Tag Archives: Indiana

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Bristol, IN – Sprinkler system keeps fire at bay at RV manufacturing plant

A fire along the toll road in Bristol on Saturday destroyed a motor coach parked inside the Renegade RV plant.

“The sprinkling system did its job by keeping it at bay until we could get in and take care of the problem,” said Nik Kantz, chief of the Bristol Fire Department.

But firefighters could not save the luxury RV that was swallowed by flames around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Kantz said it took crews a couple of hours to put out because of poor visibility.

“When you’re in a factory like that and you don’t really know the layout and where they put motor coaches and trailers and things, it’s kind of hard if you can’t see your hand in front of your face,” he said. “And it’s smoky and hot, and you’re not sure what’s on the other side of the wall there; it just takes a little bit of time.”

Five departments, 15 trucks, and about 30 firefighters responded to the scene.

More than 9,000 gallons of water was needed to extinguish the fire.

Luckily, nobody was hurt.

“The last worker left early around lunchtime [Saturday], I believe,” Kantz said.

He said the cause of the fire is being investigated.

The sprinkler system managed to keep the flames contained to the one RV, so the building it was in is ok.

Workers can return on Sunday.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Other-Government/Military

South Bend, IN – Sprinkler system activates to help control arson fire at work release detention center

Two men who were inmates at the DuComb Center have been charged with arson for allegedly setting a fire at the center in August.  South Bend Fire responded to a fire at the DuComb Center on W. Lathrop Street on August 17.  Firefighters located the fire in the ceiling of a bathroom at the facility.

The building’s sprinkler system was activated and firefighters reported heavy smoke in the building.  The fire was extinguished by firefighters.  An investigation into the cause of the fire determined someone lit a piece of cloth and placed it above the ceiling tiles.

The damage was estimated at over $100,000.  Surveillance video showed between 11:09 p.m. and 11:35 p.m., inmates Austin Lamberson and Theodore Carney went into the bathroom, stayed for a short time, then walked out, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Investigators said Lamberson was carrying a white cloth when he walked into the bathroom, but was not carrying it when he walked out.  The video also allegedly showed Lamberson carry a blanket into the bathroom, returns saying, “It’s still going, I don’t need to put that up there,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

A short time later, Lamberson returned to the bathroom with the blanket and left without the blanket, according to the probable cause affidavit.  A short time later, an employee discovers the fire in the ceiling.  Lamberson and Carney are each charged with one count of arson.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Evansville, IN – Mid-day fire at paint manufacturer contained by sprinkler system

Evansville firefighters responded to a fire at Red Spot Paint in the 1100 block of E. Louisiana St.  This happened around noon Monday.   

A small fire broke out which caused heavy smoke to come from one of the buildings. Fire officials say the sprinkler system was able to contain the fire before firefighters arrived and put the flames out.

The building was evacuated and two employees were taken to Deaconess Hospital with minor injuries.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Jeffersonville, IN – Fire at automotive supplier extinguished by sprinkler system

Employees at Autoneum in Jeffersonville’s River Ridge Commerce Center were evacuated last Thursday after a minor fire in one of the machines.  The Jeffersonville Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at the plant, which makes insulation parts and carpet for GM products, just after 3 p.m. When they arrived, the sprinkler system has extinguished the fire and employees had been evacuated.

Fire crews checked to make sure there was no spread of fire and secured the scene before employees could return to work, Jeffersonville Fire Department Sgt. Justin Ames.  Ames said that although this is the fifth fire the company has had since opening and the second or third this year, he doesn’t have concerns about the safety of the facility.  “It’s common for the work that they do, but they have a great response plan,” he said. “We’ve preplanned this building so we’re prepared.” Ames said the fire department meets with Autoneum owners several times a year to revisit safety protocol.

Place of Worship

Fort Wayne, IN – Sprinkler system saves church from significant damage in late evening fire

A small fire at Love Church on East Berry Street Wednesday night was largely put out by the building’s sprinkler system. Fort Wayne firefighters were dispatched shortly before 11 p.m. to 1331 East Berry Street, when the fire alarm activated.  Fire officials said the building’s fire suppression united put out most of the flames. Once firefighters got into the building they located a small fire in a storage area. Officials said a pile of items on the floor caught fire and put out a lot of smoke.  The fire was quickly contained by crews and the building was ventilated. Officials said had the sprinkler system not activated there could have been major damage to the church.  No one was inside at the time of the fire.  No injuries were reported.  It’s unclear how the fire started.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Shelbyville, IN – Paint booth fire at 118 year old furniture factory contained with help from sprinkler system

A fire at a 118-year old factory in Shelbyville is being investigated. The Shelbyville Fire Department responded to a call at 12:16 p.m. of the fire at Old Hickory Furniture, 403 S. Noble St. The fire was under control at 1:06 p.m., Fire Chief Tony Logan said.  There were no injuries reported and the company’s employees were evacuated safely.  The fire started around a paint booth. No additional details were available as the investigation had just begun.  Logan said the sprinkler system was working properly, which helped control the fire.

“Sprinkler systems are designed to keep the fire in check,” he said. “Our responsibility is to maintain or support that.” He said it is “imperative” for places of business to have a functioning sprinkler system. “Like I said, sprinkler systems are designed to keep the fire in check,” he said. “It’s not necessarily designed to put it out, but if you keep it in a small, incipient stage where it produces damage, in this case, this facility will be back up and running a lot quicker, employees will be back to work, they’ll be producing their product, with no loss of revenue to them or to the city tax-wise.”

More than 20 firefighters responded to the scene. “If this had happened at 3 in the morning, it could have been a different outcome,” Logan said. “We’re fortunate it happened during the day.”  Most of the damage was inside the building, but there was some roof damage as well.  As the fire department finished putting out the fire, Logan said the investigation was just starting and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office may be called to the scene.   “Hopefully we’ll get some answers soon,” he said. “It’s hard to tell with some of these older structures.”  Old Hickory has been in business since 1899. It handcrafts a variety of furniture pieces, including tables, rockers, mirrors and frames, bathroom wall cabinets and bookcases.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Greencastle, IN – Fire in new dining hall building at DePauw University suppressed by sprinkler system

A small fire early Saturday morning at Hoover Hall on the DePauw University campus occurred in a storage room on the lower level of the new dining hall in the center of campus.  The fire was extinguished very quickly, DePauw officials said.  The fire began at about 5:45 a.m. while no one was in the building but the safety system did its job, DPU spokesman Ken Owen told the Banner Graphic.

Two sprinklers put out the bulk of the fire, he said, and a fire extinguisher was used once the Greencastle Fire Department arrived on the scene to fully put it out. No fire hoses were necessary in the incident.  No damage estimate was available Saturday morning, however, damage was deemed “minimal” by DePauw officials.

The fire created smoke and there was water left by the sprinklers, necessitating clean-up and the closing of the dining hall at least for Saturday breakfast. The sprinkler system must be recharged, Owen said.  Because of that clean-up work, along with the need for the fire marshal to do his work to determine the cause of the fire, breakfast was not being served at Hoover but instead breakfast items were available at the convenience store in the Union Building.

At 10 a.m., the Health Department gave DePauw clearance to reopen Hoover Hall. The plan at that time was to open Hoover Hall with a limited menu at noon Saturday.

“All of us — the DePauw administration and our friends from the fire department and public safety — thank you and all students for their patience and understanding as we proceed today,” Owen said in a statement for the university. “I can’t say enough about the good work many people have performed in the early hours of a Saturday to make the process of recovering from this incident as quick and seamless as possible.”

Hoover Hall is the DePauw’s new 48,600 square-foot dining hall which sits in the shadow of historic East College in the center of campus. It was formally dedicated last October.  The $32 million project took 29 months to complete after ground was broken on May 17, 2014. The lead gift came from R. David and Suzanne A. Hoover, both 1967 graduates of DePauw.

College/University (on campus), School / University

West Lafayette, IN – Fire in Purdue University laboratory extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Purdue firefighters rushed to Wetherill Hall on Oval Drive about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report of a fire, which was extinguished within minutes after the fire department arrived.

Purdue fire Capt. Shane Jones said the fire caused moderate damage, which was contained to the fire hood area in the second-floor laboratory. The fire activated the sprinkler system, so there also was some water damage in the area.

The facility was evacuated when the alarm went off, and people were directed to the nearby Stewart Center and Purdue Memorial Union, Jones said.  Building services staff assisted in the clean up, and people were allowed back into the building about 2:15 p.m. However, the room where the fire  happened and the room directly below it remained closed, Jones said.

 

Apartment Building, Residential

Bloomington, IN – Sprinkler system extinguishes cooking fire at apartment complex

Some apartments had water damage after the sprinkler system extinguished a small cooking fire at Smallwood Plaza Apartments on College Avenue. The fire was reported at 8:45 p.m. Sunday night.  According to Bloomington Fire Department Sgt. Danny Gillespie, the fire started in an apartment on the sixth floor but was put out after the sprinkling system activated.  When firefighters arrived, the shut off the sprinklers and were on the scene for about two hours helping to clear out the water and smoke.  Sgt. Gillespie says there was water damage to the the apartment where the fire started and several units below it.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Brownsburg, IN – Sprinkler system activates to protect bowling alley from fire on smoker’s patio

Fire caused minor damage to a Brownsburg bowling alley and sports bar early Monday morning.

Firefighters found a small fire in a smoker’s patio at the front of the building around 12:30 a.m.

The fire activated a sprinkler in the external room, but the rest of the building was not damaged by water or flames, according to the fire department.

The business was closed at the time, and no one was hurt.