Tag Archives: Washington

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Washougal, WA – (no media coverage) Single fire sprinkler head extinguishes fire at nail salon, saving building from extensive damage

This strip mall fire occurred in Washougal WA on Monday August 12th. Business owners closed at 6:45 PM, 911 water flow alarm/dispatch came in at 7:15 PM. Camas Washougal Fire Marshals Office stated fire crews arrived to find the fire out and controlled by a single fire sprinkler head activation. The fire was contained to a single massage chair that was blackened just prior to sprinkler head activation. Crews provided smoke evacuation and squeegeed water out the front door before going back in service. The units on each side of the Nails & Spa where the fire occurred, had some minor water damage but with minimal effort by restoration services overnight they were able to open the next day for business. The Spa will require a couple days longer since the fire occurred in their space. Building management services arrived and were grateful they were not having to repair more extensive damages such as roof ventilation or extensive heat and smoke damage that would have occurred without a fire sprinkler system.

Apartment Building, Residential

Bothell, WA – Single fire sprinkler head extinguishes apartment kitchen fire, saves building from further damage

At 8:00 pm on Monday, August 5, 2019, firefighters were dispatched to a report of a kitchen fire in one of the units in The District at Mill Creek Apartments at the 17700 block of Bothell Everett Highway.

It was reported that a hot pan had ignited nearby plastic and a wooden spoon. The tenant evacuated the building to find a fire extinguisher. When he came back with the fire extinguisher, he found that the sprinkler system had turned on and put out the fire.

Firefighters arrived on scene and secured the water and the sprinkler head that was activated. Crews then began cleaning up the water from the apartment. All other tenants in the building had evacuated for safety.

The activation of the single sprinkler head above the fire is a perfect demonstration of the effectiveness of residential fire sprinklers systems. It not only contained and extinguished the stove fire, but it also saved the building from further damage.

Residential fire sprinklers, along with working smoke alarms help protect your home and family.

Government/Military, Other-Government/Military

Pasco, WA – Vending machine fire at US Post Office put out by fire sprinkler; No injuries reported

 Postal workers were forced to evacuate the US Post Office in Pasco after a soda machine fire.

It ignited around 6:15 Saturday morning near Court Street and Road 36. According to Pasco Fire Chief Bob Gear, they believe the origin of the blaze was the Coca-Cola machine.

The fire was contained to the break room. However, smoke traveled through the building, causing the evacuation. Gear said the sprinkler system put out the fire.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

KAPP-KVEW spoke with a long-time postal worker who said mail could be delayed by a day. Gear said no mail was damaged.

It’s unclear when employees will be able to go back inside. Firefighters are ventilating the building. Walla Walla County District 5 responded due to the need for large fans to help ventilate the building quicker. 

Office Building, Other Business

Moses Lake, WA – Major fire damage prevented at local business thanks to fire sprinkler system

A fire sprinkler system prevented major fire damage at a Moses Lake business Thursday night.

About 11 p.m. the Moses Lake Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the Central Machinery sales building. When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the building and were able to hear the water flow alarm from the fire sprinkler system.

“The first arriving engine was tasked with pumping in to the fire sprinkler system to increase water flow for fire suppression while firefighters gained entry into the building for fire attack. Once inside the building firefighters discovered a commercial vehicle with fire inside the cab and engine compartment,” reads a press release from the MLFD. “The fire had been contained to the vehicle through the proper operation of the fire sprinkler system. Two sprinkler heads opened and suppressed the fire until firefighters could access the seat of the fire and fully extinguish it using fire hose hand lines.”

A total of two engines, one squad car, one medical unit, one ladder truck, two command units, the city’s fire marshal and 10 personnel responded to the scene. Through their investigation the MLFD traced the origin of the fire back to a “wiring bundle” in the battery box compartment of the commercial vehicle. The MLFD says the fire spread from the battery box, to the cab and then to the engine compartment.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Ellensburg, WA – Automatic fire sprinklers extinguish fire at hay press caused by faulty light fixture; No injuries reported

An automatic fire sprinkler system helped save a hay press building near Ellensburg, according to a news release from Kittitas County Community Development Services.

At 6:46 Thursday morning, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a commercial fire alarm at No. 9 Hay on Hungry Junction Road. The alarm company reported fire alarm activation with waterflow and sprinkler fire pump activation.

Several minutes later, a caller at the location notified Kittcom 911 that there was a confirmed fire in a hay press building.

Firefighters arrived to find a fire contained to a small area of the building near a mechanical room and quickly suppressed the fire.

The automatic fire sprinkler system was commissioned and put into service at the end of March of this year by the Kittitas County Fire Marshal. The sprinkler system and a new fire alarm system were installed secondary to the addition of a new press building at the facility

A fire began in a faulty light fixture in a mechanical room that quickly spread and activated three sprinkler heads at the ceiling of the steel building. The sprinkler system performed as it was intended and suppressed the fire, containing it to the area of origin until firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire.

The building suffered minimal damage. There are no reported injuries and work is underway to restore the facility to full operation soon.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Moses Lake, WA – Fire sprinkler system prevents major damage at local business

A fire sprinkler system prevented major fire damage at a Moses Lake business Thursday night.

About 11 p.m. the Moses Lake Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the Central Machinery sales building. When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the building and were able to hear the water flow alarm from the fire sprinkler system.

“The first arriving engine was tasked with pumping in to the fire sprinkler system to increase water flow for fire suppression while firefighters gained entry into the building for fire attack. Once inside the building firefighters discovered a commercial vehicle with fire inside the cab and engine compartment,” reads a press release from the MLFD. “The fire had been contained to the vehicle through the proper operation of the fire sprinkler system. Two sprinkler heads opened and suppressed the fire until firefighters could access the seat of the fire and fully extinguish it using fire hose hand lines.”

A total of two engines, one squad car, one medical unit, one ladder truck, two command units, the city’s fire marshal and 10 personnel responded to the scene. Through their investigation the MLFD traced the origin of the fire back to a “wiring bundle” in the battery box compartment of the commercial vehicle. The MLFD says the fire spread from the battery box, to the cab and then to the engine compartment.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Cheney, WA – (No media coverage) Sprinklers extinguish fire in kitchen prep area at University

An early morning fire was extinguished when sprinkler heads were activated in the linen area of a kitchen at Eastern Washington University. The alarm came in at 0405. The first unit on scene arrived to the sprinkler gong sounding on the outside of the building. Upon entry to the building the remnants of a linen fire was found on the second floor at the rear of the kitchen. Fire was out upon arrival. The final cause is still under investigation.

Other Business, Recycling / Waste Facility

Kent, WA – Fire held in check at paper recycling plant by fire sprinkler system

An automatic sprinkler system activated and held a fire in check Thursday morning at a Kent paper and cardboard recycling plant.

At 8:32 a.m. employees at IP Recycling, 1225 Sixth Ave. N., noticed fire in a paper bailer and immediately began to soak down the machine, according to a Puget Sound Fire news release.

As the fire grew, the automatic sprinkler system activated and held the fire in check. With the smoke growing in the warehouse the employees called 911 and evacuated the structure.

Puget Sound Engine 71 arrived to find smoke coming out of the main roll up door and so pulled hose lines and began to extinguish the fire. Puget Sound Ladder 74 went to the roof to make sure there was no damage above the fire.

Tukwila Fire and other Puget Sound units arrived but were not needed as the fire was out and contained to the bailer area.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kent, WA – Sprinkler system in bedroom of apartment keeps fire contained to one room

A fire alarm helped a family evacuate a burning Kent apartment Wednesday night, the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority reported.

The fire, reported at 7:07 p.m. started in the bathroom then burned through the door into the bedroom, causing the sprinkler head to activate along with the fire alarm at the Riverwood Apartments, 24600 block of Russell RoadSouth.

Hearing the alarm, family members were able to safely evacuate the apartment and call 911.

Puget Sound Fire units arrived with smoke coming from the front door. Entry into the home was quickly made, and the fire extinguished in the bathroom.

Thanks to the sprinkler in the bedroom, the fire did not get beyond the bathroom door, Puget Sound Fire said.

The apartment below the fire had damage from the water used to extinguish the fire above.

American Red Cross was called and arrived to help the two displaced families.

The cause of fire is still under investigation.