Sprinkler contains restaurant fire (Appleton, WI)

A fire sprinkler kept a restaurant blaze at bay Thursday morning.  At about 4:30 a.m., a fire alarm called firefighters to Pullmans restaurant in Appleton where they found smoke and a small fire in a storage room, Battalion Chief Darrel Baker, of the Appleton Fire Department, said. The fire appeared to have started in a bin of dirty uniforms, but the cause is unknown. The fire damage will not affect lunch service at the restaurant, which opens at 11 a.m., Pullmans general manager said.

Fire at apartment complex controlled by sprinkler system (Murfreesboro, TN)

Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department’s District 9 responded to a kitchen fire at Victory Station Apartments just before 7:30 Tuesday evening.  When crews arrived to the apartment complex, the fire was already extinguished by the sprinkler system. Two families were displaced due to water damage, but did not require assistance from the Red Cross.

According to Captain/Shift Inspector Mark McCluskey, the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen area. “The sprinkler system kept fire damage to a minimum,” McCluskey said.
No one was injured during this incident.

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at condominium complex (Auburn, WA)

A fire was reported in a dryer in a condominium unit on the afternoon of Saturday, October 26. The condominium's fire sprinkler system put out the fire, and no one was injured.

*** Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by the Auburn Reporter, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in suspicious fire at grocery store (Phoenix, AZ)

Three separate fire appear to have been intentionally in a grocery store at about 8 p.m. on Monday, October 28. The sprinklers in the building were activated by the heat from the fire and kept the fire from spreading. Investigators are calling the fire suspicious, and the investigation remains ongoing. No injuries were reported.

Fire contained by sprinkler system at lumber mill (Lincoln, CA)

A late night fire at a lumber mill was called in by the plant's security personnel on Sunday, October 27. The building's fire sprinkler system contained the blaze until firefighters arrived to put out the rest of the fire. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Sprinklers control fire in parking garage (Lexington, KY)

A fire began during the early morning hours of October 25 in a parking garage located beneath a condominium complex. The fire sprinklers and alarms were activated, and the sprinklers contained the fire until the fire crews came to the scene and eliminated it completely. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Damage minimized at four-story apartment building thanks to fire sprinklers (Portland, ME)

An unattended stove while cooking was the cause of a fire which began in a second-floor apartment on Friday, October 25. Firefighters arrived to the scene at about 10 p.m. and praised the building's fire sprinkler system, with Fire Chief David Jackson saying that the fire could have been much very dangerous had it not been for the sprinkler system. 

"The systems worked exactly as they should have," Jackson said.

Fire sprinkler system extinguished midday fire at hospital (Philadelphia, PA)

No one was injured as a result of a fire that broke out at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. HUP also continued to see patients while the situation was ongoing. The fire began at around 12 p.m. in the basement of the Founders Building, when construction workers were removing medical equipment from one of the rooms. When the fire broke out, the fire sprinklers were able to quickly put it out, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. The basement room in the Founders Building where the fire originated suffered “minimal damages,” according to Rush.

Macy's flagship Manhattan store saved with help from sprinkler system (New York City, NY)

The fire broke out at the iconic Macy’s store a little after eight and the store was filled with shoppers. Everyone got out without injury and folks were let back in to collect their personal belongings once the fire was extinguished. The blaze was in the basement and the store’s sprinkler system kept the blaze from spreading onto the upper floors of the store. It was the store's sprinklers that actually saved the store because it stopped the fire from spreading.

Sprinklers help to control fire at Harris Teeter store (Wilmington, NC)

The Wilmington Fire Department says sprinklers helped crews quickly controlled the fire at the store at 820 S. College Rd.  A WFD spokesman says the fire started with welding on the roof.  No one was hurt.

Tanning salon fire doused by sprinkler system (Amherst, MA)

An early Saturday morning fire in a University Drive tanning salon was put out by an automatic sprinkler system before firefighters arrived on scene. Assistant Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren said no one was in the business when the fire started. An automatic alarm sounded at 1:37 a.m. Saturday alerting the Fire Dept. But, by the time fire apparatus arrived at the salon, the automatic sprinkler system put out the flames in a small utility room.

Sprinkler systems helps control flames at industrial facility (Troy, MI)

A wall was blown out, but no injuries were reported at the scene of a fire on Thursday night.  According to a press release issued Friday, firefighters saw a portion of the rear, west side wall that appeared to have blown out from an explosion inside the building, and smoke showing. Once inside, firefighters found heavy smoke conditions, but the building’s fire sprinkler system appeared to have contained the majority of the fire. Damage was confined to the rear warehouse portion of the building. None of the nearby businesses were affected as a result of the incident.

Small fire suppressed by fire sprinkler system at apartment fire (Pearland, TX)

A resident of an apartment was cooking when grease spilled on the stovetop, and the grease then caught on fire. Fire crews were called to the apartment complex, and when they arrived, they discovered that the building's fire sprinkler had eliminated the fire. No one was injured in the fire.

Sprinklers make the difference in home fire (Middletown, CT)

Fire crews arrived to a single family home after having been called to a fire during the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 21. Investigators reported that the fire, which began in the wall next to a fireplace, was contained and eliminated by the home's fire sprinkler system. No one was injured in the incident.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in apartment fire (Kennewick, WA)

There were no injuries in a fire that occurred in an apartment on Monday, August 21. A resident was cooking that afternoon when the fire erupted near the stove, which then set off the building's fire sprinklers. The sprinkler system contained the fire to the kitchen and put out the flames.

Sprinklers control fire at college residence hall (Beatrice, NE)

A residence hall on the campus of Beatrice College had a fire begin in one of it's apartments on Monday, October 21. The fire was reported that evening, and fire crews discovered that a fire sprinkler had helped to control the fire which began when some cooking oil caught fire. No one was reported injured in the incident.

***Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by the Fremont Tribune, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Fire sprinklers prove worth in restaurant arson fire (Austin, TX)

A break-in and attempted arson occurred in a restaurant in downtown Austin in the early morning of Monday, October 21. The fire was eliminated by the restaurant's fire sprinkler system, leaving the establishment with limited damage. There were no injuries.

Sprinkler system puts out hotel fire (West Seneca, NY)

A fire that began in the kitchenette of one of the Staybridge Suites Buffalo the morning of October 20th caused an evacuation of 83 guests as well as hotel employees. No one was injured, thanks in part to the fire sprinkler system, which extinguished the flames. 

Seneca Fire Chief Eric Conley said, "Everybody got out safely, and that's the important thing. The fire was put out quickly by the sprinkler system, and it was confined to the kitchen area where it started."

Fire contained by sprinkler system at apartment (Lake in the Hills, IL)

A fire broke out in the kitchen of an apartment on Thursday, October 17 evening; the fire sprinkler system in the building activated and kept the fire contained to the kitchen until fire crews arrived to eliminate the flames and ventilate the smoke. No one was injured in the fire.

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at nightclub (Seattle, WA)

Firefighters were alerted to a fire at a nightclub at approximately 8:44 a.m. on Friday, April 18. When the fire crews entered the building, they found that the fire had been extinguished by the establishment's fire sprinkler system. Investigators discovered a melted container that had been placed on an active stove top; the fire had then spread to boxes and garbage cans that were close to the stove. The fire sprinkler limited the fire to the kitchen area, and no injuries were reported. 

Damage minimized in parking garage thanks to fire sprinkler system (San Diego, CA)

A BMW caught fire in a parking garage structure underneath several restaurants on the morning of Monday, October 13. By the time firefighters arrived, most of the fire had been put out by the parking structure's fire sprinkler system, and the damage was limited to the automobile. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Fire controlled by sprinklers at apartment (Prescott, AZ)

Firefighters were called to a fire in an apartment unit on Saturday, October 12 when a pot of unattended cooking oil was left unattended on a hot stove. A fire ignited, and the fire sprinkler system activated, saving the structure.

Fire investigator Len DeJoria said, "The fire could have been a significant event. If the sprinkler had not had fire sprinklers, the building would have been a total loss."

Sprinklers make the difference in restaurant fire (Plano, TX)

A fire which began in a downtown Plano, Texas restaurant early Sunday, October 13 morning was called in by a police officer who saw smoke coming from the building. 56 fire personnel arrived to the scene and were able to put the fire out within 50 minutes thanks to the restaurant's fire sprinkler system which had already contained the fire. 

"The combination of fire sprinklers and the quick response of the firefighters made the difference in this fire," Fire Marshal David Kerr said. "Fires occurring when businesses are closed usually have the greatest delay in reporting a fire." 

Sprinkler system puts out fire at senior apartment complex (Des Moines, IA)

The Des Moines Fire Department says a sprinkler system helped keep a fire from spreading at an apartment complex for seniors. Fire crews were called to South View Senior Living Apartments at 1900 SE 6^th Street around 1:30 Thursday. When they arrived they found a fire on a stove in one of the apartments. The sprinkler system in the apartment quickly put out the fire. No one was injured and damage was contained to one apartment.

Mother, two daughters escape apartment fire thanks to sprinkler system (Ithaca, NY)

An unattended pan left on the stove caught fire Wednesday evening in the West Hill Circle apartment complex but was quickly knocked down by the unit’s sprinkler system, according to Ithaca firefighters. A mother was home with her two young children when she left the kitchen. Firefighters said cooking oil left in an unattended pan ignited, causing a flash fire on the stove and the surrounding cabinets. The apartment was equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, and the head in the apartment's kitchen immediately activated, extinguishing the fire.

Arson fire in college residence hall controlled by sprinklers (Pueblo, CO)

A Colorado State University-Pueblo student was arrested late Sunday on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting fire to a residence hall on campus. At about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday police were dispatched to Culebra Hall on the CSU-Pueblo campus. When officers arrived they discovered an alarm was activated and sprinklers were going off inside the residence hall.

According to the affidavit, Cunningham said the man created a fireball by lighting a can of body spray and fuel he had on hand.  The fire eventually spread to a futon in the room and the fire activated the sprinkler system.

Fire contained by sprinkler system at warehouse (Vacaville, CA)

A packing company was evacuated following a two-alarm fire on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9. The warehouse's fire sprinkler helped to control the fire for the seven fire engines and three fire departments that arrived to the scene. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Sprinkler system suppresses late night fire at University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)

A fire erupted in the third floor of the University of Virginia's Wilsdorf Hall on Tuesday, October 8. The late night fire was contained by the building's fire sprinklers until fire crews arrived to eliminate it completely. Occupants of the science building were able to evacuate safely, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Fire sprinklers prove effectiveness in apartment fire (Charleston, SC)

Fire crews were alerted to a fire at a downtown Charleston apartment the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9. When they arrived, they found that the fire had been controlled by two sprinkler heads, and firefighters only had to use less than five gallons of water to douse the remaining flames thanks to the fire sprinkler system.

"Fire sprinklers are an invaluable tool to improve life safety and have the potential to reduce property damage," said Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh. "These systems are designed to control the fire or reduce the growth of the fire until the fire department can intervene. The sprinkler system in this case preserved the building and limited damages."

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in fraternity house fire (Medford, MA)

A fire began on the third floor of a college fraternity house on Wednesday, October 9, and fire crews are crediting the home's fire sprinkler system with saving the building.

Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said, "It's a very old house, and without the fire sprinkler system, the fire would likely have spread to the roof."

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but early reports indicate that it was an electrical fire. There were no injuries reported.

Fire contained by fire sprinklers at manufacturing plant (Rockford, IL)

At about 4:30 the morning of October 9, a machine inside a manufacturing plant caught fire, and fire crews arrived to find the fire controlled by the facility's fire sprinkler system. The firefighters extinguished the fire which had been contained to the machine that originally caught fire. No injuries were reported.

Sprinklers control fire at assisted living facility (Mystic, CT)

An early morning fire on October 7 brought the Mystic Fire Department to an assisted living facility. According to reports, a malfunctioning heating pad caused a mattress to catch fire, and the building's fire sprinkler contained the fire to that room until fire crews extinguished the remaining flames. All of the residents were able to evacuate safely and without injury.

Sprinklers make the difference in a condo fire on the 17th floor (Grand Rapids, MI)

Fire sprinkler system quickly extinguished a cooking fire on the 17th floor of the River House Condos on Tuesday. A grease fire on the stovetop spread to kitchen cabinets in a condo about 4:30 pm. The sprinkler system put out the flames. Firefighters had to reach the 17th floor to shut off the water, said Grand Rapids Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Sehlmeyer.

***Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by MLive, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Damage minimized at manufacturing plant thanks to fire sprinklers (Lancaster, PA)

Fire sprinklers contained a blaze that began at a manufacturing plant on Sunday, October 6. Just after 10:30 p.m., an oil-heating machine overheated, which started the fire. The fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire in that area, and an employee used a fire extinguisher to put out the rest of it. The other employees who were in the manufacturing plant at the time were able to safely evacuate, and no injuries were reported.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in assisted living facility fire (Seattle, WA)

Fire sprinklers are being credited for the safe evacuation of residents of an assisted living facility during a fire which began in the basement the morning of October 7. Firefighters arrived and were able to put out the remaining flames, which were centered around a clothes dryer, within four minutes of arriving to the scene. There were no injuries reported.

Fire sprinklers prove worth in college apartment fire (Nashville, TN)

A fire which began in the kitchen of one of Vanderbilt University's apartment units was quickly extinguished by the building's fire sprinkler system on the afternoon of Saturday, October 6. The suspected cause of the fire was an unattended pan on a heated stove which then ignited. All of the resident's were able to evacuate the apartment safely, and no one was injured.

Sprinkler puts out fire at retail business (Cerritos, CA)

Firefighters arrived to a retail establishment at about 11 p.m. on October 2 after receiving a waterflow alarm from the business. The fire that began in some packaging materials had already been extinguished by the business' fire sprinkler system by the time the fire crews arrived, and no one was injured.

*** Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by the Press-Telegram and City News Service, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system ***

Arson fire at treatment center extinguished by sprinklers (Sheshatshiu, NL Canada)

Four youths have been charged with arson in connection with a fire Wednesday night that started in a bedroom at the Charles J. Andrew Treatment Centre in Sheshatshiu. The Sheshatshiu Fire Department and the North West River Fire Department responded but the sprinkler system in the building had already extinguished the small fire.

Sprinkler system contains fire at 50-unit apartment complex (San Antonio, TX)

Firefighters were called out to a reported fire at a local apartment complex Thursday morning. Police said a fire broke out in a single unit of the complex. The sprinkler system inside the room was able to put out the flames, however. SAFD said arson investigators may be called to investigate the fire.

Sprinkler extinguishes fire at childern's museum and nature center (Murfreesboro, TN)

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring sustained no damage early Tuesday when a lamp over a snake's aquarium shorted, causing a plastic top to melt. When crews arrived on scene, there were no visible flames or smoke," said Ashley McDonald, public information officer for the Fire Department. Crews noted that the sprinkler system had the flames out upon their arrival. All reptiles, save for a Madagascar hissing cockroach, were unharmed in the incident.

Fire sprinkler douses dryer fire in group home (Las Vegas, NV)

Las Vegas and North Las Vegas firefighters responded to the adult assisted care group home after clothes in a dryer caught fire. The clothes dryer was in a laundry room with an automatic fire sprinkler in it. When the dryer caught fire, the sprinkler activated and kept the fire confined to the dryer. The eight elderly residents were able to escape without injury.

Fire at manufacturing plant contained by sprinkler system (Tryon, NC)

A fire broke out at Carolina Yarn Processors (CYP) in Tryon Saturday, Sept. 28 after a tote leaked hydrogen peroxide, according to Tryon Fire Department reports.  Damage was contained to under $1,000 and the plant was operating on Monday, Sept. 30.  Davis said the sprinkler system and quick response kept damage to the plant minimal.