Tag Archives: Wisconsin

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system prevents porch fire from spreading; No injuries reported

A water sprinkler prevented a porch fire from spreading at an east side apartment complex Tuesday, Madison Fire Department reports.

According to MFD, firefighters responded around 5:45 a.m. to the 2500 block of Winnebago Street.

When firefighters arrived on scene, authorities said they saw smoke showing from a first-floor porch and people were evacuating the building.

Once the fire was out, firefighters checked to see if the fire had spread into the apartment, but it did not.

The fire damaged flowerpots, a rug and patio furniture. No one was injured.

Authorities said the exact cause of the fire is unknown. But law enforcement said based on evidence found at the scene, the fire may have been caused by improperly discarded smoking materials or by a citronella candle.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Fond Du Lac, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes kitchen fire at strip mall

A fire at a Fond du Lac strip mall was quickly extinguished, thanks to a sprinkler system, officials said Tuesday.

According to Fond du Lac Fire Rescue, crews were dispatched just before 11 a.m. Saturday for a commercial fire alarm and water flow alarm at 325 Winnebago Drive.

FDLFR said a single fire sprinkler head had been activated in the kitchen area of Fast Taco, located at 335 Winnebago Drive. The sprinkler put out the fire that had occurred on a two-burner cook top, resulting in minimal water and soot damage to Fast Taco and one adjacent business.

Officials say the fire was caused by unattended cooking. The fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems were restored. Business representatives and building owners are working to restore business operations.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Kiel, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at foundry; No injuries reported

A fire was reported at the Kiel Foundry over the weekend.

The Kiel Fire Department reports that crews were dispatched to the business in the 300 block of Park Avenue just before 7:00 Friday evening after a citizen noticed fire alarms were sounding and smoke was coming through the roof.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and forced entry into the building.

They were able to control the fire within 30 minutes of arrival, with help from the sprinkler system and additional units that arrived from around the area.

The fire was said to have started in the ceiling, but the exact cause is not known at this time.

No injuries were reported and there is no damage cost estimate available as of this morning.

Kiel Fire was assisted at the scene by Elkhart Lake, New Holstein, Plymouth, Glenbeulah, St. Anna, and St. Nazianz fire teams along with Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch, Kiel Police, the Kiel Department of Public Works, and by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Appleton, WI – Sprinkler system activated for building fire; No injuries reported

The Appleton Fire Department credits working fire alarms and sprinkler systems with limiting damage from a fire downtown Friday.

Firefighters were dispatched to a building in the 100 block of College Avenue around 10:30 p.m. by a fire alarm.

Fire crews faced heavy smoke and limited visibility but were able to bring the fire under control within five minutes thanks to the building’s sprinkler system.

Damage is estimated to be $35,000. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at apartment complex

At 5:11 a.m., April 13th, Madison’s Fire Station Eight was dispatched to 4016 Nakoosa Trail for an activated fire alarm.

While the firefighters were en route, a 911 call came in, detailing smoke in the hallway, which elicited a full structure fire response.

Residents were evacuating the area when Engine 8 arrived at 5:17 a.m. One of the outside occupants stated that a fire had broken out in their unit. Upon investigation, the firefighters confirmed the fire was extinguished by the automatic sprinkler system.

The fire team shut down electricity to the apartment and assisted with water removal from the first-floor hallways. Three other units were affected by the water, though its occupants were not displaced.

The occupant of the fire unit was taken to the hospital, evaluated, and has since been released.

The apartment where the fire occurred is currently deemed uninhabitable, and the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupant.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire in 6-story building

Crews were called to a fire at a Madison complex on Monday evening around 9:30pm.

Firefighters on Engine 3 responded to The Standard Madison apartment complex (1868 E. Washington Ave.), a mixed-use building. 911 was simultaneously alerted when the alarm monitoring company called in a water flow alarm and a resident said a fire alarm was sounding throughout the complex. It was upgraded to a full fire response after noticing heavy smoke coming from a bar that was under construction. They made entry and found a sprinkler was activated. Firefighters used a water can to complete extinguishment of the fire.

The building has businesses on the first level with apartments above.

It shows the importance of a working sprinkler system, even when a business is under construction.

“The sprinkler system did its job. The sprinkler head closest to the fire activated, contained the fire to the area of origin, notified the occupants of the building through the fire alarm system and notified Dane County 911 whom dispatched Madison Fire to the scene for final extinguishment and clean up.” said Fire Marshal Bill Sullivan.

The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion by improperly disposing of oil and stain-soaked clothing. No residents were displaced, and the other businesses were able to open as scheduled.

Manufacturing, Power / Energy Facility

Oak Creek, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at power plant; No injuries reported

A fire broke out at the We Energies Power Plant in Oak Creek on Monday night, April 8. The call came at 8:40 p.m.  

When crews arrived at the scene, they found smoke visible from the exterior of the dust collector. Fire companies entered the facility and confirmed that a fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

There was no extension of the fire to any other part of the structure.

There were no reported injuries to We Energies employees or fire personnel. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Marshfield, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at door manufacturing facility

One person was treated for smoke inhalation after a fire at a Marshfield business Wednesday morning.

Crews responded to a report of a fire at Masonite Architectural, a door manufacturer at approximately 9:50 a.m. When crews arrived they found a large particle board press on fire. A press release said the fire sprinkler system was activated, containing the fire while crews extinguished the press fire. However, the fire spread to the attic through the ductwork. To put out those flames a ladder truck was used to access the roof of the building. An additional fire was put out in another piece of machinery.

The location of the fire within the building made it difficult for crews to reach and extinguish the flames. As a result, crews were on the scene for 6.5 hours. One Masonite employee was treated and released for smoke inhalation. No fire service personnel were injured.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.

Crews from the Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department and the Vesper Fire Department responded.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, School / University

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire on university campus

The Madison Fire Department reported an automatic sprinkler prevented further damage to a building on UW-Madison’s campus overnight.

Spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said firefighters were dispatched to 30 East Campus Mall at 12:33 a.m. for a fire alarm activation. Schuster said no one was around to report the fire to 911.

Upon arrival, firefighters were met by members of the UW-Madison Police Department and UW Security.

The crew entered the building and noticed an odor of smoke. The odor was followed to a wood workshop, where the crew found the room full of smoke and an automatic fire sprinkler activated.

Beneath the active sprinkler was a burned-up garbage can and its contents on the floor. Just one sprinkler head activated, but it extinguished the fire and prevented the fire from spreading, according to Schuster.

Damage from the fire is estimated at about $2,000. Damage was contained to some paint cans, a portable electric sander, cabinets and other items.

Firefighters moved the burned items outside, ventilated the area, and turned off the fire sprinkler system.

With the sprinkler systems temporarily shut down, UW Security provided fire watch until a responsible party returned to the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Fire crews were called to an apartment building on Madison’s West side for the report of fire alarms sounding and a smoke odor in the hallway. Fire crews found a fire sprinkler had extinguished a kitchen fire in an apartment. Firefighters worked to ventilate the smoke odor, and the investigation is ongoing. No one was home at the time of the fire, and the American Red Cross was called in to assist displaced residents.

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