Tag Archives: New York

Apartment Building, Residential

Damage minimized at apartment thanks to fire sprinkler system (Rochester, NY)

A second story apartment unit had a kitchen fire the afternoon of September 1. Fire crews were alerted to the fire by the activation of the building’s fire sprinkler system. The sprinklers quickly suppressed the fire.

“This was a great save,” said Rochester Fire Marshal Larry Mueller. “Had the sprinkler not been installed in the structure, the fire would have rapidly grown and caused extensive damage to the structure.”

No one was reported injured, and the cause of the fire was slated as unattended cooking on the stove.

Department Store, Retail

Fire sprinkler system aids firefighters in suspected arson fire (Amherst, NY)

A fire that broke out in a department store on the afternoon of August 15 is now being ruled as “suspicious” by the Amherst Police Department. A stack of men’s shorts spontaneously caught on fire, and the store was evacuated while the store’s fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading. There were no reported injuries from the incident, and the store was slated to open the following day.

*** Blog Editor’s Note: Tell us what you think of the coverage by WKBW News and Megan Erbacher. Only the substantial heat from potentially deadly and damaging fire will operate a fire sprinkler, not smoke. Also, the sprinkler saved the store from experiencing a much larger fire, where the damage would have been much worse, and could have possibly caused injury or loss of life. ***

Other Business, Place of Worship, Residential

Sprinkler system helps to limit damage at historic church (Albany, NY)

The fire was discovered just after 2 a.m. at Willamette Community Church by a pastor who found smoke after he responded to a security alarm.  Albany Fire Marshal Michael Trabue said the damage was limited to the interior of the church. According to Trabue, the building will require some structural repairs, but the damage was not widespread thanks in part to the basement’s fire sprinkler system. There were no injuries. The cause remains under investigation.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Fire at mall sporting goods store contained by sprinkler system (Watertown, NY)

The fire was caused when a ceiling light overheated, causing the contents of the ballast to leak into the light fixtures and create sparks that ignited a rack of clothing below it, Chief Dillon said. Fortunately, the sprinkler system effectively contained the blaze until firefighters could extinguish it, he said. “It did what it was supposed to do,” Chief Dillon said.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Sprinklers contain electrical fire (Port Chester, NY)

Port Chester firefighters were able to find and put out a building’s electrical fire thanks in part to the business’ fire sprinkler system. About 50 firefighters came to put out the fire and were having a difficult time finding the source of the smoke when they spotted the water which had helped dampen the blaze. They then knocked down the remaining flames. No injuries were reported.