Tag Archives: Wisconsin

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.

Apartment Building, Residential

Waupun, WI – Kitchen fire at apartment complex put out by sprinkler system

Fire damaged a unit in a Waupun apartment complex Saturday night. It happened at 913 Fraser Lane just before 6 p.m. The two tenants and three pets living in the unit were able to get out safely.Waupun Fire Chief B.J. DeMaa says the building’s sprinkler system put the fire out. Fire damaged a stove, microwave and nearby kitchen cabinet in the unit on the lower level of the apartment building. The Red Cross is assisting the two tenants who were living in the fire damaged unit. DeMaa say all the other tenants were able to return to their units for the evening.

Apartment Building, Residential

Milwaukee, WI – Apartment fire contained to one unit by sprinkler system

Firefighters were dispatched to a report of a fire at the Hawley Ridge Apartments on N. Hawley Rd. just north of Wells St. on Friday, December 29th.  Officials say the fire happened in a unit on the third floor of the complex. A sprinkler system helped contain the fire to that unit.  One person was taken to Froedtert Hospital as a result of this incident. Officials say between 30 and 40 people were displaced.  The American Red Cross is helping those in need.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Lake Delton, WI – Fire at Great Wolf Lodge contained to one room by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Emergency crews and firefighters were dispatched to a fire at Great Wolf Lodge around 6:15 on Sunday morning.

Firefighters arrived to discover guests evacuating the hotel and encountered smoke on the second floor. The fire was contained to one unoccupied room by the building’s sprinkler system, but five rooms sustained significant water damage.

At the time of the fire, 400 of the 435 rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge were occupied. There were no injuries to hotel guests or first responders.

Crews remained on scene for three hours putting out hot spots and investigating.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but foul play is not suspected.

Preliminary damage to the hotel is approximately $100,000.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kenosha, WI – Apartment dryer fire suppressed by automatic sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A dryer fire set off sprinklers at a Kenosha apartment complex which led to damage in several units Monday afternoon.  The Kenosha Fire Department was called to Kenosha Commons, 5502 60th St., around 1 p.m.  Battalion Chief Matthew Haerter said the fire was inside a dryer, eventually breaking out and spreading into the laundry room of a second-floor apartment.

“Once it did enter the room, it came into contact with a sprinkler head, which set off the apartment’s sprinkler system due to the heat. It suppressed the fire,” Haerter said.  The apartment was filled with smoke from the fire and the action of the sprinkler system extinguishing it.

Four occupants in the affected apartment evacuated with no injuries. The department did evacuate multiple tenants within the building, and also sheltered in place some tenants who had mobility issues to keep them safe.

The Red Cross worked to find shelter for less than a dozen displaced residents. The total affected was not immediately known as the Red Cross was working with building management directly, Haerter said. At least four apartments were affected by the fire itself or water damage below the apartment where the dryer was located.

“This is the second sprinkler-suppressed fire within a week for the department, with the last at Virginia Towers,” Haerter noted. “It shows that it obviously helps us to have working sprinkler systems which can be used in extinguishing a fire.”  No one was reported injured during the incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Apartment fire held in check by automatic sprinkler system

A fire in an apartment on Madison’s North Side resulted in no injuries but some water damage.  The fire was reported at about 8:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 3500 block of Straubel Street, the Madison Fire Department said.  Engine Company 8 was initially dispatched to check on an alarm at the building, but arriving firefighters were informed there was smoke in the building.

Firefighters went into the basement of the building and found water dripping from the ceiling, indicating a problem in the unit above.  “Firefighters entered the apartment with help from maintenance, and found activated sprinkler heads keeping a fire in check,” said spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster.  The fire was extinguished and the walls were checked for any extension of fire.  Nobody was home at the time of the fire.  No cause of the fire or damage estimate was given.  The fire remains under investigation.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system helps halt laboratory fire; No injuries reported

A spark from within a work station ignited flammable chemicals in a Madison laboratory Sunday, according to officials.

The fire at Covance Laboratories on Kinsman Boulevard was big enough to trigger the lab’s automatic sprinkler system. In addition to the lab’s automatic fire sprinkler system, a security guard also used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze, according to a report from the Madison Fire Department. 

When the MFD arrived, the fire was already out. There were no injuries, officials said. 

The MFD’s Hazardous Incident Team also responded to the lab to further investigate the scene and neutralize any remaining chemical hazards, according to the report.