Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, School / University

Macomb, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at university hall

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A fire at Western Illinois University Grote Hall led to $20,000 in damages. The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading.

At 8:55 p.m., Wednesday, January 15, the Macomb Fire Department was dispatched to a water flow alarm at Grote Hall, 720 W Adams Street on the campus of Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb.

While enroute, the WIU Office of Public Safety (OPS) advised that they had smoke and flames in room 410. The first arriving units arrived on scene at 9:01 p.m. and began high-rise standpipe operations. Fire command made contact with OPS who had discharged two fire extinguishers on the fire.

The interior firefighting crew stretched a hose line to the fire room and finished extinguishing the fire. The fire was contained to a waste basket in the room.

The fire activated a sprinkler within the closet of the room and kept the fire from spreading. Multiple rooms sustained smoke and water damage and at least two residents were displaced.

Four on-duty firefighters responded to the call and nine additional firefighters responded to a crew callback. Emmet- Chalmers and Good Hope Fire Departments responded to the scene and assisted with primary searches of the building.

The fire was deemed under control at 9:12 PM. All units cleared at 11:21 p.m. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for observation and was treated and released.

A smoke alarm was present in the room, however, did not alarm due to the device being obstructed by the resident. Once the sprinkler system activated the water flow alarm notified OPS dispatch of the fire.

The structure sustained fire, smoke, and water damage throughout and has an estimated loss of $20,000. The fire was investigated by the Macomb Fire Department and WIU OPS. The fire was deemed unintentional due to improper disposal of ignited materials.

The Macomb Fire Department wants to again remind citizens that smoke detectors are essential safety devices that play a crucial role in protecting lives and property by providing early warning of smoke or fire. Tampering with smoke detectors can lead to criminal charges.

The following agencies assisted: McDonough County Communications Center, Macomb IL Police, WIU OPS, WIU Support Staff, Lifeguard Ambulance Service of Illinois, Emmet- Chalmers FPD, Good Hope FPD, and the City of Macomb Public Works.

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Union, WV – Sprinkler system activated for fire at courthouse; No injuries reported

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The Monroe County Courthouse caught fire on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

A state worker noticed smoke emanating from the courthouse’s windows at 3:30 a.m. This state worker, in turn, notified local authorities. Local fire departments promptly responded to the call and saved the courthouse. However, there were still some damages inside the building, according to County Commissioner Kenny Mann.

“We have been working on redoing the courthouse due to problems – just an old building. We finally got grant money and the governor’s office helped. We were just a few months away from from having this project completed. This will be a setback, but no lives were lost and nobody was injured. That was the greatest thing,” said Commissioner Mann.

The fire broke out between the second and third floors of the courthouse, even affecting the new courtroom that was under construction.

The building’s sprinkler system may have aided firefighters in putting out the fire, but its activation did additional damage to the building.

Minor water damages have been reported around the courthouse, as well as the new courtroom’s insulation in the ceiling. No damages were reported in the Upper Record Room – which is home to the county’s “precious records”.

The water from the sprinklers did make its way to the downstairs record room, housing older records.

“There was some water damage to them. [ServPro] has a technique that they use to where they they freeze the records and their dry-out process puts them back to where almost original state,” said Commissioner Mann.

ServPro is aiding in cleanup at the courthouse, thanks to the County Commission gathering shortly after the fire and voting to declare a County State of Emergency. This declaration helped them get quicker help as they bypassed the bidding process required by law.

“[The] government will not shut down here. We just have to maybe relocate to other places on our complex here, too, for a few weeks,” clarified Commissioner Mann. “Rather than that, business will [go on] as usual. We just have to maybe relocate to other places on our complex for a few weeks.”

The fire is under investigation, as its cause remains unknown.

Apartment Building, Residential

Everett, WA – Sprinkler system controls overnight apartment fire; No injuries reported

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According to the Everett Fire Department, an early morning fire Thursday at the Station Place Apartments in Everett displaced seven residents but was quickly extinguished due to an effective sprinkler system.

The fire department responded to an automatic fire alarm at 3315 Broadway at 12:35 a.m.

After residents reported seeing smoke and flames from a third-story apartment, the call was upgraded to a commercial fire response.

Firefighters arriving on the scene found residents evacuating and a small kitchen fire in a third-floor unit.

The building’s sprinkler system was controlling the fire.

Crews stretched a hose line to the third floor while others assisted with the water supply and conducted searches of adjoining apartments and the building.

While no injuries were reported, the apartment where the fire originated sustained some fire and water damage.

At least two units on the second floor and a business space on the main floor also experienced water damage.

The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes of the first crew’s arrival due to the prompt action of firefighters and the sprinkler system, officials said.

Firefighters then spent several hours working on salvage and cleanup.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the seven displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Yorkville, IL – Sprinkler system extinguishes dryer fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

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The Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District responded late Monday night to a dryer fire at an apartment complex in Yorkville.

No one was hurt, and the fire was extinguished by a sprinkler system before crews arrived. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m.

All residents were able to evacuate safely.

Firefighters removed the dryer, checked for any additional fires, ventilated the building, and assisted an adjacent unit with water intrusion.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it was contained to the single dryer. Fire crews were on the scene for about two hours.

Apartment Building, Residential

Honolulu, HI – Sprinkler system activated for early morning structure fire; No injuries reported

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) crews responded to a structure fire early Monday morning at 60 North Nimitz Highway after a 911 call came in at 1:36 a.m.

Six fire units and about 26 personnel were on the scene, with the first crew arriving at 1:43 a.m.

When firefighters entered the apartment, they found that a sprinkler had already activated, keeping the fire contained to the kitchen.

Crews used a water extinguisher to fully put out the flames by 1:53 a.m.

After shutting off the sprinkler, they searched the apartment to make sure no one was inside.

The HFD’s Fire Investigator was called in to investigate.

Fire damage estimates have not been made.

HFD concluded operations with no reports of injuries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Henderson, KY – Sprinkler system activated for kitchen fire at crisis intervention center

An overnight fire at the Albion Fellows Bacon Center in Evansville has closed the crisis intervention center.

Officials say the fire started in the communal kitchen inside the building. A sprinkler system was deployed and stopped the fire from spreading to the rest of the building. Though stopping the fire, the sprinklers did cause excessive water damage to the building.

One staff member was injured in the fire and was treated for smoke inhalation. They have since been released.

At the time of the fire, there were 10 residents in the building, as well as a pet kitten.

The Albion Fellows Bacon Center is working with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Holly’s House, and the YWCA of Evansville to continue to shelter people in crisis. The crisis lines of The Albion Fellows Bacon Center are still available to call.

Officials with the crisis intervention center say they are awaiting a fire inspection to see when they will be able to open the building again.

Other - Retail, Retail

Fenton, MO – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Lowe’s; No injuries reported

A fire broke out late last night in the lawn and garden section of the Lowe’s store in Fenton.

Firefighters responded around 11:30 p.m. to find heavy smoke inside the building. The store’s sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading further.

Crews ventilated the building and monitored air quality to ensure it was safe. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Kenosha, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at assisted living facility

A sprinkler system in the attic of a Kenosha assisted living facility saved lives and limited damage in a Friday evening fire, according to a Kenosha Fire Department battalion chief. 

Firefighters were called to Azalea Pl. in the 8300 blk. of 14th Ave. around 10 p.m. Friday.

A fire which originated on the outside of the one-story structure got into the attic, setting off at least one sprinkler head and activating alarms, said Battalion Chief Ryan McNeely Saturday.

Residents and staff were safely evacuated, and the sprinkler system kept the fire in check until firefighters arrived.

Although the water collapsed a small part of the ceiling, the structure itself was not compromised, according to McNeely.

The 19 residents spent the night in a hotel in preparation for transfer to other area facilities run by the company, Frontida Assisted living.

McNeely praised the company for having an emergency response plan in place, and also noted the obvious benefits of having sprinklers in the attic. “It no doubt saved lives,” he said. Also, a fire door limited damage to one wing of the building.

The cause of the blaze has been narrowed to a pair of possibilities, although arson is not one of them, according to McNeely. For now, the cause will be listed as undetermined.

It’s not known how long it’ll take to repair the damage.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Redmond, OR – Sprinkler system keeps fire in check at animal bedding business; No injuries reported

Redmond Fire & Rescue respond to a fire at an animal bedding business Saturday night.

Around 10:30p.m. fire crews arrived at JTS Animal Bedding on 1st Street in southeast Redmond to smoke coming from a building located at the backside of the property.

Fire crews discovered fire burning within an enclosed conveyor belt area and baghouse. The buildings fire sprinkler system had activated and was keeping the fire in check.

Crews worked to contain the fire to the one building and prevented it from spreading to the main warehouse.

There were no reported injuries.

The cause of the fire was due to an overheated bearing on a roller within the conveyor belt area. The overheated bearing caused the wood dust to smolder then ignite and spread fire through the conveyor belt area and baghouse.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Lehigh Acres, FL – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at church

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District responded to a fire at Victory Church in Lehigh Acres early Thursday morning.

Crews responded to the scene on Taylor Lane around 3:55 a.m.

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Once crews arrived, they said the building’s sprinkler system had extinguished the fire in the sanctuary.

Firefighters said there is smoke damage throughout the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The state’s Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives is assisting in the investigation.

The church staff is working to notify families that their daycare and school will be closed on Thursday.