Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse City of Industry, CA – Arson fire at paper goods warehouse held in check by sprinkler system May 2, 2016 viking210 An arson fire scorched an Industry warehouse packed with paper goods Wednesday, authorities said. The fire was first reported about 2:45 a.m. at a 55,000-square-foot warehouse in the 700 block of South 5th Avenue, Los Angeles County fire and sheriff’s officials said. Though largely “kept in check” by the building’s sprinkler system, firefighters battled the stubborn blaze for nearly two hours until it was declared extinguished, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Randall Wright said. No injuries were reported. But firefighters determined the scene of the fire appeared suspicious and called in investigators from the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Arson-Explosives Detail, Wright said. “The cause is arson,” sheriff’s Detective Cynthia Valencia said. It appeared the arsonist spread gasoline around in the rear portion of the warehouse before lighting it on fire. The intent of the arsonists appeared to be to destroy the building, but they were thwarted by the businesses’ fire-suppression system, she added. “(The) sprinkler system did a great job,” Valencia said. Preliminary estimates of the damage caused to the warehouse, as well as the paper plates, paper cups and other similar items stored inside ranged between $300,000 and $500,000, the detective said. A subleased portion of the warehouse, which is used as a packaging business, was unscathed, she said. Investigators continued seeking clues Thursday, and trying to determine who would want to torch the warehouse, Valencia said. The arsonists were described only as two men, driving a sedan. “The owner is very cooperative,” Valencia said. Firefighters remained at the scene until about noon, Wright said. Any witnesses, or anyone who saw anything suspicious early Wednesday morning is asked to contact Detective Valencia at the sheriff’s Arson-Explosives Detail at 323-881-7500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility Edmonton, AB, Canada – Arson fire at women’s shelter controlled with help from sprinkler system May 1, 2016 viking210 A fire believed to have been deliberately set has shut down a downtown Edmonton emergency shelter and displaced more than 60 women who were staying there. Early Tuesday, firefighters responded to a fire on the fourth floor of a building that provides temporary shelter to homeless women. When police arrived, they were told a lighter had been used to start a fire inside the building. Officers arrested a 33-year-old woman at the scene and charged her with arson. Police said the flames triggered a sprinkler. Water and smoke damaged several floors on one wing of the building. Damage is estimated at $6,000. CBC has not been able to reach staff at the shelter to find out where clients are now staying and when the shelter will re-open.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Fond du Lac, WI – Sprinklers keep fire from spreading at Mercury Marine April 30, 2016 viking210 The sprinkler system installed at Mercury Marine stopped a fire from spreading Wednesday night. At 11:23 p.m., Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a fire in the dust collector at Mercury Marine Plant 98. Upon arrival, crews found the sprinkler system activated, limiting the spread of the fire. Some smoke was in the building. The crews entered the building and contained the fire to the dust collection system. Access to the dust collector was difficult, so putting out the fire was time-consuming, firefighters say. No injuries were reported.
College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, School / University Boone, NC – Sprinklers activated when bulletin board in residence hall set on fire April 29, 2016 viking210 An unknown perpetrator set fire to a bulletin board that covered the topic of privilege on the fourth floor of Lovill Hall which activated both the fire alarm and sprinkler system on April 24 around 10:41 p.m., Appalachian State campus police said. The board was an almost exact copy of the board that sparked controversy last year in East Hall. There is also a version of the board posted between McAlister’s and career exploration in Plemmons Student Union. According to a university email update, no injuries have been reported but 40 of the 219 students that live in the residence hall have been displaced due to water damage from the facility sprinkler systems. ASU police officer Lt. Richard Hicks said some students are being moved to empty beds on campus while others are being housed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites. Residence hall meetings were held Monday that included residence life staff, campus police officers and staff from the Counseling Center to provide support for students impacted by the event. Students were told that so far the arson has cost the university $20,000 total in damages, and has been projected to cost a total of $50,000, Rachel Bowman, a freshman resident of the fourth floor of the building who attended the meeting, said. “The board covered a wide range of privilege,” Bowman said. “It didn’t cover just one race or one gender, I felt it was very informative.” Beside the bulletin board, the RA had a notice posted that if anything on the board triggered them, they were encouraged to find the RA and talk to them about it. Bowman’s room was not severely damaged, however other rooms on the fourth floor and those below sustained heavy water damage. Taylor Ramsey, a freshman resident of the third floor, was moved from Lovill to Eggers on Monday due to water damage. Ramsey said she spent Sunday night and all day Monday packing and relocating with the help of university staff. Sgt. Fred Carrero confirmed that at both of the meetings held by the university on Monday, students were told about the anonymous reporting process. Students are encouraged to contact university police with any leads or information regarding the crime. Any tip that leads to an arrest will be eligible for an award up to $1,000, according to an email from campus police. Lt. Hicks said that several interviews were recently conducted in hopes of finding the accused arsonist. “They are feeling pretty good right now about coming to a conclusion soon for formal charges,” Hicks said.
Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse Austin, TX – Fire in 18-wheeler extends into warehouse; Sprinklers extinguish blaze April 23, 2016 viking210 A fire that began in an 18-wheeler and spread to a warehouse in southeast Austin late Thursday night has caused about $100,000 worth of damage. Crews with the Austin Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. to the fire that started in the 18-wheeler full of cardboard on Freidrich Lane. Officials said the fire extended to a nearby warehouse, but a sprinkler system quickly put out the flames. Crews were able to put out the fire inside the 18-wheeler shortly after arriving at the scene. No injuries were reported in the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential Houston, TX – Fire at assisted living center extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries April 21, 2016 viking210 Residents at an assisted-living facility were evacuated Tuesday night when fire damaged portions of the building in southeast Houston. The fire broke out about 9 p.m. at the Paul Chase Commons in the 16400 block of Moon Rock Drive, said District Chief Tim Lockwood of the Houston Fire Department. Lockwood said the 26-room, two-story facility was evacuated after fire was sparked in one of the rooms. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, with the help of the facility’s sprinkler system. No injuries were reported. The fire, Lockwood said, appeared to begin in the unit’s air conditioner. Six to eight units were damaged, and smoke billowed throughout the building. After the smoke was cleared and firefighters determined the facility was safe, residents were allowed back inside. Those living in the damaged units were relocated. The fire remained under investigation.
Apartment Building, Residential Richmond, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system knocks down apartment fire possibly caused by Molotov cocktail April 20, 2016 viking210 Richmond RCMP is investigating a suspicious fire late on Sunday evening in City Centre which is thought to have displaced up to eight families. Shortly after 11 p.m. the Mounties were called to the 5800 block of No. 3 Road to assist Richmond Fire-Rescue with a fire on the sixth floor of an apartment building. Fire crews had arrived earlier to find heavy smoke coming from the sixth floor. The Richmond News understands a Molotov device had been thrown on the floor and the fire was knocked down by the sprinkler system. Residents of the apartment claim this is the second time in a week that the building has been targeted, adding that a smoke bomb was let off and offensive graffiti was found. However, according to the RCMP, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but is being treated as suspicious. “We are greatly relieved no one was injured,” said Richmond RCMP’s Cpl. Dennis Hwang. “We are currently reviewing surveillance footage and conducting interviews with witnesses. “One of our specially trained fire investigators is working with our counterparts from Richmond Fire-Rescue.” Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact Cpl. Kevin Lin immediately at 604-278-1212. To leave a tip, email [email protected] or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). No injuries were reported, but several families were unable to return to their homes due to water damage.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University West Palm Beach, FL – Fire at high school is kept from spreading by sprinkler system; Fire started in an appliance April 19, 2016 viking210 A “small” fire at Forest Hill High School Sunday night triggered the sprinkler system and prompted West Palm Beach Fire Department to dispatch crews to the campus. In the end, some classrooms in one building suffered water damage, according to a call that went to parents this morning. Classes will be shuffled to other rooms on the West Palm Beach campus, but school will continue as scheduled. According to the call, a water mitigation company began the clean up work at midnight and will be there for the coming days. Sounds like the school’s band, chorus and drama classes will be feeling the pinch. The call reports that band and chorus classes will meet instead in the school auditorium. “Drama will be located in our lobby.” Imagining that’s a reference to the class. Update: Principal Mary Stratos says that it appears an appliance was the source of the fire that happened Sunday night. That small fire triggered the school’s sprinkler system and also brought out the fire department – and this morning she is singing their praises. “What an unbelievable group,” Stratos said. “They went far and beyond.” Authorities aren’t sure how or why the appliance caught fire (no detail yet on which appliance, but think coffee machine, microwave or such), but they are reviewing school video for clues, Stratos said. Most of the damage is water damage that is in a couple of rooms including the band room, where a wall must be removed. Mitigation crews had removed the water by Monday morning, but the smell of smoke and burned plastic still hung in the air, prompted Stratos to close the building for now and relocate classes. “We’ve put in new charcoal filters and air cleaners, so I just have to wait for those things to do what they’re supposed to do,” Stratos said. Meanwhile, the school schedule is moving forward including students taking the computer-based Florida Standards Assessments for Engli
Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill Eugene, OR – Fire at Weyerhaeuser lumber products plant contained by sprinkler system April 15, 2016 viking210 A fire that caused minor damage to a Weyerhaeuser plant Saturday night in west Eugene started accidentally, officials said Monday. Eugene Springfield fire investigators say the blaze at the plant on North Bertelsen Road sparked in a piece of normally operating equipment. The fire was contained by the plant’s sprinkler system and later extinguished by firefighters. The fire was reported at 10:39 p.m. A number of the plant’s employees were evacuated, but no injuries were reported, fire officials said. A Weyerhaeuser spokesman said Sunday that crews were making repairs but that the fire did not cause long-term damage to the plant, which is expected to reopen in the near future. The plant employs about 170 workers, the company spokesman said. Lumber products including joists and beams are made at the west Eugene plant
Other - Retail, Retail Las Vegas, NV – Sprinklers keep pawn store fire that started on roof from spreading inside April 14, 2016 viking210 A Super Pawn caught fire Monday night. The fire was reported around 10 p.m. in the 5900 block of West Lake Mead Boulevard, near Jones Boulevard. When firefighters arrived, there was a fire on the roof and smoke inside the building. The sprinkler system inside was preventing the fire was spreading further. There were no reports of injuries. The cause is under investigation.
