Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Leominster, MA – Sprinkler system suppresses lithium-ion battery fire at manufacturing facility

The sprinkler system in a Leominster business controlled a lithium-ion battery fire yesterday, preventing what could have been serious damage in the early-morning hours, said Leominster Fire Chief Robert A. Sideleau II and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.

The Leominster Fire Department responded to an alarm activation at a manufacturing business at 501 Lancaster St. shortly before 5:00 yesterday morning. On arrival, they observed smoke but no fire. Firefighters made entry, searched for any injured parties, and ensured that the fire was fully extinguished. On further examination, they found that an overhead sprinkler head had activated, suppressing the fire.

An investigation by the Leominster Fire Department, Leominster Police Department, and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office determined that the fire was accidental started with lithium-ion batteries that had overheated on a workbench.

“If they’re abused, overheated, or overcharged, lithium-ion batteries can start a fire that explodes in smoke, flames, and toxic, flammable gases,” said Chief Sideleau. “These batteries power devices we use at home every day, from phones and laptops to power tools and outdoor equipment. It’s important to charge, use, and store these devices safely. Always use the manufacturer’s charging equipment. Charge the device on a hard and stable surface, not a bed, couch, or pillow. Disconnect the device when it’s fully charged, and store it at room temperature, not in direct sunlight, a hot car, or freezing temperatures.”

“The sprinkler system at this site operated exactly as intended,” said State Fire Marshal Davine.  “It effectively extinguished a fire and prevented serious damage or injury. Tragically, none of the 31 Massachusetts residents who died in fires at home last year had that protection. If you’re buying or building a home, choose one with fire sprinklers. There is no faster or more efficient way to control a serious fire until firefighters arrive.”

Yesterday’s incident was the second lithium-ion battery fire to be extinguished by a sprinkler system in recent weeks. On January 4, the Woburn Fire Department responded to a commercial site for an alarm activation to find that the building’s sprinkler system had effectively suppressed a fire that started with a chemical reaction involving lithium-ion batteries.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Erie, PA – Sprinkler system contains fire in building; No injuries reported

A fire broke out in the 200 block of West 9th Street overnight Monday.

Calls went out just after 2:40 a.m. on Monday for reported heavy smoke. Upon arrival, crews found a small fire which had been contained by the sprinkler system in the building.

Fire crews used fans to clear the building of the heavy smoke. Minimal damage was reported, and no one was injured.

Residential, Single Family Home

Largo, MD – Residential sprinkler system activated for early morning house fire

Three people are without a home early Tuesday morning after a large fire in Upper Marlboro.

Firefighters with the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department responded to Water Fowl Way, off of Watkins Park Drive, around 4:45 a.m. after a report of a house fire in the area. Through an initial investigation, it was determined that the fire in the garage spread to the roof area of the home.

Three people were inside the home at the time of the fire and were alerted to the blaze by smoke alarms. The residential sprinkler system also activated and helped to minimize the spread of the fire in the living areas.

The house fire left three people displaced, but none of the residents were injured. One firefighter was taken to the hospital to be checked out after working the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Marion, IA – Sprinkler system contains kitchen fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system contained a kitchen fire at the Marion apartment complex on Friday night.

The small fire happened in a third-floor apartment at Hilltop Manor on Lindale Drive.

The Marion Fire and Police Departments evacuated all residents from the apartment complex while they extinguished the fire.

Firefighters said the sprinkler system contained the fire to the kitchen and limited the fire and smoke damage to the room and the apartment building.

No one was hurt, and firefighters believe the fire was an accident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Peoria, IL – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire; No injuries reported

Unattended cooking was deemed the cause of a fire at a newly built apartment complex, according to the Peoria Fire Department.

The fire occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Monday at the Providence Pointe Apartments, formerly known as Taft Homes. Crews were sent to the 100 block of Green Street and when they arrived, they found a two-story, eight-unit building with smoke coming from a first-floor unit.

The sprinkler system was operating and put out the fire. No one was found to be in the apartment. Damage was found to to the appliances and to the cabinets in the kitchen.

Water and smoke damage was found throughout, according to the department.

Two people will be displaced until restoration takes place and they were able to find their own
temporary housing.

Other residents in the building didn’t have to move temporary. There were no injuries. Damage was estimated at $25,000.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Bend, OR – Sprinkler system controls fire at two businesses

A fire sprinkler system saved two northeast Bend businesses from major damage when a fire broke out in a bathroom Monday night, a Bend Fire official said.

The fire in a commercial building on Northeast 18th Street was reported around 9:35 p.m. by a fire alarm company, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said. As crews responded, the business owners called 911 and reported seeing smoke on their security cameras, so more firefighters were dispatched.

Crews found the fire had been controlled by the sprinkler system in an upstairs bathroom.

“The cause is still under investigation but not believed to be intentional,” Derlacki said in a news release Tuesday. Damages were limited to about $10,000 an the two businesses were able to resume normal operation by Tuesday afternoon.

The cause remained under investigation Tuesday, but Derlacki said it was not believed to be intentional.

Derlacki said the fire sprinkler system extinguished the fire with only one head activating.

“National data show that the presence of fire sprinklers in a building drastically reduce the fire damage and down time for businesses,” the fire official said. “In this case, staff were able to clean up the water within a few hours and prevent any damage to stored goods in the building.”

“With no one in the building at the time of the fire, without the sprinklers, this fire would’ve gotten out control before it was large enough to be noticed in a large industrial park,” Derlacki added.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Salisbury, MD – Sprinkler system controls fire at hospital

An early morning fire at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional has been ruled accidental.

The fire was reported at around 1:25 a.m., in an Environmental Services Storage Closet. Crews were able to control the blaze in just over 20 minutes.

Maryland State Fire Marshals say the fire involved an electric vacuum cleaner attached to the wall and was caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery. The incident reportedly took place in an employee-only area and was controlled by the automatic sprinkler system. No patients were displaced or required evacuation, and hospital operations were not affected. The sprinkler and alarm system were placed back in service.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Grand Forks, ND – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire at correctional center

At approximately 2:04 am on Tuesday, December 12th, the Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to 1701 North Washington Street, which is the Grand Forks County Correctional Center, for a report of smoke and flames in the laundry room.

Fire crews arrived on the scene and were met by employees who had found smoke and flames in the laundry room. Crews found that the clothes in the dryer had caught fire, and the sprinkler system had activated. Fire Crews quickly extinguished the fire and removed the smoke from the building. The cause of the fire is undetermined. One inmate was transported to Altru with unknown injuries. There were no injuries to fire personnel or corrections staff.

The fire department responded with five engines, one aerial truck, one command vehicle, and twenty personnel. The fire department was assisted by the Grand Forks County Corrections Staff, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, and Altru Ambulance.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Fairfield, CT – Sprinkler system activated for fire at abandoned building

Fairfield police say the old Fairfield Cinema has once again been damaged.
Patrol officers noticed plywood missing from the doors Tuesday night.
Police say they heard a fire alarm coming from the building. Upon entering, they say the interior of the building had been badly vandalized.
They say a fire was put out on the second floor by the building’s sprinkler system.
Authorities say the vandalism is under investigation.
Other / Not Specified, Other Business

St. Cloud, MN – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Salvation Army

A fire at St. Cloud Salvation Army’s emergency shelter forced dozens of people out of the place they were calling home for the holidays.

According to the St. Cloud Fire Department, the fire started around 3:45 a.m. Monday. Fire damage was limited to one room because of the sprinkler system.

Lt. Nathan North of the St. Cloud Salvation Army feels fortunate the fire didn’t spread but says the water damage left most of their space needing full renovations.

“In that moment, it just, it fell off, and my heart sank,” North said about getting the phone call about the fire.

“Unfortunately, our shelter [became] unsafe to be in until we can assess everything,” North said. “So unfortunately, it displaces all of our residents that are here with us.”

That’s around 40 people, many of whom are now with Place of Home Ministries.

“It’s terrible for the people,” Pastor Carol Smith, with Place of Home Ministries, said.

“We were able to get [a floor at] our facility ready that we were not occupying at the moment, miraculously,” Smith said.

She adds pillows, blankets, and bedding would be warmly welcomed and that donations can be dropped off at 511 9th Ave. N. in St. Cloud.

“We’re just trying to provide what we can for support and all that this holiday season,” Smith said.

As for the St. Cloud Salvation Army, North is asking people not to share physical donations with them as they work to clean up their facility. He added that donating to the Salvation Army’s red kettles is the best way to help.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.