Tag Archives: Tennessee

Other - Retail, Retail

Pigeon Forge, TN – Sprinklers help contain overnight fire at popular retail store

A fire at popular Pigeon Forge western store Stages West early Thursday morning left the building and its roof “structurally weakened” but still intact, said Pigeon Forge Fire Department Capt. Erik Preske.

Firefighters were called to the store, 2765 Parkway, around 4:09 a.m., and the fire was out “right at dawn,” Preske said. Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Sevier County and Walden’s Creek volunteer fire departments assisted Pigeon Forge, he said.

Preske said the store’s sprinkler system “absolutely” played a part in containing the blaze. Preske said there is extensive smoke and water damage to the building.

The cause of the fire is unknown; investigators were still on the scene late Thursday morning, he said.

Store owner Marlene Houser said the store will remain closed “until we are able to assess the full extent of the damage.”

“We are still waiting to hear about what caused this event,” she said. “No one was injured, and for that, we are thankful.”

According to its Facebook page, the store is family owned and has been selling western apparel since 1975.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Dandridge, TN – Sprinkler system activates to limit damage in fire at resort restaurant

The restaurant at The Point Resort in Dandridge is temporarily closed after a kitchen fire Saturday morning, Dandridge Fire Chief Andy Riley reported. The chief said a sprinkler system probably saved the structure from more serious damage. Firefighters were on the scene for four hours making sure the flames, which had reached into the roof trusses, were fully extinguished.

White Pine Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene, and Lakeway Central manned Dandridge’s station during the 10:30 a.m. call. Riley said two cooks and waitress were preparing to serve lunch when the fire started in a fryer, setting off the sprinkler system.

“Everyone got out okay, but this fire spread very quickly into the attic and roof trusses,” Riley said. “The sprinkler system probably averted a major fire.” The restaurant is the only part of the resort closed temporarily, he said. Suites and other services remain open. Dandridge Firefighters used one hose to put out the fire. The building sustained minor smoke and water damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cookeville, TN – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in extinguishing apartment kitchen fire

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On Wednesday, July 15 around 6:30, the Cookeville fire department responded to a kitchen fire at an apartment complex on West Broad Street. “We were on scene there for a little over an hour,” Capt. Blair said.

A working sprinkler system installed at the complex helped to contain the fire in the unit where it originated and prevented it from spreading to other units.

“That sprinkler system likely saved the apartment complex. It certainly helped contain the fire to the unit where it started, and it made it easier for us to extinguish the blaze after we arrived on the scene. Because of the sprinkler system, we had the fire out in no time,” Capt. Blair said.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of sprinkler systems in saving lives,” he said.  As a precaution, the department evacuated several buildings at the complex while fire fighters worked to put out the blaze.  A total of 19 fire fighters responded to that call.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Nashville, TN – Sprinklers activate to help control arson fire at high school

Stratford High School suffered damage after a propane torch was used to set fire to an administrative office.  Officials with Metro Police said the incident happened Sunday at the school located on Stratford Avenue in Nashville.

Investigators said Trevarious Carney used a portable fire extinguisher and broke into the school during the evening hours.   The 20-year-old was allegedly seen on security video inside the building.

According to police, he first set a fire to the carpet inside an administrative office.  He fled the scene after the fire alarm began sounding.  The building’s sprinkler system went off, keeping the fire contained to the office area. 

Carney was identified as a suspect and charged with attempted arson.  No additional details were known. 

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Murfreesboro, TN – Jail fire quickly extinguished by sprinkler system

A nurse suffered smoke inhalation during a medical office fire Saturday afternoon at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, according to a release from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services paramedics took the nurse to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital for treatment, the release stated.

Sprinklers quickly extinguished the fire confined to the medical director’s office, but smoke filled the first floor of the medical wing and administrative offices, according to the release. Water from the sprinkler flooded the medical hallway, dispatch and the administrative hallways. 

Deputies used fire extinguishers to put out hot spots, official said. Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue firefighters estimated 35 gallons of water per minute dropped from the sprinklers, Sheriff Robert Arnold said in the release. Deputies, the sheriff and inmates mopped water from the hallways. 

The Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department and Rutherford County Fire Rescue responded to clear the area of smoke that filled the hallways, officials said. The water and smoke damage did not spread to the inmate housing areas.  

Arnold asked Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue to investigate the cause of the fire with help from sheriff’s arson investigator Detective Randy Groce.  “It’s unfortunate this incident happened,” Arnold said in the release. “Thank God, no one was seriously hurt.”

Arnold thanked Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue, Rutherford Fire Rescue, Sheriff’s Office employees and inmates for their quick response.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Murfreesboro, TN – Sprinklers activate and control suspected arson fire at church

Two small fires damaged a Murfreesboro church and a beer brewery late Monday night.  According to the Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department spokeswoman Ashley McDonald, crews responded to a fire alarm call in the 500 block of Old Salem Road around 11:45 p.m.

While on their way to the scene personnel learned the burglar alarm was also going off.  The front doors of the building were not secure and the sprinkler system had been activated in the front corridor, which is shared by Experience Community Church and Mayday Brewery, according to McDonald.

Fire crews found two small fires that had been reportedly set in what appeared to be donation bins in that corridor, and a gas can was nearby. McDonald said an abandoned pick-up truck was found in the parking lot. The doors were unlocked and there were slashes in the back tires.

The sprinkler system kept the fire damage to a minimum, however the church did receive water and smoke damage while the brewery appeared to have very minimal water damage, according to the acting shift commander.

The Fire Marshal’s Office is now investigating the case. It wasn’t clear if it would be ruled an arson.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Chattanooga, TN – Sprinkler system helps contain fire at non-profit center for disabled individuals

Clean up continues at the Orange Grove Center after a small fire Wednesday afternoon left the facility with smoke and water damage.  The fire happened around 2 p.m. when employees were working to install a new conveyor belt in the Materials Recovery Facility.  Fire officials believe sparks from the torch used to install it started the fire. 

The fire damage was only around the conveyor belt, but fire officials say it will take some time for Orange Grove to clean up after the smoke damage, and water from the sprinkler system. There were no injuries.

The fire happened around 2 p.m. when employees were working to install a new conveyor belt in the Materials Recovery Facility. Fire officials believe sparks from the torch used to install it started the fire.  The Orange Grove Center is a private non-profit organization, serving adults and children with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 225 people were evacuated from the Orange Grove Center, after a conveyor belt caught fire.

“You could see the belt was on fire itself and the material on it was on fire,” said Bruce Garner, Public Information Officer for the Chattanooga Fire Department. “This involved a lot of combustibles with petroleum based products; computers, plastics, things like that. They burn hot and put out a lot of smoke. It’s like burning a tire.”

 

Apartment Building, Residential

Knoxville, TN – Sprinkler contains apartment fire to stovetop area

Knoxville Fire Department responded to an apartment on fire at the Lyons Den Apartments off of Valley View Road in North Knoxville. When firefighters arrived, they found that a ceiling sprinkler had gone off and contained the damage to the stovetop area where the fire started.  Firefighters plugged and replaced the sprinkler head.

The fire department tweeted today from its official account that a sprinkler had done its job and saved them a lot of work.

A sprinkler head does its job, contains fire

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Franklin, TN – Single sprinkler extinguishes factory fire; No injuries and operations resume quickly

(NO MEDIA – FIRE DEPT REPORTED):
A single fire sprinkler head extinguished a factory fire this morning, protecting the 300,000 square foot facility and more than 150 workers. The fire started around 7:45 a.m. at Lasko, 300 Confederate Dr., which produces box fans each day. Franklin Fire Investigator Josh Sanders said the fire started after a high pressure paint line ruptured near an ignition source.   The fire activated a single fire sprinkler head, which triggered the fire alarm system, prompting evacuation of the plant and shutting down production. Work was able to resume in less than two hours. Sanders estimated the damage at $5,000. No one was injured.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Bolivar, TN – Nursing home fire controlled by sprinkler system (NO MEDIA COVERAGE)

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ***

On 1/24/15 at approximately 5:02 PM the Bolivar Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of a structure fire at 700 Nuckolls Road. Pine Meadows Healthcare is located at this addressed. Units responding to the scene, arriving at 1704 hours, found that a dryer had overheated causing the fire. The sprinkler system (two heads) had activated and contained the fire to the laundry room until firefighters arrived on scene.

Pine Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, a Bolivar Nursing Home, located approximately 60 miles east of Memphis, is dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of Bolivar, and surrounding communities.