Tag Archives: Virginia

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Salem, VA – Structure fire at landfill mostly extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Crews have extinguished a structure fire at a landfill in Roanoke County.  The fire, which was determined to have been sparked by a welding operation, was burning at the Smith Gap Regional Landfill, according to Roanoke County Fire & Rescue.  The welding was taking place on a garbage tipper machine when combustible materials ignited in that area, causing a fire in the garbage tipper.  When the first crews arrived, they reported heavy brown smoke coming from the side of the building, according to Jennifer Conley Sexton with Roanoke County Fire & Rescue.  A call for the fire came in shortly after 4 p.m. from staff at the landfill and told dispatchers they evacuated the building.

Crews at the scene marked the fire under control in about 30 minutes, according to Sexton, who also say there were no injuries reported.  The fire department said the facility’s sprinkler system extinguished most of the flames.  Damage estimates are between $5,000-$10,000.  The landfill is owned by the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority.  Firefighters from the Masons Cove, Catawba and Fort Lewis stations responded to the fire.  Fire investigators are now on scene.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Colonial Heights, VA – Fire in meat department of grocery store suppressed by sprinkler system

Crews from multiple jurisdictions responded to a fire inside the Food Lion located in the Dunlop Village shopping center in Colonial Heights. At approximately 4:46 p.m., Colonial Heights and Chesterfield Fire arrived on scene and were told that the Food Lion had a fire in the meat department. Companies from Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Hopewell and Petersburg all responded.

The cause of the fire appears to be a malfunction in a mechanical refrigeration unit, according to a Colonial Heights Fire spokesperson. A spokesperson with the Colonial Heights Fire Department said four people were treated for minor smoke inhalation. Later, one of those people wished to be transported for treatment. The fire was reported to be under control by 5:30 p.m.

The grocery store’s fire sprinkler system activated and controlled the fire until fire crews arrived and could extinguish the hot spots. The meat department suffered major fire damage, while the rest of the building suffered smoke damage. The damage to the building is estimated at about $15,000 and the estimated damage to the products are unknown at this time. The business will remain closed until it is cleaned up and safety repairs have been made.

Apartment Building, Residential

Hampton, VA – Sprinkler system knocks down apartment building fire; No injuries reported

Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a fire in the 200 block of Marcella Road shortly before 6 p.m. last Thursday, Battalion Chief Jeff Bartgis said at the scene.  Firefighters arrived and found fire in a third floor unit, Battalion Chief Jeff Pereira said.

The sprinkler system helped contain flames to the one unit, but it caused water damage in adjacent units on three of the floors, the officials said.  “A lot of them have a lot of water in them,” Bartgis said. “The sprinkler system did exactly what it was supposed to do and knocked the fire down for us,” he said. A restoration company was requested to dry out the units, and Bartgis said he’s hopeful residents can return to their homes soon. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Hotel / Motel

Henrico, VA – Hotel fire controlled by single automatic sprinkler

A fire broke out at a hotel in Henrico, causing several people to evacuate. Crews received a call for a fire around 2:12 p.m. on Saturday in the Suburban Lodge, located in the 7800 block of Shrader Road. When crews arrived on the scene, they found out that the fire started in a hotel room.  The fire was being controlled by a sprinkler head, but fire officials said smoke filled the halls and common areas.  Firefighters helped several people evacuate from the building, and officials said some had mobility issues. Some people were even taken out of the windows. One person was injured in the incident.  The person injured in the incident suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt. The Henrico Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, and police are directing traffic around the scene.

Apartment Building, Hospital/Medical Clinic, Residential

Newport News, VA – Trash chute fire in multi-use residential building extinguished by sprinkler system

Newport News multi-purpose building was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a fire started in a trash chute, an official said. Firefighters responded to a report of an alarm activation reporting smoke inside the building in the 200 block of Nat Turner Blvd. shortly before 3 p.m., Battalion Chief Matthew Haraburda said at the scene. The building has a medical facility on the first floor with apartments above it, he said. There, they found that fire had started in the chute, but it was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, he said. Firefighters checked to make sure the fire had not spread and cleared smoke from the building, he said. No injuries were reported.

Haraburda said it was a good thing the building’s alarm system and sprinklers were working properly. It helped prevent the fire from spreading and ensure people inside got out safely. “When we got here, everybody had evacuated the building, which was good for us,” he said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roanoke, VA – Downtown apartment fire kept from spreading with help from sprinkler system

An apartment fire has been contained, according to the Roanoke Fire Department Thursday.  The call came in around 3:45 p.m. to the West Station Apartments in Downtown Roanoke.  Units were on scene for about an hour and crews say that the smoke damage mostly remained in one apartment where it started. Water damage from the sprinkler system affected the apartment adjacent, the rooms below, as well as the community room.  Crews are still determining what the cause of the fire was, but believe it to be accidental.

Apartment Building, Residential

Chesapeake, VA – Apartment fire caused by malfunctioning heater extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

An apartment building in Chesapeake caught fire Sunday night. Firefighters were called to the 2800 block of Parkside Drive around 8:35 p.m., and arrived 6 minutes later. Smoke was coming from the two-story building. As fire crews entered the building they found that a fire in a first floor apartment unit had been extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Water from the sprinkler system caused damage to three adjoining units. Officials said the cause of the fire was from a malfunctioning heater located in the fire damaged apartment. No injuries and the Red Cross has been contacted to assist the displaced occupants.

Apartment Building, Residential

Norfolk, VA – Sprinkler system controls second floor apartment fire

One person was taken to the hospital and three residents were displaced after a fire at the Cromwell House Apartments.

On Monday morning, crews found a small fire on the second floor. The fire was controlled by a sprinkler head activation.

The person on the second floor was taken to the hospital. The extent of the person’s injuries is unknown.

Firefighters ventilated the smoke and sprinkler water from the building. One apartment has fire damage and two apartments have some water damage.

The Red Cross has been contacted to help the three people displaced.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Staunton, VA – Kitchen fire at assisted living center extinguished by sprinkler system

A fire at Brookdale Staunton caused a partial evacuation of the building Monday afternoon. The Christmas Day blaze came from a grease fire in the kitchen at the assisted living center, said Lt. Justin Siron, of Staunton Fire and Rescue. It occurred just after 2:30 p.m. Monday. There were no injuries from the incident. The fire was contained to just the pan, and the kitchen and dining area of the building were evacuated, per protocol, Siron said. The fire activated the building’s sprinkler system, which extinguished the fire.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Sterling, VA – Sprinkler system keeps overnight classroom fire at high school from spreading

A fire occurred overnight Sunday at Dominion High School and automatic sprinklers helped prevent it from escalating, according to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue.  Officials said the fire started at approximately 11:15 p.m. in a science classroom on the main floor of the school, with three activated automatic sprinklers keeping it in check before fire crews arrived to put out the remaining blaze with a portable extinguisher.  According to authorities, the fire caused minimal damage.  Despite the fire, Dominion remained open Monday for the start of the school week.  The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled that the fire, which originated in the science classroom, was accidental.