Apartment Building, Residential Aiken, SC – Sprinkler system keeps overnight apartment fire from spreading June 22, 2017 viking210 The Aiken Department of Public Safety is investigating an early morning fire Sunday at an apartment complex on Hollow Tree Drive in Aiken that left multiple people homeless. Sgt. Michael Grabowski, with Aiken Public Safety, said fire crews responded to Hollow Tree Drive around 12 a.m. “It was a small fire,” Grabowski said. “Crews came in quick and got it under control as fast as they could.” Two apartments caught fire, but the buildings sprinkler systems helped prevent the fire from being worse, Grabowski said. No one was injured in the fire, he said. American Red Cross disaster-trained volunteers reported Sunday morning that they are assisting multiple families whose homes were damaged by the fire.
Apartment Building, Residential Hagerstown, MD – Sprinkler system activates in overnight apartment fire giving residents opportunity to escape June 18, 2017 viking210 A Monday morning fire that displaced 46 residents at Cortland Apartments in the North End of Hagerstown started on the balcony of one of the apartments, according to Hagerstown Fire Marshal Doug DeHaven. DeHaven said in a news release Tuesday afternoon that the fire traveled up the exterior of the the building and into an attic area. Although fire walls in the attic and between the apartments contained most of the damage to one corner of the building, the blaze caused significant damage to apartments Nos. 2, 6 and 10, he said. An investigation determined that the building had functional sprinkler, fire-alarm and smoke-alarm systems, the release said. The sprinkler system was activated when balcony windows cracked from the heat, allowing the fire to extend into the apartments, DeHaven said. But the activation of the sprinkler system, along with the fire alarm, gave residents enough time to escape, he said. Bob Rhodes, the complex’s manager, said that three of the 12 units in the building sustained heavy damage. It is too early to determine whether the structure will be razed or rebuilt because fire and insurance inspectors were still assessing the damage, he said. All 61 of the residents and pets who were displaced by the fire at the apartments at 12911 Little Elliott Drive have been given places to stay until they find more permanent accommodations. Korri Faria, disaster program manager for the Red Cross of Western Maryland, said the 46 residents who were displaced by the fire are staying in hotels, or with family or friends. “We were on scene to make sure everyone has a place to stay for a few days,” she said. Faria said all of the hotel rooms are being paid for by the Red Cross, which also provided the victims with cards to buy food, clothing and other essentials they might need. The Red Cross also helped to replace medications that were destroyed in the fire, which was reported shortly after 5 a.m. In addition to the residents, the two-alarm blaze displaced 15 pets. Crystal Mowery, field service director for the Humane Society of Washington County, said a majority of the pets stayed with their owners, but one cat and one dog were taken to the humane society shortly after the fire. Another dog was taken there later that day. “We are housing the animals at no charge until (the victims) find a place for them,” she said. To her knowledge, Mowery said none of the pets perished in the fire. A single cat escaped, but it has not been accounted found.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Vancouver, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system controls hotel fire until crews arrive; No injuries reported June 17, 2017 viking210 Six people have been displaced after a fire at the Rainier Hotel in downtown Vancouver. The single-room occupancy (SRO) unit on Carrall Street was evacuated around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, after some materials caught fire in a room on the third floor. The occupant of the room managed to escape without injury before fire crews arrived on scene. “There’s a fair bit of fire damage to that one room,” said Battalion Chief Terry Nikolai, with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services. Some other rooms also sustained water damage from the sprinkler system and firefighting efforts. “Thankfully the sprinkler activated and contained the fire, until our crews managed to get in there with a line and extinguish it,” said Nikolai. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Apartment Building, Residential St. George, UT – Nighttime fire at apartment complex put out by sprinkler system; No injuries June 16, 2017 viking210 Residents of an apartment complex in St. George were evacuated after a fire ignited in a single unoccupied unit Sunday night. St. George Fire Department responded to the fire just before 11 p.m. when an alarm system sounded in an apartment complex at Red Rock Ridge, 344 S. 1990 East. Officers from St. George Police Department who arrived initially found the smoke coming from the unit and its sprinkler system activated, Fire Battalion Chief Ken Guard said. “Sprinkler system put the fire out,” Guard said. The unit is unrented and no one was occupying it at the time of the fire. Residents were evacuated from surrounding units as a precaution. No one was injured. Gold Cross Ambulance also responded as a precaution. “At this time we’re investigating the cause of the fire,” Guard said. Several police officers were on hand helping with the investigation and taking statements from residents. Though surrounding units were temporarily evacuated, Guard said he expects none would be displaced. Water permeated the unit where the fire started, with some of it reaching two other surrounding units. Firefighters shut off and reset the sprinkler system then performed some minor cleanup of the water damage. Guard estimated that the damage would run approximately $2,000 at the time this report was taken, noting that it could be higher depending on how quickly the damage is addressed. “We vacated as much as the water as we possibly could, and it’s just a matter of how quickly they get a restoration company on top of it,” Guard said. “As far as I see right now, a couple thousand dollars.” This report is based on preliminary information provided by emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Other Business, Restaurant Vaughan, ON, Canada – Suspicious overnight fire at bakery is kept from spreading by sprinkler system June 16, 2017 viking210 A bakery in Vaughan was heavily damaged in what appears to be a “suspicious” fire overnight. York Regional Police say there are circumstances around the fire that require further investigation. “It’s being considered suspicious and further investigation is required to determine the cause,” a YRP duty inspector said. Fire crews were called to the scene at 10 Buttermill Ave., near Jane Street and Highway 7, just after 1:30 a.m. Vaughan Fire Services were quickly able to extinguish the flames but police say the bakery likely suffered extensive damage. A sprinkler inside the bakery helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent units. No one was inside the bakery at the time the fire broke out. A broken window and objects found on the lawn in front of the bakery are part of the evidence in the case. The objects appear to be caps and nozzles for gas cans though officials have yet to confirm that. Police did say that it appears a canister containing an accelerant had been thrown inside. Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office have been called to the scene.
Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business St. Petersburg, FL – Sprinklers knock down flames at gym after treadmill catches fire overnight June 13, 2017 viking210 A treadmill at the LA Fitness at 5900 Fourth St. N caught fire overnight and caused minor fire and water damage to the gym, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. The treadmill caught fire for unknown reasons around 11 p.m. Wednesday night, said St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Steve Lawrence. The last employee had already left for the night. The fire was discovered by an employee when they showed up for work around 5 a.m. Thursday. Two treadmills were destroyed, a window suffered minor damage and soot had spread throughout the building. The gym was also doused in water released by the automatic sprinkler system that was activated during the fire. The damage left the gym closed Thursday. Lawrence said the LA Fitness was being cleaned up and it should be open again in two to three days. The sprinklers likely saved the gym from more extensive damage, he said. “The fire suppression system did do its job,” he said. “It was limited fire damage. The water damage can be cleaned up.”
Other Business Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Sprinklers help extinguish truck fire inside building at mushroom farm June 11, 2017 viking210 A truck caught fire inside inside a building at the Loveday Mushroom Farms in St. Boniface early Monday morning. There were no injuries in the fire, which happened at about 1:48 a.m. at 556 Mission St. A spokesman from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said a refrigeration unit caught fire on a five-ton, single-axle truck inside one of the loading bays. “The sprinkler system in the building was flowing and assisted the fire attack crew with extinguishment of the fire,” the spokesman said. There was no damage estimate yet and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Primary / Secondary School, School / University Highland, UT – Sprinkler system limits fire from spreading at elementary school June 10, 2017 viking210 A fire sparked on the roof of Ridgeline Elementary School in Highland, Utah, after midnight on June 4, causing an estimated $300,000 in damages, said Kimberly Bird with Alpine School District. Bird said the fire began on the roof and was caused by illegally-purchased and illegally set-off fireworks. But most of the damage to the school was from the sprinkler system and not the fire. Police are looking for the suspects who they believe accidentally set the school on fire with illegally-purchased fireworks that were possibly from out-of-state. It is illegal to set off fireworks any day of the year other than three days before and after New Year, Chinese New Year, July 4 and July 24, said Ted Black, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal. He said that it’s a crime to purchase fireworks in another state and to light them in Utah. “Buy locally, light responsibly,” he said. “And just in case, keep a hose close by.” School let out for the summer a week ago, so nobody was in Ridgeline Elementary when the fire occurred. Lone Peak Fire Department responded to the call and extinguished the flames 15 minutes after they arrived on the scene, said fire officials.
Other - Retail, Retail Barre, VT – Quick thinking 5-year old; Quick acting sprinkler system assist firefighters in store fire June 10, 2017 viking210 A quick thinking 5-year-old is credited with spotting a fire in downtown Barre that officials say could have been much worse. Meet Gabriel DeJesus, a five-year-old hero. “I saw smoke coming out of a chimney and I knew it was going to be a fire,” said Gabriel. The Barre kindergartener spotted a fire at Bob’s Camera and Video in Barre Saturday night. “Just going for a drive and he goes, ‘Dad, there’s smoke pouring out of that building,'” said Jaime DeJesus, Gabriel’s dad. “It was a lot, and it was all white and black,” Gabriel said. The family pulled over for a closer look, and they called 911. “I commend him,” said Barre Fire Dept. Dep. Chief Joseph Aldsworth. “He’s great. He’s a superhero,” said John Biondolillo, the owner of the building. Thankfully the shop had closed for the day so no one was inside. The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained to the store’s basement until firefighters arrived. “I was watching all the fire trucks come,” Gabriel said. Bob’s Camera and Video is right on Main Street. Fire officials say that if the sprinklers weren’t working, downtown Barre could have seen much worse damage. “It’s in a row of block buildings here, so it would definitely have a potential of loss,” Dep. Chief Aldsworth said. Investigators are still looking into what caused the fire. They say this fire should remind community members to check their sprinkler systems. “They need to be inspected annually by a reputable company that leaves a sticker,” Dep. Chief Aldsworth said. It also serves as a reminder that kids can make a big difference too. “I am super thankful that he saw that. I don’t know what he would have done if he didn’t notice it and tell his parents,” said Kaitlyn Mesler, the owner of Bob’s Camera and Video. When asked what it’s like to save people and businesses, Gabriel responded, “It makes me feel so good.”
Other Business Charleston, SC – Firefighters and sprinkler system help limit spread of intentionally set vehicle fire June 5, 2017 viking210 The Charleston City Fire Department says a car fire in downtown Charleston Thursday evening was intentionally set. Emergency personnel from Charleston Fire Department were dispatched to the vehicle fire, with additional units dispatched from Charleston, North Charleston, and James Island Fire Departments responded to Archdale St and West Street just before midnight on June 1. Charleston County EMS and Charleston Police were on standby. Crews reported seeing a car on fire at the loading dock area of the Majestic Square building. The building fire sprinkler system had activated to protect the building, generating the alarm, and slowed the fire spread. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and prevented further damage in the area. Members of the Fire Marshal Division responded to the scene and determined the fire was intentionally set. Fire Investigators from CFD and members of the Charleston Police Department are now investigating. Damage to the building was limited due to the activation of the fire sprinkler system and the quick response and suppression by responding personnel, officials say.
