Tag Archives: Morning (7am-12pm)

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sprinklers control fire at high school (Wheaton, IL)

The fire occurred at Wheaton North High School at approximately 7 a.m. in a closet area within a classroom hallway. The fire was brought under control within several minutes by the fire sprinkler system. Classes were not in session at the time of the fire, but the school was occupied. All building occupants were safely evacuated. The fire did not cause any injuries.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire sprinklers credited with saving manufacturing plant (Lincoln, NE)

A plastics manufacturing plant caught fire when an oven in the building lit up some surrounding plastic. The fire then set off the fire sprinkler system, which contained the fire until firefighters arrived and put out the rest of the flames. Fire crews reported that the manufacturing plant sustained $10,000 worth of damage, but Fire Investigator Chuck Schweitzer reported that the damage could have been much worse if the fire sprinklers had not been present.

“Fire sprinkler systems are there for a reason. It not only saves property, it can save lives,” Schweitzer said.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Warehouse fire limited thanks to fire sprinklers (Somerset, PA)

A fire that broke out in an electronic recycling warehouse caused 30 fire firefighters from four county fire departments to respond. They arrived to find a small fire which was limited due to the warehouse’s fire sprinklers.

“Basically the sprinkler system knocked down the fire,” reported Somerset First Leutenant Bart Close. “We took about 10 more minutes to finish the knockdown.”

There was minimal damage to the building, and no one was reported injured.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Sprinkler system extinguishes dumpster fire at senior center (Juneau, AK)

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A fire in a dumpster prompted firefighters to respond to the adult day care service at about 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning, but a sprinkler system extinguished the flames before they arrived. “They worked as they’re supposed to,” said Capital City Fire/Rescue Firefighter John Krebsbach, the shift captain at the downtown station at the time. “That’s why they’re there.” He speculated one of the residents probably dumped an ashtray with hot embers down the garbage chute, eventually catching fire.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Fire sprinklers help eliminate two-alarm fire at mill (Fitchburg,MA)

A fire that began on the third floor of the Westminster Mill Corporation in the early morning was quickly contained by the building’s fire sprinkler system. The company has hundreds of thousands of dollars of carpentry equipment in the building, all of which was untouched by the fire. “That is pretty substantial,” said Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Curran. “If those sprinklers weren’t there it certainly could have had a very different outcome.” No one was injured in the fire, and workers were able to return to work following the extinguishing of the remaining fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinklers limit fire damage at apartment building (Madison, WI)

A late night fire that began in the garage of an apartment building was quickly contained by two sprinkler heads located within a few feet of the car in which the fire began. According to Madison Fire Department spokesman Eric Dahl, “This contained the fire and kept it from spreading until firefighters arrived to finish extinguishing the fire.”
No injuries were reported, and once conditions were safe, all of the residents were allowed to return to their appartments.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinklers and working smoke alarms save child playing with matches (Salisbury, MD)

Fire crews were called to a two-story five unit apartment building just before 8:30 a.m. for a report of a fire. When firefighters arrived they found the fire was already extinguished in the four-year-old child’s bedroom. Fire Marshals investigating the scene concluded that the child had been playing with matches and set a bed on fire. Working smoke alarms alerted the parents to the blaze and they were able to escape with the child and warn neighbors. A sprinkler in the child’s bedroom put out the fire.

“This is yet another example of the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers in residential occupancies. The presence of not only sprinklers but working smoke alarms and a home escape plan undoubtedly prevented a more tragic outcome” stated William E. Barnard, Maryland State Fire Marshal.

Other - Storage / Warehouse, Storage / Warehouse

UPS facility saved by fire sprinkler system (Violetville, MD)

The Baltimore County Fire Department said that the call came in at about 9:45 a.m. reporting that a conveyer belt had caught fire. Batallion Chief Joe Brown said the fire was difficult to locate due to the smoke, size of the building and number/layers of conveyer belts. “Thankfully, the sprinkler system activated, suppressing the fire to the point that we could get in there,” he said.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Sprinklers contain hotel fire to room of origin (Reno, NV)

Fire crews are investigating a fire that broke out inside the Ponderosa Hotel in south Reno on Thanksgiving morning.  The fire started just after 10:30am on the third floor of the South Virginia Street hotel.  The fire was contained to the one room, whichwas locked at the time the fire started, though no one was inside.  Firefighters say a few guests on third floor were evacuated as a precaution. The fire activated the building’s sprinkler system.  No one was hurt.