Tag Archives: Louisiana

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Lake Charles, LA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire set by former grocery store employee

A Moss Bluff man was arrested on Friday for setting a fire inside of a grocery store where he used to work.

Spencer Wallace, 19, was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Jail and is facing one count of aggravated arson, public affairs director for the State Fire Marshal’s Office Ashley Rodrigue said.

Calcasieu Fire District responded to a fire at the Market Basket grocery store on the 300 block of Sam Houston Jones Parkway in Moss Bluff.

After assessing the scene and analyzing store surveillance video, which shows Wallace standing near the manager’s booth and setting a fire in a trash can, SFM investigators determined the fire was intentionally set.

In the video, Wallace was seen walking away after setting the fire that spread to the booth before the store’s sprinkler system extinguished it.

Wallace admitted to setting the fire in an interview with investigators and was placed under arrest.

Airport, Other Business

New Orleans, LA – Fire sprinklers stop electrical fire at airport from spreading; No injuries reported

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Airport crews are assessing damage after a fire at the Armstrong Airport.

The fire started on the third floor of a terminal in an electrical room causing sprinklers to pour water on several other floors in the terminal, according to an airport representative.

Kenner Fire Department and on-site fire crews responded to the fire.

Airport leaders say they got the report of the fire at around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1.

The cause is still being investigated. No injuries were reported.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinkler system at nursing home controls fire caused by air conditioning unit

The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to a local nursing home early Saturday morning.

After arriving at the Sterling Place Nursing Home, BRFD says “they were directed to the second floor of the building where a window air condition unit was on fire.”

A sprinkler activated in the room where the air conditioner was on fire and prevented more damage from occurring.

Eight total units, four pumpers and two ladders were required to put the fire out.

The cause of this fire was most likely a bird nest caught in the AC unit.

At the time of the fire, there were 144 people and around 20 workers residing in the nursing home.

According to the Baton Rouge Fire Department, “the second floor where the fire was is vacant, with no one living on that floor.”

That floor did sustain smoke and heavy water damage.

BRPD and EMS assisted the Baton Rouge Fire Department at the scene.

Sterling Place Nursing Home is located at 3888 North Blvd.

Department Store, Retail

Shreveport, LA – Sprinkler system puts out fire, saves department store; No injuries reported

Multiple businesses are flooded after an early morning fire on 70th Street, near Canal Boulevard and Mansfield Road.

Officials say the sprinkler system at Affordable Home Furnishings put out the fire but dumped enough water to flood the adjacent Family Dollar and CSL Plasma.

SFD is currently pumping out the water. No injuries were reported.

The fire is under investigation.

College/University (on campus), Other - School / University, School / University

Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at LSU baseball stadium

Firefighters were called out to Alex Box Stadium for a fire before 1 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15.

The Baton Rouge Fire Department reported crews received the call about the fire at 12:40 a.m.

Officials said members of the LSU Police Department told responding firefighters there was a fire but the sprinkler system had doused the flames.

According to BRFD, police officers said a cardboard box had been put on top of a dryer and caught fire. The firefighters stayed on scene long enough to make sure the fire was out.

Fire officials added the power was turned off temporarily as a precaution. The laundry room and other nearby areas received water damage from the sprinkler system. Officials estimated the damage to be about $25,000.

No. 11 LSU defeated Indiana, 8-1, just a couple hours before the fire department responded to the fire.

There was no indication the fire would affect Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader between LSU and Indiana.

Apartment Building, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire sprinklers keep grease fire from spreading at apartment

A grease fire was ignited by an overflowing pot at a Baton Rouge apartment complex Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews were called to 650 W. Mckinley St. around 6:15 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the kitchen of an apartment. The sprinkler system had activated and kept the fire from spreading. Another apartment received water damage from sprinklers activating. 

The fire was under control within 15 minutes. Investigators are estimating $120,000 in damages.

Other - School / University, School / University

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire at nursing school contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Classes have been canceled for some Southern University students following a weekend fire.

The fire was reported at the nursing school building around 1 a.m. Sunday. Officials say the sprinkler system was activated, and the fire was contained and extinguished.

No one was inside the building at the time.

Firefighters arrived at the scene and secured the area. The university said that Monday classes that were supposed to be held in the building were canceled.

Officials said Monday the incident was deemed an electrical fire. 

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Baton Rouge, LA – Fire at assisted living center extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries to residents or firefighters

Firefighters responded to a fire at Amber Terrace assisted living facility on Summa Avenue last Thursday afternoon. Officials with the St. George Fire Department say firefighters were dispatched at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 1. They arrived to find the building in a haze of smoke. A second alarm was called to help with evacuating the building. The fire started in an air handling unit. An overhead sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire. Damage was contained to the room containing the air handler. No residents or firefighters were injured in the incident, the St. George Fire Department confirms.

Other Business

Lake Charles, LA – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in laundry room fire at casino

The Lake Charles Fire Department put out a small fire in the laundry room at L’auberge Casino Resort last Tuesday morning, officials said. Assistant Chief Carroll Doty said a machine caught fire. He said it was his understanding that it was a commercial iron press. He said the only damage was to the machine and that no one was injured. The sprinkler system activated, but the fire department brought in one hose to extinguish the fire. He said the side of the casino on which the laundry room is located was evacuated.

Other - Manufacturing, Other Business

Lacassine, LA – Sprinkler system contains fire at textile mill

State Fire Marshal deputies are on the scene of a fire at an industrial business in Lacassine

The call to investigate the origin and cause of the fire came in just after 2:15 p.m. to Zagis USA. The business is a textile mill located in the 21000 block of Louisiana Cotton Drive which is near Iowa.

Fortunately, the Marshal’s Office reports that the facility’s sprinkler system activated to limit the extent of the fire and the fire alarm alerted employees to the danger, preventing injuries.