Tag Archives: Night (9pm-5am)

Apartment Building, Residential

Brick, NJ – Apartment fire kept from spreading by sprinkler system

A fire at the Forge Pond Apartments Monday night sparked by a woman burning loose threads off a sweater with a lighter was brought under control by the building’s sprinkler system before it got out of control, Brick Township’s fire chief said Tuesday.  Brick Fire Chief Kevin C. Batzel said the sprinkler system’s response doused the fire and prevented firefighters from having to evacuate the 101 tenants of the Chambersbridge Road building into the frigid outdoors.

Police, firefighters and Brick EMS responded to the fire about 6 p.m. and found a rack of clothing in a common area kitchen off the first floor of the B wing that had caught on fire, but was doused by the sprinkler, Batzel said.  The preliminary investigation showed the woman had been trying to burn loose threads from a sweater after leaving the laundry room and accidentally ignited the sweater. When the fire became too big, she tried to put the clothing in a sink to put out the smoldering clothing, catching more clothing on fire, Batzel said.

She suffered minor burns to her arm, but there were no other injuries, he said.  The tenants were moved to a safe location in the building while firefighters cleared the hallways and kitchen of smoke, Batzel said. Water damage was minimal and the sprinkler system was repaired and back in service later Monday evening, he said.

Responding were the Pioneer Hose, Breton Woods, and Laurelton fire companies, Brick Township police, Brick EMS, the Brick Office of Emergency Management and the Brick Bureau of Fire Safety. An investigator from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office also responded, Batzel said.  “Residents are reminded to be extremely careful with any open flame around combustible material including clothing, particularly synthetic items which tend to combust at a rapid rate,” he said.

“The rapid action of a single sprinkler head held the fire damage to a minimum. That, with the quick work of the fire department and emergency services, prevented the potential of extensive damage and full building evacuation from happening,” Batzel said.  The fire cause remains under investigation by the Bureau of Fire Safety.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Battle Ground, WA – Fire at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses contained by sprinkler system

Fire sprinklers likely saved a Battle Ground-area church from more extensive damage after a food dehydrator sparked a fire Sunday night in its attached garage.  Around 9:20 p.m., crews from Clark County Fire & Rescue were dispatched to the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall north of Battle Ground, at 33209 N.E. Lewisville Highway, for a report of a structure fire.  Deputy Clark County Fire Marshal Curtis Eavenson said a fault in a food dehydrating device sparked a small fire in a garage attached to the church. The dehydrator appeared to be homemade.  The sprinkler system limited the damage to a roughly 3-square-foot area, causing about $4,000 to $5,000 in damage.  “The sprinkler system saved the day,” Eavenson said. “Once again, the value of fire sprinklers are very evident there.”  The dehydrator was being used to dry some fruit, he said.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Kaukauna, WI – Fire in ventilation system at paper mill knocked down by sprinkler system

The Kaukauna fire department responded to a fire at a paper mill overnight. Fire crews were called around 3:30 a.m. Sunday to Expera Specialty Solutions on the 600 block of Thilmany Road.  When crews arrived, the sprinkler fire system had knocked down most of the fire.  Firefighters found fire and heavy smoke in the ventilation system and was able to extinguish the fire quickly. The fire started in the ventilation system, according to the Kaukauna Fire Department.  The fire was extinguished by 4 a.m.  There were no injuries. There is minimal damage to the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

League City, TX (No Media Coverage) – Fast response from fire service and sprinkler system save occupant from apartment fire

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE*** Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler System Saves a Life of a League City, Texas Resident and His Pet

On December 11, 2016, at approximately 12:13 a.m., the League City Fire Department received a fire alarm call from League City Dispatchers to respond to the Fairway Apartments located at 3045 Marina Bay Drive. This fire alarm turned out to be anything but usual. Upon arrival, the Fire Department noticed a water flow alarm was also activated, thus indicating a possible triggering of the fire sprinkler system. Firefighters immediately responded to the reported apartment to find water flowing from underneath the entry door and an active audible fire alarm sounding. The Firefighters quickly attempted a forced entry into the apartment to begin search and rescue, but were met with resistance at the front door from the occupant.

The occupant apparently woke to the loud pounding noise from the forced entry tools and the displacement of the door frame, which the occupant thought that the firefighters were intruders. The firefighters immediately removed the confused occupant from the apartment and entered using Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. The confused occupant demonstrated signs of hypoxia, difficulty breathing, and was treated by EMS at the scene.

Once inside the apartment, firefighters and investigators noticed the occupant had fallen asleep while cooking. The unattended stove fire was contained by the fire sprinkler system with one fire sprinkler head activation eliminating a possible deadly situation by knocking out the fire. Due to the occupant’s obvious physical condition and hypoxic symptoms, it was apparent that the occupant only had a few more minutes of survival time inside the smoked filled apartment. If not for the notification of the fire alarm system and activation of the fire sprinkler system the occupant would have succumbed to the smoke and fire within the apartment unit. Another great save due to a proper working fire sprinkler system and an aggressive firefighting crew, which both eliminated the hazards before a life was lost.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Zelienople, PA – Sprinklers douse fire at retirement center; No injuries

An apartment building sprinkler system doused an electrical fire early Wednesday morning before it spread. 

Chief Scott Garing of the Harmony Fire District said the fire ignited in apartment 234 in the Blue Spruce neighborhood of the Passavant Retirement Community on Burgess Drive. 

“It was a power supply for an electrical device,” Garing said.  He said the female occupant, whose name was unavailable, was sleeping in the living room when the fire started in the bedroom. After responding to the 12:36 a.m. 911 call, firefighters checked the attic and walls to ensure all the flames were extinguished. 

Garing credited the building staff for evacuating roughly 50 residents from their apartments to a central room behind fire doors in the building. He said when the safety of occupants already is addressed, crews can immediately focus on fire suppression. 

Garing said the apartment and one below it sustained water damage. The Adams Area, Cranberry Township and Evans City volunteer fire departments assisted the Harmony Fire District. The Harmony and Cranberry Township ambulance services also responded. 

Fire crews cleared the scene at 2:25 a.m. 

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Cedar Rapids, IA – Sprinkler system significantly helps control spread of fire at recycling center

A commercial recycling center suffered significant smoke and water damage, but minor structural damage in a fire Wednesday night.

According to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, crews were called to a commercial recycling center owned by Republic Services Recycling at 4250 Sixth St. SW at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report of an automated alarm. Responding firefighters discovered there was a fire in the building and encountered heavy smoke.

The fire department said the size of the building required a “prolonged search” to find the origin of the fire. Additionally, cold temperatures and the amount of work required at the scene led firefighters to call for additional units.

The fire was eventually found in recycling paper bundles. Firefighters said the building’s sprinkler system “contributed significantly” to controlling the spread of the fire.

Residential, Single Family Home

Bullhead City, AZ – Garage fire contained by residential sprinkler system

A Katherine Heights garage fire late Monday night was contained by a sprinkler system, the Bullhead City Fire Department said Tuesday. 

The alarm came in at about 10:40 p.m., department spokeswoman Lorrae Viles said. Crews were called to an address on Power Line Road. Viles said they found water flowing out of the garage, but no active fire.

Battalion Chief Craig Stephenson reported that it appeared that the fire had started in a small plastic trash can next to an old sofa.

The residence was equipped with an overhead sprinkler system that was activated and extinguished the fire. If the system had not been in place, Viles said, the blaze could have gotten out of control and caused considerable damage.

Other - Retail, Retail

Brookfield, WI – Fire in stuffed animal aisle of Toys R Us store put out with help from sprinkler system

A fire was reported late Friday night inside a Toys “R” Us store in Brookfield. Emergency crews were called to the business along Moorland Road around 10:30 p.m.  Witnesses said the fire started in the store’s stuffed animal aisle. Investigators are trying to figure out exactly what sparked the fire.

The sprinkler system came on right away and helped put out the fire. Employees and customers had to be evacuated during the incident.  No one was hurt.  It’s unclear whether the store will be open for business Saturday.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Bensalem, PA – Kitchen fire at Holiday Inn hotel controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

A kitchen fire forced the evacuation of the Holiday Inn near the Parx Casino in Bensalem Friday night, authorities said.  The fire broke out around 9 p.m. at the hotel at 3327 Street Rd. The sprinkler system was activated and the fire was declared under control about 25 minutes later.  The emergency left some people briefly trapped in elevators. No injuries were reported. The hotel’s website says the building has six floors and 167 rooms. Hotel employees could not be reached by phone.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Miami, FL – Sprinkler system helps prevent shopping mall fire from spreading

A sprinkler system played a role in containing a fire that took place Monday night at Ultra Mall in downtown Miami. The fire started at about 10 p.m. in the 1100 block of Southwest First Avenue.   Smoke was  coming from the storefront of Flossie’s — a store that sells items such as incense, oils, candles and books — when firefighters arrived.

Miami Department of Fire-Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said a sprinkler system contained the fire to a small area and prevented it from spreading to neighboring businesses.  “A small fire was located inside of the store and was quickly extinguished,” he said.   No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.