Tag Archives: Michigan

Other - Manufacturing, Other Business

Monroe, MI – Fire at packaging business knocked down by sprinkler system

A Monroe business sustained some damage after fire broke out Saturday.  Firefighters were called to Complete Packaging Inc., 633 Detroit Ave., around 6:15 p.m.  Monroe Fire Chief Robert Wight said a sprinkler system helped to save the structure. Some products inside the facility were damaged due to the blaze.  “They knocked it down pretty fast,” the chief said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Ferndale, MI – Fire in 68-unit apartment building for elderly, disabled, and low income residents extinguished by sprinkler system

At about 8:30 pm last Monday night some residents of Withington West apartments were evacuated due to a fire that started in a fourth floor apartment.  Withington West is a 68-unit property of the Ferndale Housing Commission. It is home to elderly, disabled and low income residents. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The fire started on a stove, by a resident cooking chicken. Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan further explained that walls in the building are made of concrete, so fire remain contained. “The fire protection system did exactly what it was designed to do, enough heat was released to set of the sprinkler head in the kitchen, effectively extinguishing the fire. The fire pump came on when the head opened, the water pressure dropped, the fire pump made up the difference,” he said. He confirmed there were no injuries. He also clarified that only apartments immediately around that where the fire started were evacuated.

Residents were permitted back into the building once the fire was extinguished, and restoration crews were on the scene as of 10pm working to clean up water from the sprinkler system and fire department. The Fire Marshall was also on hand to conduct the investigation.

Housing Director Heather VanPoucker confirmed there were no injuries and that efforts to protect residents went smoothly. “Fire suppression worked exactly as intended.” VanPoucker said. “The fire department response was excellent as always.”

Restaurant

Sturgis, MI – Clothes dryer fire at Culver’s restaurant controlled by sprinkler system

A Sunday morning fire damaged a Culver’s restaurant.  At 2:28 a.m. Sunday, the Sturgis Fire Department was dispatched to Culver’s at 830 S. Centreville Road for a report of smoke in the building. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found the building full of smoke from an unknown origin.  After entering the restaurant and investigating, firefighters found a clothes dryer burning in the rear of the restaurant. The fire had been contained to only the dryer by a working sprinkler head.

The remaining fire was put out and the washer/dryer unit was removed from the building.  The building sustained minor smoke damage and no structural damage. However, there was a large amount of water from the activated sprinkler head and due to water in the electric panels the main power meter to the building had to be turned off.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Woodhaven, MI – Sprinkler system saves Tropical Smoothie and many other businesses from major fire

A store sprinkler system is credited for helping keep a business from going up in flames Wednesday night.

Fire broke out at about 11:10 p.m. inside Tropical Smoothie, 23112 Allen Road.

The Woodhaven Fire Department received a “water flow notification” for the location, which indicated the sprinkler system had been activated.

It initiated an alarm and fire crews rushed to the business.

According to Fire Chief Michael Clark, the best-case scenario possible unfolded out of a potentially costly situation.

Thanks to the installed suppression system, the fire was out before fire crews even arrived, Clark said.

He said the business suffered minimal damage, mostly due to water and smoke.

The chief said it appears that a mop handle situated next to the water heater might have initiated the fire. One was found melted near the water heater.

“I see nothing suspicious in nature about the fire,” Clark said. “We have pretty much completed our end of this investigation.”

He said this is a perfect example of why sprinkler systems are so important and all businesses should have one in working order.

“It saves lives and thousands of dollars,” Clark said. “There are three or four other businesses connected to the store in this strip and they would have been affected.”

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Niles, MI – Newly repaired sprinkler system subdues fire until crews arrive

If you are a customer of Michiana Recycling and Disposal, trash service will be delayed Tuesday due to an overnight fire at the company’s transfer station. 

The Howard Township Fire say the fire started in a cardboard bin around 12 a.m.

Another employee heard about the fire and called 9-1-1.

When crews arrived on scene, flames and heavy smoke were visible.

Employees said a newly repaired sprinkler system helped to subdue the flames until first responders arrived.

The fire was put out just after 4 a.m.

No injuries were reported.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Ann Arbor, MI – Fire in mechanical room at University of Michigan contained by sprinkler system

A University of Michigan building was evacuated Friday afternoon when a fire in the mechanical room set off alarms and a sprinkler system inside.  The Ann Arbor Fire Department responded to the report of a fire in a mechanical room at Tisch Hall, 435 S. State St. at 12:20 p.m. Friday, March 1. The fire was out within 10 minutes, said Battalion Chief Derek Wiseley.  Tisch Hall is located on UM’s main campus and is connected to Angell and Haven Halls, according to its website. It is near the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

A fire in the cabinet of the mechanical room triggered the automatic sprinkler system, which contained the flames to the area until fire crews were able to respond, officials said. Wisely said fire crews helped ventilate the building and ensure the fire was out before clearing the scene at 1:07 p.m.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Warren, MI – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in controlling fire at Extended Stay America hotel

Warren Fire Department investigators believe an electrical problem in a bathroom vent fan may have sparked an early morning blaze Thursday at a city hotel that forced the evacuation of approximately 100 guests. Officials credited employees of the Extended Stay America, on Civic Center Drive, east of Van Dyke Avenue and north of 12 Mile Road, with helping patrons escape the burning building shortly after 3 a.m.

Flames in the ceiling of a third-floor unit spread into the upper portion of the three-story building and broke through the roof, Warren Fire Commissioner Wilburt McAdams said. Firefighters cut through a portion of the roof in order to determine whether flames had spread across other upper areas of the hotel. The fire triggered an internal alarm system, and employees who began checking the building noticed smoke on the third floor.

“They knew right away it was not a false alarm and not someone playing games, and immediately began knocking on doors telling people to get out,” McAdams said. All of the approximately 100 hotel guests got out safely without injury. Firefighters extinguished the flames in approximately 20 minutes, the commissioner said. No injuries were reported. The blaze caused severe damage to the bathroom where the fire started and the adjoining guest room, which had not been rented to a patron Wednesday night. The hotel sustained smoke damage and several rooms on the second floor had significant damage from water.

McAdams said the sprinkler system had activated in the bathroom where the fire began and smoke alarms in the building functioned properly. The hotel is located just south of the Warren Police Department and Warren City Hall. Most of the displaced guests were relocated to other hotels in the area. A Warren Fire inspector was still at the scene after 9 a.m. “The fire does not appear to be suspicious or arson. It appears to be electrical in nature,” McAdams said. “We’re very thankful that once again we avoided any kind of serious incident and that it was able to be brought under control in a few minutes,” he added.

Restaurant

Marquette, MI – Restaurant kitchen fire extinguished with assistance from sprinkler system

Minor injuries were reported after a small stove flare up at a Marquette restaurant Saturday afternoon. At 4:01 p.m., the Marquette City Fire Department was dispatched to the Border Grill restaurant at 800 North Third Street on a report of an explosion. As fire crews arrived to the scene, the building was being evacuated. Restaurant staff explained that a small explosion had occurred in the back kitchen area on top of a stove. The building’s sprinkler system, along with the stove’s Ansul system, quickly extinguished the fire that occurred as a result of the explosion. Fire crews secured the building and assisted the Border Grill staff with removing the water from the building to keep water damage to a minimum. Crews cleared the scene at 4:57 p.m. Two minor injuries were reported in the incident. The cause of the explosion and fire remain under investigation

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Marysville, MI – Sprinkler system holds fire at Burger King in check

No one was injured in a fire at the Marysville Burger King this afternoon.  Marysville Public Safety Director Tom Konik said the fire broke out in a fryer. He said the ventilation system kept smoke out of the area and the store’s sprinkler system was activated.  “It kept it in check, but it wasn’t able to put it out,” he said.  Konik said crews entered the building and were able to extinguish it.  Employees and customers had evacuated the building prior to the arrival of first responders.  The fire was reported about 2:30 p.m.

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Saginaw, MI – Sprinkler system limits damage at County Road Commission garage

Fire destroys a Saginaw County Road Commission truck, but the sprinkler system inside the garage prevented more damage.

Managing Director Dennis Borchard said the fire in the snow plow truck appears to be electrical, but it will be up to the insurance adjustor to finalize the cause.

The garage’s sprinkler system was activated around 3:45 p.m. Sunday, which automatically alerted Saginaw County Central Dispatch.

Borchard said the sprinklers kept the fire contained until the Saginaw Fire Department arrived and was able to stop the fire from spreading.

Only one other truck has some damage.

Borchard said the truck that caught fire was not used Sunday, it was last used on Saturday. No one was in the garage in the 3200 block of Sheridan Avenue when the fire started.

The building was not damaged, but the road commission has to deal smoke and water throughout the garage.