Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Weston, FL – Fire sprinkler activation reduces fire damage to local business; No injuries reported

She received that dreaded phone call about 3 a.m. Wednesday alerting her to a fire in her business and when Eliana Ruiz arrived at Green Wave Body Waxing she saw fire engines everywhere.

“It could be worse,” she said. “I’m so happy and grateful it wasn’t worse.”

About 30 firefighters saw smoke pouring from the business in the 2200 block of North Commerce Parkway in Weston when they arrived shortly before 3 a.m., said Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael B. Kane.

“Firefighters were able to quickly contain the small fire which was already mostly extinguished by the business’s fire sprinkler,” he said. “The direct cause is unknown but may be related to a piece of waxing equipment.”

Ruiz said all the equipment is usually unplugged at the end of the day, but she thinks one of the waxing pots was overlooked.

“I’m thinking someone forgot,” she said. “It was turned on because they didn’t unplug it.”

The fire alarm and fire suppression system activated, reducing fire damage to the building and adjacent businesses, Kane said.

“Without proper fire protection, this fire could have grown considerably and quickly devastated the strip mall,” he said.

There were no reported injuries and damage to the adjacent businesses was minor.

Ruiz and husband Carlos Arango were boarding up some glass doors and cleaning up the water inside the business before dawn. She expects to be reopen in a couple of days.

“I’m very optimistic and I know I can push to get it done,” she said.

Winston-Salem, NC – Sprinkler system contains fire to duct system above restaurant; No injuries reported

A fire broke out at the TGI Fridays in Hanes Mall with flames rising 4 feet off the roof of the mall.

Emergency crews responded to the fire at about 1:37 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to the fire department.

The sprinkler activation system helped to contain the fire to the kitchen duct system over the restaurant, and firefighters managed to get the situation under control in 55 minutes.

“Due to the size and the complexity of the structure, we had 53 people, and we had all 53 people at one point doing some type of work,” said Winston-Salem Fire Department Battalion Chief Aaron Noah. “From moving the hose around the facility, ventilating the structure, fire tac to put the fire out, and being up on the roof to monitor the roof.”

The cooking area was left heavily damaged, and crews ventilated the nearby smoke-filled halls in the mall.

Two cleaning workers were in the restaurant when it caught fire. The workers were not injured.

Officials are investigating, but the fire is not suspicious, Noah said.

Joplin, MO – Basement garage fire sprinklers keep fire in van from spreading to rest of apartment; No injuries reported

The Joplin Fire Department extinguished a vehicle fire Saturday night in the basement garage of a downtown loft apartment building.

Firefighters responded to a 10:45 p.m. report of fire alarms activated at the Ford Apartments, 228 S. Joplin Ave., and discovered a van parked in the basement garage with a fire in its engine compartment. Smoke from the fire had activated the building’s sprinkler system, which kept the fire from spreading prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to the firefighters.

The building’s fire alarm system alerted occupants to the danger, and the building was evacuated without any reported injuries. Fire crews ventilated the building and tested for carbon monoxide in the aftermath before allowing occupants back inside.

Seattle, WA – Nightclub sprinkler system prevents fire from spreading; No injuries reported

A fire broke out outside a popular Pioneer Square nightclub early Monday morning and fire officials are investigating the fire’s cause as a possible arson.

The fire broke out around 3 a.m. at the Trinity nightclub in the 100 block of Occidental Ave. South, according to Seattle Fire officials.

Investigators say most of the fire damage was outside the front door and in a vacant part of the club. Luckily the building’s sprinkler system activated and helped prevent the spread of flames.

Firefighters arrived moment later and finished dousing the fire. No one was hurt.

Investigators are still looking into how the fire started but have described the fire as “suspicious.”

Colorado Springs, CO – Sprinkler system kept fire from spreading after women set chair on fire for burglary diversion

One woman is in custody after police say she lit a fire inside an apartment building as a ploy to burglarize residents.

A lieutenant with the Colorado Springs Police Department says the suspect succeeding in stealing from multiple units before officers caught her.

The fire was reported at 4:20 a.m. Saturday at The Lodges of Colorado Springs, a complex near UCCS where many students live.

“Crews found a small fire in an upholstered chair on the third-floor hallway,” Capt. JJ Halsey told 11 News. “Fire had activated the sprinkler head above the chair and kept the fire from spreading.”

The third floor sustained moderate smoke and water damage, Halsey said.

According to police, the woman was using the fire as a diversion tactic to get residents out of the building.

She was found walking around the building and arrested. Police identified the woman as Tiosha Chitman.

Sgt. Alterae Rogers, from the Colorado Springs Police Department, said Chitman is facing a number of burglary charges. This is an ongoing investigation.

Longwood, FL – Fire sprinkler keeps trash fire at recycling center in check until firefighters arrived

Several fire departments responded to a fire at Seminole County’s Central Transfer Station early Thursday morning.

Firefighters from Longwood Fire Department, Sanford Fire Department, Lake Mary Fire Rescue and Seminole County Fire Department responded to the fire at 1950 SR 419 just before 3:00 a.m.

A spokesperson for the Seminole County Fire Department said the person who called 911 and reported the fire said the flames could be seen shooting into the air.

“Our units arrived on scene and they could see heavy smoke and a glow in the building,” said Paula Thompson, the public information officer for the Seminole County Fire Department. “Once they made entry they realized they had a trash fire and it appears a sprinkler did keep it in check until our units arrived to extinguish it.”

Crews used front loaders to pull apart the smoldering trash in order to completely extinguish the flames. The center was scheduled to open on-time Thursday morning.

Guelph, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system stops fire from spreading after 3D printer catches on fire at condo

A 3D printer caused a fire at a Guelph condo building, leading to water damage for several units and displacing tenants, according to the Guelph Fire Department.

Police got the call just after 11 p.m. on Thursday.

The fire and smoke were coming from a bedroom on the fifth floor at 1291 Gordon Street. That’s where a 3D printer had overheated and started the fire, police said. 

“It was determined 100 per cent the 3D printer was the source. It’s the only ignition source in the room,” said Ian Hickey, fire prevention officer with the Guelph fire department.

The building was evacuated, the fire was extinguished quickly, but the sprinkler system caused water damage for all units below, including on the ground level, according to police.

A number of tenants were displaced because of the water damage. Guelph Hydro-Alectra arrived on the scene because of the water’s impact on the electrical system, police said.

San Antonio – Early morning hotel fire extinguished by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Guests at a downtown hotel received an unexpected wake-up call early Tuesday morning when a fire broke out.

The fire started just after 2:30 a.m. at the Valencia Hotel on East Houston and Soledad.

Firefighters say it started in a utility closest on the second floor.

Everyone was evacuated from the building. The sprinkler system put the fire out, preventing any significant damage to the hotel.

Eventually, everyone was allowed back to their rooms.

Arson is now investigating.

Pekin, IL – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at local pizzeria

The Godfather’s Pizza in Pekin was damaged in an early morning blaze Monday.

Pekin Fire Chief Kurt Nelson said the call came in at 12:44 a.m. Monday from employees who lived in the area. Smoke was seen coming out of the building and first responders found heavy smoke conditions in the kitchen.

Firefighters found a small fire in a closet, which was contained due to the sprinkler system preventing the fire from spreading, Nelson said.

The cause is still under investigation and initial estimated damage is between $10,000 and $25,000.

In a Facebook post by Godfather’s, the company said it’s a landmark location and one of the oldest Godfather’s in the country.

Hutchinson, KS – Third floor apartment fire contained to kitchen thanks to fire sprinklers

Fire officials say a sprinkler system prevented a kitchen fire from spreading in the Plaza Towers apartments in downtown Hutchinson early Saturday.

Firefighters responded to the five-story apartment complex at 17 E. Second Ave. just before 1:30 a.m. after fire alarms in the building were triggered by smoke.

An undetermined number of people evacuated the building while firefighters searched for the cause.

On the scene, crews traced the fire to the third floor from smoke in the hallway.

When they entered the apartment where the fire had occurred, they found an overhead sprinkler system in the kitchen had already doused the fire and damages were minimal.

Fire Chief Steve Beer could not say explicitly that food left on the stove caused the fire, but he said the occupant of the apartment had left the building, and the fire was limited to the kitchen.

“Sprinklers do save lives and property,” Beer said in a news release.

“The fuel loads in today’s structure plays a critical role in our fire operations,” he stated. “Petroleum-based plastics in furniture and accessories allow the fire of today to burn quicker and hotter than ever before. Remember, you only have three minutes to exit your structure when your fire alarm sounds. The Hutchinson Fire Department will be canvassing the immediate area to remind citizens and businesses of these safety facts.”