Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Battle Creek, MI – Sprinkler system keeps fire at recycling plant from spreading; No injuries reported

Nobody was injured in a fire at a recycling plant in Battle Creek this morning.

The Battle Creek Fire Department responded at 4:35 a.m. Friday, May 24, to ReConserve of Michigan, located at 170 Angell St. Firefighters arriving at the site found a large pile of recycled material burning, according to a news release from the department.

Heat from the recycling process likely ignited other recycled materials, the release said.

The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading. When firefighters arrived, they were able to extinguish the burning material, the release said.

The extent of the damage was minimal, according to the fire department.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Tanner, AL – Sprinkler systems helps put out fire after 18-wheeler crashes into building

Officials say an 18-wheeler crashed into a building Tuesday night causing a fire.

According to authorities, the crash happened around 11:40 p.m. at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park in Tanner near the Calhoun Community College campus on US 31. Fire crews said the woman driving the 18-wheeler was heading northbound and lost control of her vehicle. The truck skidded across the road and ended up running into the building causing a fire to erupt.

The driver was able to get out of the vehicle with only minor injuries.

Crews were able to put the fire out safely but the building and vehicle did receive damage.

“Crews got here on the scene shortly after we got the call. We got the fire put out on the truck and the fire in the building had a sprinkler system and it did a really good job in helping extinguish the fire,” Tracy Thornton, Battalion Chief Decatur Fire Department.

What caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle has not been released.

According to AIDT, it was the Phase 3 building in the Technology Park and the crash caused damage to a portion of the facility that houses classrooms and the lobby.

Disaster recovery services are currently on hold due to an order from officials not to enter the building.

The original architect for the building will be on site Thursday, May 23rd, to inspect the facility. A structural engineer will inspect the facility on Friday, May 24th.

The timeline for repairs is pending reports from both the architect and the structural engineer.

It will take approximately two weeks for the disaster recovery process to be completed once officials allow staff back into the structure.

FAME Classes are currently suspended until further notice. AIDT will send out a notice with a timeline for classes to resume when the information becomes available.

Apartment Building, Residential

Santa Rosa, CA – Electrical fire in sixth floor apartment doused by sprinkler system

Fire broke out early Wednesday in a top‑floor apartment of downtown Santa Rosa’s historic Rosenberg Building, trapping a female resident who was rescued by firefighters, displacing five and forcing the evacuation of the large building, according to Santa Rosa fire officials.

The woman, believed to be 35 years, was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.

The fire’s origin was traced to an electrical issue from a power strip extension cord — including one plug used for a pet lizard’s heat lamp, said Battalion Chief Matt Dahl.

Several people reported the fire just before 12:50 a.m., warning firefighters that one person appeared trapped. A Santa Rosa fire engine already was out on a call and the crew arrived within one minute, finding several residents spilling out into the street and sidewalk, some with wheelchairs and walkers.

The large Mendocino Avenue building, built in 1921 just off Old Courthouse Square, now is home to 77 subsidized low-rent apartments. There was no sign of fire from outside but firefighters found smoke on the sixth floor and a fire in an apartment there. The flames mostly had been doused by the apartment’s sprinkler system but the residence was smoky, hindering the woman’s ability to get out, Dahl said. Firefighters helped her down to an ambulance and evacuated others on the fifth and sixth floors.

The flames hadn’t spread to other apartments but there was water damage from sprinklers to four apartments and Dahl estimated the overall loss at $100,000.

The Red Cross and building property manager arranged temporary accommodations for residents of the five damaged apartments, Dahl said.

Three dozen Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Fire firefighters responded with seven engines and two ladder trucks — a show of force due to the size of the building and the need for evacuations. The effort wrapped up about 3 a.m.

The Rosenberg Building originally was the tallest structure north of San Francisco and has been a downtown Santa Rosa landmark for almost 100 years. About 30 years ago it was converted to apartments and sprinklers were added.

Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshal Ian Hardage said the sprinklers likely saved the building from a much larger fire and may have saved lives. It saved at least one, Hardage said — the lizard.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707‑521-5412 or [email protected]. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

Residential, Single Family Home

Apopka, FL – Overnight garage fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A family of three is lucky to be alive after a fire broke out in their garage.

Orange County firefighters were called to the home in the 700 block of Tortoise Ct. in Apopka. They say they got to the scene just in time to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the house.

Battalion 1 fought this house fire in the 7000 block of Tortoise Ct. Crews credit residential sprinkler system AND working smoke alarms from preventing what could have been worse. Most damage contained to garage. Two residents and pets escaped without harm.

Apartment Building, Residential

Salisbury, MD – Sprinkler system keeps overnight fire from spreading; No injuries reported

Crews battled an overnight blaze Tuesday at Mill Pond Village Apartments that displaced 35 people and caused $500,000 in damages, according to fire officials.

A Salisbury Fire Department Facebook post shows units from Salisbury, Delmar, Hebron and Parsonsburg responded to 312 Mill Pond Lane at 1:37 a.m., arriving to find a well-advanced two-alarm blaze.

Officials said the 42 firefighters on scene were able to bring the fire under control within 45 minutes, and all building occupants were safely evacuated. There were no injuries.

A news release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal applauded the building’s fire protection features and the quick response from local firefighters for preventing large-scale property loss and loss of life.

The release shows investigators discovered the blaze was accidental and had originated from a third-floor balcony as a result of discarded smoking material. 

The investigation also determined an automatic fire sprinkler kept the fire from spreading from the balcony to the living space, the release states, and the required fire separations stopped it from preventing further damage after it accessed the attic space.

The fire has displaced 35 residents, according to the release. In total, it  caused $500,000 in damage — $400,000 to the structure and $100,000 to the tenants’ personal items.

Apartment Building, Residential

Savannah, GA – Apartment cooking fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

Savannah Fire Rescue cut water and power to two units at the Montgomery Landings Apartments Sunday night after a cooking fire activated the fire sprinkler system and caused extensive flooding Savannah Fire Rescue was dispatched to the Montgomery Landings Apartments at 714 W. 57th Street, and arrived on scene within five minutes at 9:13 p.m., spokeswoman Jenel Few said. A cooking fire activated the fire sprinkler system in second floor apartment 409.

The sprinklers extinguished the fire. Savannah Fire Rescue Firefighters shut off water and power in the affected units and removed excess water. No one was injured, but 11 people were displaced. The Red Cross was called to provide assistance, Few said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Ithaca, NY – Overnight fire at off-campus apartment held in check by sprinkler system

A busy night for the Ithaca Fire Department on Saturday night into Sunday. According to the Ithaca Fire Department, crews responded to both a fire on the city’s South Hill and a water rescue on Six Mile Creek. Firefighters were first called to College Circle Apartments around 11:30 p.m. after an air conditioner caught fire. The buildings sprinkler system kept things at bay until crews could fully extinguish the flames. No one was injured.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Erie, PA – Foundry fire knocked down by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Firefighters made quick work of an early-morning fire at an Erie foundry. It happened around 1:20 a.m. at Keystone Foundry on West 12th, in between Plum and Cascade streets. When crews got to the scene, it was a fire from one of the foundry’s furnaces that started spreading to the roof. “All in all, the fire was knocked down mainly by the sprinkler system,” said Deputy Fire Chief Mike Fahey. “We’re just kind of cleaning up and making sure it didn’t extend anywhere else.” No one was hurt.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Studio City, CA – Fire that started after woman crashed car into dealership is contained with help from sprinkler system

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A woman in her 20s was taken into custody after crashing her car into the glass window of the Century West BMW dealership around 2:00 a.m. the Los Angeles Police Department noted on Wednesday, April 24. The woman was taken into custody by authorities on suspicion of driving under the influence at the time of the crash. Surveillance video captured in incident. The red four-door Subaru stopped half way inside the building before catching fire and activating the sprinkler system. The woman can be seen getting out of the vehicle and walking away. There were no reports of any serious injuries during the incident. The identity of the driver has not been disclosed to the public. The Los Angeles Fire Department, responded to the scene and extinguished the fire on Lankershim Boulevard and Whipple Street. BMW Manager Joe Deitrick arrived to the scene where two vehicles were reported damaged inside the newly remodeled showroom floor including a BMW i8 worth at least $150,000.

Restaurant

Menlo Park, CA – Early morning restaurant fire held in check by sprinkler system

After receiving a call from the early morning staff at Peet’s Coffee in the Safeway Shopping Complex in Menlo Park reporting they smelled smoke and gas fumes next door, Captain Ken Babcock and the crew of Menlo Fire Engine 6 arrived on-scene at 4.45 am and found the Rubio’s Coastal Grill full of white smoke.

Captain Babcock requested a full first alarm structure fire response which brought in five Fire Engines, one Aerial Ladder Truck and two Battalion Chiefs with 21 total personnel. The Fire Crew of Engine 6 then gained access to the restaurant and found what was left of a smoldering and melted garbage can that had been on fire but was successfully held in check by a single activated sprinkler head.

Firefighters checked for hidden fire in both the walls and the common attic space above the store and found none. A nearby floor drain and all tile floor assisted with a relatively quick clean up once the Sprinkler System was shut down. Firefighters used a water vacuum, squeegees and mops to remove all of the remaining standing water and a fan to dissipate and evacuate the remaining smoke. The incident was brought under control by 5:00 am.

“The sprinkler water suppression system, quick action of the Peet’s employees in calling 911 and fire crews that minimized further damage, saved the day, insuring that this business will be back up and serving the community in days, not months, as we have experienced in other commercial business fires in this area,” said Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman. “In downtown Menlo Park, half of the older buildings are still not equipped with Fire Suppression Systems and are extremely vulnerable to fires and rapid fire spread.”