Tag Archives: Georgia

Apartment Building, Residential

Athens, GA – Sprinkler system contains arson fire in apartment following domestic dispute

Felton Wendel Teasley Jr., 25, was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged arson fire the day before at the home he formerly shared with his girlfriend at Oak Hill apartments, Athens-Clarke County police said.

According to the girlfriend, she wanted to end her relationship with Teasley and told him to move out Saturday, when he allegedly lit some clothes on fire in a closet, police said. The fire set off the apartment’s sprinkler system and caused the building’s occupants to be evacuated. Police said they put out the fire with an extinguisher.

Water from the sprinkler system caused an estimated $10,000 in damages to the woman’s apartment and the one directly below, according to police. Teasley fled the scene but was located and arrested the next day, police said. He was charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org/.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Duluth, GA – Sprinkler system saves strip mall from damage in fire; No injuries

A small fire at a strip shopping center undergoing construction in Duluth caused minimal damage Wednesday afternoon, thanks to an automatic sprinkler system.

Firefighters responded around 4:48 p.m. to a report of a fire at the shopping center in the 3940 block of Buford Highway, according to Capt. Tommy Rutledge, public information officer for the Gwinnett County fire department.

Crews arrived to find light smoke and the sprinkler system activated. They discovered a small fire in an unoccupied store suite that was had already been extinguished by the sprinklers.

The fire caused minimal damage, as the suite was vacant at the time and no contents were involved. The fire appears accidental and was sparked by a floor compound during construction work. There were no injuries reported and no damage to the structure, Rutledge said.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Columbus, GA – Sprinklers extinguish early morning fire at Kellogg plant

Fire crews extinguished an early morning fire at the Kellogg plant on Victory Drive on Monday, according to Fire Marshal Rickey Shores.

The fire happened around 5:22 a.m., originating in a commercial oven on an assembly line and activated the fire alarm. The sprinkler system activated by the alarm put the fire out.

The oven was damaged and there was minor damage to the room; there was also no food on the line at the time of the fire and it appears to be accidental.

There were no injuries in the fire and there is no estimated cost of damage.

The Kellogg Company released a statement saying: “Kellogg’s Columbus, Ga., plant experienced an exhaust fan fire this morning, at approximately 5:45 a.m. No one was injured, as the plant was immediately evacuated and production has been halted, while we work to determine the extent of the damage,” said company spokesperson Kris Charles. 

Other - Retail, Retail

Buford, GA – Sprinklers contain fire at muffler shop; Spark from metal saw ignited fuel vapors

A fire sparked by a metal-cutting tool damaged a Buford-area muffler shop Thursday afternoon, according to Gwinnett Fire. No injuries were reported. Firefighters responded to the shop located at 803 West Shadburn Ferry Road at 2:51 p.m. after an employee called to report the blaze, the fire department said in a news release.

Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said the caller reported a car elevated on a mechanical lift had caught on fire. The blaze was held in check by the fire sprinkler system, but sent heavy smoke billowing from the building.

“Several employees were inside the business at the time and were working on the vehicle when the fire started,” Rutledge said in the news release. “The fire appears accidental and was caused by a spark from a saw that was being used to cut metal. The spark ignited nearby fuel vapors.”

The vehicle was heavily damaged. Extensive heat and smoke were sent throughout the mechanic bay. The fire was under control at 3:21 p.m., Rutledge said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Duluth, GA – Cooking fire at Extended Stay America hotel extinguished by sprinkler system

A Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said firefighters were called to the Extended Stay America at 3390 Venture Parkway at 3:38 p.m. to respond to a fire on the third floor, only to find a second fire had also broken out on the hotel’s sixth floor.

“Crews made their way up to the third floor to find that a fire had occurred inside the room and that an occupant had extinguished the fire prior to (the fire department’s) arrival,” Lt. Jerrod Barrett said. “During the firefighter’s investigation, one of the occupants of the sixth floor told (the fire department) that she may have left food on the stove inside their room.

“Crews made their way up to the sixth floor room and found a small fire that had been extinguished by the sprinkler system,” he added. Barrett said the fires did not spread to any walls or the ceilings of the rooms where they occurred. Damage in the building was mostly caused by water emitted by the hotel’s sprinkler system, he added. Investigators have not determined a cause for the fire and it remains under investigation, the spokesman said.

People who were staying on the first through fourth floors were allowed to return to their rooms, except for the occupants of one room that was damaged. Barrett said people who stayed on the fifth and sixth floors will be displaced because of the damage, however.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Valdosta, GA – Sprinkler system knocks down kitchen fire at restaurant

Fire crews responded to a kitchen fire at the Beijing Cafe restaurant just before 12:00 noon on August 17, 2015.  Fire crews say they arrived five minutes after the call came in at 11:39am, to find smoke and heavy fire in the kitchen area. They say some of the fire was knocked down by the activation of the sprinkler system.  According to the Valdosta Fire Department, the 18 firefighters who arrived were able to contain the fire to the kitchen in just 12 minutes.  No injuries were reported.  Firefighters believe the fire was an accident and was caused by cooking.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Dallas, GA – Sprinklers help douse fire in high school chemistry lab

A small fire occurred in a chemistry lab at Paulding County High School Thursday, the school district said on Facebook.

The Paulding County School District said in a post to parents that students were evacuated into gymnasium areas. No injuries were reported. No fire damage was reported, but water from the sprinkler system did cause some damage.

Here’s the school district’s Facebook post:

Parents of PCHS students: There was a small fire in one of PCHS’s chem labs today. Students were evacuated and moved into the gyms due to a severe weather alerts. The fire did not cause any damage, but there is some water damage from the overhead sprinkler system. We are working quickly to make the necessary repairs.

Thanks to Paulding County Fire & EMA and our district maintenance department who responded quickly to the incident.

Our safety procedures were followed and there were no injuries from the fire. Thanks to all involved for their cooperation and quick thinking during this situation.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

LaGrange, GA – Fire at Piggly Wiggly grocery store controlled by sprinkler system

Police and fire personnel responded to a fire about 6 a.m. Tuesday at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store at 1861 Roanoke Road. No one was injured in the blaze, which triggered the evacuation of the store’s employees. No customers were inside the building at the time, according to Chris Taylor, a public information officer for the LaGrange Fire Department.

LaGrange fire and police, along with the Troup County Sheriff’s deputies, responded to the scene. Initially, emergency dispatchers received calls that someone was possibly trapped in the room, but those reports turned out to be false, Taylor said. Taylor said the fire started in the back portion of the store in a utility area.

“There was a problem with the backup generator in the mechanical room,” he said. The fire was controlled by an automatic sprinkler system that activated, but firefighters still had to use hoses and water to extinguish secondary fires that also burned.

Officials with Georgia Power also responded to the scene, Taylor said. The LaGrange Fire Department is investigating the fire, but Taylor said no foul play is suspected and the preliminary cause of the blaze is expected to be either mechanical or electrical. Taylor expected a full report and information to be released by LFD this afternoon.

Taylor said the fire did not burn anywhere but the utility room. “We’re glad that the store wasn’t in regular operation when the fire occurred,” Taylor said. The Daily News attempted to call Piggly Wiggly several times this morning for comment, but its phone lines were busy.

 

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Newnan, GA – Potential arson fire at pilates studio controlled by sprinkler system

Authorities with the Newnan Fire Department and the Newnan Police Department are investigating a suspicious fire that severely damaged a Newnan business early Tuesday.

The fire started about 4:20 a.m., shortly after someone was seen banging on the door of The Pilates Loft on Field Street, located in the historic cotton mill, witnesses told detectives. According to Sgt. Brent Blankenship with the police department, witnesses said they saw a Caucasian person carrying a red container, possibly a gasoline can, and they thought they saw the person pour the can around the business. The person then fled in a white vehicle, and flames soon appeared inside the building.

The fire inside The Pilates Loft did not last very long because the sprinkler system in the building kicked on quickly from the heat. By the time the Newnan Fire Department arrived, the fire was mostly contained and firefighters were able to quickly control the fire, but the business sustained heat and smoke damage.

During the investigation, detectives found one of The Pilates Loft’s windows had been shattered, which is possibly where the suspect poured the can into the building, Blankenship said. Because of this, authorities are treating the fire as an arson investigation. According to Blankenship, witnesses said the person may have been a man, but detectives are not certain of that at this time.

Evidence gathered by authorities is also being sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab to determine if an accelerant was used to start the fire, Blankenship said. If so, the crime will be considered arson.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Murrieta, CA – Sprinkler system helps keep fire from spreading at Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant

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A fire that triggered the sprinkler system at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Murrieta caused enough water damage to force the closure of the restaurant this weekend. The fire, at 40484 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, was reported early last week around 4:45 a.m., according to the Murrieta Fire Department. It appeared to have been sparked by the deep fryer, which may have been left on overnight. A sign on the building says the restaurant is closed because of water damage. Callers to the restaurant can hear a brief phone message that says the location is closed because of a fire.