Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Apartment kitchen fire contained by sprinkler system (Chilliwack, BC, Canada)

"Fire crews entered the suite and found a pot on the stove had activated a sprinkler head," said Jeff Ullyot, assistant fire chief. "The sprinkler controlled and extinguished the fire, preventing it from extending beyond the stove," he said. Minor fire and smoke damage was limited to a microwave and an area of the upper cupboards. Ullyot said sprinkler systems continue to prove their worth by limiting fire damage and preventing fire-related injuries and deaths.

Sprinkler system assists firefighters during office building fire (Columbia, MO)

Fire fighters searched the building for the fire and within 15 minutes located and extinguished a fire in the attic space between the third-floor ceiling and the roof of the building. A fire sprinkler had also activated in the room below the fire. Fire damage was contained to the ceiling and attic space immediately above the approximately 10' x10' room of an unoccupied third-floor office suite.

Sprinklers extinguish fire at dry cleaners (Shreveport, LA)

An early morning fire at a cleaners was extinguished by the building's sprinkler system before firefighters arrived. Fire officials say something fell and caught fire near the back door.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Chemical company fire extinguished by sprinkler system (Hinsdale, IL)

A Willow Springs chemical company was saved on Monday because of an automatic fire sprinkler system, said the town's fire chief. A box alarm and hazmat team was called, and members found a single sprinkler head extinguished the wooden pallets and two drums of materials that caught fire. "These systems are in place for this reason, I can not find a better example of why we require fire alarms and sprinklers," said Willow Springs Fire Chief Larry Moran.

Sprinkler system controlled fire at waste management building (Kentville, Nova Scotia)

Kentville firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the Valley Waste Resource main depot on the Donald E. Hiltz Connector Road. Firefighters received the alarm around 3:30 a.m. On their arrival, they found a small pile of debris, left over from the previous day, had caught fire. According to deputy fire chief Ryan MacEachern, the building’s sprinkler system “did its job,” and while there was “a lot of heavy black smoke” inside the building, any actual fire was out by the time they arrived.

Sprinkler system prevents apartment fire from spreading beyond kitchen (Green Valley, AZ)

A sprinkler prevented a fire from spreading beyond the kitchen of a home in the Michelle Manor Apartments in Green Valley on Monday evening. The resident had been heating oil in a cast iron skillet when she went outside to check on the grill and visit with friends, according to the Green Valley Fire District. She returned to find the pan on fire and the flames too intense to extinguish. “Fires like this are a great example of how quickly a fire can be extinguished and how major loss of property or life prevented by sprinklers,” GVFD Operations Chief Chuck Wunder said.

Apartment fire contained by sprinkler system (Mesa, AZ)

An apartment was saved after its sprinkler system kicked in and extinguished a fire in a laundry basket in a bathroom. The activated sprinkler was able to keep the fire contained in the bathroom and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the apartment or neighboring units. Mesa Fire says that this is the third fire in the past month that was managed in the early stages by an active sprinkler system.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in extinguishing apartment fire (Gainesville, GA)

The accidental discharge of a flare gun sparked a fire Tuesday afternoon inside The Retreat at McEver Apartments. "The sprinkler system in the building had all but extinguished the fire upon the arrival of the fire department," said Gainesville Fire Chief Jon Canada. He said no other apartment units were damaged by the blaze and no injuries were reported.

Sprinkler system credited with saving townhouse (Elkton, MD)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Sprinkler System Contains Fire at Senior Apartment Complex (Eau Claire, WI)

No one was hurt in a fire Monday afternoon at a senior apartment complex and nursing home on the city’s far northwest side. An investigation determined the fire was caused by boxes that had been left on a stove while the occupant was in the process of moving. The fire was contained to the stove and cabinets above. It was doused by the sprinkler system.

High-rise condo fire on 18th floor controlled by sprinkler system (Honolulu, HI)

The fire broke out on the 18th floor of the King Tower at Liliuokalani Gardens. Fire officials said everyone in the building evacuated. The occupant of the unit where the fire started was not at home at the time of the blaze. Since the mid-1970s, all high-rise building on Oahu above 75-feet-tall were required to have a sprinkler system. Liliuokalani Gardens was built in 1984 and had its sprinklers built in. "The fire was controlled by a sprinkler head in the room where it began," said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Terry Seelig. "It appears that it began in the living room."

Sprinkler system stopped paper mill fire from spreading (Oregon City, OR)

Firefighters responded to a small fire Monday at the former Blue Heron Paper Co. mill site in Oregon City. The building’s sprinkler system stopped the fire from spreading before firefighters came in and extinguished the remaining flames. No one was reported hurt and the cause is still under investigation.

Residential fire sprinkler system successfully extinguishes house fire (Lake Havasu City, AZ)

Lake Havasu City Fire Department responded to a fire early Sunday at a newly constructed residence.  During the fire, the home’s fire protection system successfully doused flames inside the home after two fire sprinkler heads were activated, one in a hallway and the second within a bedroom.  The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. The cause of the fire is considered arson and there are no suspects at this time, fire officials said Sunday.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Apartment fire confined to garbage bin by sprinkler system (Medford, OR)

A sprinkler system helped contain a trash fire at a Medford apartment complex this morning, Medford Fire-Rescue officials reported. The trash bin was in a building that houses garbage collection and a laundry room for two eight-unit apartment buildings, which are located right next door. Damage was confined to the garbage bin. The fire sprinkler prevented the fire from gaining enough momentum to seriously damage the facility, officials said.

Sprinkler system controls fire at chemical distribution facility (St. Albans, WV)

A fire at a St. Albans chemical distribution facility appears to be under control, Kanawha County emergency officials said late this morning. Sprinklers at the Brenntag operation on 1st Street contained the blaze, and crews were ventilating the building before entering to further investigate, said Dale Petry, Kanawha County's emergency services coordinator.

Supercenter fire quickly contained by sprinkler system (Marion, IL)

Shoppers and employees at the Marion WalMart Supercenter had to be evacuated from the building Tuesday morning. The Marion fire department says a grease fire is to blame. The initial call came at around 8:15 a.m. The fire was quickly contained, but some of the store's sprinklers were activated. No one was hurt. Investigators are talking with employees in the deli department to pinpoint the exact cause.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Sprinkler system helped contain hotel kitchen fire (Albuquerque, NM)

A fire in a downtown Albuquerque hotel forced a brief evacuation of its guests and staff. The Albuquerque Fire Department says no occupants were injured when a fire forced them to leave the Hyatt hotel on Tijeras NE early Monday morning. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 1:30 a.m. and put out the blaze within 20 minutes. A hotel sprinkler system helped contain the fire. Fire officials say the fire was in a dishwashing unit but the cause has not yet been determined.

Laboratory fire contained by sprinkler system (Hayward, CA)

The fire at the Seeo company was reported about 3:30 p.m., said Hayward fire Capt. Thor Poulsen. About 25 employees were evacuated from the facility in the 3900 block of Trust Way, at Eden Landing Road, he said. Investigators found a plastic bucket of hexane burning in a laboratory, said Poulsen, who described the chemical as an alcohol-type liquid fuel. The fire was contained in about 25 minutes, he said.

Sprinklers allow time for successful evacuation of nursing home during fire (Attica, IN)

All of the 43 residents and three staff members were evacuated after a fire broke out in one of the rooms in the north wing, according to Attica fire Chief Ed O’Farrell. “I feel the staff took charge of the situation and collaborated well with the departments,” said Gustus, “The residents were evacuated outside, warm and secure within minutes.”

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at recycling plant fire (Hazelwood, MO)

No one was hurt in the three-alarm fire, which started about 3:30 p.m. at the Republic Services plant in the 6600 block of Byassee Drive, just north of Lambert International Airport. Hazelwood Fire Chief Dave Radel said when firefighters arrived, the blaze had just reached the northern wing of the plant, which set off the sprinkler system, so it never spread into the building.

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at senior citizen apartment complex (Vallejo, CA)

At about 6:30 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the first level of the apartment building at 40 Valle Vista. The fire was already extinguished by the sprinkler in the apartment by the time firefighters arrived.

Fire at mall sporting goods store contained by sprinkler system (Watertown, NY)

The fire was caused when a ceiling light overheated, causing the contents of the ballast to leak into the light fixtures and create sparks that ignited a rack of clothing below it, Chief Dillon said. Fortunately, the sprinkler system effectively contained the blaze until firefighters could extinguish it, he said. “It did what it was supposed to do,” Chief Dillon said.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Warehouse fire extinguished by sprinkler system (Edgerton, WI)

Fire crews arrived to find that sprinklers had doused an eight-foot tall stack of plastic foam sheeting that had caught on fire in the warehouse. The sprinklers had extinguished the fire by the time firefighters arrived, Edgerton Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Beckwith said.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at church fire (Speedway, IN)

"The sprinkler system once again saved the church. It probably would have been gone by the time they got here,” said the Reverend Mike Welch.  A previous fire damaged the church in 2001 when lightning hit the building.

Sprinkler system limits college campus fire to small area (Hayward, WI)

Ray Burns, the college's interim president, said there were about thirty people in the building at the time of the fire and all made it out safely.  The building's sprinkler system limited the actual fire to a small area.

Sprinkler system controls apartment cooking fire (Allentown, PA)

Sprinklers took care of whatever had flared on the stove of the second-floor apartment.  No one was injured.