Tag Archives: Kentucky

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Louisville, KY – Sprinkler system contains fire after man sets trash can in dorm at U of L on fire

 A man was arrested Saturday after police said he started a fire inside a University of Louisville dormitory bathroom. 

According to an arrest report, police took Antonio Spuria, 18, into custody after witnesses and evidence pointed to him setting a 55-gallon garbage can on fire around 2 a.m. Saturday inside the men’s restroom on the second floor of Miller Hall Dormitory, located on U of L’s Belknap Campus. 

Multiple students were inside the dorm at the time of the fire, and the building had to be evacuated for several hours while crews with the Louisville Fire Department cleaned up and repaired its sprinkler system, according to Spuria’s arrest report. 

Spuria was booked at Louisville Metro Corrections around 2:30 p.m. Saturday and was charged with first-degree arson and wanton endangerment, according to his arrest report. 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Owensboro, KY – Compressor fire at grocery store contained by fire sprinkler system

A Tuesday morning fire broke out at Price Less Foods on Scherm Road, which caused mostly heavy smoke and water damage.

The fire was reported at 3:19 a.m. by Owensboro police officers responding to a burglary alarm at the store, at 1731 Scherm Road. Steve Leonard, battalion chief for the Owensboro Fire Department, said the fire appears to have started in a compressor in one of the grocery store’s coolers.

The fire is believed to have smoldered for an hour or more before spreading to other coolers and activating four of the store’s sprinkler heads.

The sprinklers contained the fire to the area of the affected coolers. Leonard said falling ceiling tiles activated a motion alarm. When officers arrived, they found smoke and water coming out of the store and called for fire units, Leonard said.

Firefighters were at the store for about two and a half hours, Leonard said. The fire itself did minimal damage, but the building and contents sustained heavy smoke and some water damage, Leonard said.

“Had there not been sprinklers, it would have extended into the attic area,” and become a major fire, Leonard said. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental.

“The compressor failed for some reason,” Leonard said. The store was closed Tuesday.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lexington, KY – Hotel fire kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire led to an evacuation of a Lexington Hotel Friday evening.

It happened around 10 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel on Athens-Boonesboro Road, near Interstate 75.

Firefighters say the fire started around the pool and fitness area, but the sprinkler system kept it from spreading too far.

Firefighters say it caused minimal damage to the building. The hotel was evacuated but guests were allowed back inside shortly after.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Nicholasville, KY – Overnight fire controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A Nicholasville restaurant will be closed for a while after an overnight fire left the building damaged.

Fortunately no one was inside when the fire broke out at Copper River Grill. The fire started after the restaurant had closed. Crews tell us they responded to the scene just before 2:00 a.m.

Firefighters say when they arrived they saw smoke coming from the back building. They think the fire may have started in the kitchen.

“The sprinkler system did activate and help control the spread of the fire,” says Fire Battalion Chief Johnny Adams.

Crews tell WKYT the restaurant will probably be closed for a while for cleanup and repairs. 
They say inspectors will determine when the restaurant will reopen.

Fire investigators are trying to determine what started the fire.

Restaurant

Lexington, KY – Sprinkler system aids firefighters in controlling blaze at popular bar

A beloved Lexington bar was damaged in a fire Friday morning.  The fire broke out at Belle’s Cocktail House in the 100-block of Market Street. The damage is mostly contained to the roof.  The sprinkler system was working and that helped firefighters contain the flames quickly. Investigators believe the fire broke out in the building’s mechanical room.  A firefighter did sustain a hand injury. The lower floors of the building received smoke and water damage. No one was in the building when the fire sparked. Police have shut down the area around Market Street. Blocked intersections include Market at Short, Church at Lime, Main at Lime and Upper at Church.  Owner Justin Thompson credits Lexington Fire for their quick response for saving his business.

 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Morganfield, KY – Sprinkler system helps extinguish overnight fire at Walmart

The Walmart in Morganfield will be closed for at least Monday due a overnight fire at the business.

At 2:14 a.m., Union County Dispatch sent Morganfield Fire Department, Union County Fire Department, Waverly Fire Department and Sturgis Fire Department to a fire at Walmart in Morganfield.

According to the Morganfield Fire Chief, Rick Millikan, upon arrival the store had been evacuated and units encountered heavy smoke in the store. The sprinkler system was activated.

Firefighters from MFD located and attacked the fire in the fabric section of the store . Other units arrived on scene, including Union County Fire and Sturgis Fire Department. They entered the loading dock area of the store, and interior crews extinguished the fire. 

The store did suffer smoke and water damage. Millikan said the cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.

Walmart Morganfield Facebook page states the following: 

“We apologize to our customers but our Morganfield Walmart location will be unable to open today due to fire damage. We have a team en route to get us cleaned up.”

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Residential

Madisonville, KY – Arson fire at personal care home doused by sprinkler system

A Homestead Personal Care home resident was arrested after apparently setting fire to his mattress at 2:05 p.m. last Monday. There were no reported injuries.  Madisonville Police Department reported Bradley D. Eaves, 40 of Madisonville, was charged with first-degree arson following an investigation.  Police said Eaves ignited his mattress “in an attempt to burn the structure down.”  Eaves was arrested without incident and taken to Hopkins County Jail, where he was being held this evening, pending bond.

PREVIOUS: Several Madisonville Fire Department crews responded to Homestead Personal Care home off Thompson Avenue, where all the residents were evacuated due to a fire that broke out in a room around 2 this afternoon.  MFD Fire Chief Ray Wyatt confirmed a bed had caught fire in one building at the facility.

“Right now, we’re trying to determine whether the fire was accidental or set on purpose,” he said.  Wyatt noted the sprinkler system activated and extinguished most of the flames. Debris was still smoldering in the room when engines arrived. Fire Department members could be seen with fire hoses inside one of the structures.

Residents along one hall of the building where the fire occurred may have to be relocated, Wyatt said.

Madisonville Police Department also responded.

Apartment Building, Residential

Louisville, KY – Occupied apartment’s sprinkler system extinguishes intentionally-set fire

A Louisville man was arrested Saturday after he intentionally set fire to an occupied apartment.

The Louisville Metro Police Department arrested Anthony Green, 30, on charges of first-degree arson and criminal mischief.

Officials said Green poured gasoline throughout an apartment in the 400 block of East Saint Catherine Street and then set a couch on fire inside the residence.

Investigators said Green made threats to kill the victim before setting the fire.

The fire was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system but caused over $1,000 in damages.

Green is being held in Metro Corrections on a $10,000 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Covington, KY – Sprinkler system activates to tackle fire in mechanical room of senior living building

More than 160 seniors were displaced Thursday when the Golden Tower residential building caught fire.

The fire was contained to the mechanical room in the 11th Street building where something shorted out, reports indicate. The fire triggered the sprinkler system.

The residents of the building, which is operated by the Housing Authority of Covington, were placed in hotels and helped by the Red Cross.

It could be up to five or six days before they are able to return to their homes.

Other Business

Pikeville, KY – Theater fire caused by pyrotechnics is put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

Firefighters were called to a small fire Saturday afternoon on the stage at Jenny Wiley Theatre.  Pikeville 911-Public Safety Director Paul Maynard says the fire occurred after a malfunction during a test of the venue’s pyrotechnics. The fire was contained to a portion of the stage, and the building’s sprinkler system worked as designed to put it out. The burnt portion of the stage was removed from the building. The theater sustained some smoke and water damage.

No one was hurt in the incident. Jenny Wiley Theatre released a statement about the incident, saying the fire occurred during preparations for the opening the youth program’s production of “The Tempest.” The statement said while the fire was minor, it did destroy the set for the production. The theater requested donations to offset the cost of repairs.