Tag Archives: Kansas

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

McPherson, KS – Sprinkler system activated for forklift fire

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On Thursday, a firefighter was injured while working a building fire in McPherson.

According to the McPherson Fire Department, crews were dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at a building in the 1000 block of W. Kansas Ave. around 4 p.m.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from the building. Firefighters entered the building and found heavy smoke conditions and a forklift with its engine compartment on fire.

The sprinkler system was able to contain the fire to the forklift.

Crews continued to search the building for fire. During the search, two firefighters fell into a partially uncovered pit used for automotive repairs. One of the firefighters was transported via EMS to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for a lower leg injury. They were treated and released, but they will need follow-up care.

The fire was extinguished, and the smoke was cleared from the building.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted with the fire investigation.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Hays, KS – Kitchen fire at restaurant extinguished by sprinkler system

A Hays restaurant is temporarily closed following a kitchen fire on Wednesday.

The Hays Fire Department responded to Gella’s Diner & Lb. Brewing Co., 117 E. 11th, and found that a fire had been extinguished by the building’s automatic fire sprinkler system. Crews were able to extinguish hot spots and ventilate smoke out of the building.

The department determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and said the fire was contained in the kitchen.

One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, and everyone inside the building made it out safely.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Manhattan, KS – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at hotel

Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged arson and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 7:30a.m. Wednesday, the Riley County Communication Center received a call of a fire alarm at the Parkwood Inn and Suites in the 500 block of S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Officers from RCPD and Quints 2 and 3 from the Manhattan Fire Department responded to the location.  Upon arrival, fire crews discovered an activated fire sprinkler head on the fourth floor.

Fire investigators determined an unknown item was ignited near the sprinkler head causing it to activate. Fire loss is estimated to be $500 with the area sustaining significant water damage.

Officers arrested Gerry Phillips, 32, of Manhattan on a probable cause offense of aggravated arson. His bond was set at $20,000.

The RCPD did not release the exact location of the fire. However, an online search  indicates the fire occurred at the Parkwood Inn and Suites. at 505 MLK Jr. Drive in Manhattan.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Olathe, KS – Sprinkler system activated for cooking fire at Chinese restaurant; No injuries reported

Crews were able to extinguish a working cooking fire over the weekend at a Chinese restaurant in Olathe.

The Olathe Fire Department says that just after 10:55 a.m. on Sunday, April 14, emergency crews were called to the Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant – BoBo Chinese – at 151st and Ridgeview Rd. with reports of a cooking fire.

When first responders arrived, they said they found flames and smoke bursting out of the rooftop through the exhaust vent.

Firefighters indicated that the kitchen’s fire suppression “hood” system and an automatic sprinkler head were able to stop the fire from spreading.

Crews were able to extinguish the blaze with no injuries reported. No further information has been released.

Fire / Police Station, Government/Military

Lawrence, KS – Sprinkler system activated for electrical malfunction at law enforcement center; No injuries reported

There were no injuries from a fire at the law enforcement center in Lawrence late Tuesday.

Just before 11p.m. crews responded to a fire alarm at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center at 111 East 11th Street in Lawrence, according to Fire Chief Richard Llewellyn.

This facility houses several Douglas County departments, including the District Attorney, Emergency Communications Center (ECC), Court Services and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

While initial units were responding, the incident was upgraded to a “Confirmed Structure Fire” and additional resources were dispatched.

First responders encountered significant smoke in the basement of the building.  Following a thorough search in low visibility conditions, firefighters located a fire that was contained by a single activated fire sprinkler head.

Crews put the fire out and then searched the rest of the building for fire extension and to ensure that no victims were present.

Douglas County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) continued to operate throughout this incident, both receiving incoming 911 calls and dispatching resources as appropriate. Dispatchers monitored ongoing fire operations in the building and worked through an audible fire alarm which remained activated for an extended time period.

Investigators determined the fire occurred in the jury deliberation room for the Division 7 Court Room in the basement of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

The room had experienced water damage from a sprinkler head that was damaged during recent freezing temperatures. The fire was determined to be accidental due to an electrical/mechanical malfunction of a fan that had been left running in the room to assist with the drying process. No injuries were reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Manhattan, KS – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at retirement home; No injuries reported

Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire at a Manhattan retirement home Saturday afternoon.

The Manhattan Fire Department says crews were dispatched at 1:03 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 26, to Meadowlark Retirement Community at 2221 Meadowlark Road for a report of a fire alarm with a smell of smoke.

Upon arrival, crews found a two-story residential building that had a dryer fire in the basement.

Manhattan Fire says the fire was controlled by the fire sprinkler system and crews finished the blaze off.

The fire cause has been noted as accidental due to overheating of material in the dryer.

No injuries were reported and all residents are able to remain in the building.

MFD says a total of 16 firefighters responded on 4 fire apparatuses with the last units clearing at around 3:00 p.m.

The loss is estimated at $8,000 to contents and $4,000 to the structure.

Manhattan Fire says the owner is listed as Manhattan Retirement Foundation Inc. of the same address.

Please contact Deputy Chief Ryan Almes, Manhattan Fire Department, at 785-587-4508 with any questions.

Apartment Building, Residential

Overland Park, KS – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire; No injuries reported

Eleven apartment buildings were damaged Saturday after a fire broke out.

Firefighters were called about 3:15 p.m. Saturday to Promontory Apartments at 8905 Metcalf Ave. When crews arrived on scene smoke and fire could be seen in a fourth-floor apartment. 

Firefighters from Overland Park, Consolidated Fire District No.2, Leawood, and Lenexa responded to extinguish the fire, search for trapped occupants and evacuate the remainder of the building.

A second alarm was requested to provide relief to fire crews and also assist salvage efforts of the adjoining apartment units.

Fire damage was contained to the apartment of origin by the building’s fire sprinkler system and was fully extinguished by fire crews. An additional 10 apartments were damaged by water or smoke as a result of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

The Red Cross was on scene to provide temporary lodging for residents affected. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Manhattan, KS – Sprinkler system extinguishes blaze at apartment complex; No injuries reported

The Manhattan Fire Department said a sprinkler system put out a blaze inside an apartment early Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were called to The Links of Manhattan apartment complex at 517 Gatlinburg Way around 3:45 a.m. on a report of a structure fire.

When they arrived, they said they could not see any flames or smoke coming from the three-story apartment building outside.

Crews investigated and found a sprinkler system in the kitchen of a first-floor apartment had put out the fire.

Firefighters then searched the apartment and rescued a dog and cat. No one was home at the time of the fire.

The apartment building has 24 units. Investigators estimate a total loss of $20,000 to the building, but only the unit that caught fire was affected.

Manhattan Fire said the cause remains under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Manhattan, KS – Fire sprinklers extinguish unattended kitchen fire

The Manhattan Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at the Flint Hills Job Corps Center, located 4620 Eureka Drive, on Saturday evening around 7:30 p.m. Upon arrival, crews found that thankfully the building was equipped with a fire sprinkler system that had extinguished the fire leaving $2500 in damage. Without the fire sprinkler system, the damage could have been much worse. The cause was found to be an unattended pan of grease catching fire on the stove, a fire cause that firefighters in Manhattan know all too well.

“The leading of cause of residential fires in Manhattan and across the nation continues to be from unattended cooking,” said Manhattan Fire Chief Scott French. “It only takes a second to leave the kitchen to check on something in another room, and when you come back your stove and kitchen cabinets are on fire.”

Thanksgiving is the day that has the highest number of home cooking fires nationally, followed by Christmas Day, with unattended cooking being the leading factor according to the National Fire Protection Agency.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hutchinson, KS – Third floor apartment fire contained to kitchen thanks to fire sprinklers

Fire officials say a sprinkler system prevented a kitchen fire from spreading in the Plaza Towers apartments in downtown Hutchinson early Saturday.

Firefighters responded to the five-story apartment complex at 17 E. Second Ave. just before 1:30 a.m. after fire alarms in the building were triggered by smoke.

An undetermined number of people evacuated the building while firefighters searched for the cause.

On the scene, crews traced the fire to the third floor from smoke in the hallway.

When they entered the apartment where the fire had occurred, they found an overhead sprinkler system in the kitchen had already doused the fire and damages were minimal.

Fire Chief Steve Beer could not say explicitly that food left on the stove caused the fire, but he said the occupant of the apartment had left the building, and the fire was limited to the kitchen.

“Sprinklers do save lives and property,” Beer said in a news release.

“The fuel loads in today’s structure plays a critical role in our fire operations,” he stated. “Petroleum-based plastics in furniture and accessories allow the fire of today to burn quicker and hotter than ever before. Remember, you only have three minutes to exit your structure when your fire alarm sounds. The Hutchinson Fire Department will be canvassing the immediate area to remind citizens and businesses of these safety facts.”

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