Tag Archives: North Dakota

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Apartment kitchen fire quickly extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

Firefighters here responded to a call at about 10:15 a.m. Friday, April 8, at The Fargoan building at 319 Broadway. Residents were evacuated as the Fire Department worked to clear smoke from the building, but no one was injured in the incident, according to Craig Nelson, battalion chief with the Fargo Fire Department.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire located in the kitchen area inside one of the units. Nelson said the building’s sprinkler system quickly put the fire in a second-floor unit of the building.  Firefighters used a hand line to extinguish the remaining fire.

No one was injured, including a number of pets reported to be in apartment units. That was a relief to Katie Perleberg, who anxiously watched from across the street as firefighters cleared smoke from the building and helped nearby businesses clean up water that had poured down from the floor above them.

Nelson said at about 10:25 a.m. that Broadway would likely be closed for about an hour as crews continued to clear the building of smoke and water. Water from the sprinkler system caused damage to the three businesses located on the lower level of the complex.  Crews helped those businesses contain the water and relocate some merchandise.

He said the cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known. The total cost of the fire loss is unknown at this time.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Grand Forks, ND – Fire at low-income senior apartment building controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

According to the GFPD there was a fire at Riverside Manor contained to one unit. Fire officials say the fire only took about 15 minutes to extinguish. The building’s sprinkler system played an important role in controlling the blaze.  No one was hurt as a result of the fire, but officials say safely evacuating everyone had its challenges.

“These are elderly people so getting those units evacuated in a timely matter with smoke on that floor, that’s a big deal,” said Btn. Chief Rick Aamot. Residents on the third and fourth floor were evacuated down the buildings lobby.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Fargo, ND – Single sprinkler puts out dryer fire at hotel; No injuries reported

A dryer fire forced guests outside Monday morning at Expressway Suites, 4303 17th Avenue South in Fargo. Fire Department Battalion Chief Lee Soeth says the smoke was limited to the first floor of the hotel, but as a precaution, guests were evacuated for about 20 minutes. The small fire set off one sprinkler and put out the fire quickly. Soeth says crews stayed on scene to clear out the smoke and mop up water. A damage assessment is not available.

Apartment Building, Residential

Grand Forks, ND – No injuries in New Year’s Eve apartment fire suppressed by sprinkler system

Residents of a Grand Forks apartment complex rang in the new year in the cold because a fire broke out inside a second floor unit on Garden View Drive shortly after 11:00. About two dozen people were inside at the time.  However, people living in the unit where the fire started were not home.

The fire was contained to the single unit, but several other units and the hallway sustained smoke and water damage. Everyone was allowed to return to their apartments last night except for the one where the fire started.

“The fire was pretty much extinguished by the sprinkler system, or at least contained by the sprinkler system, so there would have been minimal fire as I understand it by the fire crews that responded,” Grand Forks Fire Capt. Bob Kramer said. The fire marshall said the fire is accidental because of unattended cooking on the stove.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fargo, ND – Electrical fire at Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant contained by sprinkler system

The Fargo Fire Department says the cause of an early morning fire at Buffalo Wild Wings on 19th Avenue North in Fargo was due to electrical equipment and that it was accidental.

It started this morning in the outdoor seating area. Damage can be seen on the outdoor bar, wall and projection screen. Damage is estimated to be around $10,000.

Fire officials say the buildings sprinkler system helped contain the fire to a small area.

According to the Fargo Fire Department the restaurant was closed when the fire occurred and that no one was in the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Sprinklers keep fire from spreading at apartment complex

Fargo firefighters got a quick knockdown on a fire thanks to an automatic sprinkler system that controled most of the stove fire. The fire was reported just after 6 p.m. Wednesday in a second floor apartment at 5018 Amber Valley Parkway South in Fargo.

There were no injuries. The fire started when the tenant was cooking and stepped away from the kitchen. She noticed the fire when she heard her smoke detectors go off.

Battaliion Chief Tim Binfet says if the sprinklers had not activated, the fire would have spread throughout the apartment. Damage is estimated at $15,000. The Red Cross assisted the tenants with temporary lodging.

Apartment Building, Residential

Bismarck, ND – Firefighters credit sprinklers for knocking down fire in 24-unit apartment building

The Bismarck Fire Department responded to the fire alarm at 5:12 am at 3945 N 19th Street.  When firefighters arrived, smoke was spreading throughout the building and coming from heat registers.
The cause of the fire was an electrical junction box in the mechanical room.  The short caused insulation to catch on fire. Firefighters say a sprinkler in the room activated, knocking the fire down. Occupants of the building were evacuated, and there were no injuries. There was no damage outside the mechanical room. The estimated fire loss was limited to approximately $5,000.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Grand Forks, ND – Sprinkler system contains fire on 6th floor of apartment building for seniors and disabled

The fire ignited in a sixth floor apartment in the Ryan House, which houses people at least 62 years of age or with disabilities regardless of age, last Monday evening. The fire was contained to the one apartment, but there was water damage throughout the building from the sprinkler system.  The Grand Forks Fire Department determined the fire was caused by a cigarette that wasn’t properly extinguished.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fargo, ND – Vehicle fire in garage of apartment building controlled by sprinkler system

An early morning fire Thursday woke up a lot of people at the Park East Apartments in downtown Fargo.  Firefighters got a call about smoke coming from the building around 2 a.m. and found a car on fire in the garage unit, which is attached to the residential section of the building.

Fire officials say sprinkler system largely limited the fire damage to one vehicle. Vehicles parked on either side were not damaged because of the sprinkler system. Crews had the fire under control within 15 minutes of the Red River Regional Dispatch Center receiving the first 9-1-1 call.

One person was found on scene with soot stains on his face but he refused medical treatment. The cause of the fire appears to be in the vehicle, but an exact cause has not been identified.