Tag Archives: Washington

Apartment Building, Residential

Everett, WA – Sprinkler system controls overnight apartment fire; No injuries reported

According to the Everett Fire Department, an early morning fire Thursday at the Station Place Apartments in Everett displaced seven residents but was quickly extinguished due to an effective sprinkler system.

The fire department responded to an automatic fire alarm at 3315 Broadway at 12:35 a.m.

After residents reported seeing smoke and flames from a third-story apartment, the call was upgraded to a commercial fire response.

Firefighters arriving on the scene found residents evacuating and a small kitchen fire in a third-floor unit.

The building’s sprinkler system was controlling the fire.

Crews stretched a hose line to the third floor while others assisted with the water supply and conducted searches of adjoining apartments and the building.

While no injuries were reported, the apartment where the fire originated sustained some fire and water damage.

At least two units on the second floor and a business space on the main floor also experienced water damage.

The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes of the first crew’s arrival due to the prompt action of firefighters and the sprinkler system, officials said.

Firefighters then spent several hours working on salvage and cleanup.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the seven displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Moses Lake, WA – Sprinkler system contains fire caused by high voltage electrical equipment

The Moses Lake Fire Department was dispatched Tuesday night around 7:30 p.m. to 7761 Randolph Road Northeast, by the Port of Moses Lake, according to a release by the city of Moses Lake. 

When the department arrived it found facility personnel outside of the structure who told MLFD there was a fire in one of the process rooms on the ground floor of the facility. The fire was later discovered to be caused by high voltage electrical equipment which caught fire at a processing tank within the facility. There were no hazardous chemicals involved or released during the fire.

The building sprinkler system went off in response to the fire and helped contain it to the one processing room. There was heat damage to the walls and ceiling of the room, however, the fire never spread.

The Moses Lake firefighters made entry into the building with extended fire hose lines to the area which was a blaze. Crews entered the building which was full of heavy smoke and limited visibility. Soon after entering, they begin fighting fire shortly after making entry. It took them around an hour to fully suppress the fire and units remained on the scene for several hours to ventilate the building and ensure the fire was completely out.

The responding agencies were MLFD Battalion 1, Chief 101, Tower 1, Engine 1, Engine 2, Medic 3 and Grant County Fire District 5.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Seattle, WA – Sprinkler system activated for rubbish fire in parking garage; No injuries reported

The QFC at Broadway and Pike in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood was evacuated Sunday morning after a fire broke out in the building’s garage.

Seattle Fire Department crews responded to the fire at the 1400 block of Broadway around 10:17 a.m.

Firefighters reportedly found a rubbish fire in the building’s parking garage. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system and firefighters.

 Seattle Fire said the fire did not extended beyond the parking garage, which is located under the building.

The businesses above the garage were evacuated, including the QFC. No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Snohomish, WA – Sprinkler system holds fire commercial fire in check

Early Saturday morning 48firefighters responded to a fire at 1530 Bonneville Ave (a 17,000-square-foot commercial building) in the City of Snohomish.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 was dispatched to a fire alarm, wherethey found smoke coming from the building and upgraded the response to a commercial fire.

Units from Everett Fire, South County Fire, and Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue assisted Snohomish County Fire District #4.

Investigators said the building had an operating sprinkler system that held the fire in check until crews could gain access to the seat of the fire and fully extinguish it.

Currently there is no cause to the fire and the Snohomish County Fire Marshal is leading the investigation.

Other Business, Place of Worship

Vancouver, WA – Sprinkler system extinguishes arson fire at church

Authorities are searching for a suspect accused of breaking into a church and trying to start a fire. It happened early Sunday morning in Vancouver. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office says someone broke into the City Harvest Church by breaking a window. They then allegedly tried to start a fire inside the building, but a sprinkler system quickly extinguished the flames. Authorities are investigating the incident as arson.

Apartment Building, Residential

Seattle, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire inside apartment building; No injuries reported

Crews fought a fire inside an apartment in Downtown Seattle early Tuesday, causing residents to spill out onto the street.

At 3:30 a.m., crews were called to the building in the 1400 block of Madison Street. A fire was found inside a fourth-floor unit.

When firefighters arrived, the flames were under control, thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Crews put out the remaining fire.

No one was hurt.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Spokane, WA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire assisted living facility

Three different fires in Spokane broke out on Mother’s Day keeping firefighters busy all day.

The first fire broke out at Fairview Assisted Living at 1617 North Calispel Street where firefighters discovered a resident intentionally setting fires.

The call came from five different alarm activations around 6:20 a.m. that activated their sprinkler system and stopped the fire from spreading further.

Residents inside the center were evacuated as firefighters quickly put out any additional flames.

There is a current investigation with the Spokane Police Department into the person responsible for intentionally setting the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kennewick, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

UPDATE April 1

According to the Kennewick Fire Department, the fire from Friday displaced as many as 24 people.

The Red Cross reportedly started the process of helping a family of nine, which lived in one of the damaged apartment units and had nowhere else to go over Easter weekend.

Disaster Response Team supervisor Terry Liikala said they were able to help the predominantly non-English speaking family thanks to the help of their bilingual eldest son.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE March 29

An apartment in Kennewick caught fire Friday afternoon and was kept from spreading by fire sprinklers, according to Kennewick Fire Department Chief Chad Michael.

Michael says the fire, located on the 1000 block of West Fifth Avenue, was contained with fire sprinklers to a fourth floor apartment unit before crews arrived.

All residents of the apartment building are allowed to reenter the building except the apartment which caught fire, according to Michael.

The cause is currently unknown and is under investigation by KFD. No injuries were reported from the fire, which is now out.

More information will be revealed later in a press release.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Wenatchee, WA – Sprinkler system activated for fire in machinery room; No injuries reported

A fire this morning in the packing line facility at Stemilt Growers halted production temporarily, but left no one injured.

Wenatchee Valley Fire Chief Brian Brett says the fire in a machinery room at the Euclid Avenue complex was reported about 7:53 a.m. But fire suppression systems at the warehouse helped calm the flames, while Stemilt’s emergency protocols got more than 100 people safely out of the building before firefighters arrived.

“Fortunately, the maintenance personnel working there, they shut the breaker off to the machine room where the fire originated,” Brett told NCWLIFE. “A sprinkler head activated, which contained the fire just as they’re supposed to do.”

Brett says the attention to fire protocols in the facility “alleviates a lot of stress for us, because then we know we’re not going in not only to suppress the fire, but to have to look for occupants as well. We can focus exclusively on suppressing the fire.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Everett, WA – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at apartment complex

On February 14th at 11:10pm the Everett Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at Housing Hope’s New Century Apartments at 2507 Howard Avenue. Thanks to smoke alarms and a sprinkler system, the fire didn’t spread beyond the occupant’s bedroom.

Here’s what the Everett Fire Department reported:

The apartment occupants reported hearing a loud pop, followed by the activation of the smoke alarm.

The residents found a fire in the bedroom and attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher before the sprinkler system activated.

Firefighters arrived within minutes of the call and found the apartment’s sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading. The fire was contained in the apartment’s bedroom, and the second and third floors suffered water damage.

The Everett Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and concluded that lithium-ion batteries in the home likely caused the fire. They have ruled the fire as accidental.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used to power various devices such as smartphones, laptops, power banks, tablets, toys, e-cigarettes, smoke alarms, scooters, and vehicles. Since these batteries store a significant amount of energy, it is crucial to handle them with care. They can overheat, catch fire, or even explode if not treated properly. It is important to follow the recommended safety measures when using them. Everett Fire urges everyone to be cautious while handling lithium-ion batteries.

Here are some safety tips when using lithium-ion batteries:

  • Only purchase and use devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
  • Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that is supplied with your device.
  • Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
  • Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option. Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.
  • Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
  • Only have device repairs performed by a qualified professional.
  • Larger batteries and equipment such as power tools and electric scooters should be charged in the garage, shed or carport away from living spaces.
  • Don’t charge or store battery devices near exits or along egress paths where they might hinder or block your escape should they catch fire or become involved in one.

For more information on lithium battery safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.org) website.

This incident serves as a good reminder to have working smoke alarms in your home. They are the first line of defense for early notification and evacuation should there be a fire.