Tag Archives: Oregon

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Fire contained by sprinklers at engineered wood products manufacturer (Medford, OR)

Sparks from a grinding operation started a fire that ignited in two connected sawdust bins at Boise Cascade. “Really the initial knockdown happened with the automatic sprinkler system,” said Arlen Blenkush, District No. 3 battalion chief. The fire was contained to the inside of the bins and did not damage the structure’s exterior.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cat survives apartment fire thanks to fire sprinkler system (Portland, OR)

Firefighters who responded to a southeast Portland apartment fire could hear screaming inside and see smoke seeping from under the door. So they kicked in the door and found — a cat.

Fire spokesman Ron Rouse says the cat — named Dude — was fine after the firefighters took him outside Wednesday evening and gave him some oxygen.

Rouse says the apartment resident had taken some warm clothes from the dryer and set them on a couch near some oily rags, then left the apartment. The spokesman says the combination of heat and the oily rags created spontaneous combustion. The apartment’s automatic sprinklers contained the fire to the couch.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fire sprinkler kept dumpster fire from spreading to apartment complex (Medford, OR)

The sprinkler controlled the fire until firefighters arrived at the scene, according to a press release from Medford Fire and Rescue. Firefighters fully extinguished the fire. Fire officials say the dumpster was housed in an enclosed structure that contained a laundry room. They believe the fire was started by improperly discarded cigarettes.

Apartment Building, Residential

Apartment fire confined to garbage bin by sprinkler system (Medford, OR)

A sprinkler system helped contain a trash fire at a Medford apartment complex this morning, Medford Fire-Rescue officials reported. The trash bin was in a building that houses garbage collection and a laundry room for two eight-unit apartment buildings, which are located right next door. Damage was confined to the garbage bin. The fire sprinkler prevented the fire from gaining enough momentum to seriously damage the facility, officials said.