Tag Archives: Morning (7am-12pm)

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Portland, OR – Sprinkler system controlled fire at grocery story; No injuries reported

An electrical fire on Friday temporarily closed the Safeway grocery store at 2800 Southeast Hawthorne Blvd., filling the store with smoke.

The store reopened Saturday, with the smell of smoke still lingering.

A Safeway spokeswoman said the electrical fire started on top of one of the grocery aisles Friday morning, which in turn set off the store’s sprinkler system.

The sprinklers did their job and contained the fire, spokeswoman Jill McGinnis said. No customers or employees were injured.

McGinnis said local store directors worked to clean up the store and get it reopened quickly.

“We’re just really thankful that nobody got hurt,” McGinnis said.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Sacramento, CA – Fire at strip mall contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

Firefighters say no one was hurt in a two-alarm fire at a south Sacramento strip mall on Friday morning.

The scene was along the 5800 block of Stockton Boulevard.

According to the Sacramento Fire Department, the fire was first reported a little after 7 a.m. A second-alarm was called.

Firefighters extinguished the flames within the hour. They credit the building’s sprinkler system with helping contain the flames to one unit.

Traffic in the area was blocked due to the fire response.

Exactly what caused the fire is still under investigation.

Office Building, Other Business

Des Moines, IA – Fire sprinklers contained second floor fire at downtown Capital Square building; No injuries reported

No injuries have been reported in a fire Thursday morning that forced people to evacuate a downtown Des Moines building.

The blaze began a little before 7:30 a.m. on the third floor of the Capital Square building, which counts The Des Moines Register newspaper among its tenants.

Flames and some shattered windows could be seen from the street.

Fire Department spokesman Rick Thomas says most of the flames had been knocked down by a little after 8 a.m. He told the newspaper that fire sprinklers checked the blaze until firefighters could begin their work.

The fire cause is being investigated. 

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Burien, WA – Sprinkler activation keeps fire from spreading; saves auto repair shop and occupant’s life

Firefighters rescued a man from a fire at an auto repair shop in Burien Saturday morning.

The fire happened at the Kansai Collision Center in the 15200 block of First Avenue South at about 8 a.m.

“Looks like we had a car fire inside of a paint booth inside the repair shop,” said Chief Mike Marrs of King County Fire District #2.

KIRO 7 talked to a woman named Miriam who works nearby.

“Suddenly I just heard this alarm but I didn’t know where it was coming from,” said Miriam.

Miriam said she and another coworker quickly realized it was coming from the repair shop.

“I was kind of scared and she said, ‘Miriam there’s smoke coming from the collision center.’ So right away I called 911,” she added.

Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke coming from the building. Fortunately, the building had a working sprinkler system. Marrs said it not only kept the fire from spreading; it was a lifesaver.

“The activation of the sprinkler system probably saved this building as well as saving the occupant’s life,” Marrs explained.

The man suffered smoke inhalation.

He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

KIRO 7 also learned the shop was closed at the time. A manager told KIRO 7 the man did not work there but was allowed to stay there because he had no other place to go.

The cause of the fire is unknown right now.

Apartment Building, Residential

English Woods, OH – Trash compactor fire at apartment complex put out by fire sprinklers

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a fire in a high-rise apartment building on Cincinnati’s west side Wednesday morning.

Crews responded to the 1900 block of Sutter Avenue in English Woods around 7:15 a.m. following a report of flames in the basement and smoke in the atrium at Marquette Manor apartments.

Firefighters found a fire in the trash compactor with smoke spreading through the building.

The fire was upgraded due to the size of the building and the number of residents. 81 firefighters were on the scene.

District Chief Curtis Goodman says the fire was contained by the sprinkler system and quickly extinguished by fire crews.

Goodman says residents sheltered in place until smoke was cleared from the building.

One resident was treated by paramedics on the scene but did not go to the hospital. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.

Goodman says one resident tried to jump from a fourth-floor window but other residents and firefighters were able to convince that person to stay in their apartment and shelter in place.

Damage from the fire is estimated at $1,000.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Rochester, MN – Sprinkler system credited for containing fire at local nail salon

Firefighters credit sprinkler system containing fire at a business in Northwest Rochester on Saturday.

The Rochester Fire Department said in a statement, they responded to a call for a general fire alarm at 3780 Marketplace Dr. NW around 7:16 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived at the scene, firefighters say they heard alarms sounding outside the building and found heavy smoke in Suite 107 where Polished Nail Salon is located. Crews say they found a small fire at one of the workstations inside the nail salon that was being held in check by a single sprinkler head. Firefighters put out the flames using a fire extinguisher and the building was completely ventilated. 

The sprinkler system was shut off until the sprinkler head could be replaced and the water that had accumulated was removed. A Rochester Fire Marshal was called to investigate the cause and origin of the fire, which is standard procedure. 

Fire damage can be seen to a workstation and smoke damage throughout the business suite. No smoke, flames, or water extended beyond the original business affected.   

RFD says “this is another excellent example of a sprinkler system keeping a fire at bay before it could do further damage or cause potential harm to humans. Quick notification of the fire department through on-site monitoring as well as the early activation of a sprinkler head was what kept this fire as minimal as it was.”

Experts say a fire doubles in size every 60 seconds and that sprinklers have been proven to effectively control fires where they are installled.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Salem Township, PA – Sprinklers help douse fire after debris ignited

A fire damaged part of a business Tuesday morning in Luzerne County.

It happened around 8:30 a.m. inside the Leggett and Platt warehouse on Salem Boulevard near Shickshinny.

Company officials say an electrician was installing a light near the ceiling when something sparked, igniting debris.

The plant was evacuated. Sprinkler systems inside helped douse the flames.

The worker suffered minor burns.

Employees were allowed back into the facility to clean up the smoke and water damage. The company says the fire should not affect the operation of the plant.

According to officials, the company makes padding under carpets.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Augusta, ME – Fire sprinklers extinguish fire at hair salon after hair vacuum caught on fire

A fire that started in a hair vacuum at a Bangor Street hair salon was largely extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

The Bangor Street Barbersalon, one of multiple businesses located at 10 Bangor St., sustained minor fire damage but more extensive water and smoke damage from the fire reported at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday.

Battalion Chief Steve Leach said a vacuum unit at the business, used to suck up hair that has been cut, caught on fire. The building’s sprinkler system kicked in and had the fire all but out when firefighters arrived.

“The operating sprinkler system put the fire out prior to our arrival. It was smoldering when we got there, it did its job,” Leach said. “There was no damage to any of the other businesses.”

The building, which Leach said is owned by Mike Karagiannes, is also home to Aubuchon Hardware.

Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours. Leach said the salon will need repair work before reopening.

The 11,944 square-foot building, according to city records, was built in 1923 and is assessed, for tax purposes, at $571,000.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Rochester, MN – Single fire sprinkler keeps fire at Rochester’s oldest hotel confined to break room kitchen

A high-rise fire broke out Sunday at Rochester’s oldest hotel.

The blaze was reported around 8:45 AM on the 11th floor of the Kahler Grand Hotel.

The Rochester Fire Dept. says firefighters “encountered floor to ceiling smoke” when they reached the 11th level of the downtown hotel. The fire was found in a staff kitchen area and RFD says a single sprinkler head kept the flames confined to that room.

No monetary estimate was given but damage may have been extensive. According to the RFD report, there was “damage to the breakroom kitchen on the 11th floor including cabinets, appliances, and other furnishings. Smoke damage in the common hallways on the 11th floor along with water damage on the 11th floor and 10th floor from the sprinkler system.”

One resident was treated on scene for minor injuries.