Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Bethlehem, PA – Early morning fire at plastics manufacturer doused by sprinkler system

An early-morning fire Friday at a plastics manufacturer in Northampton County resulted in minimal damage, thanks to the sprinkler system, an investigator said.  The Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Co. and township’s Nancy Run Fire Co. responded about 2:40 a.m. to a fire alarm at Alpha Packaging, 1995 Highland Ave. in the township.

The incident was quickly updated to a commercial structure fire, township fire Marshal Angela Kelly said.  No one was injured in the fire, and the investigation was ongoing into the cause, Kelly said in a news release.

“The sprinkler system in the occupancy assisted in controlling and suppressing the fire, resulting in minor damage to the contents,” she stated. “Overhaul was performed by many first responders throughout the early morning hours.”

Auto Dealership, Retail

Wilmette, IL – Fire at car dealership confined by sprinkler system; Damage limited

A Wilmette fire official on Monday credited a ceiling sprinkler system for preventing more damage to a downtown Jaguar dealership than the business could otherwise have suffered in an Aug. 11 fire.  Wilmette Fire Chief Mike McGreal said damage from the fire at Imperial Motors, 721 Green Bay Road, was largely confined to one car in the display room, though the dealership sustained some water damage.

Firefighters responded to a dealership alarm shortly before midnight on Aug. 11 and discovered that the dealership’s south showroom was filled with smoke, McGreal said. But the fire, which investigators traced to a ceiling light fixture in the southwest section of that showroom, was already out because one of the sprinklers near the fixture had activated, he said.

Crews were on the scene until 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 12, according to the fire department report.  Burning material from the ceiling fell on one Jaguar convertible, McGreal said, but damage to the building could have been much worse had the sprinkler system not activated.

“This particular building is all wood, and it has a bolstering truss roof. If the truss had burned out, the whole roof could have gone,” he said, comparing the situation to the February 2015 fire at the Woman’s Club of Wilmette, where flames eventually caused the roof to collapse.

“This is a much better outcome,” McGreal said, adding that Imperial Motors was able to open for business on Aug. 12 after fire crews removed water from the showroom area.  The fire department’s initial damage estimate is $130,000, McGreal said. Dealership owner Jordan Aron said Monday that the business has not yet completed its own loss estimate, but confirmed that there was no structural damage to the building.

“We definitely don’t mess around with things that have to do with life and safety,” Aron said. “We make sure we do all our (fire) inspections and keep up to date.”

Aron said the fire will have no effect on plans to renovate Imperial Motors. In July, Wilmette’s Village Board approved the company’s request to allow it to make renovations required by Jaguar of all its dealerships. However, actual renovation work is “a couple of years out,” Aron said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Haverhill, MA – Sprinkler system keeps outdoor fire from spreading into apartment building

A fire in an outdoor trash container Tuesday night on Washington Street displaced residents of two apartments when sprinklers activated.

Haverhill firefighters responded to a report of fire in a trash container about 7 p.m., outside a 12-unit apartment building at 217 Washington St., said Fire Chief William F. Laliberty. He said the fire damaged a wooden window frame on the first floor, activating sprinklers.

“The sprinkler did its job protecting occupants of the building,” Laliberty told WHAV. Residents of the two bottom apartments had not been able to return home as of Wednesday afternoon, he said.

City records describe the brick building as having been constructed about 1910.

The chief said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system extinguishes kitchen fire at Aria Hotel

One person suffered smoke inhalation after a fire Wednesday night on the second floor of the Aria Hotel.

Crews were notified around 10:05 p.m. about the alert at the hotel on 3750 Las Vegas Blvd. South, according to a Clark County Fire Department news release. The response included five engines, two truck companies, four rescue units and two battalion chiefs.

The fire was located in a second-floor kitchen. Crews reported the sprinkler system had activated and that the fire was out. Further investigation revealed the fire had been in large dishwashing machine.

The fire was contained to the machine, and there was no extension or damage to the structure itself.

A damage estimate has not been made.

Apartment Building, Residential

Leesburg, VA – Sprinkler system controls apartment fire caused by unattended candles

Two adults and two dogs were displaced from a fire in a Leesburg apartment building that started by unattended candles and spread to window treatments, according a Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company (LVFD) Facebook post.

On Wednesday evening, August 3, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Leesburg and surrounding fire companies were alerted for a structure fire at 654 Fort Evans Rd. NE.

Leesburg responded with two engine companies, one truck company, and the rescue company.

Units arrived to find a three-story garden apartment building with a small fire inside a ground floor apartment. The fire started by unattended candles and spread to some window treatments.

The majority of the fire was controlled by the sprinkler system prior to the LVFD’s arrival.

Crews ensured the fire was out and checked for extension while ventilating the smoke.

Two adults and two dogs were displaced and assisted by the American Red Cross.

One firefighter sustained an injury to the hand and was treated on scene, according to LVFD.

“The LVFC asks you to please remember – do not leave lit candles unattended!” LVFD posted on Facebook.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Scottsbluff, NE – Overnight fire in attic of senior care home extinguished by sprinkler system

Scottsbluff Fire Capt. Dan Hubbs said firefighters responded to an alarm the Golden Living Center at about 1:30 a.m. Occupants reported smelling smoke and staff evacuated the wing. A fire was found in the attic space above the chapel area at the fire. The sprinkler system had activated and the fire was extinguished quickly. The cause of the fire has been determined to be electrical in nature.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Graves County, KY – Sprinklers help put out fire at middle school caused by malfunctioning soda machine

The need for caffeine at Graves County Middle School caused quite a commotion overnight.

According to the school district, a soda machine the food lab malfunctioned and created a small fire.

That fire set off sprinklers and alarms in the school.

Superintendent Kim Dublin said, “Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. Quite a bit of water went into a couple of classrooms; but the damage was mostly contained to the food lab.”

Crews spent Tuesday morning cleaning up the mess left behind.

According to Dublin, seventh grade orientation will still take place at the school tonight.

Opening day activities for faculty and staff will still go on as planned on Wednesday.

Classes begin on Thursday.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Lakeville, MN – Overnight fire at middle school contained by sprinkler system

Firefighters are trying to figure out exactly where and how an early morning fire started at a Lakeville school.

A captain with the Lakeville Fire Department says the alarms at Kenwood Trail Middle School went off about 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Fire officials say it appears the fire started on the roof.

The sprinkler system put most of the fire out by the time firefighters arrived.

The sprinklers caused water damage on the first and second floors of the school.

In a letter to parents, the school district says the school custodial crew is working to repair the water damage in a couple of classrooms, the media center, AV room and a stairwell.

School officials say it won’t affect the start of classes for the upcoming school year.

Apartment Building, Residential

Reno, NV – Apartment fire caused by careless smoking contained by sprinkler system

The Reno Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 895 Kuenzil Street at 3:43 a.m.  The fire started in a third floor apartment from a carelessly discarded cigarette.  The fire caused moderate fire damage but was contained to the living area by an activated fire system.

The two sleeping occupants who were home at the time of the fire escaped without injury. 14 tenants of the apartment complex were temporarily relocated by the American Red Cross.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, if you have a fire in your home, the risk of dying decreases by 82 percent when fire sprinklers are present. Statistics show fire sprinklers can stop a fire in less than 90 seconds.

Although there were no injuries reported on this incident, The Reno Fire Department would like to remind everyone smoking materials (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.) are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States, and to take necessary safety precautions.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Boca Raton, FL – Overnight laundry fire at veterinary office contained by sprinkler system

At 12:37AM Thursday, Boca Raton Firefighters responded to a fire located at the Calusa Veterinary office, 6900 Congress Ave, Boca Raton. Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke inside the building and the fire being kept confined to a clothes dryer by the activation of a single head from the buildings fire sprinkler system. Firefighters quickly extinguished the limited remaining fire which was located inside the drum of the clothes dryer with a pressurized water extinguisher. Several staff members were on scene at the time of the fire and were moving animals to a safe location as the fire department arrived. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries. All animals were rescued, one dog suffered smoke inhalation and was treated by paramedics and then turned over to the veterinary staff for follow-up treatment and is doing better.