Laundry facility fire contained by sprinkler system (Ocala, FL)

Fire sprinklers controlled a fire at an industrial laundry facility early Thursday, February 27. In the building's processing center, a bin containing mop heads spontaneously combusted. The facility's fire sprinkler activated and kept the fire from processing beyond the processing center until fire crews arrived to put out the fire. There were no injuries reported.

Sprinkler keeps fire from spreading at assisted living facility (Everett, WA)

When combustibles came too close to a light bulb in the closet at an assisted living facility, a fire began. A little after 12 a.m. on Wednesday, fire crews arrived to the scene of the fire. A fire sprinkler, which was located inside of the closet, extinguished the blaze. All of the residents evacuated safely and without injury. 

Apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system (Ashland, OR)

At about 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, the Ashland Fire and Rescue responded to a call of a fire at an apartment building. Upon arrival, they discovered that the fire had been put out by the complex's fire sprinkler system. The fire began near a blender in one of the apartment units; investigators believe that it was caused by an electrical short. 

"This was an eight-unit residential facility. We could have had a fire that damaged all eight units," Ashland Fire Chief John Kams said. "It's exactly why we're trying to promote residential sprinklers."

There were no injuries reported.

Fire sprinklers limit damage at manufacturing facility (Davenport, IA)

At about 8:45 a.m. on February 24, a fire was reported at a John Deere manufacturing facility. The incident began in the dust collection unit for a plasma cutting machine, and the fire sprinkler activated in that area, containing the fire until fire crews arrived. 

The plant was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Personnel in the unaffected work areas were able to return within 20 minutes.

Manufacturing plant fire put out by sprinkler system (Quincy, IL)

A malfunctioning air compressor was to blame for the fire which started at a manufacturing facility on Monday morning. Fire crews arrived at 9:45 a.m. to find heavy smoke but no fire. 

Lt. Richard Kestner of the Tri-Township Fire Department said of the fire, "The sprinkler system had already put it out."

No injuries were reported.

Sprinkler keeps fire from spreading at supermarket (Redding, CA)

A fire which began in the dock area of a supermarket early Sunday morning activated the store's sprinkler system. The fire was contained by the sprinkler until fire crews arrived.

Firefighters at the scene said, "The properly maintained and functioning fire sprinkler system prevented a major fire and large loss to property."

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial reports show that it was caused by humans. There were no injuries reported.

Single sprinkler head controls apartment fire (Katy, TX)

*** FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED - NO MEDIA COVERAGE *** A three-story apartment building caught on fire on Monday afternoon after a candle was left unattended. When fire crews arrived to the apartment, they found that there was no fire showing from the outside of the building, and upon investigating the unit in which the fire began, discovered that the fire had been mostly extinguished by a single sprinkler head. There were no injuries reported.

Apartment fire squelched by sprinklers (Ft. Wayne, IN)

Investigators are looking into a fire which began in a bedroom apartment on Wednesday afternoon. The second floor unit was saved by the building's fire sprinkler, which activated and eliminated nearly the entire fire before fire crews arrived. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Fire at high school quickly doused by sprinkler system (Chicago, IL)

*** FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED - NO MEDIA COVERAGE *** An explosion occurred during a cooking class at a high school on Wednesday. The fire began when students ignited a gas burner; the fire then went up to the ceiling, at which point the fire sprinkler system eliminated the flames.

Sprinklers eliminate fire at apartment building (Eau Claire, WI)

A sprinkler system quickly put out a fire that began in an apartment unit on Monday morning. The firefighters who responded said that the fire began due to cooking. No injuries related to the fire were reported.

Sprinklers aid firefighters in fire at supercenter (Newport, RI)

Fire crews were called to a fire which broke out at a Wal-Mart store shortly after 5:30 p.m. The store's fire sprinkler system had eliminated the majority of the fire, and occupants were able to evacuate safely. The fire, which began in the paper towel and paper goods area of the store, is under investigation.

Chemical fire controlled by sprinkler system (Mansfield, TX)

A fire that began in a chemical vat at a manufacturing facility after 2 a.m. on Monday was contained by the building's fire sprinkler system. A small amount of acid was released, which was quickly contained. Firefighters arrived to extinguish the remaining flames with foam. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial reports indicate that it may have been electrical. No injuries were reported.

Hotel fire contained by sprinkler system (Hawley, PA)

A fire began on the roof of a hotel on Friday evening around 10:30 p.m. The hotel, which was booked to capacity, had a fire sprinkler system installed, which contained the fire. All of the hotel's occupants were able to evacuate safely.

Sprinkler helps save apartment building from fire (Knoxville, TN)

Firefighters responded to a fire at an apartment complex during the early hours of Saturday morning. After seeing flames outside of a sixth floor apartment unit, they came up to extinguish the blaze. They were met with smoke, with the fire sprinkler having put out the majority of the fire. No injuries were reported, and the fire's cause remains under investigation.

Apartment fire controlled by sprinkler system (Covington, LA)

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, firefighters responded to a fire that began in the attic of an apartment complex. The sprinkler system kept the fire contained until the fire crews arrived. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but initial reports show that the lighting was suspected. No one was injured in the incident.

Fire sprinklers save historic building (Barre, VT)

A historic building which houses several apartments had a fire begin in a fourth floor unit. The fire began when items that were cooking on the stove were left unattended. The sprinkler system, reacting to the heat from the fire, activated and eliminated the blaze. 

There were no injuries reported from the incident.

Fire sprinklers quickly douse fire at high rise apartment building (Vineland, NJ)

Firefighters were called to a fire at a high rise apartment building Wednesday afternoon. The origin of the fire was the kitchen in a seventh floor unit, and the sprinkler system quickly put out the fire. 

The sprinkler system "did everything it was supposed to," Lt. Tony Saltar said.

There were no injuries reported.

Country club fire contained by sprinkler (Tinley Park, IL)

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE - FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

On Wednesday, February 12, a fire began in the kitchen office of a country club. The fire sprinklers activated from the heat of the fire and were able to contain the fire to where it started. No injuries were reported, and the facility is still open for business. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Fire at supercenter put out by sprinkler system (Brooksville, FL)

The Brooksville Fire Department responded to a fire at the town's Wal-mart store on the morning of Tuesday, February 11. Fire officials report that one of the store's buffing machines was to blame for the ignition of the fire. The store's fire sprinkler system activated and helped to put out the fire within 15 minutes. All employees and customers were able to evacuate safely.

Sprinklers help extinguish fire at fast food restaurant (Delray Beach, CA)

An early morning fire at a Burger King restaurant is under investigation. The blaze, which began in one of the restaurant's deep fryers, had been largely extinguished by the building's fire sprinkler system. There were no reported injuries in the incident.

Single sprinkler head eliminates fire at retirement housing facility (Columbus, GA)

Investigators believe that the fire which began at Farrfield Manor, a retirement home, was started by unattended food that was cooking on the stove of one of its units. Thankfully, the heat from the fire activated a single sprinkler head, which then put out the fire. 

"It went out immediately," Captain Brian Russell of the Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services said.

No one was injured in the incident, and everyone was able to go back to their apartments shortly after the incident.

Fire squelched by sprinkler system in multi-story apartment building (Baton Rouge, LA)

A fire which began on the fifth floor of a downtown apartment building was eliminated by the building's sprinkler system. The majority of the the apartment's residents are seniors, and everyone was able to evacuate without injury. 

** Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by reporter Andrew Nomura and CBS 9News, which focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system **

Assisted living facility fire contained by sprinkler system (Oak Ridge, TN)

According to Tennessee fire officials, the residents of Park Ridge Assisted Living are grateful for the sprinkler system in their building after a fire began on Friday, January 31. Thanks to the fire sprinkler system, residents were able to safely evacuate the building, and the damage to the building was contained to one room.

"The damage to the building was minimal, and no residents were displaced," Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said. "Without the sprinkler system, we believe the outcome would be very different."

Since 2003 the state of Tennessee mandated that fire sprinkler systems be installed in all nursing homes. 

"The adoption of sprinkler system legislation has no doubt saved countless lives," said Assistant Commissioner for Fire Prevention Gary West. "The lifesaving capabilities of these systems can be the difference during a fire."

Sprinklers douse apartment fire started by small child (Vancouver, WA)

An eight-year old child started a fire in the bedroom of an apartment on Monday evening while using a lighter. The unit's fire sprinkler activated and put out the majority of the fire before fire crews arrived.

"Automatic fire sprinklers keep fires small," Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said. "The (loss) potential was really great."

Sprinklers assist firefighters in restaurant fire (Lake Oswego, OR)

A fire broke out at a restaurant in the middle of the night Tuesday. A single fire sprinkler activated and contained the fire until fire crews arrived and eliminated the rest of the blaze. According to firefighters, the sprinkler systems quick response saved the restaurant from far worse damage. Investigators report that the heat from the stove conducted through the wall and started the wood studs on fire.

Fire on college campus put out by sprinkler system (Eugene, OR)

Two campus buildings were evacuated after a small fire erupted in one of the buildings on February 3. The building's fire sprinkler put out the fire, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Sprinkler system saves 28 puppies from fire set by pet store owner (Las Vegas, NV)

Fire officials say a Las Vegas pet store owner is accused of setting her business ablaze, but all 28 puppies inside have been rescued.  Clark County Fire Department spokesman John Steinbeck says 35-year-old Gloria Lee was booked into the county jail on suspicion of first-degree arson after the fire early Monday morning at the Prince and Princess Puppy Boutique.  Steinbeck says in a statement issued early Saturday that the 28 puppies could have died if the sprinkler system hadn't activated and firefighters hadn't quickly extinguished the flames.  No people were injured.  County animal control officers took possession of the dogs, and they're currently being housed at a local animal shelter.