Tag Archives: Morning (7am-12pm)

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Weaverville, CA – Sprinkler douses fire at senior apartment building

A fire in a room at the Weaver Creek Senior Apartments on Browns Ranch Road in Weaverville caused minor injuries to the occupant but was doused by water from a sprinkler head that activated Tuesday morning, March 31, Fire Chief Scott Alvord said.

The woman doesn’t remember exactly what happened, but she was wet when firefighters arrived and it is likely that she was smoking in bed and fell asleep, Alvord said. The resident used oxygen and it appears the bedding caught fire — but the blaze was put out by the sprinkler, which also woke the occupant, he said.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Elmhurst, IL – Fire in middle school science lab doused by sprinkler system

A “chemical reaction” caused a small fire in a science classroom at a west suburban middle school Wednesday morning, causing a lot of smoke, but no injuries.

The Elmhurst Fire Department was called about 9:45 a.m. to an activated fire alarm at Sandburg Middle School at 345 E. St. Charles Rd., a statement from the department said.

Firefighters found “heavy smoke coming from a science classroom located on the lower level,” though the fire had already been doused by the school’s sprinkler system, the statement said.

All students and staff were evacuated from the building as firefighters ventilated the area, replaced a sprinkler head and cleaned up.

A fire department investigation showed a chemical reaction had triggered the fire, though no students were present in the classroom at the time.  No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Beaumont, TX – Sprinkler douses fire at Candlewood Suites; Guests return to rooms within the hour

At approximately 8:00 AM, Beaumont Fire Rescue units responded to KJP Hospitality Hotel located at 5355 Clearwater Court.   When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in a room on the first floor.  The sprinkler system had activated and controlled the fire, confining it to a small area of one room but there was smoke throughout the first floor.

The manager reported there were 30 rooms occupied at the time of the fire.   All occupants were able to evacuate without injury. The fire appears to have been caused by a heating unit attached to a massage bed.   The smoke was cleared and occupants were allowed to return to their rooms within the hour.

Other-Government/Military

Agawam, MA – Sprinklers help put out fire at Department of Public Works garage

A fire broke out Saturday morning at the Department of Public Works building on Suffield Street.  Agawam Fire Chief Alan Sirois told WGGB that one of the trucks caught fire, but firefighters extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes.  Sirois said damage to the building at 1000 Suffield Street was minimal.

Sirois told the news station that the building’s sprinkler system averted what could have amounted to millions of dollars in damage. The truck was a total loss, he added.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation but the building will be open on Monday morning.

Office Building, Other Business

North Hollywood, CA – Fire on ninth floor of high-rise office building extinguished by sprinkler system

A small fire on the ninth floor of an office building in the North Hollywood area last Wednesday was quickly extinguished by sprinklers,  authorities said.  The fire in the 4600 block of Lankershim Boulevard was reported about 7:30 a.m. and was already out when firefighters arrived, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

Other - Retail, Retail

Atwater, CA – Sprinklers protect neighboring businesses, help limit damage in fire at candle store

Flames were reported around 7:15 a.m. last Sunday at the business in the 1100 block of Bellevue Road, Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn said. Rahn said the fire apparently ignited when at least one candle was left burning overnight at the store. 

Fire-suppression sprinklers managed to keep the fire at bay, Rahn said, allowing firefighters to prevent it from spreading to neighboring businesses in the strip mall. Rahn said the suppression system helped save about $750,000 in property threatened by the fire in the complex. “It’s a good example of how those sprinklers can help,” Rahn said. 

Fourteen firefighters responded to the scene and were at the store for several hours. No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Santee, SC – Sprinkler system activates; Helps limit damage in fire at landmark restaurant

A landmark barbecue restaurant in Santee that was damaged by fire on Thursday is scheduled to reopen soon.  The Santee Fire Department was called to Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile on State Park Road just after 9 a.m. Firefighters say a sprinkler system in the kitchen sprayed the flames until emergency crews arrived.

Fire Chief Edward Barnett, Jr. says the fire started in a smoke chipper drain under a meat oven.  The amount of damage hasn’t been estimated.  The restaurant is closed temporarily. A sign outside indicates management hopes to reopen on March 19.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Elmhurst, IL – Fire at truck maintenance garage put out by sprinkler system

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Dept Reported**   Dispatch relayed a report of black smoke coming from Unit L to the responding units. The first arriving Company reported an active Water Flow Alarm with smoke showing from Unit L.  Fire Command was established and switched radio traffic to a Fire Ground channel and reported that the sprinkler system was activated and appeared to be keeping the fire in-check.  All occupants of the effected unit were evacuated and accounted for per the Manager.  Dark smoke with very little heat was noted in the office area, with the smoke being heavier in the effected shop area.

The Engine Company deployed a 1 ¾”handline and advanced it to the affected area. Further investigation found that the sprinkler system had already extinguished the fire, requiring no water to be flowed by the Engine Company. The Sprinkler System was shut down and ventilation of the effected units was performed via natural ventilation. Overhaul needs were assessed and utilities addressed.

The post fire investigation found that an employee of Unit L was cleaning grease off the floor with liquid Brake Cleaner when they noticed the floor was on fire. Finding the area of origin being near a gas water heater with flame and heat damage to the area around and above the water heater, with 2 activated sprinkler heads.

Assessment of damages revealed that Unit L had approximately 3″ of standing water throughout the unit damaging interior walls, office furnishings, carpet, nearby mechanical tools and equipment. Units K and M had water damage from seepage under the walls and an odor of smoke. Value of the affected property was estimated at $500,000 with an estimated $15,000 in property damage and $5,000 in contents. 

Date: February 26, 2015

Time of Alarm: 0840 hrs.

Type of Alarm: Full Still for the Automatic Fire Alarm.

Weather conditions: 15⁰ with S/W winds at 4 mph. light snow falling with a 2” accumulation.

Building: Multiple occupancy industrial use.

Construction: Masonry with steel bar joist and metal pan decking covered with rubber membrane.

Occupancy: Diesel Truck Mechanical Service

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Holland, MI – Laboratory fire mostly extinguished by sprinkler system; Damage minimized

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Dept Reported**   The Fire occurred the morning of March 2 at a lab / testing facility on 48th street.   The fire occurred after some equipment being tested failed.  Two sprinkler heads activated as a result and the fire was 95% extinguished when firefighters arrived.

A small plastic ladder near the equipment being tested caught fire and was in an angle that the sprinkler pattern could not get to. The remaining fire was extinguished by fire crews with a water extinguisher.  Although this building is type 2 construction, the sprinklers saved this building from thousands in fire damage.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Franklin, TN – Single sprinkler extinguishes factory fire; No injuries and operations resume quickly

(NO MEDIA – FIRE DEPT REPORTED):
A single fire sprinkler head extinguished a factory fire this morning, protecting the 300,000 square foot facility and more than 150 workers. The fire started around 7:45 a.m. at Lasko, 300 Confederate Dr., which produces box fans each day. Franklin Fire Investigator Josh Sanders said the fire started after a high pressure paint line ruptured near an ignition source.   The fire activated a single fire sprinkler head, which triggered the fire alarm system, prompting evacuation of the plant and shutting down production. Work was able to resume in less than two hours. Sanders estimated the damage at $5,000. No one was injured.