Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Columbus, IN – Sprinkler system activates in fire at aluminum plant; Assists firefighters in controlling blaze

Columbus firefighters battled an early morning industrial fire at Nikkei MC Aluminum America Inc. in bitterly cold temperatures Tuesday morning. Firefighters were sent to the manufacturing facility at 6875 Inwood Drive at 3:32 a.m. Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported. Nikkei MC Aluminum America, Inc. (NMAA) is a secondary aluminum manufacturer who supplies aluminum alloys to the die-casting and gravity-casting industries.

The fire was reported by an employee who saw flames within the facility and called 911, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke and flames showing and were told all 10 employees inside the building had evacuated prior to the firefighters’ arrival.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and an activated sprinkler system which was working as they made their way into the interior of the smelting facility, Wilson said. They reported to the command that there were two fires in the facility, one located overhead as well as fire located at a dust collector on the exterior of the building, Wilson said.

As additional firefighting crews arrived on the scene, company representatives cautioned the firefighters about applying water to the smelting furnace and associated machinery. With two interior crews operating within the interior of the building, and fire visible above the sprinkler system, command ordered that the sprinkler system be turned off, Wilson said.

With the sprinkler system off, interior crews could see smoldering material located on several steel I-beams overhead. This material was a collection of dust and particulate matter that had ignited. MC Aluminum representatives told investigators that the flames were originally located near an afterburner furnace, which limits the amount of unburned pollution material being expelled into the atmosphere. Heat and flames spread to a collection of dust within the facility, causing several spot fires near the interior ceiling of the plant. A dust collector was also on fire, Wilson said.

Firefighters went to the roof of the facility and learned it was clear of fire.

At about 5:25 a.m., firefighters reported that the fire was under control, Wilson said.

With a few spot fires still located on the steel beams overhead, MC Aluminum maintenance crews used an articulating boom lift to access and extinguish the remaining smoldering materials.

Fire Command was terminated at approximately 5:47 a.m. and the facility was turned over to MC Aluminum, Wilson said.

A total of 13 Columbus Fire Department units responded to the fire, which included four engine companies and two rescue companies. The remaining seven units were command and support staff.

Wilson said no damage estimate was available and the fire has been ruled accidental.

Apartment Building, Residential

Mesa, AZ – Sprinkler system limits spread of apartment fire caused by unattended cooking

One person was taken to the hospital after they may have fallen asleep while cooking and started a fire in Mesa on Monday night. It happened at the La Mesita Apartments on Main Street near Dobson Road. The Mesa Fire and Medical Department say the small cooking fire spread to the cabinets and that activated the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters arrived and got the person out of the apartment. The victim was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, the fire department said. No firefighters were hurt. Only the adjacent apartments were evacuated.

Other - School / University, Other Business

Rockton, IL – Fire at performing arts center extinguished by sprinkler system

No one was injured after a small fire erupted about 9:30 p.m. Sunday in back of the stage inside the Hononegah Community High School Performing Arts Center. The sprinkler system extinguished the fire before the firefighters arrived, a news release said. An investigation has been started as to the cause and the damage is being assessed. No one was in the performing arts center when the fire began. Crews are attempting to mitigate the smoke and water damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Temple, TX – Early morning apartment fire caused by bathroom exhaust fan is controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries

A sprinkler limited damage early Thursday after a fire broke out in an apartment in Temple, displacing seven residents. Firefighters responded just before 5 a.m. to a report of the fire at the Courtyard Apartments at 2315 South 1st St. in Temple. A malfunctioning bathroom exhaust fan started the fire in the second-floor apartment. Residents, alerted by smoke alarms, escaped safely. Fire damage was limited to the bathroom of the apartment, which also received smoke and water damage. Two first-floor units were also damaged by water. No one was injured.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Abilene, TX – Sprinkler system activated in fire at boat manufacturing facility

One Tigé Boats employee was treated for smoke inhalation after a boat caught fire at the manufacturing facility at 1801 State Highway 36 on Monday. The Abilene Fire Department arrived at the plant at about 10:20 p.m. to find employees had pulled a boat on fire outside. The firefighters extinguished the fire in the boat and ventilated the building with large fans, according to an AFD news release. The fire started in the boat’s motor compartment while about half-way through the assembly line process, the AFD stated. “Employees used numerous fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire, and the sprinkler system was activated,” according to the news release. The boat sustained an estimated $100,000 in damage. There also was minor water damage to the building, AFD stated.

Apartment Building, Residential

Pearland, TX – (No Media Coverage) Apartment fire caused by improperly disposed cooking coals extinguished by sprinkler system

**No Media Coverage — Fire Department Reported** Allow cooking coals to cool for 24-48 hrs or extinguish with water prior to discarding into combustible trash cans. Fire crews responded to an apartment fire call on Tuesday, January 15 at approximately 1 a.m. The crews arrived on scene and found the fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. The fire had been caused by improperly discarded cooking coals. No injuries were reported and there was minimal damage to the outer building wall.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Racine, WI – Large structure fire in wood shop kept in check by sprinkler system

A potentially large structure fire was kept at bay by an active sprinkler, Racine Fire Department officials said in a release issued Wednesday.

At 9:12 p.m. Tuesday, the Fire Department was dispatched to 1509 Rapids Drive for an active fire alarm.

Fire officials found a small, smoky fire inside of a tenant’s wood shop. The fire was kept in check by an active fire sprinkler, and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

After investigating, the cause of the fire was determined to be improperly stored oily rags. The property was then turned back over to the wood shop tenant.

The fire caused an estimated $2,500 in damage. There were no injuries, fire officials said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lafayette, LA – Early morning balcony fire at student apartment complex extinguished by sprinkler

The Lafayette Fire Department says they responded to a balcony fire on Thursday morning at The Quarters student apartment complex in Lafayette. Officials say a sprinkler alarm was activated around 2:30 am at the complex prompting the investigation. When firefighters arrived, complex residents were outside and several witnesses indicated the fire was on the balcony of a second-floor apartment.

Firefighters gained access to the apartment and conducted a search for occupants. Officials say those occupants all exited the apartment without injury. Light smoke was observed on the balcony and officials say that a sprinkler on the balcony had extinguished the fire. The area received moderate damage. A quick investigation by firefighters determined the fire started due to improperly discarded smoke material. The fire has been ruled accidental.

Residential, Single Family Home

Redding, CA – Vehicle fire in garage of home controlled with help from sprinkler system

A sprinkler inside a garage and firefighters quick response helped keep a vehicle fire from spreading beyond the garage Thursday morning. According to the Redding Fire Department, firefighters responded to a vehicle fire that was spreading into the garage of a home located at 2991 Sinaloa Trail off Hartnell Avenue around 4:40 a.m. When firefighters arrived on scene they found a vehicle fully involved in the driveway of the home and the flames were moving to the garage of the home.

A sprinkler inside the garage along with firefighters aggressive firefighting got the fire under control in about 10 minutes and prevented the flames from moving into the living quarters of the home. Officials said the home sustained moderate damage and the cause is still under investigation. Redding Fire officials would like to use this as an example of how effective residential fire sprinklers can be to minimize damage but more importantly, save lives.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fort Dodge, IA – Paint booth fire at manufacturing plant contained by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire ignited inside a paint booth at the Josephson Manufacturing Co. plant in Fort Dodge late Wednesday night. A sprinkler system confined the flames to the booth. No one was injured. Police and firefighters were called to the plant at 216 Central Ave. at about 11 p.m. because the fire alarm, burglar alarm and sprinkler system all activated. Smoke was coming out of the building in several places when firefighters arrived, according to Fire Department Capt. Jeff Hill. He said firefighters forced open the front door and pulled a hoseline inside.

“The sprinkler system kept the fire contained in the paint booth until we could get a crew inside to extinguish what was burning,“ Hill said. “It was pretty thick smoke. They had zero visibility going in there.” The cause of the fire remains under investigation.