Tag Archives: Illinois

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Chicago, IL – Fire sprinkler system keeps hotel fire contained to single room; No injuries reported

A fire broke out Thursday evening in a room at the luxury Hotel Felix in River North.

The Fire Department called a still-and-box alarm for the fire in Room 313 at the Hotel Felix, at 111 W. Huron St. Numerous fire units rushed to the scene.

The fire was confined to one room and was held in check by an automatic sprinkler that was set off, the Fire Department said.

Fire crews easily extinguished the blaze, and no one was injured.

The 225-room Hotel Felix opened in 2009. Its building dates from 1926, but was renovated with organic materials and renewable resources, according to the hotel website.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Elk Grove Village, IL – (No media coverage) Landscape and snow removal fire sprinkler system activates to put out fire; No injuries reported

On July 23, 2019 at 7:33p.m. the Elk Grove Village Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at ARO Enterprises, a landscape and snow removal company located at 1401 Tonne. Upon arrival, crews had nothing showing (no visible smoke or fire), but noticed a slight odor of plastic burning. No employees were on site at the time of the alarm.

After rapid entry into the building via the Knox Box (a small, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys for emergency services to retrieve in emergency situations), crews encountered moderate smoke conditions and were able to hear the sound of an activated sprinkler head. Following that sound, the fire was located, but was mostly already under control due to three (3) sprinkler heads that had activated. The remaining hot spots were extinguished with a simple pressurized water extinguisher, significantly limiting the typical water damage that occurs when use of a fire hose is necessary.

The building at 1401 Tonne was originally constructed without fire sprinklers.  Prior to ARO Enterprises taking occupancy in 2003, the Village required the installation of the sprinkler system due to the indoor storage of vehicles and related flammable materials. Without the presence of this early detection system, the building and all of its contents would have been a total loss. Instead, damages were held to a  minimum and ARO Enterprises suffered no disruption to its main business operations.

The Elk Grove Village Fire Department is proud to share the story of this “Sprinkler Save” to bring attention to the benefits of automatic fire sprinkler systems and their contribution to the preservation of life and property. This fire is still under investigation; however, no foul play is suspected.

Jason Staidl

Fire Marshal

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Aurora, IL – Fire at assisted living facility extinguished by single fire sprinkler head; No injuries reported

No injuries were reported in a fire that caused $1,000 in damage to an apartment building in Aurora on Wednesday.

According to the Aurora Fire Department, fire fighters were dispatched to the 1300 blk. of E. Indian Trl. at around 1:09 p.m.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a wood frame multi-unit assisted living apartment building with nothing showing from the exterior.

Further investigation found moderate smoke in the common hallway of the building.

The smoke was discovered to be coming from an end unit where a sprinkler head had activated and extinguished a fire that started in the living area.

Staff members attempted to put the fire out, but were unsuccessful.

All residents were able to evacuate when they heard the fire alarm; no injuries were reported to civilians or to fire fighters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

Officials say the unit where the fire occurred sustained minor damage and is still habitable.

Other - Retail, Retail

Batavia, IL – Sprinkler system put out fire at local company before firefighters arrived; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system at a small company in Batavia put out a fire before firefighters arrived late Tuesday, according to a news release.

A fire alarm notified firefighters at 11 p.m. July 2 at Mat Masters, 1055 Paramount Parkway, Batavia, but it was extinguished by a sprinkler system, the release stated.

When firefighters arrived, however, the building had smoke and they upgraded the situation to a general alarm for a fire. Other responding agencies were St. Charles, Geneva, North Aurora and Fermilab, who assisted with overhaul and ventilation, the release stated.

Firefighters controlled the area within 20 minutes by 11:30 p.m., the release stated.

No one was injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.

According to its website, www.matmastersil.com, the company offers floor mats, napkins, table cloths, towels, aprons, paper products, hand soaps, air fresheners and dust mops.

John Denormandie, owner of Mat Masters, said firefighters had to go through the building to make sure there were no hot spots, which can reignite the fire.

The company’s second shift of two employees had just left an hour before the fire alarm, Denormandie said.

“As of right now, I have no idea how it started,” Denormandie said. “There is no third shift.”

The first shift has seven employees, he said.

The business was operational by 4:30 a.m., he said.

“The first shift is in at 5:30 a.m., but they came in early at 4 a.m. to clean up,” Denormandie said. “We have the most amazing employees. … They showed up. How much more could I ask? They’re good people.”


Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Naperville, IL – Vending machine fire contained to room of origin by fire sprinkler head; No injuries reported

At 5:20 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a call for smoke inside a commercial building in the 400 block of Fort Hill Drive at which time a full-still response was dispatched. Immediately after the initial 911 call, PSAP received an automatic fire alarm for this address as well. The alarm was quickly upgraded to a general alarm assignment after a 911 call from within the building reporting a fire. The general alarm brought 10 pieces of fire apparatus and 24 fire personnel to the scene. Initial units arrived on scene within five minutes, reported nothing showing from the exterior of the building and confirmed that all occupants were out of the structure.

Fire crews gained entry through the employee entrance and upon investigation, found a fire in a vending machine. There was a sprinkler head directly over the vending machine, which kept the fire in the room of origin. Fire companies extinguished the fire with a hose line and once fire was out, the sprinkler system was shut down. Other companies performed ventilation operations, water removal and salvage and overhaul.

The fire was considered accidental in nature. Building management was on the scene and took possession of the building. The Naperville Fire Department credits the presence of automatic fire sprinklers and the building’s fire alarm system for the quick notification and extinguishment of the fire. These systems played a significant role in the positive outcome and minimal disruption of business.

The Naperville Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Naperville Police Department, Aurora Fire Department engine company and fan boat, which was utilized to evacuate smoke from the large warehouse. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. Station coverage was provided by Warrenville Fire Protection District.

Apartment Building, Residential

Palatine, IL – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by single fire sprinkler; No injuries reported

An apartment’s kitchen caught fire in Palatine Monday, officials said.

Fire crews responded at approximately 12:07 p.m. to an activated fire alarm in an apartment building at 759 E. Pennsylavania Drive, according to a news release from the Palatine Fire Department.

After firefighters arrived on the scene, the resident said there was a kitchen fire in the unit that had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, the release said. Crews went up to the third-floor apartment and confirmed that the sprinkler system had extinguished the fire and limited damage to the kitchen.

The fire department declared the fire under control at 12:16 p.m. and continued to salvage, overhaul and investigate afterward, according to the release.

Nobody was injured in the fire and its cause was ruled accidental in nature. Damage estimates weren’t available at the time of the release.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Naperville, IL – Vending machine fire contained by single fire sprinkler; No injuries reported

A vending machine caught fire early Saturday inside a Naperville warehouse, but was quickly extinguished, authorities said.

Some two dozen firefighters responded to the commercial building on the 400 block of Fort Hill Drive at 5:20 a.m. after receiving a 911 call, as well as automatic notification from the building’s fire alarm system, according to a news release.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes, seeing nothing on the building’s exterior, but when they went inside, they found fire coming from the vending machine. A sprinkler head directly over the machine contained the fire to that room, and with a single hose line, crews were able to extinguish it, the release stated.

All occupants of the building were outside by the time firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported.

Fire crews spent the morning removing water, using a fan boat to evacuate smoke from the building, and conducting salvage and overhaul.

Fire officials say the fire is accidental in nature.

Other Business

Wheeling, IL – Fire at commercial laundry facility held in check by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

No injuries were reported in a fire Saturday night at a commercial laundry facility in Wheeling, fire officials said.

Crews responded about 8:30 p.m. to 45 W. Hintz Road for an activated alarm at Crothall Healthcare Laundry Systems, said Battalion Chief Mark Menzel of the Wheeling Fire Department. When they arrived, they found fire inside the business, which was closed and unoccupied.

The blaze was being “held in check” by an automatic sprinkler system, Menzel said. Firefighters finished extinguishing the fire and ventilated smoke from the building.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. An investigation is ongoing.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Morris, IL – Fire at Menards contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Morris Fire Department and several others responded to a fire at Menards in Morris around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.  

Morris Fire Chief Tracy Steffes said the accidental fire was caused by a malfunctioning deep freeze that caused some racks of dry goods to catch fire.

The sprinkler system was activated containing the blaze until fire personnel could arrive. Steffes said this was an excellent example of where a fire suppression system saved a building from a multi-million dollar loss.

He also said a large amount of man power was needed to place fire attack lines into service due to size of the building. They also used the MABAS Division 10 large ventilation fan to clear smoke from building, which was filled with smoke from floor to ceiling. The fan came from the Lyons Fire Department.

The incident was investigated by the Illinois Fire Marshal’s Office, MABAS Division 15 Arson Investigators, Morris Police and Fire Departments. Estimated damages including loss of revenue due to being closed are at $1 million so far.

No injuries were reported and the business was closed on Sunday.

Apartment Building, Residential

Mount Prospect, IL – Fire sprinkler keeps fire at 70-unit apartment building in check

Mount Prospect Fire Department Chief Brian Lambel said an alarm inside the building at 701 Huntington Commons Road alerted the fire department to the situation just after 2:30 p.m.

A call then came into the department, reporting smoke in the building.

When firefighters arrived on the scene and discovered the fire was on the third floor, the call was upgraded to a code-4, or confirmed structure fire.

Fire departments from Elk Grove, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines and Elk Grove Township were then dispatched to support the Mount Prospect team.

Firefighters discovered the smoke was originating in a laundry room of the four-story, approximately 70-unit building. A single overhead sprinkler had kept the fire under control and firefighters were able to use an extinguisher to put out the remaining flames.

“The building was ventilated due to smoke on the third and fourth floors,” Lambel said, “Nobody was displaced.”

Arlington Heights Emergency Medical Service Division Chief Rick Manthy said an ambulance took a resident to a local hospital at 3:30 p.m. Citing HIPPA privacy restrictions Manthy was unable to provide further details.

According to Lambel, total apparatus on the scene included five engines, two trucks, five ambulances, five fire chiefs and seven other vehicles.

Lambel explained personnel from three of the ambulances were engaged in ventilation activities, one was on standby for firefighters and one was for evaluation of the patient.

Cause of the fire is under investigation.