Tag Archives: New Jersey

Residential, Townhouse / Condominium

Toms River, NJ – Fire sprinklers praised for effectiveness in condominium fire

A fire at the North Point Hollow condominium complex Thursday night caused only minor heat, smoke and water damage, after the condominium’s sprinkler system was activated by the fire, said James Mercready, director of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. Smoke alarms alerted a neighbor, who called the fire in at 5:25 p.m., he said.

The Pleasant Plains and Silverton fire companies responded and upon arrival, Pleasant Plains Fire Chief David George forced entry into the first-floor unit and found a heavy smoke condition, Mercready said. Upon further investigation, George found a single fire sprinkler activated and spraying water in a bedroom where it appears the fire originated, he said.

“The effectiveness of fire sprinklers has once again been proven as there was only minor heat, smoke and water damage in the affected unit, with no structural damage occurring to the building,” Mercready said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Wayne, NJ – Fire at senior condominium community contained by sprinkler system

A “minor kitchen fire” at the Four Seasons Active Adult housing complex in Wayne Saturday was “contained by the sprinkler system and extinguished by the Wayne Fire Department,” Wayne Detective Captain Mark McGrath said.

Authorities were called just after 11 a.m. on Jan. 10 and upon arrival, “observed heavy smoke down the hallway of the second level,” according to the police narrative.

The resident and person who called 911 advised authorities “there was an active fire in her kitchen and that there was nobody else inside.”  Moments later, Fire Chief 4 arrived on scene and was able to use the fire extinguisher to put out the flames, according to the narrative. Heavy smoke was vented out by the Wayne Fire Department once the fire was extinguished.

All occupants of all four apartments were left under the care of the building supervisor and made proper arrangements to be picked up by family.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Piscataway, NJ – Arson fire at Rutgers University put out by sprinkler system

The investigation determined that a former student set fire to a 30-foot section of the hallway and the adjoining classroom on the second floor of the ARC Building at 1:03 p.m. on Dec. 20. 

The fire was extinguished by an overhead sprinkler, but damaged portions of the hallway and the classroom.  The flash fire also set off an alarm, forcing the evacuation of 210 students who were taking a final exam in a first-floor auditorium located beneath the burning hallway.  No one was injured.

 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

East Brunswick, NJ – Sprinklers control fire at Olive Garden restaurant, Minimize damage

3:26 a.m. Nov. 23. Emergency personnel responded to an early morning fire at Olive Garden. The small fire started in a light fixture on the roof above an employee bathroom, Fire Marshal John Talbot said.  Talbot credited the fire companies and sprinkler system with extinguishing the fire quickly.  The business was cleared to open Monday, he said.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

South Plainfield, NJ – Fire at plastics manufacturer controlled with help from sprinkler system

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Veerag Mehta, an official with Polymer Dynamix, said that a dust collector outside of the building caught fire this morning, which caused an explosion through ventilation ducts.  Nobody was seriously hurt, but several people had ringing in their ears and they’re being checked for concussions, Mehta said.

The company does not know why the dust collector caught fire and exploded. The explosion — limited, because of sprinkler systems in the ducts — sent a plume of dust through part of the building, covering several workers, Mehta said.

“Knock on wood, everyone seems to be OK,” Mehta said.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Sprinkler system limits damage in restaurant fire (Pemberton Township, NJ)

The Best Buffet Chinese restaurant on Broadway will be temporarily closed because of an early morning fire, officials said Tuesday. The blaze began about 2 a.m. Tuesday when several boxes on top of a walk-in freezer caught fire, fire Chief Craig Augustoni said. It was contained by a sprinkler system and caused mostly smoke damage. An investigation into the cause determined the fire was accidental and likely caused by a compressor, Augustoni said.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Sprinklers suppress fire at critical care facility for the elderly and disabled (Toms River, NJ)

A sprinkler system suppressed a fire at Dover Woods Health Care Center Monday night, according to officials. No injuries were reported, according to a Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention statement.  Dover Woods, which has 232 rooms, is home to elderly and disabled residents, people recovering from alcohol and drug addictions, homeless people, and patients discharged from state psychiatric facilities.  Fire sprinklers were installed in the building after its use was changed from residential to institutional, following the 2005 fatal fire, according to the Toms River statement.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Suspected arson fire at Benihana Japanese Steakhouse controlled with help from sprinkler system (Short Hills, NJ)

A 19-year-old township resident has been arrested in connection with a suspicious fire that occurred last week at the restaurant he worked at on Morris Turnpike, authorities said.  Firefighters responded to a report of smoke in the restaurant at about 9:30 p.m., authorities said. The patrons had evacuated the building of their own accord and firefighters noticed a moderate amount of smoke in the dining area, according to an incident report. The majority of the fire was contained by a sprinkler, and firefighters extinguished the remaining portion, the report says. No injuries were reported.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Sprinkler system helps contain warehouse fire (Kearny, NJ)

A two-alarm fire broke out inside a Kearny warehouse early this morning and was contained within an hour, fire officials said. Kearny Fire Chief Steve Dyl said the blaze started in a storage room in the facility at 20 Basin Drive, located on the Hackensack Riverfront. The fire was reported at 2:16 a.m. Dyl said, adding that the building’s sprinkler system helped contain the fire. Dyl said the fire sparked because products were stored too close to a heating source.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Sprinkler system helps contain fire at psychiatric hospital (Morris Plains, NJ)

Firefighters responded to a fire in a patient’s bedroom at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Wednesday evening at 6:18 p.m. after receiving a report of a smoke condition in one of the second-floor bedroom’s in the F-wing of the hospital, Mount Tabor Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Crawford said. Crawford said the sprinkler system was able to limit the spread of the fire to the room itself.