Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Huntingdon Valley, PA – Fire in nursing care facility extinguished by automatic sprinkler system

A small fire at a nursing care facility in Montgomery County prompted an evacuation of 110 residents Wednesday night.  The fire started around 9:15 p.m. at ManorCare Health Services at 3430 Huntingdon Pike in Lower Moreland Township.

Officials said the fire started in an air conditioning unit in one of the rooms and was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system.  Along with ManorCare employees, Montgomery County emergency management and several fire and EMS companies helped the more than 100 residents out of the building. Forty four people were transported by bus to other ManorCare facilities in the area. The remaining residents were able to return to their rooms.

“Obviously, this is a care facility, so you have folks who have ambulation issues, but the folks from ManorCare and our EMTs are taking care of everybody very well and making sure everyone is safe,” said Paul Randolph, chaplain and public information officer for Huntingdon Valley Fire Company.  One male ManorCare employee was treated at scene for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital for evaluation.  No residents were hurt.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lewisville, TX – Sprinkler system activated in arson fire at apartment building

A man remains in jail after he threatened, and then followed through with, setting his girlfriend’s apartment on fire.

Josh Manning was arrested and charged with arson. He remains in the Denton County jail in lieu of $26,500 in bonds. He also was charged with probation revocation for driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years old.

According to the probable cause for Manning, around 3:35 a.m. July 1 firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire at Valley Ridge Apartment Homes, 1000 Valley Ridge Boulevard. Firefighters arrived to find light smoke showing from the second floor balcony.

When crews entered the apartment, the fire sprinkler above the couch in the living room was spraying water. Crews also found a smoldering fire in the living room on the floor and couch.

When firefighters began investigating, they found fire damage surrounding a tray table, on the carpet, the couch and smoke and water damage throughout the apartment. They also found what was possibly a roll of paper towels and a cloth towel that had fire damage, according to the affidavit.

Lewisville Fire Department Division Chief Mark Richards responded and interviewed the woman who lived in the apartment. She said her ex-boyfriend, Manning, came to her apartment to visit their daughter. She said everything was fine until he got a phone call. After that, the two began arguing, and Manning threatened to burn her apartment.

At that point, she left the apartment with her daughter. According to the affidavit, Manning began sending her threatening text messages.

As she was driving, Manning sent her another text that showed a fire in her living room, according to the affidavit. She came back home and saw smoke on the second floor breezeway and on her balcony.

Later that morning, around 9:35 a.m., Lewisville police officers located Manning. Richards responded to the location, and Manning agreed to speak with him. When asked about the fire earlier that morning, Manning said he didn’t know anything, according to the affidavit.

When confronted with the photos of the fire and threatening texts, Manning turned around, put his hands behind his back and refused to answer more questions, according to the affidavit.

Manning, who is homeless, was deemed a flight risk and was then arrested for starting the fire, according to the affidavit. The affidavit stated, “Manning was reckless about whether the burning would endanger the life of some individual or the safety or the property of another.”

Richards said if not for the fire sprinkler system the fire would have consumed the apartment, risking the lives of multiple families. In the end, the fire was about $70,000 in damage.

Other - Retail, Retail

Ohotoks, AB, Canada – Fire at mattress store extinguished by sprinkler system

A small mattress fire in the local Sleep Country store last night was contained thanks to an indoor sprinkler system.  Okotoks Fire Chief, Ken Thevenot, says they were called in a timely fashion thanks to a witness who saw the mattress ignite inside the store.  “There was a person on scene that witnessed the fire on a mattress in the Sleep Country business,” he said.  He says they were called out around 9 p.m., and when crews arrived on scene the indoor sprinkler system had mostly extinguished the small fire.

“When crews arrived, they did see the sprinkler system was activated and the fire was extinguished from those systems. We entered the building, cleared out the smoke and checked the hot spots, and it appeared to be a non-suspicious fire,” said Thevenot. The Okotoks Fire Department is investigating the cause as of today, as there is a possibility it was caused by a short in the store’s track lighting, however, the investigation to determine the cause is indefinite.  The Sleep Country store is closed until further notice, and we’ll update the story as it progresses.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Meridian, ID – (no media coverage) Single sprinkler puts out fire in high school gym caused by combustion of oily rags

<No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported> A single sprinkler head extinguished a fire in the Rocky Mountain High School gym late on the night of July 28th. The fire, caused by improperly discarded oily rags from a gym floor refinishing project, activated the sprinkler and alarm system. Meridian Fire Department responded, and found smoke in the entryway of the gym. They were able to stop the water flow and prevent substantial water damage to the newly-refinished gym floor. “The sprinkler did its job,” reported Joe Bongiorno, Meridian Fire Dept. Fire Marshal. “A single head put the fire out.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Alexandria, VA – Kitchen fire at apartment building suppressed by sprinkler system

A small fire at the Huntington Gateway apartments on Richmond Highway on Tuesday night was quickly contained, but resulted in two residents being displaced.  The fire was called in shortly after 10 p.m., and was contained to the kitchen in one unit on the 5th floor, according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman.  No residents or firefighters were injured.  The fire started in the kitchen and was the result of unattended cooking, the spokesman said. An overhead sprinkler put the fire out.  Damage was estimated to be around $500.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Suquamish, WA – Sprinkler system keeps arson fire in check at elementary school; No injuries reported

 North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews responded to a fire at Squamish Elementary School at 11:51 p.m. Wednesday night that officials say was the result of someone setting a couch on fire just outside the school.

Squamish Elementary School is part of the North Kitsap School district and is located at 8950 Park Blvd NE, Suquamish, WA 98392.

Arriving firefighter crews found heavy smoke at the scene, water flowing from the sprinkler system, but no flames. 

“About 100 square feet of the building’s exterior finish was blackened. School officials believe that the couch, which was destroyed in the incident, was dumped by unknown person(s) in or near the building’s dumpster,” North Kitsap Fire & Rescue said in a news release. 

A fire investigation of the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and determined the fire was intentionally set. 

Officials say no firefighters or civilians were injured in the fire. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Deputy Fire Marshal Ken Rice at (360) 337-5777.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Evansville, IN – Sprinkler system activated during rooftop fire at business

Firefighters were called to a business near Hwy. 41 and Lynch road, just before 4:00 a..m., at Azimuth Custom Extrusions.

A passerby says they saw the flames shooting from the roof and called for help.

The business’ sprinkler system was activated during the fire.

Once firefighters arrived, they determined the fire was coming from a fan on top of the roof.

Employees were evacuated.

It’s unclear if the fire extended into the interior of the business.

The investigation is ongoing.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

New Caney, TX – Sprinkler system contained fire at school to one classroom; No injuries reported

Summer activities at a New Caney ISD school will be delayed Friday after an overnight fire.

Just before midnight, emergency crews were dispatched to Porter High School in regards to an alarm call.

Upon arrival, firefighters say the sprinkler system had contained the fire in a cosmetology classroom but there was still heavy smoke inside the building.

First responders even arrived with an airboat to assist in getting the smoke out.

There are a couple of events, including band practice that will be delayed.

The school year’s starting date was not affected. The first day of school is August 20.

According to authorities, no one was hurt during the fire.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system helps douse office fire at auto shop; No injuries reported

No one was injured early Thursday morning after the front office of a central valley auto shop caught fire.

Firefighters responded just before 4 a.m. to reports of a fire at 360 Auto Care, 1723 N. Decatur Blvd., near Vegas Drive, according to Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski.

The shop’s sprinkler system activated and helped douse the flames and crews took care of the rest with a fire hose, Szymanski said. The fire was contained to the front office.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he said.

Auto Dealership, Retail

Gainesville, GA – Sprinkler system keeps vehicle fire contained at Hardy Chevrolet

A vehicle caught fire inside of Hardy Chevrolet before 2 a.m. Thursday, according to the Gainesville Fire Department.

Fire crews found a vehicle ablaze inside the Browns Bridge Road auto dealer after responding to a call of possible fire. The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading, allowing firefighters to douse the flames soon after they arrived.

The Gainesville Fire Marshal is investigating the cause, according to Division Chief Keith Smith.

This report will be updated.