Tag Archives: Wisconsin

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

La Crosse, WI – Residence hall fire contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The La Crosse Fire Department responded to a fire call at 6:47 p.m. Thursday evening at UW La Crosse Eagle Hall.  An investigation revealed that an electrical fan malfunctioned directly below a sprinkler head, fire officials said.  The sprinkler contained the fire and crews were able to search the building and ventilate the smoke.  According to the press release, the fire and smoke damage was minimal.  No injuries were reported.

Other Business

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – Oily rags ignite at uniform business; Sprinkler system helps keep fire from spreading inside building

It took firefighters about 45 minutes Sunday to put out a fire at a company in the industrial park.A report of a fire at UniFirst Corporation, 2400 Industrial St., came in at 11:20 p.m. Sunday, Wisconsin Rapids Fire Capt. Bob Barteck said. A fire started in totes of oily rags and spread to a nearby storage shed and forklift, Barteck said. From there, the fire spread to the UniFirst Building and activated a sprinkler in the building, he said.  It took firefighters about 45 minutes to put the fire out, Barteck said. Nekoosa EMS and United Medical Service Ambulance also responded to the scene.  A damage estimate was not available on Monday. UniFirst is a uniform rental service.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Kenosha, WI – Garbage can fire at nursing home contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A small fire at a nursing home and rehabilitation facility is being investigated as arson.

The Kenosha Fire Department and Kenosha Police were called to Clairidge House, 1519 60th St., at about 6:15 p.m. Monday for a report of smoke in the basement, with the facilities smoke alarms on, Fire Chief Charles Leipzig said.

He said the fire was contained by a sprinkler system, with a sprinkler head activated in the bathroom where the fire began.

Kenosha Police said the fire appeared to be intentionally set in a garbage can in a basement bathroom. Leipzig said that it appears someone may have gotten into the building through an open basement door to set the fire.

No one was injured.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Oshkosh, WI – Manufacturing fire ignited by static electricity is contained by sprinkler system

A fire inside the A.P. Nonweiler plant last Monday night that caused an evacuation was ignited by static electricity, the Oshkosh Fire Department said.

The fire department was called to 3321 County Road A. in Oshkosh just after 6 p.m. Monday. The plants sprinkler system was able to contain the fire until the department arrived to extinguish the remaining flames, a statement from the fire department said.

During the fire, water from the sprinkler system got into some titanium dioxide stored inside the building. This white powder substance is a harmless chemical used to whiten toothpaste and paint products.

The Oshkosh Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team and the Department of Natural Resources also responded to the fire to help assist in monitoring the titanium dioxide substance.

Area residents may notice a white residue on the ground and in nearby waterways from the powder in the building, but the fire department said the residue is harmless

Other Business

Sussex, WI – Fire at large printing and fulfillment center put out with help from sprinkler system

Quad/Graphics employees extinguished a small fire at the facility in Sussex on Tuesday morning, April 17.  According to an official with Quad/Graphics, the fire started in the paper recycling area. It happened in a piece of equipment that shreds and bails excess paper. The fire was put out quickly by employees and the internal sprinkler. The Sussex Fire Department was also called to the building as precaution. Thankfully, no one was hurt and there was no major damage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Green Bay, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at large apartment building

A fire in a large apartment building was stopped in its tracks by the sprinkler system Monday night.  The Green Bay Metro Fire Department blames careless use of smoking materials for a fire inside a closet in one of the apartments of Woodland Park on University Avenue. The sprinkler system activated and alarms went off just before 6:30 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they found the fire was already extinguished.  Woodland Park has 80 apartments, according to its website.  Neighbors were allowed back in their apartments after about 45 minutes.  The person living in the apartment, along with two cats, are staying with friends across the hall, GBMFD said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Janesville, WI – Basement fire at residential care facility knocked down with help from sprinkler system

7 residents are displaced by a basement fire at Timber Trail CBRF in Janesville, Wisconsin. The Janesville Fire Department and Janesville Police were called to Timber Trail CBRF around 10:24 p.m. on February 22nd for a basement residential fire. JPD Units were the first to arrive and reported fire and smoke coming from the basement with a person trapped inside. JPD Units began an interior attack and quickly knocked the fire down. The automatic sprinkler system assisted in keeping the fire in-check. JPD Units started a swift primary and secondary search of the building and did not locate a resident. The search for the trapped resident was turned over to the Janesville Police Department.  7 people were displaced by the fire and damage is estimated at $15,000.  The fire is still under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Racine, WI – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

An accidental kitchen fire broke out in a Racine apartment building  last Wednesday.  At 12:57 p.m. Wednesday, the Racine Fire Department was dispatched to 1637 Washington Ave. for a structure fire at a two-story apartment building in the Uptown area. The Racine Police Department also responded to the scene. Smoke alarms alerted residents to a fire inside the building, according to a Fire Department news release. The automatic sprinkler system extinguished a kitchen fire in one of the apartments. No injuries were reported, and occupants in other apartments were able to remain there, the release stated. As of Wednesday afternoon, restoration crews were working to determine if tenants from the affected apartment could continue to stay there. The cost to restore the apartment to its original condition was estimated at $2,500.

Other - Manufacturing

Brown Deer, WI – Fire in industrial building extinguished by automatic sprinkler system

An automatic sprinkler system helped quell a late night fire in an industrial building in Brown Deer Saturday. According to the North Shore Fire Department, crews were called to an industrial building at N 55th Street and W Brown Deer Road around 9:50 PM. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke as they entered the building. Fire officials said the automatic sprinkler system was able to extinguish the fire as firefighters arrived. Crews remained on scene for about 90 minutes. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Officials report extensive water and smoke damage to the building but yet to determine a dollar amount of the damage. No firefighters were injured and no one was in the building at the time of the fire.

Restaurant

Brookfield, WI – Restaurant chimney fire is kept from spreading to attic by sprinkler system

Firefighters on Monday night, Feb. 12 were called out to Mr. B’s restaurant on Capitol Drive in Brookfield for a possible chimney fire. The call came in around 6:55 p.m. According to the City of Brookfield Fire Department, a passerby noticed heavy smoke and fire embers from a chimney and informed the business operator. Business patrons and employees evacuated without injury or incident.

During the chimney investigation, an attic-space fire sprinkler activated and extinguished the fire that had extended beyond the chimney. The alarm was upgraded and firefighters from the City of Brookfield were assisted on scene by crews from the Town of Brookfield. Other neighboring departments provided standby assistance at Brookfield fire stations.

This fire was burning in a concealed space and was quickly controlled by a single-fire sprinkler — preventing further threat and minimizing property damage. State and Federal agencies are assisting the City of Brookfield with the investigation. The cause and origin remains under investigation.