Tag Archives: Michigan

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Madison Heights, MI – Fire at snack food manufacturer contained by quick response of sprinkler system and firefighters

The Kar’s Nuts factory in Madison Heights had to close Sept. 15 when a fire broke out in the middle of the plant, but the fire was contained thanks to working sprinklers and a quick response by area fire departments.

Around 60 workers had to evacuate the facilities on 14 Mile Road, between John R and Dequindre roads. There were no injuries. The fire started around 7 p.m. in the roughly 300-square-foot room where the stainless steel containers are washed for product distribution. Kar’s Nuts ships a variety of snack mixes and nuts to distributors across the nation.

Four fire departments arrived at the scene, including the Madison Heights Fire Department. Firefighters from a fifth fire department, Birmingham, filled in for Madison firefighters at Station No. 1, ready to take calls for any extra emergencies.

At press time, the investigation was ongoing, but Madison Fire Chief Greg Lelito said he suspects it was an issue with the insulation around the piping that exhausts heat in the washing room.

“It then extended to the ceiling,” Lelito said. “The sprinkler system activated, which contained the fire. We then went in and put out the remainder of the fire with our fire hoses. But it was the sprinklers that kept it in the room of origin.”

While the fire didn’t spread far, the entire building was filled with heavy smoke, which made for limited visibility. The firefighters had to open every window and door, set up fans to circulate the air, and even break out the skylights on the roof in order to vent the smoke. The whole process took several hours. The entire building sustained significant damage from smoke and water. A mitigation company came in immediately afterward to begin work on restoring the facilities.

The plant employs about 200 workers. There were no injuries reported. The company has reported that all of its equipment is in working order, and at press time, production was expected to resume the following week. In the meantime, authorities continued to investigate the cause of the fire. Lelito said it’s fortunate that the sprinklers worked as they should.

“It was manageable, it was smooth, but it just shows you what sprinklers can do,” Lelito said. “City code typically requires that a building over 12,000 square feet is sprinklered. If that building didn’t have working sprinklers, that fire would’ve definitely spread past the room of origin.”

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Troy, MI – Fire at Korean barbecue restaurant stopped by single sprinkler head

A fire inside the Korean BBQ Dae Jang Keum at 2947 E. Big Beaver demonstrated the importance of commercial sprinkler systems.  According to Assistant Fire Chief Chuck Riesterer the fire was reported at 9:21 pm.

“Upon arrival, firefighters reported that the fire sprinkler system was active, all occupants were out of the building and that the fire had been extinguished. The fire was located in the Korean BBQ restaurant at the west end of this large, one-story strip mall,” Riesterer said.  “Firefighters turned off the water flowing from the sprinkler system. The fire sprinkler system contained the fire damage to the immediate area.  No extension was found in the adjoining spaces. Damage was located in a small dining area in the restaurant. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Damage estimates are incomplete at this time.”

Sprinklers are not required in all restaurants, but because Dae Jang Keum was located in a large strip mall it was necessary.

“The requirement for sprinklers comes from the Michigan Building Code, which is based upon the International Code Council’s Building Code,” Riesterer said.  Factors include height and area limitations, type of materials in the building and the ease of occupant egress.

“The fire was contained to the one space, and only one sprinkler head was used to contain the fire. Had the fire sprinkler system not been in place, patrons may have been injured, and a more severe impact to the community would have been felt with the possible loss of several businesses.  As it is, with a small amount of clean up, Dae Jang Keum should be open for business this week, if not already.”

The benefits of sprinkler systems have been well-documented, including by demonstrations in Rochester Hills and Ferndale.

Watch video of a side by side burn demo with a sprinkler system at http://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/11/22/burn-demo-shows-value-of-residential-sprinklers-video/.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Escanaba, MI – Fire at paper mill contained with help from sprinkler system

Escanaba Public Safety responded to a fire in one of the wood rooms of the Verso Paper Mill in Wells Township.

According to Escanaba Public Safety, they were dispatched at approximately 11:25 a.m. to assist Verso Fire Brigade. Public safety responded with one pumper, the 75 foot ladder truck and the rescue unit with the portable air filling station. They also provided nine officers to assist.

The quick response and joint effort of both fire departments, along with the building’s sprinkler system, curtailed the fire from spreading. The last unit cleared the scene at 2:30 p.m.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Flat Rock, MI – Storage fire at auto assembly plant controlled with help from single sprinkler

A fire that started in storage racks damaged the north side of the Flat Rock Auto Assembly Plant Tuesday night, causing hundreds of workers to be evacuated from the building. Firefighters from Flat Rock, Rockwood and Woodhaven responded to the plant at Gibraltar Rd. and I-75 about 7 p.m. Tuesday.  Firefighters could see smoke billowing from the plant at the Flat Rock station, Chief William Vack said.

“When we arrived, it was going pretty good, and you could see smoke about 100 feet in the air,” Chief Vack said afterward. “Once we got our water supplies established, we had it knocked down in about a half hour.”

Where the fire started was only about 100 feet from Vreeland Rd., he said. Heat from the fire penetrated an exterior wall on the north side of the plant, activating a single sprinkler in a newer section of the building, he said. The sprinkler helped quell any fire inside.

“Most of the plant was unaffected,” Chief Vack said. “The fire was near the truck docks. … There was no smoke in the building.”

He said it was standard procedure to evacuate the plant when a fire alarm is activated. The amount of damage was unknown but was not believed to be extensive. Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours.

Other - Retail, Retail

Gaylord, MI – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in containing fire at fireworks store

Fire crews in Otsego County had to rush to save a fireworks store after a fire ignited overnight. The Otsego County Fire Department says the fire started just before midnight in Gaylord. The Otsego County fire chief says if they didn’t have a sprinkler system, the result could have been much different. Crews were able to contain the fire in about a half an hour Tuesday night.

Residential, Single Family Home

Battle Creek, MI – Early morning arson fire in home is extinguished by sprinkler system

Battle Creek firefighters and Battle Creek police are investigating a break-in and arson at a home. Firefighters were called to 141 Green St. at 6:21 a.m. Wednesday, according to Fire Marshal Quincy Jones. Jones said it appeared someone forced open a back door and set a fire in the kitchen in the rear of the two-story, wood-frame home. Jones said a home sprinkler system extinguished the fire and damage from the fire and water was minimal. A fire alarm alerted neighbors and they called 911, Jones said. The rental home was vacant at the time of the fire. Both fire officials and detectives from the Battle Creek Police Department are investigating.

Apartment Building, Residential

Pontiac, MI – Apartment fire started by child playing with lighter is put out by sprinkler system

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, a fire was reported on Center Street near Cottage Street at a four-story apartment building in Pontiac.  All residents were evacuated, and the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire before crews arrived.

Later, investigators learned the fire may have started due to a child playing with a lighter. There was minor fire damage to the apartment building, but significant smoke and water damage following the sprinkler system activation, Lyman said.

“It’s important to keep flammables away from children,” said Lyman. “(The residents) were lucky they were able to get out” of the building.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Battle Creek, MI – Kitchen fire at senior apartment complex controlled with help from sprinkler system

NORTH POINTE WOODS FIRE: Damage was estimated at $20,000 after a fire at North Pointe Woods at 700 North Ave. Battle Creek firefighters were called at 6:43 a.m. Monday, the city reported in a news release on Thursday. Firefighters said the fire began on the stove when a stove burner was left on. The fire activated the sprinkler system. A second-floor apartment was damaged with smoke and water and a first floor apartment below had water damage. A hallway on the first floor also filled with water. Residents remained in their apartments as firefighters used ventilators to remove smoke from the hallways.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kalamazoo, MI – Sprinkler system credited with containing apartment fire to room of origin; No injuries

**NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported**

Friday night May 6, 2016 at 10:09 pm the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responded to a report of a fire in an 11 unit apartment building in the 1000 block of Washington Avenue. A couch fire which was releasing a large amount of black smoke and heat was suppressed by the sprinkler system.  The fire was contained to the room of origin.  No one was hurt and after the suppression system was placed back into service the occupants of 9 of the 11 units were safely back into their homes.  The sprinkler system was praised for preventing further damage to the building

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Saginaw, MI – Sprinkler system helps contain fire at auto repair shop

Saginaw firefighters were dispatched to a fire at the corner of Holland and East Genesee about 5:50 p.m. on Friday, March 18.

The fire occurred at Rick’s Automotive, 1935 E. Genesee, where black smoke could be seen coming from inside of the building when firefighters arrived at the scene.

A sprinkler system that was activated helped contain the fire, according to a firefighter at the scene.