Tag Archives: Illinois

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Pekin, IL – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at local pizzeria

The Godfather’s Pizza in Pekin was damaged in an early morning blaze Monday.

Pekin Fire Chief Kurt Nelson said the call came in at 12:44 a.m. Monday from employees who lived in the area. Smoke was seen coming out of the building and first responders found heavy smoke conditions in the kitchen.

Firefighters found a small fire in a closet, which was contained due to the sprinkler system preventing the fire from spreading, Nelson said.

The cause is still under investigation and initial estimated damage is between $10,000 and $25,000.

In a Facebook post by Godfather’s, the company said it’s a landmark location and one of the oldest Godfather’s in the country.

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Park Ridge, IL – Single sprinkler head limits damage to condo; No injuries reported

Installation of sprinkler systems made a significant difference in containing a fire last weekend in a multi-family building at the Park Ridge Pointe subdivision, Park Ridge Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen says.

A fire alarm activated at 1705 Pavilion Way at 11:33 p.m. Friday (Sept. 6) and as Park Ridge firefighters responded, the RED Center was receiving calls of smoke in the ground level parking garage and on the third floor of the building.

One company, checking the garage, found a burning odor and water leaking through the ceiling.

Other companies went to the second floor and entered the residential unit above the garage ceiling leak. Inside there was a burning odor and smoky haze, Sorensen said, but there was no fire there or any active sprinkler heads releasing water.

The unit next door had water, and they found a bathroom fire there had been extinguished.

“The fire sprinkler system had activated (only one sprinkler head) and had prevented the fire from spreading throughout the structure,” Sorensen said. “Most importantly, no residents or fire personnel were injured.

“The successful activation of a fire sprinkler system limited the damage to the structure and its contents,” he added.

“While the fire sprinklers are designed with fire safety in mind, they typically use a fraction of the water that fire hoses do in order to contain a fire, thus protecting property as well. Since 2001, fire sprinklers have been a requirement in all new construction in Park Ridge, including single-family homes,” Sorensen added.

For information on residential fire sprinklers, visit the website www.firesprinklerassoc.org.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

South Beloit, IL – Sprinkler system quickly contains commercial fryer fire

A commercial fryer caught fire Tuesday at Axium Foods and caused about $70,000 in damages.

The fire was reported about 8:15 p.m.

Firefighters arrived at the plant, 239 Oak Grove Ave., to find 20 to 30 employees outside and heavy smoke inside the plant.

“The (overhead) sprinkler system activated pretty quickly and kept the fire contained,” South Belolit Fire Chief Michael Davenport said. “We had the fire under control in about 15 minutes and the fire completely out in 20 minutes.”

Axium Foods, at times a three-shift operation, is a corn-based snack food manufacturer making chips and other products.

“The fire started in the fry unit of the oven,” Davenport said.

The cause of the fire, however, remains under investigation. Damage was estimated at $50,000 to the machinery and $20,000 to product lost. Rockton Fire Department assisted.

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.