Casino fire squelched by fire sprinklers (Santa Maria, CA)

A fire which began in the cardboard baler room at the Chumash Casino and Resort on Saturday morning brought fire crews to put out the blaze. When the firefighters arrived, they found that the casino's fire sprinkler system had activated in the cardboard baler room and had completely put the fire out. There were no injuries and only minor damage was reported.

Sprinkler system contains apartment fire (Bayonne, NJ)

Bayonne fire crews responded to a fire at a 324-unit apartment complex on Saturday night. The fire, which originated in the trash compactor room, was contained by the building's fire sprinkler system. The firefighters then used smoke ejectors to clear the smoke from the room. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire at business extinguished by sprinkler system (New Hyde Park, NY)

Authorities are investigating a fire that broke out Wednesday in North New Hyde Park. Firefighters from Lakeville and Manhasset responded to an alarm for a working fire at 1111 Marcus Avenue in Building 6, according to NCPD. Nine trucks and about 40 firefighters arrived at the scene but found the fire had already been extinguished by a sprinkler system. Authorities stated that the fire appeared to be contained to one room in the building and started in a garbage pail in a cubicle.

Single sprinkler extinguishes fire at three-story apartment building (Rochester, NH)

A single sprinkler put out a fire on Punch Brook Way Thursday afternoon, avoiding a potential three-story building fire. Firefighters were called to the scene of an apartment building just before 4 p.m. for the report of a kitchen fire after a resident cooking on the third floor unintentionally started the fire. According to officials, the fire was out before they arrived due to the activation of a single sprinkler head. “The sprinkler system did its job, not only saving the building, but also the residents,” said Deputy Fire Chief Peter Cutrer.

Sprinkler system puts out cooking fire in apartment (Glendale Heights, IL)

A sprinkler system extinguished a cooking fire Thursday afternoon in Glendale Heights and likely helped save two dogs, authorities said. Firefighters were called to a three-story apartment building at 3:05 p.m. and found that the sprinkler system effectively put out the fire, according to Batallion Chief Richard Kurka of the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District. The homeowner was not there at the time of the fire. Kurka said her two dogs likely would have suffered from smoke inhalation had there not been sprinklers in the apartment.

Christmas Eve fire at assisted living center snuffed out by sprinklers (Bloomington, IL)

A fire sprinkler system is being credited with extinguishing a Christmas Eve fire even before firefighters arrived.  Bloomington Fire Department Public Information Officer Brad McCollum said that at 7:43 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to the third floor of The Downtowner, a 36-unit, eight-story, assisted-living apartment building and found the apartment’s resident in a hallway that was filled with light smoke. “Upon entering the apartment, they found an overstuffed chair and end table that had sustained damage from a fire that had been completely extinguished by the sprinkler system,” .McCollum said the outcome could have been tragic for the resident if not for the effectiveness of the sprinkler system.

Hotel fire held in check by sprinkler system (Concord, NC)

Concord Department of Fire and Life Safety was called to Sleep Inn Hotel on Dec. 23 at around 12:10 a.m.  Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the back of the structure. There had been a fire in the building, but the sprinkler system held the fire in check until firefighters arrived. Fire Investigators determined that the fire was started by improperly discarded smoking material. There were no injuries.

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at Montessori School (Fremont, CA)

Students and staff at a Fremont Montessori school were unharmed after an oven caught fire Thursday afternoon, fire officials said. Arriving crews learned that the fire was already extinguished by the sprinkler system installed above the oven and that the 60 students and staff fled the school safely, according to Fremont Fire Department spokesman Daniel Cardenas. The fire was contained to the oven. “The damage was very minimal,” Cardenas said. “Thanks to the sprinkler system and audible fire alarm, all occupants were able to evacuate in a timely manner having no injuries reported,” Cardenas added.

Sprinkler system helps to save commercial laundry business from early morning fire (Grand Junction, CO)

Fire crews responded to a commercial laundry and linen service, about 1:10 a.m. and found an active fire inside a large bin containing clean rags and mop head, Battalion Chief John Williams said.
A fire sprinkler immediately adjacent to the burning bin activated, helping to keep the fire from spreading to other bins and pallets. Williams credited the fire alarm and sprinkler systems for alerting the Fire Department and keeping the fire in check, limiting the damage.

Arson fire at emergency shelter extinguished by sprinkler system (Saskatoon, SK)

An early morning fire at The Lighthouse emergency shelter and supported living center in downtown Saskatoon was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.  Fire officials say the fire was intentionally set. Fire crews were called to the building just after 1:30 a.m. after receiving reports of smoke coming from the second floor. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and water on the second floor which was traced to the closet. No injuries were reported.

Christmas tree fire at country club contained by sprinkler system (Milwaukee, WI)

A Christmas tree in a first-floor dining room sparked a fire at the Milwaukee Country Club at around 10 a.m. Sunday, according to the North Shore Fire Department.  The building's sprinkler system contained the fire to the dining room.  No one was injured.

Clothes dryer fire in apartment controlled with help from sprinkler system (Cookeville, TN)

The sprinkler system in an apartment on Buffalo Valley Road stopped a fire that started in a dryer there Saturday from spreading to other areas of the home, fire officials say.  Crews were called to at around 11:30 Saturday after residents in an apartment there discovered that a fire had started in their dryer, Capt. Matt White said.  The apartment was equipped with a residential sprinkler system.“The sprinkler system did exactly what it was supposed to do,” White said. “When the flames started coming up and got the sprinkler head hot enough, it discharged and the water put most of it out except just a little bit inside the dryer.”

Christmas tree fire extinguished by sprinkler system (North Vancouver, BC)

Firefighters responded to a call around 6:20 p.m. Thursday after a Christmas tree caught on fire in a townhome. “Luckily the townhouse unit has a sprinkler system in the building,” said Dan Pistilli, fire chief at the City of North Vancouver fire department. The tree ignited when the homeowner lit a sparkler for their young child and got too close to the tree.  Pistilli said the situation could have been much worse. “If the unit did not have a sprinkler system it would have been a different result,” he said.

Fire at manufacturing plant halted by sprinkler system (Lititz, PA)

A fire broke out at a manufacturing plant that makes over 2,500 products, including rodent traps, on Wednesday morning. The flames began close to a piece of machinery which makes papier-mache items, and two employees attempted to put them out with a fire extinguisher. When this proved unsuccessful, the heat from the fire activated the building's fire sprinkler, containing the blaze until fire crews arrived.

According to Lititz Fire Company Deputy Chief Mike Smith, the fire could have easily spread to other area of the building through oven ducts if the sprinkler system had not been turned on.

No injuries were reported.

Sprinklers save lives and property in assisted living facility fire (Rochester, NY)

Residents of the Madonna Meadows Assisted Living Facility were able to remain "protected in place" after a small fire began and was extinguished at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16. Residents did not have to be evacuated into the cold outdoors thanks to the facility's fire sprinkler system, which eliminated the fire and limited smoke exposure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Fire extinguished by sprinklers at high rise (Fargo, ND)

An unattended lit candle was the culprit for the fire which began in a 15th floor apartment on Tuesday, December 16. According to reports, the resident discovered the fire when she re-entered her bedroom; the fire had ignited her pillow and bedspread. The resident attempted to put out the flames on her own with no success. The room's fire sprinkler system activated from the heat of the fire and put out the blaze before fire crews arrived. No injuries occurred in the entire situation.

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

Sprinklers credited with saving non-profit building (Albermarle, NC)

When a fire broke out at West Stanly Christian Ministries in the early morning hours of Thursday, December 12, fire crews broke in through the front door to find that the majority of the fire had been doused by two sprinkler heads. The fire had began on the first floor when one of the building's electrically-powered heating units malfunctioned. 

Stanly County Fire Marshal said of the incident, "Without that sprinkler system, the fire department would still be there spraying water on the shell of the building. It would have burned down. Even though the sprinkler did create damage, it's like we always say - 'Everything dries out - nothing unburns.'"

Fire sprinklers put out fire at aquarium (Dubuque, IA)

Fire crews were alerted to a fire at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium on Saturday morning. The fire, which had started on the second floor of the aquarium in a tortoise enclosure, was eliminated by the building's fire sprinkler by the time the crews arrived. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but no animals or people were injured in the incident.

Fire squelched by sprinkler system at apartment complex (Holyoke, MA)

A 103-unit apartment building had a fire break out on December 10 in one of it's three-bedroom apartments. The sprinkler system in the hallway activated, containing the fire until fire crews arrived and put out the rest of the flames. Firefighters are crediting the sprinkler system with saving lives and property. 

"Sprinklers help keep the fires in check which gives the residents time to get out of the building, working in connection with a fire alarm that works well definitely saves lives," Holyoke Fire Captain Anthony Cerruti said. "A small fire can go to a large fire in less than three minutes, and if you don't have a working smoke detector or more importantly a sprinkler system, you're looking at a total loss."

All residents were able to evacuate safely and without injury. 

Sprinkler assists fire crews in university fire (East Stroudsburg, PA)

A fire started in the Enrollment Services Center building of East Stroudsburg University on Friday morning. While the cause is under investigation, fire officials claim the fire appeared to have started by a computer. No one was injured.

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

Arson fire extinguished by fire sprinkler (Lehigh Valley, PA)

At about 3:44 a.m. on Sunday, December 15, a fire alarm was set off at the Carbon Plaza Mall. Fire crews who arrived at the scene found that the fire had already been eliminated by the building's fire sprinkler system. Investigators report that the cause of the fire was likely arson, but no one was injured in the incident.

Sprinklers help to save high school building from fire (Honey Grove, TX)

Fire sprinklers put out a fire that erupted overnight in the server room of a high school the morning of Friday, December 13. No one was injured, and students were moved to the area middle school for classes the following day. 

Fire at administrative office controlled by sprinkler system (Lenox, MA)

A fire began in the heating and cooling unit of an administrative office on Thursday, December 12. Four fire engines responded to the call, and thanks to the building's fire sprinkler and fire doors, they were able to completely knock down the fire. No one was injured in the incident, and investigators ruled the fire as accidental.

Fire sprinklers douse electrical fire at casino (Charles Town, WV)

A fire broke out in the electrical room of Hollywood Casino in Charles Town on Wednesday morning. Fire crews responded to the fire which was contained to the electrical room by the casino's fire sprinkler and put out the remaining flames. "The fortunate thing was that, of course, that time of the morning it wasn't many patrons in the building. With the quick action of Charles Town security and maintenance, by utilizing fire extinguishers to knock the bulk of the fire down, and the fire sprinklers popping on, it could have been a much, much, worse incident than it was," said Independent Fire Company Chief Donnie Lanham.No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Sprinklers hold fire at bay at apartment building (Murfeesboro, TN)

During the early morning hours of December 7, firefighters responded to a fire at an apartment complex. The fire, which began in the kitchen of one unit, had been reduced to a few flames by the unit's sprinkler system. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and no one was injured in the incident.

Sprinklers assist firefighters in apartment fire (Charleston, SC)

Firefighters are crediting fire sprinklers with the safety of the residents of an apartment complex after a fire erupted after midnight on December 8. The fire, which investigators determined began due to unattended cooking, began in the kitchen, and a fire sprinkler activated and contained the fire to that area.

"The fire sprinkler is a critical component in the life safety of this property," said Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh. "In this case, a single fire sprinkler head operated and controlled the fire event until the fire department could arrive and mitigate any remaining hazards."

"Without the fire sprinkler system, we would have had a substantial event, damaged multiple apartments, and displaced numerous families," he added.

No injuries were reported.

Sprinklers keep fire from spreading in UPS facility (Landover, MD)

A UPS truck caught fire inside a shipping plant on Saturday, December 7, and fire crews quickly responded to the fire call. According to the Prince George County Fire Department, the fire sprinkler system in the shipping plant, which had activated in response to the heat of the fire, helped the firefighters to get the fire extinguished quickly. There were no injuries reported.

Fire at furniture repair shop controlled by sprinkler system (New Bedford, MA)

Stray sparks from the finishing booth of a furniture repair shop ignited a large fire on Sunday afternoon. Seven of the building's fire sprinklers were individually activated from the heat of the fire which helped to contain the fire until firefighters arrived. There were no injuries reported.

Sprinklers prove effectiveness in unoccupied apartment unit fire (Los Angeles, CA)

A fire erupted in an unoccupied apartment unit on Sunday afternoon. The fire, which is still under investigation, was contained to that unit by the apartment's fire sprinkler system. The three-story apartment building's other residents were able to safely evacuate.

"The sprinklers did an excellent job of keeping the fire in check and not allowing [it] to spread," Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi. "If there were no sprinklers, this fire would have gone into the attic and a number of apartments."

Fire at apartment unit put out by sprinkler system (San Diego, CA)

An overnight fire that began in a third story apartment unit began when an oven in that unit burst into flames. The fire sprinkler in the unit activated and eliminated the flames; no injuries were reported.

** Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by reporter ABC 10 News, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system**

Sprinkler contains arson fire at high school (Havre de Grace, MD)

About 25 firefighters responded to a fire that was intentionally started in the boys' bathroom of Aberdeen High School on December 3. The afternoon blaze was set by a 16-year old male who ignited the paper towel dispenser; the fire resulted in 1,400 students to be activated. The school's fire sprinkler activated and kept the fire from spreading beyond the bathroom. Firefighters were able to put out the remaining fire within five minutes. There were no injuries reported.

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

Sprinklers extinguish fire at two-story multi-family residence (Riverside, CA)

A fire which broke out at a two-story apartment building was put out by the residence's fire sprinkler system on November 30. The afternoon fire began in a second-floor unit, and firefighters who responded to the scene found the sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the blaze. No one was reported injured in the incident.

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

Fire at commercial business nearly put out by sprinkler system (Nazareth, PA)

Fire sprinklers activated at Bangor Cork, a commercial retail business, on November 29 when a fire broke out at about 8 a.m. The sprinkler system extinguished almost the entire fire with the fire declared out about 10 minutes after the initial notification of the fire.

Sprinkler keeps fire from spreading at industrial facility (Grand Rapids, MI)

Grand Rapids firefighters responded to an afternoon fire which began on the afternoon of November 26. A compressor inside of the building came in contact with oil on the floor, which ignited the flames. Grand Rapids firefighters said that the fire continued up the wall, which had foam insulation, and despite employees' efforts, they were unable to extinguish the flames. The facility's fire sprinkler system then activated, suppressing the fire from growing any further; fire crews then arrived and put out the rest of the fire within 10 minutes. No one was injured in the incident.

Fire at Microtel Inn & Suites controlled with help from sprinkler system (Holland, MI)

The Holland Public Safety Fire Services were dispatched at about 2:12 a.m. Saturday morning to a fire alarm at Microtel Inn & Suites. Fire personnel found smoke present on the first floor and the sprinkler system activated when they arrived. The fire was extinguished within minutes of the first arriving engines. No civilian or uniformed injuries were reported. Chris Tinney, Captain of Fire Operations, says that the buildings fire protection features and a response time of just over five minutes by fire crews, were critical in reducing property damage safety for the motels occupants. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.

Sprinkler system controls arson fire at senior apartment building (Lancaster, PA)

City firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire, which was reported at 10:25 a.m. in the three-story Apartments at Mulberry Corners building. When firefighters arrived, the door to the woman's third-floor apartment felt hot, said Chief Tim Gregg. The woman, whose identity was not available, was alone in the apartment, Gregg said. Firefighters helped her to exit and she was taken to the hospital, to be checked for injuries. The marshal ruled the fire was "incendiary" in nature, Gregg said. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system in the apartment building, he said. The apartment did not have extensive damage.Gregg praised the sprinkler system, saying it's the "best fire safety device there is." One sprinkler head was able to contain the entire fire, he noted. The Apartments at Mulberry Corners is a Housing Development Corporation building that contains 25 apartments for seniors ages 62 and older.