Tag Archives: Kentucky

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.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lexington, KY – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire originating in water heater

About 10 people were displaced by a fire at a Lexington apartment building Sunday evening, according to the Lexington Fire Department.

The blaze was at a building in the 1700 block of Augusta Court on the north side of Lexington. No one was injured.

The fire was in a water heater and was extinguished by the sprinkler system, said Maj. Maria Roberts.

Occupants of two apartments were displaced. The landlord found other places for the people to stay, Roberts said.

Office Building, Other Business

Henderson, KY – Fire during AA meeting contained by building’s sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire broke out an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting place during a session Monday afternoon. No one was injured.  Henderson Fire Chief Scott Foreman said firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 401 Hoffman Drive around 12:40 p.m.  “It started in the suite where the AA meetings are held,” he said. “We understand there was a meeting in progress, but everyone got out safely.”

Foreman said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.  “The fire was contained by the building’s sprinkler system and flames were contained to the AA suite,” he said. “There were some flames visible at one time.”  Foreman said there is smoke and water damage throughout several of the businesses contained in that building.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Owensboro, KY – Early morning fire at carpet warehouse controlled by sprinkler system

The Owensboro Fire Department responded to an alarm on Salem Drive early Tuesday morning. When crews arrived on the scene around 3:15 AM they noticed smoke showing from Carpets Unlimited. According to a release from OFD, the sprinkler system had activated. Firefighters found smoke in almost every area of the warehouse.

OFD said that sprinkler system controlled most of the fire, and their crews were able to put out the rest. In all, firefighters spent nearly three hours on the scene clearing out smoke and water. The cause of the fire is under investigation, as is the amount of actual smoke and water damage. Fire Chief Steve Mitchell said in a statement, “OFD crews did a tremendous job reducing the loss at this location. Our goal is to do everything we can to help the business get back in operation as quickly as possible.”

Primary / Secondary School

Grayson, KY – Bathroom fire at high school contained by sprinkler system; Student return to classes same day

A small fire briefly disrupted classes Friday at East Carter High School, according to Carter County Schools.  It happened in a restroom, and the smoke activated the sprinkler system. (note from blog editor: smoke does not activate this type of fire sprinkler system.  Only the substantial heat from a potentially dangerous fire will activate an automatic fire sprinkler)

All students and staff were evacuated as a precaution. No one was hurt.  They were allowed back in the building around 11:20 a.m. Students and staff were using an adjusted lunch/class schedule for the remainder of the day.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Bowling Green, KY – Fire on 10th floor of university residence hall contained by sprinkler system

Western Kentucky University officials say a kitchen fire broke out on the tenth floor of Pearce Ford Tower early Monday afternoon.  Students say water from the sprinkler system has pooled up on floors nine and ten, with some students reporting damaged belongings, though this hasn’t been confirmed by officials.  The fire was contained to the kitchen, and students are expected to be able to return to the building after cleanup is complete.  No injuries have been reported to us at this time.