Fire / Police Station, Government/Military Commerce City, CO – Sprinkler system activated for fire inside fire house April 15, 2019 viking210 A fire station in Commerce City has been closed and a firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out inside the fire house early Thursday morning. The incident happened at about 2:10 a.m. at South Adams County Fire Station No. 8, 10326 Walden St., according to a news release. The fire burned a brush/skeeter truck parked in a bay inside the fire station. Firefighters were awakened by a fire alarm to heavy smoke and the building’s sprinkler system activated. South Adams Engine 27 responded as did Brighton Fire Truck 53. The fire was extinguished and one firefighter was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation, treated and released. A breathing apparatus bottle in the truck exploded and produced a “boom” that was heard in the neighborhood, the news release said. The brush truck is a total loss and station 8 will be closed for an investigation and repairs. Station 6 will serve the area typically covered by the closed station.
Office Building, Other - Hospital/Medical Pasadena, CA – Overnight fire at commercial medical building extinguished by sprinkler system April 13, 2019 viking210 1 Comment Pasadena firefighters responded to a fire alarm at 39 Congress Street early Wednesday at a multi-story commercial medical building. The sprinkler system activated in response to the fire authorities that believed was caused by an electric cup warmer left plugged in, and placed in a wooden box with coffee break items, according to the Pasadena Fire Department. During the course of the night, heat from the device warmed surrounding materials enough to ignite a fire that burned the box and cabinet above, the report said. When firefighters on Engine 31 arrived at about 1:37 a.m., they found water from the sprinkler had put out the fire. The fire crews helped clean up the water damage on the third and second floors, and reset the fire alarm to normal operations, before releasing control of the scene at about 3:46 a.m. The Pasadena Fire Department also issued a reminder that small accessories, such as the cup warmer in this case, can lead to bigger fires, activated sprinklers, and water damage.
Restaurant San Antonio, TX – Sprinkler system keeps overnight restaurant kitchen fire from spreading April 11, 2019 viking210 Food left cooking on a stove all night long is believed to be the cause of a fire at Scuzzi’s Italian restaurant overnight. Firefighters say they found a small fire inside the restauarant, located near Loop 1604 and NW Military, when they arrived shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday. They had to break open the front door of the business, then quickly knocked down the fire. Firefighters said it appears someone left the stove on all night with food cooking on it, and that is what caused the fire. The sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading, firefighters said. A food inspector from San Antonio Metropolitan Health District was called in to have a look around after the fire. The outcome of that investigation will determine what repairs need to be done before the restaurant can reopen. From outside, the damage appeared to be minimal, although the fire did leave an odor of smoke throughout the building.
College/University (on campus), School / University Princeton, NJ – Overnight fire at Princeton University extinguished by sprinkler system April 11, 2019 viking210 A fire broke out at Fine Hall on the Princeton campus around midnight Saturday and was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system. The building is closed as crews clean up water damage. The fire was contained to a classroom on the 12th floor. Sprinkler water runoff affected that floor and most of those below it. Classes will not be held in the building Monday and Tuesday. University officials are working to move the classes to other locations. Affected students and faculty members will be notified by email. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A firefighter from the Princeton Fire Department needed medical assistance and was taken to a hospital and released. No one else was hurt. Other agencies responding to the fire included Kingston Fire Company, Lawrence Road Fire Department, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Plainsboro Fire Company, Princeton Fire Marshal, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, and West Windsor Emergency Services. From the University, responders included the Department of Public Safety, the Facilities organization, Site Protection and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Emergency Services.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Madison, WI – Restaurant kitchen fire kept in check by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived April 8, 2019 viking210 An east Madison restaurant sustained significant damage in an early morning fire Friday, officials said. The Madison Fire Department said the fire at Sumo Steakhouse and Sushi Bar on Parkside Drive was kept in check overnight by an automatic fire sprinkler. According to the report, it’s unknown how long the fire had been burning before a passerby called 911 at 2:30 a.m. to report smoke in the area. A crew went to the roof of the restaurant and entered the building through a hatch, officials said. That’s when they discovered light smoke coming from a kitchen vent. Firefighters pulled an attack line and proceeded to the kitchen, where an automatic sprinkler was holding a fire at bay, according to the report. Crews extinguished the remainder of the kitchen fire. Meanwhile, firefighters found fire in the kitchen exhaust system and were able to put it out it with a water can extinguisher. Fire officials said the kitchen suffered significant damage, but without the automatic sprinkler holding the fire in place while nobody was around to report the fire, it is believed the entire building would have been consumed by fire. Public Health Madison-Dane County was notified of the incident. The fire department said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Fort Collins, CO – Sprinkler system controlled fire that started at fire pump April 8, 2019 viking210 Residents of the Northern Hotel were evacuated in the early morning hours Thursday as firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at the historic Old Town Fort Collins building. Poudre Fire Authority responded to 172 N. College Ave. about 2 a.m. Thursday after a fire pump — which provides water to the building’s sprinkler system — in the basement caught fire, causing smoke in the building, Poudre Fire Capt. Matt Housley said. The fire triggered a sprinkler head, which controlled the fire until firefighters arrived a few minutes after the automatic fire alarm was triggered. Poudre Fire, UCHealth EMS, Fort Collins Police Services and Larimer Humane Society responded. The fire was fully controlled by 3:01 a.m., Housley said. A total of 45 people were evacuated to the nearby Opera Galleria while firefighters worked. All were able to return home Thursday morning, Housley said. Northbound College Avenue was closed between Laporte and Mountain avenues for about three hours Thursday morning while crews responded and worked on cleanup. Housley said crews planned to repair the fire pump Thursday and that all residents would be able to stay at the building. “It’s not every day you get a fire pump that catches on fire and puts itself out,” he said. Once considered the “pearl” of Fort Collins, the Northern Hotel hasn’t welcomed guests for decades, but its top three floors have provided shelter for low-income seniors while the ground floor has flourished with stable retail, including Starbucks. The building underwent a renovation to its 47 small apartments last year, when owners rehabbed the plumbing; installed air conditioning; and replaced windows, flooring, cabinets, bathrooms and appliances.
Department Store, Retail Bellevue, WI – Fire outside Home Depot activated sprinkler system; No injuries reported April 8, 2019 viking210 Bellevue Fire and Rescue says a burning cigarette butt receptacle and a trash receptacle lead to a small fire outside the Home Depot at 2595 Eaton Road on Wednesday just before midnight. Crews say the fire set off the sprinkler system outside the building. The store was not open at the time, but a cleaning crew was inside. Nobody was injured. Firefighters quickly put out the fire and shut off the sprinkler system. Besides a broken window, the building was not damaged. The heat however did damage some outdoor furniture outside the store. Crews say the fire started in the cigarette butt receptacle outside of the entrance door.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant East Greenwich, RI – Fire at restaurant extinguished by sprinkler system before fire crews arrived April 3, 2019 viking210 Police were called to Besos Kitchen and Cocktails on Main Street to assist East Greenwich Fire with a call for a fire to the exterior of the building by the front door. Firefighters said the fire started in a planter near the front door and spread to an exterior wall, setting off the overhead sprinkler. The sprinkler put out the fire before firefighters arrived. The fire marshal said he thought the fire may have been caused by a cigarette dropped into the planter.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Nicholasville, KY – Overnight fire controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported April 3, 2019 viking210 A Nicholasville restaurant will be closed for a while after an overnight fire left the building damaged. Fortunately no one was inside when the fire broke out at Copper River Grill. The fire started after the restaurant had closed. Crews tell us they responded to the scene just before 2:00 a.m. Firefighters say when they arrived they saw smoke coming from the back building. They think the fire may have started in the kitchen. “The sprinkler system did activate and help control the spread of the fire,” says Fire Battalion Chief Johnny Adams. Crews tell WKYT the restaurant will probably be closed for a while for cleanup and repairs. They say inspectors will determine when the restaurant will reopen. Fire investigators are trying to determine what started the fire.
Apartment Building, Residential Greeley, CO – Arson fire at apartment 70-unit complex extinguished by sprinkler system April 1, 2019 viking210 A woman is in jail after police say she set fire Tuesday evening to an apartment after an argument with her husband. Mindilynn Zekan, 39, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson after a fire at the Meeker Commons Apartments, 505 9th Ave., according to a news release from the Greeley Police Department. An engine, ladder truck and battalion chief responded to the fire about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. By the time crews arrived, no one was inside the apartment and the sprinkler system had extinguished the fire, according to a Greeley Fire Department release. After shutting down the water flow to the activated sprinkler, crews ventilated the apartment to remove smoke and residents were allowed back into the building that night. The complex has more than 70 apartments and more than 100 residents. Zekan was present at the scene and interviewed about the incident. Greeley Police say Zekan was upset about an argument with her husband and began setting his property on fire. Zekan was taken to the Weld County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson. She remained in custody Wednesday morning pending an appearance in court. The dollar amount of fire and water damage has not been established.
