Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Harrisburg, PA – Sprinkler system limits spread of fire in exhaust stack at industrial facility

A Wednesday last night fire at a Harrisburg industrial site damaged a roof and exhaust stack, but no one was injured as a result of the blaze. That is according to Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Chief Brian Enterline, who said firefighters were called about 9:38 p.m. to the 1300 block of North Cameron Street, where a fire was reported at the Dayton Parts building. According to Enterline, the fire began in an industrial machine and spread up through an exhaust stack to the building’s roof.

Firefighters were able to respond within only a few minutes of the call, and they quickly extinguished the flames, Enterline said, explaining that the exhaust stack was destroyed but damage to the roof was only “superficial.”

A sprinkler system also activated and helped to slow the fire as it spread, Enterline said. While fighting the fire, water got into a large tank holding oil typically used to cool hot metal parts at Dayton, Enterline said. The water caused the tanks to overflow and spill oil, he said. However, he added that quick actions by both firefighters and Dayton employees helped to keep the oil from entering the local sewer system or nearby Paxton Creek. “It’s all contained to the building,” Enterline said.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Buckingham, PA – Fire at elementary school confined to one classroom by sprinkler system

A fire at Cold Spring Elementary School in Buckingham started in an unoccupied classroom on the second floor, township police said Thursday. Fire Marshal Jim Kettler is investigating the cause, they added. All Central Bucks schools are closed for students Thursday and Friday for staff development days, and for everyone on Monday for the President’s Day holiday. There was no immediate word from school district officials on whether Cold Spring students would return to school Tuesday.

Buckingham police said the school’s sprinkler system activated and the fire was confined to the one classroom. Fire companies from Midway, New Hope, Lingohocken, Plumstead, Doylestown, Point Pleasant and Warwick responded to the scene. All students and staff were evacuated to the neighboring Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and were on their way home by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the school district website said.

An announcement will be made on the website around noon Friday about arrangements for parents and students to pick up personal belongings left at the school because of having to evacuate.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Brockway, PA – Fire at health care and rehabilitation center held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

In Jefferson County, a fire at a health care and rehabilitation center is still under investigation.

Fire officials say the fire was contained to the kitchen of the Highland View Healthcare Center.

According to the Brockway Volunteer Hose Company, the fire had been held in check by the sprinkler system.

Officials say the fire was ruled incendiary in nature.

They estimate damage totaled about $5,000.

No injuries were reported and the owner does have insurance, officials say.

Department Store, Retail

Hazleton, PA – Department store fire kept in check by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived

Firefighters brazed sub-zero temperatures extinguishing a fire in a storage room inside Boscov’s Department Store in the Laurel Mall near Hazleton on Thursday morning.

Crews responded to the store at the Laurel Mall in Hazle Township at 4:23 a.m., circled the building and saw smoke coming from one corner on the Regal Cinema side of the building, township fire Chief Scott Kostician said. Firefighters tried accessing the Knox Box to gain entry into the building, but the box was frozen due to the extreme cold, he said.

Firefighters then forced the doors to get inside and found a fire in a storage room, Kostician said. The sprinkler system kept the fire under control until crews could bring in a hose to extinguish it, he said.

The storage room sustained significant fire damage and that corner of the building on both upper and lower levels sustained water damage. Firefighters used more than 20 fans to remove smoke from both levels of the building, Kostician said.

The store called in a cleanup crew to deal with the damage, he said.

Kostician didn’t think the store could open right now, as the sprinkler system was shut down and the electrical system needs to evaluated, he said. When called, an operator said the store would be opening at noon. A manager was not available for comment.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and a state police fire marshal was called, Kostician said.

Firefighters dealt with extreme cold during the response. Temperatures were at minus-10 and firefighters sheltered inside the store once the smoke cleared, Kostician said. The mall was also available as a shelter from the cold, he said.

Firefighters used a 5-inch hose to supply water from the hydrant. Hazle Township lost three sections of hose due to the extreme cold and needed heavy equipment to pry up the hose, which froze to the ground and cracked in half when firefighters tried to roll it up, Kostician said.

“It was brutal. I’ve never experienced this,” he said.

Assisting Hazle Township were firefighters from Freeland, Valley Regional, Sugarloaf, Hazleton, McAdoo and Dorrance Township, White Haven and Weatherly were also called into Freeland on standby for extra manpower if a response was necessary in the extreme cold, borough Fire Chief Joe Stepansky said.

Restaurant

Reading, PA – Sprinkler system helps keep restaurant fire from spreading to neighboring businesses

Firefighters responded to an early Thursday morning fire at a Chinese restaurant in north Reading. Crews were dispatched shortly before midnight to the 800 block of Oley Street for the report of a structure fire. Reading Fire Deputy Chief Ronald Banks said a small fire was found in the kitchen of the Happy Family Chinese buffet on the first floor of the shopping complex at 810 Oley St. Banks said firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, and the sprinkler system in the kitchen was activated. He said the extent of damage was still being determined. Firefighters ventilated smoke from the front of the restaurant as crews checked for any other damage to businesses in the complex, including a barber shop, a Mexican restaurant, a nail salon and a daycare. The fire marshal was sent to the scene to conduct an investigation. Firefighters finished up operations shortly after 1 a.m.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Harrisburg, PA – Sprinkler system contained fire to school bathroom; No injuries reported

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to a small, contained fire Tuesday morning, in a second floor boys bathroom at Rowland Academy.

According to school district officials, students and staff were quickly evacuated to Scott Elementary School.

The Bureau of Fire said the school’s sprinkler system helped contain the fire.

All staff and students were kept safe, and there is no further damage to the school.

Classes have resumed for the day.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Moosic, PA – Laundry fire at assisted living facility contained with help from sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Some residents had to be removed from an assisted living facility in Lackawanna County on a very cold night after a dryer caught fire. Fire crews were called to Oakwood Terrace in Moosic around 8 p.m. last Wednesday. The assisted living facility along Gleason Drive is home to 45 elderly people. The fire started in the laundry room, and fire crews say the sprinkler system activated which helped contain the flames. Crews were forced to evacuate part of the building. With the help of police, ambulance crews, staff members, and some bystanders, 15 residents were moved to Moosic Alliance Community Church right across the street. The other 30 residents remained inside Oakwood Terrace.

“Right now, we’re working on the salvage. We’re working on getting some of the water off the floor from the hose line, and our intention tonight is to get everyone back in the building,” said Old Forge Fire Chief Mark Tagliaterra. No injuries were reported in this fire, and crews credit the overwhelming amount of manpower with getting these residents to safety, quickly. Those 15 residents were able to go back into Oakwood Terrace late Wednesday night.

Apartment Building, Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Blandon, PA – Sprinkler system activates in overnight fire at senior residential complex

State Police at Reading investigated a fire around 11 p.m. Wednesday night at Keystone Villa that left multiple residents displaced. Crews found a smoke condition throughout one portion of the structure on the second floor and fire at a wall mounted heating/air conditioning unit. The building was evacuated by employees and crews extinguished the fire. An employee was treated at the scene and two residents were transported for non-life threatening injuries, police say. The damage estimate is unknown … <there was> activation of the sprinkler system. The fire is classified as accidental. The Red Cross was on scene providing assistance to displaced residents.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Merion, PA – Overnight fire in on-campus student apartment suppressed by sprinkler system

An apartment fire broke out on November 30, 2018, on the St. Joseph’s University campus at 701 City Avenue. The Fire started shortly before 12:40 AM while many students in the in five-story fully occupied building slept, studied, or in this case prepared a late night meal. The fire was fueled by a pan of cooking oil on the stove. The cooks had left the room and left the oil boiling unattended. The pan burst into flames, and the fire crept silently up the wall towards the ceiling of the apartment’s kitchen.

At precisely 12:38 AM the Montgomery County 911 communication center received the call for help. The dispatch center located in Eagleville sprung into action, immediately dispatching the Lower Merion Fire and Police Departments. “The sprinkler system did its job here and potentially saved lives,” said Lower Merion Chief Fire Officer Charles “Chas” McGarvey.

While the first responders were en route to the potential inferno the automatic sprinkler system kicked in and suppressed the fire. By the time the fire department and police were on location, the fire was out. Water was flowing from the sprinkler system, and a light haze of smoke filled the apartment. Residents self-evacuated when they realized there was an actual fire in the building, and not just an alarm.

Nine LMFD fire vehicles were on the scene arriving from across the township, including Station 26 from Narberth, Station 21 from Penn Wynne, Ladder 25 from Ardmore, and Engine 28-1 from Bala Cynwyd responded. The Lower Merion Fire Marshal’s office was on the scene.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Overnight fire in senior living center extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

City Fire Chief Jay Delaney said Wednesday a commercial dryer fire forced the evacuation of 61 residents from a senior living facility on North Sherman Street late Tuesday.  Residents returned to North Penn Manor at approximately 1 a.m. Wednesday, about three hours after the fire broke out in the laundry area of the facility.  Delaney praised building staff for a “well-coordinated evacuation” of residents, many wearing nightgowns and bed clothing when the fire broke out at about 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Residents initially were outside in two separate parking lots in cold temperatures. A sprinkler system extinguished the blaze that was contained to the laundry room.  Delaney said after conversing with the code enforcement office, it was decided it was safe for residents to go inside another part of the building.

“The staff did an excellent job at removing the residents in an orderly manner,” the chief said. “Given the time of night, residents were outside in nightgowns and bed clothing and hypothermia could quickly set in. After meeting with the city code enforcement, it was (determined to be) safe to place them in another wing of the building.”  Residents were then moved next door where the Wyoming Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross has its building.  No injuries were reported. Ambulance companies from Hanover Township, Kingston and Plains Township plus TransMed assisted at the scene.