Tag Archives: Wisconsin

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Germantown, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at popular Mexican restaurant

A popular Mexican restaurant is closed over the lunch rush today after a small kitchen fire earlier this morning.  The Germantown Fire Department responded to a call at about 8 a.m. reporting a fire on a stove in the kitchen, according to Germantown Fire Chief Gary Weiss. The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system prior to the arrival of firefighters, Weiss said.

As of about 1 p.m., restaurant manager Michele Roitburd said they hope to reopen later this afternoon, “hopefully by 3 or 4 p.m.”  In the meantime, Roitburd said they are experiencing what she referred to as “technical difficulties” that need to be resolved prior the restaurant reopening. No further information was immediately available

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Rice Lake, WI – Fire at assisted living facility kept from spreading by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire Tuesday evening, March 15, in a Rice Lake assisted living building at 415 E. South St. caused damage to part of the building. A press release from the Rice Lake Fire Department stated the fire was reported at 6:30 p.m. and 16 firefighters responded and suppressed the interior fire. The sprinkler system helped the fire from spreading. The fire was under control by 7 p.m. Sixteen residents were evacuated during the fire with help from care workers and Rice Lake Police officers. No one was injured.

The RLFD said the fire started on the outside of the building, possibly by accident from discarded smoking materials. The fire remains under investigation. A Lakeview Medical Center paramedic unit, two fire engines, one ladder truck and one fire command vehicle were called to the scene

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Eau Claire, WI – Overnight machine fire at paper plant controlled by sprinkler system

An early morning fire at the Cascades Tissue Group plant on Forest Street was quickly brought under control by Eau Claire firefighters.

The fire was reported at 1:11 a.m., and firefighters arrive to find heavy smoke in a building. The fire in a machine had activated the building’s sprinkler system, which kept the fire under control until crews arrived.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about 20 minutes. One plant worker was evaluated at the scene by paramedics.No damage estimate is available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Wauwatosa, WI – Laundry dryer fire at Dave & Buster’s contained by sprinkler system; 2nd save in Wauwatosa in one week

For the second time in a week, a functioning sprinkler system is credited with preventing significant fire damage to a Wauwatosa business.

The Wauwatosa Fire Department responded to an automatic fire alarm at Dave & Buster’s, 2201 N. Mayfair Road, around 2:10 a.m. Jan. 25. Fire crews found smoke in the business’ kitchen and storage area and found a large, commercial dryer with an active fire inside, according to a news release.

The fire was quickly extinguished by fire crews, according to the release. An automatic fire sprinkler system contained the fire and smoke damage to the area using just one sprinkler head.

The exact cause of the fire is unknown but appears to have started with the contents inside the dryer. The Wauwatosa Health Department was contacted and assisted the business owner with cleaning requirements for reopening the kitchen.

Damage estimates were not immediately available. Dave & Buster’s was able to reopen by lunch time Monday

Other Business, Restaurant

Wauwatosa, WI – Small businesses spared damage after water heater catches fire

An automatic fire sprinkler system Monday spared three businesses in Wauwatosa from a potentially devastating blaze that would have closed the businesses for a significant length of time, according to the city’s fire department. Shortly before 9 a.m., a gas-fed water heater near a ceiling started on fire at Jersey Mike’s Subs, 2571 N. Mayfair Road, according to a news release from the Wauwatosa Fire Department.

According to the release, an employee who noticed the fire warned workers in a neighboring business to evacuate but the fire was controlled by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived. Water damage occurred in the three businesses.  However, there was little fire damage and the neighboring businesses were expected to reopen within hours, according to the release.

Other Business

La Crosse, WI – Sprinkler system credited with controlling early morning fire at corrugating business

Firefighters are crediting a sprinkler system for controlling a business fire in La Crosse.  According to the La Crosse Fire Department, they were called to Badger Corrugating on Green Bay Street in La Crosse around 4:45 Tuesday morning.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke throughout the entire building, but the sprinkler system was controlling the fire.   There were no injuries but the building suffered moderate smoke and water damage.

Other Business

Stevens Point, WI – Overnight equipment fire at publishing company contained by sprinkler system

A fire caused minor damage to a local publishing company early Monday morning, but no one was hurt.  Firefighters responded to Worzalla Publishing, located at 3535 Jefferson St., at about 2:30 a.m. and extinguished the fire, though most of the flames had been contained by a sprinkler system, said Stevens Point Fire Capt. Jodi Baganz.

The fire was caused by a piece of equipment that overheated after a motor failure and started paper on fire, Baganz said. There was smoke and water damage to some of the equipment, but the company was able to continue operating after the fire was put out, Baganz said.

There were people inside the building when the fire started, but no one was injured in the incident, Baganz said.

 

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Sun Prairie, WI – Sprinkler system activates; Assists firefighters in fire at aluminum die cast manufacturer

Smoke could be seen from outside the building, and managers told firefighters there was a fire located in an indoor foundry furnace, officials said. The sprinkler system activated before crews arrived, according to the release.

Power was disconnected to all equipment inside, and firefighters put out the fire, officials said. Crews had to overhaul ceiling tiles above the furnace afterwords due to the damage. The fire’s cause and damage estimates are still under investigation.

Madison-Kipp Corporation (“MKC”) is a major producer of precision machined components and system subassemblies for customers in the transportation, industrial, lawn & garden, and leisure-end markets.

 

Office Building, Other Business

Madison, WI – Overnight fire at downtown office building extinguished by sprinkler system

The building that houses the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development (WHEDA) is closed Wednesday due to a fire that broke out overnight according to a release from WHEDA. Madison Fire Department said they were called to the Tommy Thompson Commerce Center around 1:06 a.m. for an activated alarm.

Fire officials said when firefighters arrived the fire was out. They say a high-voltage power supply to the building shorted and caused sparks to shower down on some plastic materials underneath. A small fire ignited, and the automatic sprinkler system in the room caught the fire early.

A representative from WHEDA says there is no power in the building, and it’s completely closed at this time. Power is not expected to be restored until Thursday. Employees have been told not to report to work until they are notified.

Fire officials say there’s limited fire damage to the room and a small amount of smoke damage in the area where the fire took place.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Educational Approval Board, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Tourism also have offices located in the Tommy Thompson Commerce Center.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Eau Claire, WI – Firefighters say sprinklers helped reduce damage in uniform company fire

Firefighters are crediting sprinklers for reducing the amount of damage caused by an overnight fire at an Eau Claire uniform company.

When crews arrived to the 3600 block of White Avenue early Tuesday morning, smoke was pouring from the large commercial building.

They responded to Huebsch Linen Services just after 2:00 a.m. The business is off Melby Street, near the airport.

According to the fire department, uniforms and rags were burning inside. Firefighters say the sprinkler system kept the fire small. They’re estimating damage at $20,000.

Huebsch makes work uniforms, floor matting and facility supplies.