Tag Archives: Illinois

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Geneva, IL – Sprinkler system holds fire in check at Fox Valley Ice Arena; No injuries reported

A mechanical fire that spread to the roof of the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva forced the partial closure of the ice skating facility, authorities said.

Geneva Firemen were dispatched around 6:26 a.m. Sunday to 1996 S. Kirk Road on the city’s east side. The building is owned by the Kane County Forest Preserve District.

Geneva Fire Chief Mike Antenore said the alarm was upgraded when engines were on route to the scene when Tri-Com Central Dispatch reported there was smoke in the building.

“The first arriving fire company found heavy black smoke showing from the roof area on the west side of the building. Firefighters initiated an interior attack and brought the fire under control in approximately 40 minutes,” Antenore said in a news release.

Antenore said the response was upgraded to a box alarm because of the size of the building.

Fire department officials said the building’s sprinkler system activated and “held the fire in check” until the blaze was extinguished.

Firefighters contained the fire to a refrigeration compressor room.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage estimates were in the process of being compiled Sunday afternoon.

“The facility resumed partial operations this morning and is expected to resume full operations later today,” the fire chief said Sunday.

Firefighters from Batavia, St. Charles, Elburn, West Chicago, Fermilab, South Elgin, Elgin, Wheaton, Bartlett and North Aurora assisted Geneva on the scene.

Antenore said no one was hurt.

Residential, Single Family Home

Vernon Hills, IL – Single sprinkler helps control residential fire, protecting family’s home and pet dog

Friday evening at 6:06pm, the Countryside Fire Protection District responded to black smoke coming out of the roof vents of a residential home. The first engine arriving on the scene, upgraded the alarm to a working still, which brought additional units from Countryside, Libertyville, Mundelein, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Wauconda, Barrington, Palatine, Arlington Heights, and Deerfield. Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene, and began extinguishing the fire. The fire was controlled by a single fire sprinkler head in the interior of the house, and the exterior of the house was controlled by two hand lines off of the engine. The fire was extinguished within minutes of the first arriving engine. The family was not home at the time of the fire, but the family’s dog was rescued from the fire, and was given oxygen because of the thick black smoke. Firefighters assisted with clean up and returned back to their stations.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Sandwich, IL – Storage fire at molding business distribution center held in check by sprinkler system

The Sandwich Fire Department extinguished a blaze at the Plano Molding Company on Thursday.  Fire officials were dispatched to the Plano Molding Company, which is located at 500 Duvick Ave. at approximately 11:24 a.m. for an activated fire alarm. While officials were enroute to the scene, they were updated from 911 calls that there was a fire within the building at 510 Duvick Ave., which is the Plano Molding distribution warehouse. Fire units found that the sprinkler system was active, and that there was a fire in the stack of pallets inside the building.

All occupants of the building evacuated safely, and there were no injuries reported.  The sprinkler system in the building kept the fire smoldering until fire crews were able to fully extinguish the fire. Fire crews extinguished the fire in approximately 20 minutes. Crews worked to clear the smoke out of the building and remove the burnt material outside.  Officials from the Sandwich Fire Department were assisted on scene by Little-Rock Fox, Bristol-Kendall, Newark and Somonauk Fire.  The Sandwich Fire Station was covered with help from the Oswego and Big Rock Fire Departments.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Spring Valley, IL – No injuries in high-rise residential fire extinguished by sprinkler system

*** Please See Sprinkler Saves Blog Note to Editor Below ***   Sprinkler damage: Spring Valley high-rise residents displaced.  No one was hurt in a Sunday night fire at the Spring Valley high-rise, but 24 residents were displaced by heavy water damage from the sprinklers. At Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Walt Marini commended the Spring Valley Fire Department and first-responders for the speedy response to a third-floor fire at 419 W. Erie St., which fortunately was equipped with a sprinkler system that put out a fire that’s still under investigation.  Spring Valley fire chief Todd Bogatitus said the American Red Cross assisted the 24 residents who had to vacate the building.

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To: Tom Collins

Good Afternoon,

I just read your article citing “Sprinkler Damage” in the high-rise apartment fire in your community. Of course, it is the fire that caused the damage, not the sprinkler. The sprinkler would not have activated if not for the fire. And, the fire, had it not been put out by the sprinkler, would have caused much more significant damage, and could have seriously injured or killed the residents.

While my thoughts and prayers go out to the displaced residents, I was so thankful to see that no one was hurt or killed. The automatic fire sprinkler system, and the quick response from the fire service, are to thank for that positive outcome. We have seen to many recent and tragic examples of fires in high rises that were not equipped with fire sprinkler systems (London/Grenfell Tower, Honolulu/Marco Polo Tower).

Please let me know if you would like to discuss this point of view further. Thanks for your consideration.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Libertyville, IL – (No Media Coverage) Fire at plastics manufacturing plant held in check by single sprinkler

** No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported ***  Around 1029 hours on Sunday, the Libertyville Fire Department responded to an activated fire alarm at a plastic manufacturing plant. When the first in engine company arrived, the firefighter in the jump seat thought he saw smoke from the building. After accessing the building and alarm room, he crew found the sprinkler bell ringing. After opening a man door into the warehouse they noticed a heavy haze of smoke. At this time the response was upgraded to a structure fire response. The crews made entry via the north side door and found one sprinkler head activated. This sprinkler was controlling a fire that involved a plastic injection molding machine. The crews used one handline to finish extinguishment and mop up. Fire damage was contained to the machine, while other parts of the building sustained smoke and water damage. ***

Child Care Facility, Hospital/Care Facility

Lake Forest, IL – Sprinklers extinguish fire at daycare center before firefighters arrive; All children safely evacuated

A fire that broke out at a Lake Forest day care facility Wednesday was extinguished before fire fighters arrived.

The Lake Forest Fire Department received the alarm around 8:52 a.m. The department said all of the children at the day care had been evacuated to a nearby business. As they traveled to the scene, fire crews were told the sprinkler system had been activated and the smell of smoke was in the air.

When they arrived, firefighters found light smoke conditions in a first floor kitchenette, the department said. Sprinklers had extinguished the fire, which had been contained to a cardboard box.

Crews shut down the sprinkler and performed clean up duties, according to Battalion Chief Mike Gallo.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Vernon Hills, IL – Laundry fire at senior living complex contained by sprinkler system

A fire broke out in a Vernon Hills senior living complex’s laundry room Tuesday morning, but officials from the Countryside Fire Protection District say a sprinkler system and collapsible doors contained the fire until crews arrived.

The fire started in a dryer on the fifth floor of the Victory Centre of Vernon Hills, 97 W. Phillip Road, shortly after 9 a.m. No one was injured in the blaze, according to a statement issued by Countryside Fire Chief Jeff Steingart.

“Quick and decisive actions by the Victory Centre staff as well as the emergency response and the fire sprinkler controlling the fire clearly averted a potential tragedy,” Steingart said.

Approximately 110 residents and 25 employees were inside the building when the fire started, according to Steingart. He said investigators are still trying to determine why the dryer caught fire.

The incident was deemed a structure fire and Countryside was assisted by crews from Libertyville, Mundelein and Lincolnshire.

Smoke and heat was contained inside the laundry room and fresh oxygen kept outside by automated doors that closed, Steingart said. He said the laundry room had one sprinkler that functioned properly and limited the fire until crews arrived.

A few residents will be temporarily relocated during the cleanup and investigation, Steingart said.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Rockford, IL – No injuries reported as sprinkler system keeps fire under control at fabricating company

No one was reported injured after a fire broke out overnight at the Comet Fabricating and Welding building in Rockford, according to fire officials.

Firefighters were called at 12:07 a.m. today to the building at 5620 Falcon Road after a fire sparked inside, according to the Rockford Fire Department. The first fire crews reportedly found that the building’s sprinkler system had kept the fire under control until firefighters could extinguish it.

The building was closed at the time the fire broke out and no one was inside. When the sprinkler system went off, it triggered an alarm, Fire District Chief Tracy Renfro said, which summoned firefighters.

The cause of the fire is being investigated but is considered accidental.

Renfro said the fire was “most likely electrical” and began in a wooden enclosure in the northeast corner of the building. It occurred in a 10-foot by 10-foot area, he said.

Damage was estimated at $25,000. Renfro said Comet Fabricating was open today.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system limits spread of grocery store fire; Store reopens the next day

An artificial Christmas tree stored on top of a cooler caught fire Tuesday evening at The Fresh Market in the Westlake Shopping Center and caused an estimated $250,000 in damages, according to the Peoria Fire Department. The fire caused extensive smoke damage, but minimal fire damage and no injuries, according to the Fire Department.  The store’s sprinkler system was activated for nearly 30 minutes, said Fire Department Division Chief Paul Brodkorb. The sprinkler system made it difficult for firefighters to use thermal imaging to find the fire, according to a Fire Department news release. After turning off the sprinkler system, firefighters tracked the source of the fire to a Christmas tree stored on top of a walk-in cooler.

Inside, there was heavy black smoke for about 45 minutes, likely ruining a good portion of the food, according to Peoria Battalion Chief J.R. Malone. The Health Department was on scene to figure out what needed to be discarded. It is unlikely, Malone said, that The Fresh Market will be back open Wednesday. Officials are investigating how the tree caught fire. The fire was reported at 6:36 p.m. Firefighters arrived at 6:40 p.m. and had the fire under control about 7:30 p.m., according to the Fire Department. The Fresh Market was evacuated, as well as the neighboring Guitar Center and Ross Dress for Less store.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Park Ridge, IL – Fire in hospital mechanical room extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported ***
On May 15, 2017 at 12:31 p.m., the Park Ridge Fire Department was dispatched to 1775 W. Dempster Street, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (ALGH), for an activated fire alarm. Upon arrival, the Incident Commander was notified by ALGH staff of a reported fire in the basement of the Surgery Building. The Incident Commander upgraded the fire response to a Code 4, which calls for additional resources to be dispatched to the scene. PRFD crews arrived on the scene within four (4) minutes and determined there was a possible fire in the mechanical room located in the lower level. Maintenance staff had gone to investigate the alarm and saw that the room was full of smoke. At that point, they correctly closed the door to limit the spread of smoke and fire and awaited arrival of the Fire Department.  When PRFD crews entered the mechanical room, they saw water flowing from the sprinkler system and the room was charged with smoke. The sprinkler system had extinguished the fire and kept it limited to the room of origin. Crews checked for fire extension in the area and ventilated the smoke out of the building.  No injuries were reported to any ALGH staff, hospital patients, visitors, or fire personnel and all affected areas of the hospital were evacuated safely. Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire was electrical in origin. There is no estimate of damage at this point.

Mutual aid to Park Ridge was received from the following fire departments: Morton Grove, Glenview, Des Plaines, Skokie, and North Maine. Engine and ambulance companies from the Norwood Park, Elk Grove, Rosemont and Wheeling Fire Departments responded to staff the Park Ridge fire stations during this incident to ensure quick response to any other emergency calls while PRFD crews were committed. They responded to one emergency medical call while PRFD crews remained at the ALGH fire. Most of the out of town mutual aid companies were returned by Park Ridge within 45 minutes of the initial alarm to ALGH.