Tag Archives: Iowa

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Council Bluffs, IA – Sprinkler extinguishes intentionally set fire at high school

A small fire briefly disrupted activities Tuesday afternoon at Abraham Lincoln High School.  Around 12:15 p.m., someone set fire to a football tackling dummy on a balcony in the school fieldhouse, according to Council Bluffs Fire Marshal Larry Wohlers.  The fire activated a sprinkler head about 20 feet above the fire, which distributed water to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters arrived shortly after the activation.  No one was injured.

College/University (on campus), School / University

College campus fire contained by sprinkler system (Iowa City, IA)

A fire began in the Iowa City Chemical Building at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24. The flames began on the building’s fifth floor and were controlled by the school’s fire sprinkler system. No one was injured in the fire. Investigators believe the fire’s cause was the ignition of chemicals, but it is still under investigation.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Fire sprinklers credited with limiting fire at agricultural equipment dealership (Le Mars, IA)

The fire crews who responded to a fire at an agricultural equipment dealership early Monday morning are attributing the limited damage to the fire sprinkler system in the building. The fire, which appears to be caused by an electrical malfunction with a computer tower, was limited by the sprinkler system. 

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinkler system proves worth in apartment kitchen fire (Des Moines, IA)

A sprinkler system saved a Des Moines apartment from further damage after a fire started in the unit’s kitchen, officials said.  A fire had started while one of the occupants was cooking, officials said. 
Fire officials called the incident a “perfect example of how the fire protection systems required in these residential structures can save lives and property.”

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire sprinklers limit damage at manufacturing facility (Davenport, IA)

At about 8:45 a.m. on February 24, a fire was reported at a John Deere manufacturing facility. The incident began in the dust collection unit for a plasma cutting machine, and the fire sprinkler activated in that area, containing the fire until fire crews arrived. 

The plant was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Personnel in the unaffected work areas were able to return within 20 minutes.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Fire sprinklers put out fire at aquarium (Dubuque, IA)

Fire crews were alerted to a fire at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium on Saturday morning. The fire, which had started on the second floor of the aquarium in a tortoise enclosure, was eliminated by the building’s fire sprinkler by the time the crews arrived. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but no animals or people were injured in the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire contained in apartment building thanks to fire sprinklers (Waterloo, IA)

The fire sprinkler system kept a fire from spreading further than the second floor unit in which the fire began on Sunday afternoon. The fire began on a couch in the apartment, and no one was occupying the residence at the time of ignition. The rest of the apartment building safely evacuated the premises.

Battalion Chief Michael Moore said of the incident, “The sprinkler did its job. If the sprinkler system wasn’t in there, it would have been a ripping and roaring fire.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sprinkler system puts out fire at senior apartment complex (Des Moines, IA)

The Des Moines Fire Department says a sprinkler system helped keep a fire from spreading at an apartment complex for seniors. Fire crews were called to South View Senior Living Apartments at 1900 SE 6th Street around 1:30 Thursday. When they arrived they found a fire on a stove in one of the apartments. The sprinkler system in the apartment quickly put out the fire. No one was injured and damage was contained to one apartment.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fire sprinklers prove worth in restaurant fire (Des Moines, IA)

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Fire crews arrived to a fire reported at a restaurant the evening of Sunday, August 11. Officials now believe the fire began as a grease fire in the kitchen and then quickly came up the stove hood into the attic. An employee who witnessed the incident reported that the fire sprinklers activated almost immediately, suppressing the flames.