Tag Archives: Wisconsin

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Residents and pets evacuated safely as sprinkler system tackles apartment cooking fire

A kitchen fire in a third-floor apartment displaced four people from an apartment building in the 8300 block of Flagstone Drive on the Far West Side Monday evening, according to a Madison Fire Department report.

The fire began after a resident walked away from the stove where oil was heating in a covered pot, the report said. When the resident returned, flames were coming out from under the lid of the pot and a fireball rose to the ceiling after he removed the lid. That prompted the automatic sprinklers to deploy, according to the report.

The combination of sprinkler water and grease initially caused the fire to spread, but the sprinkler eventually extinguishd the fire, the report said.

The fire was already extinguished by the time Madison firefighters arrived, the report said.

All occupants and their dogs were able to safely evacuate and nobody was injured. Damage was estimated at $12,000, the report said.

Other - Retail, Retail

Madison, WI – Damage in furniture store fire limited with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to a reported fire at an east side furniture store Saturday morning, a dispatcher said. The dispatcher said crews were called to the Slumberland Furniture store at 2201 East Springs Drive at 8:57 a.m. on a water flow report from the building’s sprinkler system. Crews found the building filled with smoke, officials said.  Firefighters followed the sound of water coming from a sprinkler to find the fire, since the smoke made it hard to see inside the building, officials said. Firefighters found several pieces of furniture on fire near the back of the store.  The fire was controlled by 9:10 a.m., after which crews remained on scene to ventilate the building, officials said. Firefighters used an airboat to help ventilate the store.  A preliminary investigation showed that the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault. A damage estimate was not available Saturday morning, officials said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Racine, WI – Sprinkler system contains apartment fire after magazine fell on unattended candle

At least two tenants were displaced from the Lincoln School Apartments after a fire Thursday evening. The fire at 1130 Carlisle Avenue was reported at 6:27 p.m., according to a news release from the Racine Fire Department.  The fire was reportedly caused by a magazine falling onto a candle.  A resident was reportedly sitting in her recliner when the magazine fell from her chair onto the candle that she had sitting on a metal tray on the floor next to her.  The paper from the magazine ignited, setting the chair on fire. The woman was able to evacuate without injury, alarms notified the other residents of the building and the sprinkler system contained the fire until the Fire Department could extinguish it, according to the release.  The residents had to wait to return to their apartments until the alarm and sprinkler system were back in service.

Apartment Building, Residential

Wisconsin Dells, WI – Apartment fire knocked down by sprinkler system; Fire started outside unit

A sprinkler system kept a small fire from being much worse last Sunday in Wisconsin Dells. Kilbourn volunteer firefighters responded to reports of an outdoor blaze at the three-building Stepping Stones complex on Vine Street near downtown.  Thanks in large part to the main apartment building’s built-in, outdoor sprinkler, plus quick action with a fire extinguisher by a Wisconsin Dells police responder, the fire was mostly out by the time the firefighters arrived.  “By the time we got there the sprinkler system had knocked it down pretty well,” said Kilbourn Assistant Fire Chief Pat Gavinski.  The building occupants were not at home at the time, Gavinski said, and the cause of the outdoor fire is still undetermined but it did start outside.  The built-in sprinkler’s role in controlling and ultimately extinguishing the blaze was certain in the mind of Gavinski and Dells Fire Inspector Jerry Wolfram

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Racine, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire in commercial building; no injuries reported

About $3,000 damage resulted from a fire Tuesday morning at a commercial building in the Uptown area.

The fire, which was reported at about 9:15 a.m., originated on the second floor of the building at 1232 Washington Ave. on pallets holding folded cardboard, Racine Fire Department Lt. Mike Moss said.

A sprinkler system put out the fire, which produced a lot of smoke because of plastics and other materials involved, Moss said.

The building is used for storage by HFI Fluid Power Products, 1210 Washington Ave., Moss said.

The area was not occupied at the time of the fire and nearby workers were able to exit unharmed. No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sun Prairie, WI – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at manufacturing plant

A fire early Sunday Jan. 29 damaged a property known as the former Goodyear plant, also known as Continental and Veyance Technologies, 143 Goodyear St.

Sun Prairie Fire Chief Chris Garrison said at 12:15 a.m., the SPFD responded to a report of a fire and water-flow alarm at the Veyance facility.

Garrison said a Sun Prairie Police officer arrived on the scene first and reported active fire in in a ventilation unit on the east side of the building.

Sun Prairie Fire Department personnel arrived and upgraded to a structure fire response. Garrison said the first-in unit swiftly assured there were no employees in the building. Firefighters immediately shut down utilities to the unit, then deployed a hand-line to the involved unit.

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire rapidly, Garrison said, keeping it from spreading throughout the structure. In addition, an activated sprinkler head also cut off fire spread in the ventilation system.

Units remained on the scene ventilating the large structure.Garrison said fire officials worked with property management in assisting to restore fire protection to the building.

No civilian or fire department injuries were reported, according to Garrison, who said fire damage was contained to the ventilation unit.Sun Prairie Police and EMS provided additional assistance.
No estimate on damage at this time, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Rothschild, WI – No injuries as sprinkler system contains electrical fire at Domtar plant

A backup boiler is to blame for a small electrical fire at Domtar’s Rothschild plant Monday morning.

Crews from SAFER, Riverside, and Kronenwetter fire departments were called to the scene shortly after 9:30 a.m.

Plant general manager Kathy Collins said the departments were called after the buildings fire alarm and sprinkler system were engaged. The building’s utilities and natural gas were shut off prior to the emergency crew’s arrival.

Riverside Fire District Co-Chief Robert Bowen said the fire was contained when crews arrived. It took crews around 20 minutes to secure the scene and identify the cause of the fire.

Yearly in-house visits to large plants like Domtar help emergency crews better prepare for incidents, and keep crews safe, should they occur. They map entrances, exists, sprinkler systems, and potential hazards.

“When we train here, we can have that knowledge first hand, and it kind of puts us ahead of the game when it comes to responding to a potential incident,” Bowen said.

There were no injuries and only minor damage reported. Collins said the building would be operational again in a matter of hours.

Apartment Building, Residential

Appleton, WI – Early morning apartment fire suppressed by sprinkler system; No injuries

Around 3:30 Sunday morning the Appleton Fire Department was sent to an apartment building on the 500 block of Winnebago Street for an early morning fire.  When crews arrived the sprinkler system inside the building had doused the flames but it was still filled with smoke.  Everyone was evacuated, but they were allowed to return after fire crews finished.  That fire is still under investigation.  No one was hurt in that blaze.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Dumpster fire outside apartment building kept from spreading by sprinkler system

A fire in a dumpster outside an apartment building was put out quickly, but it sent smoke into the three-story apartment complex, according to a release from the Madison Fire Department. Firefighters were called at 10:45 a.m. Friday to the parking garage of the Normandy Apartments at 4715 Sheboygan Avenue on a report of a dumpster fire.  Firefighters said an automatic sprinkler activation caught the fire early and put it out.  There was heavy smoke inside the garage and moderate smoke conditions throughout the three-story apartment complex.

Other-Government/Military

Waukesha, WI – Fire at municipal garage controlled with assistance from sprinkler system

Waukesha police and fire responded to the Municipal Garage on Sentry St. after a sprinkler water flow alarm was set off just before 8 p.m. Friday. According to the police report, a small fire was located inside a dump truck approximately 200 feet in the property. The report stated that the fire was knocked down with a water can several minutes after the alarm was reported.