Tag Archives: Tennessee

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sevierville, TN – Sprinkler system activated for fire at primary school; No injuries reported

Sevierville Primary School had to be evacuated briefly Friday afternoon after a small fire caused smoke to fill the area around the school’s kitchen.

According to Sevier County Schools, an appliance issue caused the smoke around 12:15 p.m. The city of Sevierville said fire crews arrived to find a basket of clothes sitting on top of a dryer on fire.

The principal evacuated the school. The Sevierville Fire Department and maintenance crews were called in to respond.

The city said the automatic sprinkler system activated and was able to extinguish most of the fire, and crews put out the rest. The area around the dryer suffered minor damage. 

No one was hurt in the incident. SCS said students returned to class about 20 to 30 minutes later.

The school system said it is sending a letter home to parents with more details about the incident.

Food Processing, Manufacturing

Kingsport, TN – Fire sprinkler contains fire at food manufacturing facility; No injuries reported

The Kingsport Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a food manufacturing facility on Tri-Cities Crossing.

According to KFD Public Information Officer Barry Brickey, firefighters were called to Anita’s Snack Foods at 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

Crews had been alerted to a commercial fire alarm. They were later told the status of the alarm had been upgraded to a structure fire.

Brickey said employees at Anita’s Snack Foods attempted to put out the flames with fire extinguishers.

According to Brickey, the fire sprinkler system was able to contain the fire, with one sprinkler head dousing the flames.

When crews arrived, a smoldering fire and smoke in the building was all that remained due to the sprinkler system, according to Brickey.

Brickey told News Channel 11 that sprinkler systems are designed so that the closest sprinkler head to the fire reatcts to the heat. Often only one or two heads will react and contain a fire.

KFD extinguished the smoldering fire and hot spots and ventilated the building.

According to Brickey, there were no injuries reported.

Crews cleared the scene around 2:30 a.m. Friday. Brickey said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Nashville, TN – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment kitchen fire; No injuries reported

The Franklin Fire Marshal says a moving box left on a stovetop caused an apartment fire Tuesday morning.

According to a release from the Franklin Fire Department, the fire began around 9:49 a.m. at a four-story apartment building on Nichol Mill Lane.

The residents of the apartment were in the process of moving out and were outside putting items into their moving truck when the fire ignited.

The Fire Marshall says a stovetop burner was accidently left on and caused a carboard box placed on or beside it to catch fire.

The residents found the fire when they returned and tried to put it out with an extinguisher, but were not able to. They then evacuated the apartment. Crews say a single fire sprinkler head activated and put the fire out before the fire department arrived.

The Fire Marshal says because of that sprinkler system, only four apartments were damaged. Damage is estimated to be around $25,000. Nobody was injured.

No other information was immediately released.

Office Building, Other Business

Franklin, TN – Extension cord fire at office building stopped by fire sprinklers

An automatic fire sprinkler system protected a five-story Cool Springs office building from fire Tuesday morning. 

According to Franklin Fire Investigator Lt. Bill Almon, the fire started around 6:30 a.m. in a first-floor office at 127 International Dr. A single fire sprinkler head activated and controlled the fire prior to the Franklin Fire Department’s arrival, protecting the 142,000-square-foot building, which includes IRS offices.  

Upon arrival, firefighters completed extinguishment and assisted with the sprinkler system, clean-up and smoke removal.

Almon said resistance heating created by a piece of furniture placed on an extension cord that was powering a printer allowed heat to build up and appeared to have ignited the fire.

He estimated fire and water damage at $20,000.  

Retail, Shopping Mall

Franklin, TN – Fire at strip mall caused by smoking materials put out by fire sprinklers

Thursday night an automatic fire sprinkler system protected the Parkway Commons strip mall, which has more than a dozen businesses.

According to Franklin Fire Marshal Andy King, the blaze broke out just before 7:30 PM in the storage area of Case Selects Wine & Spirits, located at 3046 Columbia Ave. King said a single fire sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire prior to the Franklin Fire Department’s arrival, protecting neighboring businesses, including retail shops, clinics, restaurants, and more. “Only one business, where the fire started, was impacted. They should reopen soon. The sprinkler system protected the building from Case Selects to Panera Bread.”

King said the fire appeared to have been caused by smoking materials.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Mt. Juliet, TN – Classroom fire at elementary school put out by fire sprinklers;no injuries reported

Emergency crews are on scene of a fire that broke out at Mt. Juliet Elementary school Monday.

Police said the fire is isolated to one classroom. It’s since been extinguished by the sprinkler system and firefighters.

There have been no reported injuries and Monday is a remote day for students.

Crews remain on the scene investigating.

Residential, Single Family Home

Nolensville, TN – Residential sprinkler system stops kitchen fire from spreading

A sprinkler system saved a Nolensville home from potentially significant fire damage.

The Nolensville Volunteer Fire Department, Arrington Fire & Rescue and Williamson Fire-Rescue Station 18 were dispatched to the 4900 block of Maxwell Landing Drive for a reported residential structure fire.

An engine arrived on the scene within four minutes of dispatch to find a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by the residential fire sprinkler system, according to the Nolensville Volunteer Fire Department. Crews remained on scene from approximately 30 minutes to check for extension, ventilating the home and assisting the homeowner in removing water released by the sprinkler to reduce potential water damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Franklin, TN – Single fire sprinkler controls apartment kitchen fire, protecting occupants and building;

A single fire sprinkler head controlled a kitchen fire in a three-story, 24-unit apartment building Thursday night, protecting the occupants as well as the building.

According to Franklin Fire Investigator Will Farris, the family of four was not home when their second floor unit in the IMT Cool Springs apartments, 101 Gillespie Dr., caught fire. 

Farris said the fire appeared to have been caused by a pan of oil that was left heating on the stovetop which ignited after the family left the residence. 

Farris said one fire sprinkler head above the stove activated, and the flow of water triggered an automatic fire alarm.  The Franklin Fire Department was dispatched by the fire alarm monitoring company just after 6:30 PM.   Upon arrival firefighters forced entry to the apartment.  They found the fire being controlled by a single sprinkler, completed extinguishment, and shut off the fire sprinkler system.

Farris said in addition to the apartment where the fire originated, two other apartments sustained water damage.  He estimated total damage at $30,000.  Farris stressed that the fire would have become deadly within minutes and the building would have sustained far more fire, smoke and water damage had it not been equipped with sprinklers.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Cool Springs, TN – Sprinkler system slows spread of fire after restaurant fryer malfunctions; No injuries reported

A Cool Springs restaurant fire Saturday morning was caused by a cooking equipment malfunction, according to Franklin Fire Marshal Andy King.

The Franklin Fire Department was dispatched to Bricktops restaurant, located at 1576 W. McEwen Dr., just before 9 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find smoke showing and fire on the roof.

King said the restaurant had been closed due to the coronavirus but had reopened Saturday morning to prepare takeout and delivery orders for the Easter weekend. He said a fryer malfunctioned when it was re-started and ignited the fire.

According to King, employees attempted unsuccessfully to extinguish the fire, which spread through the hood system to the roof.

King credited the activation of the automatic fire sprinkler system with greatly reducing damage and slowing the spread of fire inside the building. He also credited the quick response of Franklin firefighters, as well as units from Brentwood Fire & Rescue, which were dispatched via the cities’ mutual aid agreement.

King estimated damage at $50,000. No one was injured.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Franklin, TN – Fire sprinkler extinguishes fire at unoccupied pediatric clinic; No injuries reported

A fire broke out at an unoccupied pediatric clinic in Franklin just before 9 p.m. Friday. The flames were extinguished by the building’s automatic sprinkler system.

When the sprinkler system was triggered, the fire alarms sounded, dispatching the Franklin Fire Department to the location. Those crews arrived at Pediatric Associates of Franklin – located at 570 Baker’s Bridge Avenue – and found light smoke and one active sprinkler. The sprinkler had extinguished a fire in a patient examination room before firefighters made it there.

Franklin fire investigators said the damage was limited to the room where the small blaze began.

Damage to the building is estimated to be less than $10,000. No interruption of business or care is expected for the practice.