Tag Archives: Kentucky

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Burlington, KY – Laundry fire at county jail contained with help from sprinkler system

A fire that broke out in a commercial dryer last Monday night at the Boone County Jail was ruled accidental and caused by bedding materials that overheated in the unit.

Crews from the Columbia Fire Department and Boone County Fire Protection District were sent to the jail, 2121 County Drive, at 10:54 p.m. Monday and found neither smoke nor fire visible from the outside, according to a news release.

Fire district personnel arrived first and were taken to the laundry area, where there was light smoke and fire coming from the unit. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. One sprinkler activated before crews arrived, helping contain the fire to the single unit, the release said.

No injuries were reported. Boone County sheriff’s Detective Tom O’Sullivan said the dryer is a loss, and damage to it and some light smoke damage in the building is estimated to cost about $6,000. The dryer was left on too long, and the heat setting was too high, he said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lexington, KY – Fire at Clarion Hotel contained 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.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Graves County, KY – Sprinklers help put out fire at middle school caused by malfunctioning soda machine

The need for caffeine at Graves County Middle School caused quite a commotion overnight.

According to the school district, a soda machine the food lab malfunctioned and created a small fire.

That fire set off sprinklers and alarms in the school.

Superintendent Kim Dublin said, “Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. Quite a bit of water went into a couple of classrooms; but the damage was mostly contained to the food lab.”

Crews spent Tuesday morning cleaning up the mess left behind.

According to Dublin, seventh grade orientation will still take place at the school tonight.

Opening day activities for faculty and staff will still go on as planned on Wednesday.

Classes begin on Thursday.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Mount Vernon, KY – Fire at Renfro Valley entertainment center controlled by sprinkler system

In the early evening hours of July 16th the Mount Vernon Fire Dept. was dispatched to a reported building on fire in the Village at Renfro Valley.  Upon arrival, fire units observed a large amount of smoke coming from the replica fire station building in the village, across from the gristmill.  Once crews made entry, it was determined that the fire was actually a golf cart on fire inside and not the building itself.  The building’s sprinkler system activated and kept the fire contained.  It was quickly extinguished, with only smoke and water damage to the building and its contents.  Brindle Ridge Fire Department responded automatic aid while Brodhead Fire Department responded mutual aid.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Prestonsburg, KY – Electrical fire at state park lodge contained by sprinkler system

The lodge at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park near Prestonsburg is temporarily closed after a fire late Tuesday. The fire started because of a problem with an electrical panel, according to the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. No injuries were reported, and the sprinkler system contained the fire to a lounge area.

The lodge will likely open in a few days after repairs have been made, said Don Parkinson, secretary of the cabinet. The convention center and cabins will remain open

Other - Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Lexington, KY – Fire at wood truss manufacturer controlled by sprinkler system

Lexington firefighters believe dry conditions may have contributed to the quick spread of a fire Tuesday night that damaged the Bluegrass Truss Co building on Lima Drive.

The fire department got a call from the building’s alarm company about 6:20 p.m. about smoke alarms going off, Battalion Chief Mark Harvey said. One person was in the building and called to confirm there was a fire when he saw the warehouse was filling with smoke.

Harvey said the fire likely started in a container for discarded cigarettes. The fire was ruled as an accident. The flames spread quickly up a side wall and into the roof and trusses, Harvey said. The sprinkler system helped keep the fire under control until firefighters arrived.

The building was damaged, but it would probably be able to be repaired quickly, Harvey said. Wind and dry conditions have led to a city-wide burn ban that will continue into Wednesday. Harvey said those conditions may have led to the quick spread of the fire on Lima Drive.

The fire department responded to several mulch fires throughout the day Tuesday that were also thought to be a result of dry conditions.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lexington, KY – Fire at off-campus apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler system

A fire above a stove in the University Village Apartments on Simpson Avenue in Lexington Tuesday night was extinguished by the sprinkler system, which kept the fire from spreading, according to fire investigators. The fire was out before firefighters arrived. Investigators say there was minimal smoke and fire damage to the apartment and no smoke damage. All of the occupants evacuated as a precaution. The people who live in the apartment will be able to stay there, according to investigators. No one was hurt, according to firefighters. In addition to the effective sprinkler system, all of the smoke detectors also functioned properly, according to investigators.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Mt Vernon, KY – Overnight fire at county jail suppressed by sprinkler system

A fire early Wednesday at the Rockcastle County jail caused 13 inmates and two jail employees to be sent to hospitals with smoke inhalation.  Police and fire officials were called about 3:20 a.m. to the jail, which housed 102 inmates at the time, Kentucky State Trooper Lloyd Cochran said.

Four jail employees were in the building at the time State police suspect arson, Cochran said. The investigation is open, and no arrests have been made. None of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening, and many of those hospitalized have been released, Cochran said. The injured were taken to hospitals in Rockcastle and Laurel counties.

The fire caused heavy smoke and water damage, Cochran said. It could be closed for several weeks.

All of the inmates were transported to the Laurel County Correctional Center, Cochran said. It was unclear whether the prisoners would be able to stay there until repairs are made to the Rockcastle County jail.

 

Jail employees told police that alarm and sprinkler systems worked as they are supposed to, Cochran said. State police will be able to confirm that alarms and sprinklers worked properly after the investigation is completed.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Erlanger, KY – Following explosion at candy factory, sprinklers assist in controlling fires inside building

An explosion and fire at a Boone County candy factory is under investigation. Erlanger residents told WLWT they heard an explosion that shook their homes around 3 a.m. Friday.

 “Shortly after the first unit got out of the station, they could actually see the fire from the station,” Point Pleasant Fire Department Asst. Chief Bill Martin said.

Flames could be seen shooting out of the three-alarm fire at the Perfetti Van Melle plant. The factory makes all of the Airheads candy for North America. Officials said the silo that handles sugar for candy making exploded.

“Anytime you’re dealing with any kind of dust or whatever, you have a chance of explosion – that’s always a hazard in that kind of operation – there’s all kinds of dust hazards – this just happens to involve a sugar product,” Martin said.   Hundreds of employees made it out safely as dust in the form of sugar filled the air.

“They heard the explosion and took the necessary steps and made the call and got themselves out,” President and CEO PVM USA Mehmet Yuksek said.  The fire was brought under control around 4:30 a.m.

“I think the sprinkler system did its job for the most part. The fire that we saw and that was extinguished with the ladder pipe that we had up. The involvement inside the building was actually very limited by the sprinkler system,” said Point Pleasant Assistant Chief Bill Martin.

Meanwhile, employees were told to stay home on Friday.  Parfetti Van Melle President Mehmet Yuksek arrived on the scene early Friday morning.

“We’re actually trying to put the call on everyone, including the office and the first shift not to come because we won’t be operational. Until we know exactly what the damages are and what we need to do, we won’t be making any production,” said Yuksek.

Investigators are still trying to determine a cause.

Other - Retail, Retail

Bowling Green, KY – Fire at home surplus store held in check by sprinkler system

Bowling Green firefighters were called to Super Home Surplus, 2326 Russellville Road, at 3 a.m. after an electrical fire in wiring ignited near a neon sign between the roof and a dropped ceiling, BGFD spokesman Marlee Boenig said.

There was fire damage to a front showroom and minimal water damage to the building, she said. No one was injured. Firefighters remained on the scene for 3-1/2 hours to fight the fire and investigate the cause, Boenig said.

A sprinkler near the point of origin helped keep the fire in check until firefighters arrived, and the sprinkler minimized damage, she said. The department responded with seven trucks and 22 personnel.