Tag Archives: Wisconsin

College/University (on campus), School / University

Madison, WI – Fire at university kept under control by sprinkler system until fire crews arrived; No injuries reported

A sprinkler kept an oven fire under control at the UW-Madison Wisconsin Energy Institute on Tuesday until fire crews arrived to put it out, authorities reported.

Fire crews were sent to the building in the 1500 block of University Avenue at 1:20 p.m. and arrived at 1:24 p.m. to find no smoke or fire showing from the five-story building, though people were evacuating, Madison Fire Department spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said in a statement.

A building manager told firefighters there was a fire in an autoclave room, prompting Engine 4 to upgrade the call to a full structure fire response, and additional fire crews were sent, Schuster said.

As the other crews responded, Engine 4 went to the autoclave room, where a fire sprinkler above an oven kept a fire at bay. The oven was open, and a small amount of fire continued to burn inside. Firefighters extinguished that fire with a water can extinguisher, Medic 4 shut down the sprinkler system, and Ladder 1 assisted with ventilation, Schuster said.

The investigation determined that some plastic items that normally are cleaned in an autoclave, but are not oven-safe, were accidentally placed in the oven. Someone working in the lab noticed smoke coming from the room, and when they opened the oven to check on it, incoming oxygen fueled the fire and caused it to flare up. Attempts to put out the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher failed, and the fire alarm was pulled to prompt a building evacuation, Schuster said.

No one was injured, but there was significant damage to the oven and autoclave room, Schuster said.

Hospital/Care Facility, Hospital/Medical Clinic

Marshfield, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at clinic; No injuries reported

Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department responded to a call at 1000 N Oak Ave in Marshfield on Saturday morning shortly before 8:30 am.

The general fire alarm dispatched the Standard Fire Response Unit (2 engines, 1 truck and 1 ambulance and a total of 8 personnel) to the Marshfield Clinic. While en route, dispatch informed crews that Clinic security had a water flow alarm on the ground level.

Upon arrival, fire crew searched the ground floor finding nothing remarkable. Then, additional information came in that the water flow alarm was coming from the 2nd floor at the Ben R. Lawton Center. As the crew arrived on the 2nd floor, they were met with mild smoke and the signs of a sprinkler system flowing water.

A sprinkler head was flowing water above a contained dryer used in the cleaning process of specimen trays in the lab. This sprinkler head flow was stopped by the fire crew responding to the call.

Once it was determined that the fire was out, the fire crew initiated the process of removing water from the structure and protecting property. Fire units remained on-scene for more than 3 hours.

As of a result of the fire, the room where the fire originated has heat and smoke damage. Additionally, water damage is present on the 2nd, 1st and basement levels. A preliminary estimate of $50,000 in damages was reported.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire call.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Appleton, WI – Sprinkler system helps contain fire in under 30 minutes

The Appleton Fire Department was notified of a fire on West Second Street thanks to a water flow alarm at the facility.

According to the Appleton Fire Department, on June 30 around 3:30 a.m. crews responded to the 2600 block of West Second Street. When crews arrived there was a large amount of smoke coming from an overhead door.

It was confirmed that there was a fire involving one of the facility’s machines, and crews evacuated the employees and started to put out the fire. The building’s fire sprinkler system was running when crews arrived and helped contain the fire.

The fire was able to be brought under control within 30 minutes and crews then worked on overhaul and ventilation for another 45 minutes. Damage from the fire was contained to the machine and the product in the machine.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and the investigation is ongoing. There is also no estimate of the amount of damage the fire caused.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system prevents apartment fire from spreading

Two families were displaced from their westside apartments Tuesday night after a fire broke out in one of the units.

Madison fire officials said they responded to the 7900 block of Tree Lane around 10:15 p.m. for a water flow alarm. When crews arrived at the apartment complex, they found the fire alarm ringing and residents evacuating the 45-unit building.

Firefighters entered the building and made their way to the second floor where they found light smoke coming from one of the apartments, but they did not detect any heat or fire. Crews then discovered a sprinkler had activated in one of the bedrooms.

More firefighters were called in to help with ventilating the building and shut down the sprinklers, which were credited with stopping the fire from spreading to other units.

Two families, which included three adults and five children, were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross is providing temporary lodging, meals and other essential items while they’re displaced.

Damage to the two impacted apartments is estimated at $25,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Fitchburg, WI – Sprinkler system credited with saving lives for kitchen fire at apartment building

A sprinkler system at a Fitchburg apartment building is being credited for saving lives and more than $1 million in property losses after a fire started early Saturday on a kitchen stove, the Fitchburg Fire Department said.

A water overflow alarm at 12:26 a.m. at an apartment on Halite Way initiated the Fire Department’s response. In the meantime, a fire was reported in the building.

Crews found smoke and water coming from one of the five apartments in the building, and smoke detectors were sounding. The building’s fire alarm and sprinkler system were also activated. The fire was controlled by a single sprinkler head but had extended to the range hood and some of the kitchen cabinets.

The resident told firefighters about starting to warm a pan of oil on the stove and then falling asleep in a nearby chair. The resident was awakened by the alarms and evacuated safely, along with two dogs. No injuries were reported.

The resident and the dogs were displaced, but occupants of the other four units were able to stay in their apartments.

The fire caused $10,000 to $20,000 damage, but the Fire Department said the sprinkler system saved up to $1.2 million in property and contents.

Apartment Building, Residential

Brookfield, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

Firefighters on Wednesday morning, June 2 responded to the scene of an apartment fire on Taywood Circle in Brookfield. The call came in around 1:15 a.m.

When crews arrived on the scene they found light smoke coming from a second-floor apartment window.

The fire was contained to the kitchen of a single upstairs apartment unit and was nearly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system that had activated prior to fire department arrival.

Two families were displaced by the fire and were being assisted by the Red Cross.  No injuries were reported. 

There is no damage estimate at this time.

The fire is not deemed suspicious following an initial investigation by the City of Brookfield Fire Department.

Apartment Building, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler systems kept weekend fires in check

Firefighters are crediting automatic sprinklers with keeping weekend fires under control over the weekend.

Officials with the Madison Fire Department said crews were first dispatched to a building on Research Park Boulevard Friday evening for a report of a machine on fire. When they made it to the fire, firefighters found it had been contained to the machine it started in thanks to an activated sprinkler just above it. Crews fully extinguished the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher.

All of the employees at the facility safely evacuated when the fire alarm first sounded. No one was injured.

On Sunday morning, firefighters responded to the 5600 block of Black Onyx Drive after a caller reported seeing flames coming from a balcony.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire had been extinguished by a sprinkler on the second-floor balcony. Crews made their way to the balcony and confirmed there was no active fire, but they did find evidence there was one.

The fire didn’t extend past the siding into the building. Officials determined it was caused by a candle that had been burning on the balcony above.

No one was displaced by the fire.

Manufacturing, Power / Energy Facility

Sheboygan, WI – Fire at powerplant extinguished with help from sprinkler system

Everyone is okay after a fire at the Edgewater Powerplant in the City of Sheboygan.

According to the Sheboygan County Fire Department, the fire happened Tuesday around 10:57 a.m. When they arrived on scene, they found smoke coming from the powerplant’s dust-collector, but the sprinkler system activated as designed and extinguished most of the fire.

Firefighters were able to go inside the building with a dust collector and put out the rest of the fire and check for hot spots.

The fire is currently under investigation by Edgewater Power Plant personnel.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment kitchen fire; No injuries reported

Firefighters are crediting automatic sprinklers installed in an apartment on Madison’s near east side with quickly extinguishing a kitchen fire before it could spread further.

Authorities said occupants of the apartment complex in the 800 block of Williamson Street were evacuating the building as firefighters arrived just after 6 p.m. Tuesday.

When crews entered the building and made it to the second floor where the fire initially broke out, they found an automatic sprinkler flowing, but no active fire. Crews then shut off the sprinkler system and worked to remove water from the unit.

The occupant of the unit where the fire started told firefighters they were heating up a butane-powered hot pot when flames began coming from the butane bottle rather than the burner. The occupant threw water on the flames which caused a flare-up that triggered the sprinkler. The sprinkler put out the fire before firefighters arrived.

No one was injured in the incident, according to fire officials.

Apartment Building, Residential

McFarland, WI – Exterior fire sprinkler controlled second-story balcony fire

McFarland Fire & Rescue responded to a second-story balcony on fire just before 11:30 a.m. on Monday, which staff says was controlled by a fire sprinkler.

At 11:21 a.m., crews were dispatched to the fire at 5601 Lexington St. in the village of McFarland, which they found controlled by an exterior fire sprinkler head. They were able to extinguish the fire within about 15 minutes of it being reported.

According to a press release from the department, the sprinkler prevented the fire from extending into the attic of the building, though it did spread into the furnace room of the apartment, displacing one tenant.

Though the apartment that caught fire was unoccupied, one apartment resident was transported by a city of Madison ambulance with a non-life-threatening medical emergency.

A passerby called 911 after seeing the sprinkler activate.

“Without the fire sprinkler and fire alarm system, the fire’s outcome would have been much worse,” the department said in a release.

The city of Madison and city of Monona fire departments, along with the McFarland Police, responded to the incident as well.