Other / Not Specified, Other Business Redmond, OR – Downed power line causes fire at wood products business; Sprinklers contain blaze January 13, 2017 viking210 A downed power line fell onto a roof at Redmond’s Bright Wood Corp., sparking a fire in an electrical box Sunday morning, officials said. A sprinkler system contained the blaze until power was shut off, but damage and expected repair costs still totaled an estimated $400,000. Redmond fire crews were called out around 10:20 a.m. to the Bright Wood mill at 630 Southeast First Street, said Fire Marshal Traci Cooper. Firefighters arrived to find the downed power lines and a fire in an electrical box in a mill building, Cooper said. The sprinkler system activated and contained the fire until Pacific Power could shut off electricity to the area, she added. Fire crews then ventilated the building to remove smoke and ensure the blaze was extinguished. The fire marshal said the cause of the downed power line was not known, though freezing rain had been reported in the area.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Galesburg, IL – Restaurant fire extinguished with help from sprinkler system January 10, 2017 viking210 Galesburg firefighters responded to the report of a structure fire late Thursday morning at Crazy Buffet, 463 Grant Ave., in the Seminary Square retail development. No flames were visible upon arrival, however firefighters found light smoke coming from the roof. Dispatch received a call from the alarm company followed immediately by at least a half dozen calls from passersby saying a large volume of smoke was coming from the roof. Galesburg firefighters responded at 11:24 a.m. “Fire units found the kitchen full of smoke,” Fire Chief Tom Simkins said in a news release. “Fire had started in wok in the grill area. The manager attempted to extinguish the fire with three hand fire extinguishers. The hood system functioned properly and knocked the fire down on the grill. However, fire had extended outside the grill and was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system which had a single head flowing on our arrival. “Fire also extended upward into the hood duct system. It appeared the filters had not been cleaned in some time as they were packed with grease, fueling the fire. This caused extension to the roof. The aerial ladder was deployed and a hose line stretched onto the roof. âA hydrant was needed for additional water for extinguishment.” The Knox County Health Department was notified and the business was closed pending direction from KCHD officials. No injuries were reported. A call-back crew of five off-duty personnel handled at least three calls during the fire. Simkins said an alarm at the Pizza Ranch “most assuredly” activated due to the drop in incoming pressure in the sprinkler system due to the use of the hydrant across the street. The fire cause is listed as accidental. The fire department reported the scene under control at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, although fire officials remained on scene to investigate.
Retail, Shopping Mall Brampton, ON, Canada – Shopping mall fire held in check by sprinkler system; Fire started in clothes dryer January 10, 2017 viking210 Two burnt towels in a clothes dryer started a fire that forced the evacuation of a Brampton shopping mall on Thursday morning (Jan. 5), according to Brampton Fire and Emergency Services officials. A sprinkler kept the fire in check at Royal Crest Mall, at 50 Kennedy Rd. S., according to firefighters; but a significant amount of smoke was generated. Firefighters were called at 10:20 a.m., with reports of smoke coming from the mall at Clarence Street. Five trucks and a district chief initially responded, but the first alarm was quickly upgraded to a second alarm in response to the heavy smoke. Three more trucks and a platoon chief responded. The mall was evacuated, and a Brampton Transit bus kept evacuees out of the cold. Tenants and shoppers were allowed to return after the smoke was cleared.
Other - Retail, Retail Rockford, IL – Beauty supply store fire caused by unattended incense put out by sprinkler system January 3, 2017 viking210 No one was injured this morning when a fire broke out inside a Rockford beauty supply store, a fire investigator said. Rockford firefighters were called at 9:18 a.m. to the fire at State Beauty Supply, 4010 E. State St., according to the fire department. Arson investigator Mike Schnaper said the fire began in the back of the shop. It was accidental, he said. Fire Division Chief Matt Knott said the fire was caused by incense left burning. The fire was extinguished by the store’s sprinkler system and smoke and water damage is estimated at $10,000, according to the fire department.” The damage was very well controlled by the sprinklers,” Schnaper said, but the shop isn’t usable at this time.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Elysburg, PA – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at packaging manufacturer December 31, 2016 viking210 An Elysburg business was saved Tuesday morning thanks to a sprinkler system that worked to perfection, according to Elysburg Fire Chief Dennis Kroh. Polar Tech, which manufactures packaging materials, ice packs and shipping containers, was the scene of a Tuesday morning fire that saw more than 75 firefighters and emergency responders from 10 fire departments covering three counties rush to the structure located along Route 487 at around 7:05 a.m., Kroh said. The fire began in a storage area behind the plant but the sprinkler system kicked it “just like it was supposed to,” Kroh said. “I truly believe without the system in place the fire would have continued to spread and it would have been a total loss.” “The sprinkler system worked exactly as it was supposed to and gave us time to get there and get inside.” Kroh said the fire was tricky because it started in an area where there were several items stored which made it hard for firefighters to locate the exact spot in which the spark occurred. Soon after 7 a.m., at least 30 employees were evacuated and were not allowed back into the structure for several hours. The fire lasted about 45 minutes and Kroh said the blaze was contained to one area and that nothing was damaged inside the production area. Kroh was thankful for the efforts of the firefighters and said Mother Nature also played a part in avoiding a disaster. Temperatures on Tuesday morning were near 50 degrees. “It’s always better when it is not so cold out,” Kroh said. “We got lucky with the weather and everyone did a great job.” Polar Tech purchased part of the former Fleetwood complex in Ralpho Township in 2011. Kroh said he was unable to determine a dollar amount in damage and has ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined at this time. Fire crews from Elysburg, Shamokin, Stonington, Coal Township, Kulpmont Mount Carmel and Atlas in Northumberland County, Catawissa from Columbia County and Danville and Mahoning Township of Montour County all assisted at the scene.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Waterville, ME – Factory fire controlled with help from sprinkler system December 31, 2016 viking210 An early morning fire at the Huhtamaki factory resulted in an evacuation and partial road closure Monday morning. No one was injured in the fire. Waterville Fire Department Capt. Shawn Esler said they received the call around 7:30 a.m. on Monday for a large fire at the mill on College Avenue, where they responded with the assistance of the Fairfield Fire Department. Upon arrival, he said they discovered a large fire on the dryers requiring firefighters to deploy on the mill’s roof. Esler said two ladder trucks were committed to reach the roof line, and a crew of about 20 firefighters responded. “The fire was contained to that area,” Esler said. “We had a very, very quick knockdown.” The cause of the fire at this time is unknown, Esler said. Crews were at the mill for about four hours, and Esler said most of that time was spent ensuring there was no extension of the fire to other portions of the mill. Esler said several Huhtamaki employees were in the building at the time of the fire and were evacuated. A portion of College Avenue was shut down to allow the ladder trucks enough room to get firefighters onto the roof of the building. Esler said the Waterville Police Department assisted by directing traffic. Two papermaking machines were damaged by the fire, and Esler estimated the machines would be repaired by the end of the day Monday. The employees were back in the building before noon. The fire department responds to a number of calls annually to Huhtamaki, but Esler said this one was a little larger than most they respond to because it involved firefighters going onto the roof. However, outside of the damage to the papermakers, Esler said there was no structural damage and no injuries to either employees or firefighters. He said the building’s sprinkler system activated, which also “significantly reduced the fire load.” Esler commended everyone’s knowledge of the mill and safety precautions, saying the firefighters did a good job quickly responding to the fire. “The guys did a great job,” Esler said. “I can’t say enough about them.” Representatives from Huhtamaki were not available Monday for comment.
Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse Oakland, CA – Warehouse fire at leather company stopped by sprinkler system December 30, 2016 viking210 A fire at a leather company warehouse in East Oakland Friday morning was almost extinguished when firefighters arrived on the scene, thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, authorities said. Some wooden pallets and debris were the only items burned in the blaze, the cause of which is under investigation. Battalion Fire Chief Demond Simmons credited the sprinkler system for preventing further damage. “It pretty much stopped the fire and made sure it did not spread,” he said. The fire was reported about 7:52 a.m. Friday at a warehouse in the 800 block of 81st Avenue that is a storage and distribution center for California Leather Creations, officials said. The building is on a large piece of property that used to be the site of Mothers Cookies. When firefighters arrived they had to force entry through a large metal door. The items that had caught fire were mainly smoldering thanks to the building sprinkler system that had activated. Firefighters made sure there were no flareups and called the fire under control at 8:14 a.m. There were no injuries. Simmons said a damage figure has not been determined.
Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential, Residential High Rise Evanston, IL – Fire at senior residential high rise controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported December 28, 2016 viking210 Evanston fire crews responded to a report of a fire on the 9th floor of The Mather at 425 Davis St. shortly before noon. Fire Division Chief Paul Polep says a resident of the retirement community had left a stove top burner on which ignited a basket of goods on the counter top. Polep says the the sprinkler system in the apartment had brought the fire under control by the time fire fighters arrived. Residents of the floor evacuated safely, Polep says, and there were no injuries reported.
Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential Florence, WI – Boiler room fire at nursing home suppressed by sprinkler system December 28, 2016 viking210 Emergency responders evacuated 45 residents of the Golden Living Center nursing home in Florence on Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in the boiler room, Florence County Chief Deputy David Gribble said. No one was hurt, but the boiler room had smoke and water damage, Gribble said. Midwest Alarm reported the fire to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office about 9:37 a.m. Florence firefighters found the sprinkler system suppressed the fire, which was contained to the boiler room. Residents were moved to the Florence Elementary School until a determination could be made on the damage to the boiler system and what repairs are needed, Gribble said. The Florence Rescue Squad, Golden Living Center employees and volunteers, Florence County Health Office, Florence County Aging and Disability Resource Center, Florence County School District, Town of Florence, Pride Sports and Red Cross assisted deputies.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Lafayette, LA – Fire at Super 8 Motel caused by child playing with matches is put out by sprinkler system December 23, 2016 viking210 At 9:57 a.m. Monday, Lafayette firefighters responded to the Super 8 Motel at 2224 NE Evangeline Thruway for a mattress fire in a room on the second floor. When firefighters arrived, the sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the fire. Moderate smoke was still in the hotel room. Firefighters used equipment to exhaust the smoke from the room and area adjacent. The water for the sprinkler system seeped down to the lower floor and caused water damage to lobby area underneath. No other rooms were affected. Fire officials determined the fire was started by a 6-year-old who was playing with a lighter and ignited the mattress. No injuries were reported. The fire was ruled an accident.
