Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Greenville, SC – Sprinkler system activates to help control fire at bus manufacturer July 31, 2015 viking210 Firefighters responded Wednesday morning to a report of an explosion at a Greenville business. The incident happened at Proterra, a electric bus manufacturer, at Whitlee Court. Greenville City Fire Prevention Office responded to the scene and noticed black smoke pouring out of the building. There were employees inside of the building at the time of the fire, but everyone was evacuated safely. Some employees reported that there were two explosions that went off inside the business. The sprinkler systems are working to knock down the flames, but firefighters say there is still an active fire inside. Once the sprinkler system stops, the fire department will go inside the business to investigate.
Apartment Building, Residential Foster City, CA – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading in attic of apartment building July 28, 2015 viking210 Firefighters responded at 10:46 a.m. last Thursday to an apartment building at 720 Bounty Drive in Foster City and found smoke coming from the attic of a three-story building. Neither firefighters nor civilians were injured, but police and firefighters assisted an occupant with medical needs, fire officials said. Firefighters said they believe the fire started accidentally in the wall of a second floor unit where plumbing repairs were underway. Firefighters said the fire was burning above two third-floor apartments and damaged at least six of the building’s ten apartments. The fire spread up the wall to the attic where a sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading until firefighters extinguished it, fire officials said.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Dandridge, TN – Sprinkler system activates to limit damage in fire at resort restaurant July 23, 2015 viking210 The restaurant at The Point Resort in Dandridge is temporarily closed after a kitchen fire Saturday morning, Dandridge Fire Chief Andy Riley reported. The chief said a sprinkler system probably saved the structure from more serious damage. Firefighters were on the scene for four hours making sure the flames, which had reached into the roof trusses, were fully extinguished. White Pine Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene, and Lakeway Central manned Dandridge’s station during the 10:30 a.m. call. Riley said two cooks and waitress were preparing to serve lunch when the fire started in a fryer, setting off the sprinkler system. “Everyone got out okay, but this fire spread very quickly into the attic and roof trusses,” Riley said. “The sprinkler system probably averted a major fire.” The restaurant is the only part of the resort closed temporarily, he said. Suites and other services remain open. Dandridge Firefighters used one hose to put out the fire. The building sustained minor smoke and water damage.
Apartment Building, Residential DeKalb, IL – Sprinkler system keeps flames from spreading in apartment fire July 20, 2015 viking210 The DeKalb Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 832 Ridge Drive in DeKalb at 11:09 a.m. Saturday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said Jeff McMaster, deputy fire chief, later that afternoon. “When firefighters got there, there was a light smoke coming from the bathroom,” McMaster said. “When they got in, the sprinklers were on.” The sprinkler system had kept the flames contained and the firefighters were able to put the rest out upon arrival, McMaster said. No one was home at the time, McMaster said. A neighbor had seen the smoke, heard the apartment’s fire alarm and made the call. There were no injuries, McMaster said. He estimated the damage at about $5,000.
Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill Union Gap, WA – Fire at paper mill controlled by sprinkler system July 15, 2015 viking210 Yakima fire crews say a fire at the International Paper company in Union Gap Tuesday morning could have been much worse if it weren’t for their working sprinkler system. A news release from the fire department said people reported seeing smoke coming from the roof of the building. The fire remained on one part of the plant, a dust collecting hopper, because the automatic sprinkler system kicked on and helped maintain the flames. Fire crews put out the fire and cleaned up debris from the damage. The cost of the damage is not known at this time. Yakima firefighters say the cause was a hot ember that got into the dust collection hopper. The news release from the fire department also said the whole building could have been a total loss if they did not have a functioning sprinkler system in place.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Port Deposit, MD – Fire at restaurant in historic building contained by sprinkler system July 12, 2015 viking210 Investigators are blaming an electrical malfunction for a fire inside a Port Deposit restaurant and bar on Thursday morning, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. “The sprinklers contained the fire to the area of origin. Without a doubt, it stopped the fire from spreading,” Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver J. Alkire said. About 30 firefighters with volunteer fire companies from Port Deposit, Perryville and Rising Sun rushed to Joe’s Grog House at 26 S. Main Street about 9:20 a.m., after smoke alarms inside the business activated, fire officials said, adding that the business was not open at the time. “There was smoke showing when we arrived,” said EMS Chief Wayne Tome of the Water Witch (Port Deposit) Volunteer Fire Company. It took firefighters approximately 20 minutes to bring the fire and heavy smoke under control, which involved ventilating the building with fans, Tome said. Alkire determined that the blaze started inside a section of the actual bar, where patrons stand or sit and order drinks and food, he said. Alkire concluded that wiring inside that bar wall had malfunctioned, sparking the fire, he added. That section of bar is near one of the establishment’s front doors. “The fire has been ruled accidental due to an electrical failure,” Alkire said. He and Tome both noted that a sprinkler system inside Joe’s Grog House activated and prevented more extensive damage. Joe’s Grog House occupies the first-floor of an historic three-story building, Alkire said, adding that 16 tenants live in seven apartments on the second and third floors of that structure. “Electricity was restored to the building, and no tenants were displaced as a result of the fire,” said Alkire, who noted that the volunteer firefighters quick response after the smoke alarms alerted also was a key factor. Tome echoed Alkire, remarking, “The sprinklers definitely held the fire in check until we could get there. That’s why sprinklers are so important.”
Department Store, Retail Edina, MN – Sprinkler system contains fire to small area at H&M store July 4, 2015 viking210 The H&M store at the Southdale Center in Edina is closed Friday after a fire on the second floor. Edina officials say the fire was reported at 10:30 a.m. after a piece of clothing caught fire and caused the sprinkler system to activate. Officials say the fire was contained to a small area of the store, but both the first and second floor have smoke and water damage. The store is closed as crews work to clean up. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business Alexandria, VA – Sprinkler system controls fire at historic Gadsby Tavern Museum June 30, 2015 viking210 A fire started Monday morning in the attic of Gadsby’s Tavern, according to the City of Alexandria. The City charactered the blaze as a “small fire.” The museum’s sprinkler system discharged and the fire was quickly extinguished by the Alexandria Fire Department and City staff. The Museum’s 1792 building, including Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, was affected by the water from the sprinkler system. City staff are following the Museum’s disaster plan to minimize damage to the building and its collection. The Museum and the Restaurant will open to the public for regular operations on Tuesday, June 30; however, Tuesday evening dance classes at the Museum will be cancelled. Gadsby’s Tavern is known as a historic treasure. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was the center of social and political life in Alexandria and the new Federal City of Washington. The tavern served as the premier gathering place for residents, including George Washington, and visitors to eat, drink, learn, and influence history. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is located at 134 N. Royal St. in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business Longview, WA – Fire in sauna room at YMCA extinguished with help from sprinkler system June 30, 2015 viking210 1 Comment Authorities said the fire started around 8 a.m. at the Longview YMCA when a wooden bucket used to dump water on hot rocks in the club’s second-story dry sauna caught fire. The sauna normally warms up an hour before the club opens, but the bucket was not supposed to be on top of the rocks, Longview Fire said Saturday. The sprinkler system activated to help control the fire. The club reopened after the fire was put out, Longview Fire said. There were no injuries.
Hospital/Care Facility, Other - Hospital/Medical Rochester, MN – Sprinkler system douses fire at Mayo support facility; No injuries reported June 28, 2015 viking210 Rochester Fire Department responded to the Mayo Support Center Thursday morning after a piece of machinery that cleans the floor caught fire. “We showed up and they had a smoke haze in the building. The building was investigated and found that in the maintenance area, a piece of maintenance equipment had malfunctioned during charging and caused a small fire, which initiated the sprinkler system, which almost completely extinguished the fire” said Chuck Solseth, the Rochester Fire Department Acting Battalion Chief. Initially, one fire engine and the battalion chief car responded to the fire alarm; however, two more engines were called in after the discovery of smoke being produced. Crews went in with a carbon dioxide extinguisher and put out what the sprinklers couldn’t. Solseth said this type of fire does not happen very often. “It’s not very common for things to just catch fire while they’re in there charging. It does happen on occasion. But that’s why it’s important that we monitor what’s going on. Pieces of the equipment that you’re charging, if they’re abnormally warm or making any type of odd odors or sounds, may be reason to unplug it and investigate it further,” said Solseth. Solseth added that when plastic pieces catch fire, like that of the floor cleaning machinery, it can prove to be detrimental. “The plastics create/release chemicals. The smoke itself will have carbon monoxide in it because of the products of combustion. We ventilated the structure out, used our respiratory equipment, so that we could access the area, ventilated it out, and then verified it with air monitors that there was no more hazard for us,” said Solseth. Employees of the Mayo Support Center were evacuated until around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
