Upon investigating the cause of the alarm activation, the crew was alerted to a water flow alarm on the third floor, as indicated on the fire alarm panel. A tenant also notified them that water was coming from the ceiling on the second floor.
Crews located an unoccupied third-floor apartment full of smoke and an activated sprinkler head in the washer and dryer area. The sprinkler activation was due to a dryer fire with clothing inside. There was minimal fire extension to the structure and area of origin.
Smoke and water damage were caused to the apartment involved and the apartment below. The loss value is estimated at $10,000. The crew also located a dog in the apartment that was not harmed in this incident.
“The OAFED would like to take this time to stress the importance of commercial and residential sprinkler systems, and the lives and property in which they protect,” said Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier. “With the use of the sprinkler system, no residents were displaced and no injuries were reported. It is also very important to remind everyone not to leave their appliances running unattended, such as dehumidifiers, dishwashers, and clothes dryers – this is a common cause of fires and can be easily prevented.
“As we move toward Fire Prevention Month, we encourage you to ensure that your houses are equipped with functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that the batteries are changed twice a year.”
