Fire at university campus controlled by sprinkler system (Logan, Utah)

A fire in the basement of a building on Utah State University's campus could have been much worse if not for the modern fire sprinkler system that was installed. Crews arrived to find smoke coming from a basement lab, according to Logan Fire Marshal Craig Humphreys. An overhead sprinkler that was activated had put out most of the fire before firefighters arrived. The cause of the fire was determined to be combustible materials placed too closely to a heater that was being used as part of a science experiment.

Fire sprinkler system suppresses elementary school fire (Milwaukie, OR)

Clackamas Fire Units were dispatched to Linwood Elementary School to a report of a fire in the building. Crews quickly arrived to find that a small fire had occurred in the bathroom and was quickly extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. All students made it out of the building safely and no injuries were reported. Clackamas Fire Investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set. The fire damage in this case was limited due to the early detection and extinguishment by the fire sprinkler system that was in place.

Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire (Asheville, NC)

Crews arrived on the scene of the apartment complex and reported that a mattress, which had been on fire, was now extinguished thanks to the activation of the sprinkler system. The apparent accidental fire originated in the bedroom at the mattress and was also extinguished in the same location minimizing any further smoke or fire damage. There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Fire at thrift store was contained thanks to sprinkler system (Portsmouth, VA)

The owner said he stayed at his store because he closed late. At around 5:00 a.m. he heard a loud pop at the front of the store and then saw the cash register and front counter area in flames. Battalion Chief Danny Miller said the store's sprinklers activated, which kept the fire from spreading. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Sprinkler system controls fire at assisted living facility (Madison, WI)

A sprinkler system at an assisted living facility kept fire damage to a minimum, with residents evacuated and no one injured, authorities reported. "This is an excellent example of how sprinklers can react quickly to save lives and reduce property damage," said spokeswoman Bernadette Galvez in the release. Fire was confined to one room, which was kept in check by the sprinkler. The facility serves those afflicted with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Fire contained by sprinkler system at local business (Buford, GA)

Firefighters responded to a Pak Mail after a passerby reported seeing smoke coming from the door of the business. According to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Capt. Tommy Rutledge, crews found a fire smoldering in the back room. The sprinkler system had activated. "The sprinkler system kept the fire at bay and prevented the flames from spreading past the room of origin," Rutledge explained. "This is a prime example of the effectiveness of fire sprinklers to prevent destruction of an entire building from fire."

Sprinklers extinguish apartment fire before fire department arrives (Edina, MN)

The Edina Fire Department was dispatched to the apartment fire at approximately 6:15 p.m. Sunday, arriving to find a fire on the stovetop of a first-floor unit had already been extinguished by the building's sprinkler system. “The building’s sprinklers saved countless lives and property,” Assistant Fire Chief Darrell Todd said. “This really shows the impact sprinklers have on fires by keeping it from spreading to other units. Had the building not been sprinkled, the fire could have spread quickly, endangering lives.”

Apartment electrical fire contained by sprinkler system (Novato, CA)

A stacked washer-drier unit in an exterior closet caught fire next to a downtown Novato apartment, and the only loss was a few clothes. Firefighters responded to the call and found that a sprinkler system had done most of the work on the electrical fire, which took place on the patio of an apartment. Battalion Chief Jeff Veliquette said the fire remained contained to the exterior closet. "The sprinklers knocked it down," Veliquette said. "The take-home message is that sprinklers did their job and held it off long enough for us to do our job. Otherwise this could have easily spread into the apartment."

Sprinkler system extinguishes laundry room fire at Alzheimer's care facility (Edmonds, WA)

Dozens of residents at a Alzheimer's care facility escaped injuries in an early-morning laundry room fire that was quickly extinguished by a fire sprinkler system. “The building’s fire sprinkler system really made a big difference in the outcome of this fire. It kept the fire from spreading, prevented injuries and limited damage,” Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1, said in a news release. No injuries were reported.

This is not the first time a fire sprinkler system has extinguished a blaze at the facility, fire officials said. In August 2011, a sprinkler put out a fire in a hot water tank near the facility's kitchen.

Fire in fifth-floor hotel room extinguished by sprinkler system (Pittsburgh, PA)

Pittsburgh firefighters responded to a fire in a fifth-floor room of an Upper Hill District hotel shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday. Sprinklers at the hotel extinguished the fire, and no one was injured, according to an Allegheny County emergency dispatcher. The county's 911 center received the call at 11:06 and firefighters reported that the fire was out 15 minutes later.

Fire sprinklers and working smoke alarms save child playing with matches (Salisbury, MD)

Fire crews were called to a two-story five unit apartment building just before 8:30 a.m. for a report of a fire. When firefighters arrived they found the fire was already extinguished in the four-year-old child's bedroom. Fire Marshals investigating the scene concluded that the child had been playing with matches and set a bed on fire. Working smoke alarms alerted the parents to the blaze and they were able to escape with the child and warn neighbors. A sprinkler in the child’s bedroom put out the fire.

“This is yet another example of the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers in residential occupancies. The presence of not only sprinklers but working smoke alarms and a home escape plan undoubtedly prevented a more tragic outcome” stated William E. Barnard, Maryland State Fire Marshal.

Sprinkler system puts out fire at high school (Fife, WA)

Crews were called to the scene of a reported fire at Fife High School, according to Tacoma Fire. The fire appears to have been put out by the school’s sprinkler system, Fire officials said. The fire started in a wood lathe machine in the shop facility and was quickly contained, according to Tacoma Fire. No one was injured.

Residential fire sprinklers make the difference in house fire (Tucson, AZ)

A Tucson family's home was saved after their fire sprinkler system extinguished a fire. Drexel Heights Fire responded to the house fire around 3 Saturday afternoon. According to Tracy Koslowski with Drexel Heights Fire, the homeowners called 9-1-1 after finding their fire sprinkler system had extinguished the fire while they were away from the house. Koslowski said the family could have found the house in flames, had they not had a fire sprinkler system.

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at apartment complex (Happy Valley, OR)

Firefighters are crediting a residential sprinkler system for putting out a two-alarm apartment fire. Brandon Paxton, Clackamas Fire District 1 spokesman, said the sprinklers in the Town Center Station Apartments worked so well that the fire already was out when firefighters arrived after receiving a 10:22 p.m. 9-1-1 call. Firefighters found combustible materials on a kitchen range that ignited when the stove was turned on accidentally. "The key here was early detection," Paxton said. "The sprinkler system already in place did its job." Paxton said the fire was contained to one apartment, but easily could have spread to other units if the sprinkler system hadn't controlled it. No injuries were reported.

Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system (Asheville, NC)

On Friday evening the Asheville Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire. The fire started in the bedroom, but was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system within the unit, minimizing fire damage. The fire was ruled accidental.

Sprinkler system contains apartment fire (Perryville, MD)

The quick containment of a Monday morning laundry room fire in a Perryville apartment building is evidence that sprinkler systems save lives, according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The cause of the 5:30 a.m. fire is still under investigation, although it is not considered suspicious, said Deputy Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire. Firefighters evacuated residents from the eight apartments in the building, including one elderly woman who was confined to her bed.

Sprinkler system controls fire in campus housing (Medford, MA)

At 2:30 p.m., a fire occurred in Sophia Gordon Hall. The fire started in a suite kitchen, setting off the fire alarm and turning on a fire sprinkler, which successfully contained the fire. The suite sustained minimal damage and no one was injured, according to Associate Director of Public Relations Alex Reid. An announcement was released from the University via e-mail informing the Tufts community of the incident. According to the announcement, “The fire sprinkler system and fire detection system, present in all university housing, worked correctly and helped to minimize damage.”

Overnight fire at business contained by sprinkler system (Des Plaines, IL)

Sprinklers helped contain what could have been a much larger fire in a Des Plaines business building early Sunday morning. According to Fire Chief Alan Wax, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames with the aid of automatic fire sprinklers in the building. No one was in the building when the fire broke out and no one was injured, Wax added. "There is a lesson here," said Wax. "This building was required to install fire sprinklers when it was remodeled about 15 years ago. The sprinklers definitely saved this building and the various occupancies within it." Wax added had the sprinklers not been activated, the fire could have advanced deep into the building's open wooden truss ceiling, further damaging the structure.

Sprinkler system extinguishes apartment fire (Columbia, MD)

Shortly before 8 p.m., Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue units responded to an automatic fire alarm. Responders found there had been a flash fire in the dining room of a third floor apartment. Officials said the fire caused a sprinkler to activate, and the blaze was extinguished.

“This was a case of a fire sprinkler system doing its job,” says Battalion Chief (Murrieta, CA)

A residential fire sprinkler system made quick work of a fire at a home in Murrieta Saturday afternoon. The cause of the fire appeared to be the result of incense burning in the upstairs bedroom, Battalion Chief Steve Kean said. The resident advised Kean that he had been burning incense, but left the home for a short period of time before returning to discover the fire sprinklers had been activated. “This was a case of a fire sprinkler system doing its job,” Kean said, adding that the fire would have rapidly spread to the upper floor of the home before anyone could have noticed and called 911.

Sprinkler douses fire at small business (Fargo, ND)

A sprinkler system is getting credit for putting out a fire early today before it could cause significant damage to a Fargo business that makes building materials. Firefighters responded at 12:04 a.m. When crews arrived, they found that the sprinkler system had extinguished a fire in a room used for staining and spray-finishing wood products, Assistant Fire Chief Gary Lorenz stated in a news release. The fire involved a work bench with tools and staining supplies on it. The fire caused no structural damage to the building, and there was only minor smoke and water damage estimated at $1,000.

Sprinkler system suppresses fire at apartment building (Rockford, IL)

A sprinkler system doused a fire in the stairwell of a five-story apartment building. A heater in the basement stairwell was believed to be the source of the fire. No injuries were reported.