Tag Archives: North Dakota

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at apartment complex

Fargo Fire says a charging ebike battery caused a fire inside an apartment Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was reported just after 2 at an apartment at 1781 35th Street South, just east of I-29. The building’s sprinkler system activated and put the fire out. Fire damage was limited, but the unit has smoke and water damage as well.

The Fire Department says the ebike had a modified battery, and the owner left it unattended during charging.

People are encouraged to buy their ebikes from a reputable supplier, and not to modify the battery with aftermarket parts.

Apartment Building, Residential

Bismarck, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes stovetop fire at multi-story apartment building; No injuries reported

The Bismarck Fire Department (BFD) was called to the downtown side of the capital city this weekend, as a sprinkler system activated in a multi-story apartment building.

According to a press release from the BFD, at approximately 5:28 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, the group received a call after a report of sprinkler activation at the Heritage Apartments on the 100 block of North 6th Street. Upon arriving on the scene, fire crews noted that the smoke alarm and sprinkler activation came from the fourth floor — and would later detect light smoke in the hallway and water flowing under the door of an apartment.

As they entered, firefighters found that a stovetop fire had been extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system, and that the unit’s occupant evacuated to the ground floor. Following this realization, the water flow from the sprinkler was shut down, and the four floor was ventilated to clear smoke.

No injuries were reported to occupants or firefighters, but three occupants were temporarily displaced due to water damage.

The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.

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.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system activated for fire at medical center; No injuries reported

Fargo firefighters responded to a report of a fire at Sanford Broadway Medical Center at 801 Broadway North at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, October 29.

Officials say the initial dispatch was for an activated alarm that was upgraded to a structure fire after reports of smoke in the building. The first arriving crews found a small fire in an ultrasound machine and extinguished it.

The building’s fire sprinkler system had contained the fire to the machine. There was no other fire damage.

Due to a significant amount of smoke, Sanford staff were about to evacuate the building but stopped once they knew the fire was contained.

Sanford is working diligently to minimize any impact to our patient’s experience due to this morning’s incident. At this time, patient care has not been impacted.

No people were in the wing when the fire occurred. There were no patients affected and no injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Grand Forks, ND – Sprinkler system activated for fire at restaurant and bar; No injuries reported

A restaurant and bar in the northern valley is damaged after a fire started in the building.

The Grand Forks Fire Department was called to the Crooked Pint Ale House on S. Columbia Rd. around 10:42 p.m. on Sunday, July 23.

Authorities say they saw smoke coming from the back of the building and could hear the sprinkler system going off. Firefighters eventually found the fire started on top of the coolers and spread to parts of the ceiling.

Officials say they put out the fire quickly, but some fire damage was already done to parts of the restaurant and most of the building had some smoke damage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and the business will remain closed until repairs can be made.

No one was injured in the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex

Sprinklers extinguished a fire in an apartment complex on Saturday morning.

According to officials, on Saturday, July 8 at 11:22 a.m., Fargo Firefighters were dispatched to a report of fire alarms sounding in an apartment building at 4462 30th Ave S.  When firefighters arrived, light smoke was observed in a first floor hallway.

Firefighters found water coming from under a doorway midway down the hallway.

When Fargo Firefighters opened the door, they were met by smoke banked down to the floor.

Officials say a search of the apartment found no one inside and a small bedroom fire that had activated a fire sprinkler; the sprinkler had fully extinguished the fire.  The resident of the apartment was found outside on her first floor patio.

Fire and smoke damage to the bedroom and its contents was minor due to the sprinkler activation.  Prior to the sprinkler being shut down by Fargo Firefighters, the water had migrated into several neighboring apartments.

A local water removal contractor was brought to the scene by property management.  Tenants were allowed back into the adjoining apartments and will not be displaced.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and a preliminary damage estimate is not yet available.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Bismarck, ND – Sprinkler system activated for vehicle fire at truck shop; No injuries reported

The warehouse of a major Bismarck construction company was damaged in the early morning hours on Thursday.

Bismarck Fire officials say a truck in the shop of Northwest Contracting caught fire, triggering the building’s sprinkler system. Investigators say the system kept the fire under control by the time fire crews arrived around 3 a.m.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and heavy fire and smoke damage to the truck and ceiling in the shop on the 2800 block of Valley Forge Street.

No one was injured. Investigators believe the vehicle fire was accidental.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fargo, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at bagel shop; No injuries reported

Valley News Live was the only news team there when BernBaum’s caught fire earlier tonight.

It’s the second time this month that the bagel shop– off Broadway and 4th Avenue North– has caught fire.

Fire crews tell us damages are estimated to be around $10,000 dollars.

They say shortly after 9 p.m., rags used for cleaning at the restaurant burst into flames. The fire was put out by the sprinkler system.

A neighbor tells us the same thing happened last week.

Firefighters stuck around after the blaze was out to make sure the location was safe and shut off the fire alarms at the residence next door.

They tell us no one was hurt.

Apartment Building, Residential

Minot, ND – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire; No injuries reported

Crews responded to a small fire in a fourth floor unit of the Artspace Lofts apartment complex in downtown Minot Wednesday afternoon, and a person was detained in the investigation, according to the Minot Fire Department.

Capt. Aaron Peterson said the call came in at 1:15 p.m. of the fire, and the apartment’s sprinkler system put the fire out.

Crews ventilated the building for smoke. Peterson said one tenant on the third floor was temporarily displaced due to water damage and is being set up in a hotel.

Peterson said no one was hurt.

Your News Leader has reached out to Minot Police for more information on the person detained and the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Grand Forks, ND – Fire contained by sprinkler system at mill; No injuries reported

A piece of machinery at a mill in Grand Forks started on fire, leaving $10,000 in damages at the plant.

The Grand Forks Fire Department says they were called to the State Mill in the 1800 block of Mill Rd. around 8 p.m. on Monday, April 19.

When crews arrived, they learned a sprinkler system in the building went off and contained the fire the single piece of equipment.

Firefighters believe the fire started because of a mechanical failure.

No one was injured by the flames.

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