The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that the Jan. 26 fire at a Sterling commercial facility was accidental.
Just before 7:30 p.m., the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a structure fire in a commercial building in the 45000 block of Elmwood Court in Sterling.
The initial caller reported a fire in an interior paint booth which was followed by a call from the fire alarm company reporting a water flow alarm inside the structure. Fire and rescue crews from Kincora, Sterling, Cascades, Ashburn, Lansdowne, Moorefield, and Fairfax County responded to the incident, Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Laura Rinehart said.
Upon arrival, firefighters found active fire and smoke conditions coming from the two-story commercial occupancy. Fire crews deployed hoselines to initiate an attack on the fire. The building’s sprinkler system had activated, limiting the fire spread to other portions of the building. One occupant, the initial caller, was located safely outside of the structure upon arrival of fire and rescue units, Rinehart said.
Firefighters extinguished the fire with assistance from the sprinkler system, containing the fire to the area or origin, preventing extension into adjoining areas of the structure.
The Fire Marshal’s investigation determined the fire to be accidental in nature with $25,000 damage to the structure and $75,000 to the contents. There were no injuries to civilians, though one firefighter on the scene was transported to a local area hospital for evaluation after a medical emergency, Rinehart said.
According to a release by the Harrisonburg Fire Department, a residential sprinkler system is to thank for saving a city apartment complex. Around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9th, firefighters responded to the 100 block of Chestnut Ridge Drive. Once crews arrived, they discovered a grease fire, which started on the stove, was already extinguished by a residential sprinkler system. Although the sprinkler system uses water, that’s not how they recommend you put out a grease fire. They say the best method is to put a lid on the pan to smother the grease or to use a fire extinguisher.
Captain Mike Armstrong, deputy fire marshal with the Harrisonburg Fire Department, said you never want to pour water on a grease fire yourself. “The amount of water that is being put out far exceeds what you or I would put on that pan, so the system will suppress the fire,” added Armstrong. While sprinkler systems aren’t common in homes and aren’t required by state code, they can help save money in an emergency. “In the case of residential sprinkler systems, fire damage and cost, is reduced one tenth to one twentieth, so you’re talking ten to 20 times less damage and cost in the end,” explained Armstrong. Capt. Armstrong also recommends keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen area, but not right next to your stove because of its accessibility if there are flames.
Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers
