Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

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Pleasanton, CA – Cooking fire at fairgrounds controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Cooking equipment left on overnight caused a fire inside one of the exhibition halls at the Alameda County Fairground early Monday morning, fire officials said.

“The exhibit used cooking pots with heating elements attached for their display,” Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Battalion Chief Jack Neiman-Kimel said. “It appears the pot was left on and when the water evaporated the pots melted and caught fire.”

The blaze was contained to the exhibit, which was located in the A building. A sprinkler helped control the fire until firefighters were able to extinguish flames. The fire charred the nearby walls and the building had smoke and water throughout, according to Neiman-Kimel.

No one was injured during the incident and the damage from the fire will not interrupt the fair or its exhibits this week. The damage will likely be repaired by Wednesday.

“It is important to remember to turn off all cooking equipment before leaving your residence or business,” Neiman-Kimel told Patch.

Office Building, Other Business

Penticton, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system helps limits spread of fire in 75-year old building

A fire in Penticton’s Cannery Trade Centre was contained before it could spread through the heritage building.  John Cain, one of the owners, said there was no downtime for businesses located in the building. They were able to open Monday morning.

“Everybody has co-operated marvelously, and our tenants have been outstanding and understanding. Everybody is working,” said Cain. “Jill Bateman, the administrator, has been looking after this miraculously.”

Penticton firefighters were called to the Cannery, which houses a variety of businesses in the 75-plus-year-old building, at about 1 a.m. on June 25. They arrived to find alarms ringing and the sprinkler system activated.

When they entered the building, they also found smoke, which they were able to trace to the second-floor residence.  Crews were able to fight the fire from the interior and contain it to the area of origin, though it was scaled up to a third alarm. Capt. Dennis Smith of the Penticton Fire Department said that was because of the potential of the fire to grow into a major event, especially considering the size and age of the building.

“We were travelling right through the building,” he said. “We just called out some help sooner rather than later.

“It’s always a bit of a challenge to figure out what the structure is composed of when we are into those buildings. Especially an older one like that. It’s been here for decades, with lots of additions and alterations.”

Smith said the fire sprinkler system played a big part in helping contain the fire to a limited area. “We have fire inspections regularly, and I can tell you the building management down there is on top of things there as far as fire systems and maintaining their building,” said Smith. “That’s one of the reasons that fire was handled efficiently and quickly, and without a huge loss. The fire prevention aspects were all functioning well.

Smith said the fire appears to have started on the exterior of the building, spreading up through the soffit and into the attic. But the exact cause will have to come from the fire inspector, who was on scene Monday morning.

Apartment Building, Residential

Birmingham, AL – Early morning fire at downtown loft apartment building extinguished by sprinkler system

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Dover, OH – Overnight laundry room fire at nursing home put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire broke out at an Ohio Valley nursing home overnight.  The Dover and New Philadelphia fire departments and Smith Ambulance Service responded to Hennis Care Nursing Center a little after midnight.  Officials say the fire started in the laundry room. The sprinkler system was activated and put out the flames.  No one was injured.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Hagerstown, MD – Fire in apartment building for the elderly and disabled is extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Fire broke out in a fifth-floor apartment in Potomac Towers on West Baltimore Street Wednesday night, according to a Washington County 911 supervisor.  The fire was reported about 9:45 p.m., and was determined to be caused by food on a stove, the supervisor said.  The fire was extinguished, although firefighters were dealing with a lot of water in the building from a sprinkler system, the supervisor said.  Potomac Towers is a multi-story building that provides housing for elderly and disabled residents.

Other Business

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – Oily rags ignite at uniform business; Sprinkler system helps keep fire from spreading inside building

It took firefighters about 45 minutes Sunday to put out a fire at a company in the industrial park.A report of a fire at UniFirst Corporation, 2400 Industrial St., came in at 11:20 p.m. Sunday, Wisconsin Rapids Fire Capt. Bob Barteck said. A fire started in totes of oily rags and spread to a nearby storage shed and forklift, Barteck said. From there, the fire spread to the UniFirst Building and activated a sprinkler in the building, he said.  It took firefighters about 45 minutes to put the fire out, Barteck said. Nekoosa EMS and United Medical Service Ambulance also responded to the scene.  A damage estimate was not available on Monday. UniFirst is a uniform rental service.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Austin, TX – Historical building saved from fire by single sprinkler head

A fire at an Austin landmark appears to have been intentionally set. 36-year-old Matthew James Caldwell is in custody, charged with 2nd degree arson. Damage to The Austin Club from fire, smoke and water is expected to top $100,000.

“When I got down here about 4:20 this morning my heart just sank,” said Ken Richardson, general manager of The Austin Club.

Richardson thought the worst when he first saw firefighters swarming the historical building. He knew what the city stood to lose.

“It really was the first true cultural center in Austin, Texas,” said Richardson.

After getting a closer look, the GM at the Austin Club is now grateful an important piece of state history didn’t burn up.

“Thank God one sprinkler head saved this entire building,” said Richardson.

The club’s significance is plastered on the front of the building. But it’s the stories that bring 140 years to life.

“This building hosted the first UT graduation,” said Richardson. “Buffalo Bill and his military band performed here. We had dancing horses and goats and everything, but I think bears, on the stage here.”

That history was almost lost when a man broke into the private social club through a sidedoor that connects to an alley.

“He had to work very hard to get in,” said Carson Watson, the building engineer at The Austin Club.

Once inside, the intruder appears to have set two fires. The GM thinks he used matches from The Austin Club to try to light a tablecloth on fire. The flame retardant material just melted.

Then the intruder went to the third floor.

“He actually started the fire by lighting one of the tapestries that hangs on the wall,” said Richardson.

The club is decorated with tapestries and expensive antiques, but that’s not what the intruder was after.

“He was caught leaving the building with some alcohol, three bottles of wine and a can of Heineken. So apparently he likes imported beer,” said Richardson.

It’s about $100 worth of alcohol that is ending up costing $100,000 dollars in fire, smoke and water damage. The good news is that an historic building that dates back to 1878 wasn’t added to the bill.

“It’s part of the fiber of what makes Austin, Austin,” said Richardson.

Matthew James Caldwell is charged with intentionally setting the fire. He does not appear to have any connection to The Austin Club.

“We don’t recognize the name at all, so we don’t think he had any ties to the club here at any time,” said Richardson.

“It looks like a completely random crime, just a crime of opportunity,” said Captain Andy Reardon with the Austin Fire Department.

The Austin Club has signs posted on the front door saying it will reopen on Tuesday. The GM says no weddings or other large events need to be moved or canceled.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Longmont, CO – Sprinkler system extinguishes majority of early morning fire at Target

Longmont police and fire investigators will be on scene at Target today to determine the cause of an early morning fire.

Longmont Fire Department spokeswoman Molly Cropp said the store will be closed for at least a few days as officials work to find the cause and origin.

A structure fire was reported at the store at 551 S. Hover St. at 4 a.m. today.

Firefighters found the store filled with smoke, but Cropp said the store’s sprinkler system put out the majority of the fire before they arrived on scene.

No employees or firefighters were injured during the incident.

Office Building

Manchester, NH – Fire in law offices on 18th floor of office building limited by sprinkler system

A fire caused extensive smoke and water damage to the offices of a prominent law firm in an iconic high-rise building downtown early Saturday, according to fire officials.  Paul E. Voegelin, chief operating officer at Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green, said Saturday that the firm will reopen for business on Monday as usual thanks to the quick response of firefighters and property management.  When firefighters first arrived just before 4 a.m. they found a water flow on the 18th floor of the Brady Sullivan Plaza, 1000 Elm St., a 22-story office building. First responders located the fire in the offices of the law firm.

A rapid response limited fire damage to the office where it accidentally broke out, according to District Fire Chief Hank Martineau.  It took 38 minutes to bring the fire under control, but cleanup took until 5:36 a.m., officials said. There was an extensive effort to salvage and preserve records and equipment on the floor below the fire.  The 18th floor office suffered smoke and water damage and there was water damage to offices on the 16th and 17th floors, officials said. Officials estimated the damage at $50,000.  Sheehan Phinney’s COO credited all those who dealt with the emergency.

“The fast and excellent response by both the Manchester Fire Department and Brady Sullivan Properties kept the fire quickly contained, keeping damage to a minimum,” Voegelin said in a statement. “We are relieved that no one was in the office at the time and pleased that our office will be open on Monday, conducting business as usual for our clients. Our sincere appreciation goes out to the Manchester Fire Department and Brady Sullivan Properties.”

Martineau said the building’s sprinkler system played a critical role in limiting the fire to the office where it started. There were no injuries. Brady Sullivan Plaza opened in 1972 as the Hampshire Plaza and was for 20 years the tallest structure in all of northern New England. Public Service Co. of New Hampshire built it to serve as a New Hampshire headquarters. Brady Sullivan Properties purchased the building in 2006.

Apartment Building, Residential

Red Deer, AB, Canada – Balcony fire controlled by sprinkler system

Emergency crews were called to a balcony fire in Vanier Woods last week after improperly stored cardboard caught fire during a barbeque.

Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES) responded to a fire call at 39 Van Slyke Way on June 8th at approximately 11 p.m.

The fire originated on the balcony where residents had stored cardboard materials behind their gas barbeque, which caught fire when the barbeque was used. The balcony’s overhead sprinkler system was activated and kept the fire under control.

Officials say without the sprinkler head on the balcony, the fire would likely have spread to the combustible siding, putting the building and tenants at further risk.

RDES Fire Prevention Bureau reminds residents that June is one of the peak months for barbeque fires. Please consider:

Residents are invited to contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 403-346-5511 or prevention@reddeer.ca with any questions or concerns.