Apartment Building, Residential Florence, SC – Early morning apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system October 25, 2015 viking210 An apartment fire in Florence was contained early Saturday morning when the built-in sprinkler system activated and extinguished the flames. According to a release from Florence Fire Department Battalion Chief Ken Carr, the fire occurred around 6 a.m. Saturday morning at 2802 Kinloch Court in Somersett Acres. The fire also activated the apartment building’s fire alarm system, alerting its residents, who evacuated the building. When FFD firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire had already been put out. After removing some water from the apartment, firefighters were able to leave the scene. There was no fire damage and very little smoke damage to the apartment, as well as no reported injuries. The fire was caused by unattended cooking.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Beaufort, SC – Fire at Hilton Garden Inn extinguished by sprinkler system September 15, 2015 viking210 A fire at Hilton Garden Inn on Thursday was extinguished by the hotel’s sprinkler system by the time firefighters arrived, according to a news release. Firefighters responded to the fire about 4:30 p.m. and found all of the hotel’s tenants evacuated to the parking lot. A room on the third floor caught fire before the sprinklers doused the flames. All 115 hotel rooms were occupied at the time of the fire, the release said, The full house was related to Friday’s graduation ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. “The hotel was filled with Marine recruit families and friends, and they all got out fine,” Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Chief Sammy Negron said in the release. “It was a good ending to a potentially very bad situation.” Tenants in 47 rooms had to be relocated until the rooms affected by the sprinkler system could be cleared for use, Negron said.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Greenville, SC – Sprinkler system activates to help control fire at bus manufacturer July 31, 2015 viking210 Firefighters responded Wednesday morning to a report of an explosion at a Greenville business. The incident happened at Proterra, a electric bus manufacturer, at Whitlee Court. Greenville City Fire Prevention Office responded to the scene and noticed black smoke pouring out of the building. There were employees inside of the building at the time of the fire, but everyone was evacuated safely. Some employees reported that there were two explosions that went off inside the business. The sprinkler systems are working to knock down the flames, but firefighters say there is still an active fire inside. Once the sprinkler system stops, the fire department will go inside the business to investigate.
Apartment Building, Residential Hilton Head, SC – Port Royal apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system July 13, 2015 viking210 Interior sprinklers extinguished a fire in a unit at Laurel Hill Apartments in Port Royal Saturday, likely preventing the fire from spreading, Beaufort Fire Chief Sammy Negron said. However, damage from the fire, smoke and water forced the four apartment residents out of the unit. The local Red Cross is providing assistance. At about 2:30 Saturday afternoon, firefighters from the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department responded to a fire call at 1640 Ribaut Road, the Laurel Hill Apartments. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire limited to one apartment unit. “The building’s sprinkler system worked as it is supposed to and extinguished this fire before it had a chance go grow and spread,” Negron said. “Properly installed and maintained, these types of automated fire suppression systems save lives and property, and we saw that at this apartment fire.” Also responding to the blaze were the Port Royal Police and Burton Fire District.
Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility Charleston, SC – Sprinklers help contain fire at recycling plant May 21, 2015 viking210 Firefighters from North Charleston, Charleston and Boeing worked Tuesday to put out a large fire at Sonoco Recycling plant. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to North Charleston Fire Department spokeswoman Bianca Bourbeau. Bourbeau said the sprinkler system in the building contained the fire where it started, but outside flames spread to outlying bales of recycled material. Sonoco spokesman Brian Risinger said that he was grateful there were no injuries and he appreciated fire crews’ quick response at 2025 Tellico Road. “At the time of this statement we understand the fire to be contained to a specific area of the facility and the fire department remains onsite and is making progress on extinguishing the fire,” he stated. “The only damage we are aware of is to our own facility.” He added that the blaze would not interrupt ongoing recycling services in the area and that operations were expected to resume by the end of business Wednesday. Sonoco was founded in 1899 and is a global provider of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and displays and packaging supply chain services, according to a media release.
Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant Rowesville, SC – Sprinkler system aids firefighters in challenging industrial fire May 4, 2015 viking210 North American Container is cleaning up after a blaze early Saturday morning. The Rowesville Fire Department responded to the Garland Road facility at about 2:30 a.m. following the report of an explosion, Orangeburg County Chief Fire Operations Officer Teddy Wolfe said. The first units reported heavy fire near an exterior wall of a building at the facility. The facility had a working sprinkler system that activated and was able to hold the fire at bay until firefighters were able to assemble for an interior fire attack, Wolfe said. LP gas cylinders near the fire exploded, leading to structural damage near the source from both the explosions and heat. The large amount of stacked wood products created a challenge for firefighters during salvage and overhaul, Wolfe said. More than 35 firefighters responded in all. Wolfe said one person received a very minor injury after the initial attack. The cause of the fire is under investigation. North American Container Corp. employs 400 people in the manufacture of bulk shipping containers.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Santee, SC – Sprinkler system activates; Helps limit damage in fire at landmark restaurant March 13, 2015 viking210 A landmark barbecue restaurant in Santee that was damaged by fire on Thursday is scheduled to reopen soon. The Santee Fire Department was called to Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile on State Park Road just after 9 a.m. Firefighters say a sprinkler system in the kitchen sprayed the flames until emergency crews arrived. Fire Chief Edward Barnett, Jr. says the fire started in a smoke chipper drain under a meat oven. The amount of damage hasn’t been estimated. The restaurant is closed temporarily. A sign outside indicates management hopes to reopen on March 19.
Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant Myrtle Beach, SC – Sprinklers keep fire in check at Econo Lodge hotel February 26, 2015 viking210 Horry County Fire Rescue responded to a fire at a Myrtle Beach hotel Wednesday. According to HCFR second battalion chief, Thomas Loeper, a sprinkler system was able to contain the blaze until fire crews got to the scene. When crews arrived, there was smoke on the second floor and fire was on one of the units, according to Loeper. Brian Van Aernem with HCFR reported that the fire started in a second floor bedroom. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and Loeper said they removed water from the second floor. One person was transported to Grand Strand Medical Center due to minor burns on her hands. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue assisted HCFR with this fire.
Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant Boiling Springs, SC – Sprinkler system limits spread of restaurant fire January 31, 2015 viking210 Fire crews responded to fire at Copper River restaurant on Boiling Springs Road, Friday morning. The North Spartanburg Fire Department also arrived on to scene and they say the sprinkler system prevented the spread of the fire. When crews arrived they noticed the fire inside the kitchen-hood system, according to the Boiling Springs Fire Department. The restaurant was not heavily damaged; there was a moderate amount of smoke and water damage, according to fire officials. Fire crews say the employees had just closed up for the night before the fire was reported and no one was injured. Copper River says they do not expect to be open Friday until dinner time.
Other - Retail, Retail Columbia, SC – New Year’s Eve fire at Walmart extinguished by sprinkler system January 2, 2015 viking210 A fire broke out early Wednesday night at the Walmart on Bush River Road. Officials say upon arrival, Walmart’s sprinkler system units had extinguished the fire. Brick Lewis with the Columbia Fire Department says that at least six units including 3 ladder companies responded to the store. Lewis says that the responding units opened doors and windows to remove the smoke from the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
