at night, it would have been a whole different ball game,” said Sean Baker, division chief of the Palm Beach Fire Rescue Department, who was on the scene. Baker said the fire narrowly missed a fertilizer spray cart. “Thankfully, the quick response time and time of day stopped it from spreading,” he said.

Office Building, Other Business

Pinellas Park, FL – Office fire at flea market put out with help from sprinkler system

A fire broke out at a Pinellas Park market early Tuesday morning. Firefighters arrived at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market at 7801 Park Boulevard North. They said there was heavy smoke pouring out of the main building. Officials said the sprinkler system kicked in and helped put out the flames. Firefighters said they believe the fire started in the main office but the cause remains under investigation.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Jacksonville, FL – Hospital fire put out by sprinkler; Fire started in air handling unit, no injuries reported

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has responded to a fire at Baptist Hospital in Downtown Jacksonville. According to JFRD, the fire has been controlled and they are working to clear the smoke. Rescue units have been requested to possibly move affected people. Everyone is safe and there are no reported injuries, according to Baptist Health. According to Chief Eric Kurtis, the fire started in an air handler in the pavilion where new moms check in. When the fire started, the sprinkler head above it put it out.

JFRD were called through the smoke alarm. According to Kurtis, no one was hurt. He says at least seven moms initially went to a stairwell to escape the smoke. Babies in neonatal were also moved but everyone is back where they belong. JRFD said that no transports were made from the hospital and there is still smoke and water in the lobby.

Retail

Estero, FL – Sprinkler system limits spread of stockroom fire at Michael Kors outlet shop

The Michael Kors shop at Miromar Outlets in Estero was closed Monday after a fire last Thursday, according to a fire official.  The fire was caused by sparks from a light over storage racks in a backroom, said Susan Lindenmuth, director of public affairs with Estero Fire Rescue.  The fire was investigated by the Lee County Fire-Arson Task Force along with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and was initially contained by two fire sprinklers.

The fire was fully extinguished when crews from Estero Fire Rescue, San Carlos Park and Bonita Springs Fire Control arrived shortly after 11 a.m., Lindenmuth said.  Extensive smoke damage was noted throughout the store, although fire damage was contained to the storeroom by the sprinkler system, Lindenmuth said.  The smoke damage to the store’s merchandise was extensive, which is why the damage was so costly, Lindenmuth said.

A couple of stores near Michael Kors suffered some smoke and water damage, including Vineyard Vines, Sunglass Hut and Swarovski, said Jeff Staner, vice president of Miromar Outlets.  Staner said he was unsure when the Michael Kors shop would reopen.  Sunglass Hut reopened Monday, Swarovski is expected to reopen Tuesday, and Vineyard Vines on Thursday, Staner said.

Fire-damaged debris was piled outside the Michael Kors shop, and part of the shopping area at the outlets was blocked off with caution tape after the fire Thursday.  For safety reasons, firefighters cut power to the building where Michael Kors is located, which meant other shops and restaurants in the same building had no power and were closed part of the day Thursday, Lindenmuth said.

Power was restored to the affected areas late Thursday afternoon, Staner said.  “They did a good job of evacuating everybody, and the employees from Michael Kors let the other stores know to evacuate,” Lindenmuth said.  Multiple stores were evacuated. No injuries were reported from the fire.

Restaurant

Lakeland, FL – Sprinkler system activates to help control fire over BBQ smoker at restaurant

An early morning fire Sunday over a barbecue smoker at Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits in downtown Lakeland caused about $30,000 in damages to the restaurant. Lakeland Fire Department Investigator John McGrath said Sunday the structure fire at 130 S. Tennessee Ave., was reported about 3 a.m. by Lakeland Police Department officers. The officers were dispatched for a burglar alarm and once they arrived, saw smoke in the kitchen area and called the fire department. McGrath said the LFD downtown station and Station 2 were dispatched and the fire was found in the crawl space above the smoker. After a forced entry and removing some of the roof area, firefighters were able to contain the blaze. He said one fire sprinkler was activated at the scene.

Department Store, Retail

Ocala, FL – Arson fire at Macy’s store extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Police in Ocala, FL, are looking for the woman who lit a rack of underwear on fire inside a Macy’s store Tuesday morning. The suspect walked into the store’s Paddock Mall location at 10:11 a.m. and wandered around for 45 minutes. Firefighters arrived shortly after she left and saw light smoke coming from the mall’s north entrance, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

“It was a bunch of smoke rolling out and people were walking – running outside,” witness Kortnee Eubanks told WFTV. The sprinkler system had already extinguished the flames, but needed to be reset and fans were brought in to help ventilate the store.  Nobody was hurt in the incident.

Officer Meghan Shay told local media the store’s staff thought they were smelling gas.  The mall released a statement on its website Tuesday that announced the store would remain closed the remainder of that day.

“The safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is our top priority. We are working closely with the Ocala Police Department as they investigate this incident further,” the statement said. The woman left the store, but surveillance cameras captured her vehicle, which appears to be a dark gray sedan.

Anyone who recognizes this person or vehicle should call Ocala police at 352-369-7000. Once arrested, she will face an arson charge.

Apartment Building, Residential

Gainesville, FL – Apartment kitchen fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Gainesville Fire Rescue responded to a report of a kitchen fire in an apartment complex Saturday night. Crews arrived at the Gainesville Place Apartments on SW 35th Place at 10:20 p.m. and found an apartment filled with smoke. Residents reported that they had a fire on the stove in the kitchen of the apartment. Heat from the fire activated a sprinkler head located in the kitchen which contained the fire, and gave residents in the building a chance to exit the structure safely. Several residents were displaced due to the damage, but fortunately no one was injured. Gainesville Fire Rescue crews used Positive Pressure Ventilation to remove smoke from the apartment and capped the sprinkler to avoid any further water damage.