Sprinkler system contains fire at retirement home, 40 residents evacuate safely (Eugene, OR)

According to a fire department report, a small fire broke out about 12:15 p.m. in an imitation potted plant in a stairwell of the two-story building. That triggered smoke alarms and the building’s overhead sprinkler system.

Sprinkler system saves Uncle Ron's bar allowing Uncle Kracker concert to go on without delay (Lincoln, NE)

Fire Inspector Rick Campos says the fire was caused by an improperly disposed of match. The bar was not open at the time. Campos says owner Ron Tegtmeier lit a candle in his office and threw the match away in the garbage can, which later started on fire.

Campos says the fire was contained to the office because Uncle Ron's had a sprinkler system installed.

Fire in downtown Yakima quickly extinguished (Yakima, WA)

A piece of metal slipped into a paper processor, creating friction and igniting a small fire, Yakima Battalion Chief Mitch Cole said.

The fire set off the sprinkler system in the building, which was evacuated. Fewer than 10 workers were in the building at the time, Cole said.

Restaurant fire quickly managed by sprinkler system (Medford, OR)

McGrath's Fish House was evacuated just before noon after a small kitchen fire broke out in one of the vents above a stove, Medford Fire and Rescue officials said. The fire was quickly extinguished by a nearby sprinkler head, but patrons were evacuated as a precaution while fire officials inspected.

School fire extinguished by sprinkler system, students returned to class within the hour (Bracebridge, ON)

Students at Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School were evacuated briefly this morning following a fire in the school’s woodworking shop. The fire was reported at 10 a.m., and was soon extinguished by the school sprinkler system. Students were evacuated as a precaution, but returned to class within the hour.

No injuries were reported.

Sprinkler system limits fire damage to apartment garbage can (Bend, OR)

Tenants reported smoke and fire in the garage of a unit of the four-plex, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said. The building is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, and the garage fire was put out by a sprinkler head activation in the garage, Derlacki said. The fire was caused by a cigarette improperly discarded into a trash can that had paper in it, Derlacki said. The cigarette ignited the paper and spread to the shelf.

But thanks to the sprinkler, damage was limited to the garbage can and adjacent shelving unit, Derlacki said, estimating losses at just $500 to the building and $50 to contents. “Without the sprinkler system, this fire could have easily displaced the four families living in the building,” he said in a news release. Instead, he said, “All tenants of the building will be able to stay in their homes tonight.”

Sprinkler System extinguishes fire inside Pottery Barn Kids at Eastview Mall (Rochester, NY)

Firefighters say there was a small fire inside the store, but it was put out by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived.

Fire at apartment building extinguished by building's sprinkler system (East Bay, RI)

A small fire broke out inside an apartment at Franklin Court Independent Living Community at around noon on Friday, prompting “all available manpower” to be called to the scene. By the time firefighters arrived, the building’s sprinkler system had been activated and the fire had been extinguished.

Fire sprinklers helped douse blaze in strip mall, no injuries reported (Henderson, NV)

Authorities say an automatic fire sprinkler system helped douse a blaze in a dry cleaning business in a strip mall in Henderson.

Firefighters credit sprinklers with containing apartment fire (Lugoff, SC)

"This fire had the potential to be a major fire affecting a lot of people, including the safety of our firefighters, if the sprinklers were not there to stop the fire from spreading throughout the apartment and adjoining apartments," said Lugoff Fire Chief Dennis Ray.

Sprinkler system puts out fire at middle school, 1,300 students and 80 staff evacuate safely (Temple, AZ)

A fire at Tempe's Kyrene Middle School caused the evacuation of about 1,300 students and 80 staff members on Thursday morning. A teacher noticed smoke coming out of a classroom at the school moments before the sprinkler system was activated and the fire was put out. The fire was caused by an electrical motor failure in the skylight system. One student complained about breathing problems, but no other injuries were reported, according to the city of Tempe.

Fire sprinklers prove effectiveness in athletic club dryer fire (Lexington, KY)

Firefighters rushed out to the Lexington Athletic Club early Thursday morning, but sprinklers did their job before crews even arrived. Officials say towels caught fire inside a dryer. The sprinkler system inside the laundry room doused the flames. There were no reported injuries.

Sprinkler system doused refrigerator fire at the University of Texas chemistry building (Austin, TX)

Crews were called to Welch Hall on the University of Texas campus shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday. By the time they arrived, Lieutenant Jim Baker with AFD said sprinklers had already doused the flames of a refrigerator on fire. Since the refrigerator housed dangerous chemicals, the call was upgraded to a hazardous materials fire.

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at church preschool (Conyers, GA)

Kids Zone on the campus of Church in the Now was evacuated Wednesday evening after a fire started in the back of a refrigerator. Rockdale County Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Sharon Webb said the fire activated the building's sprinkler system which extinguished the fire.

Webb said none of the occupants was injured.

Sprinkler system contains apartment fire at Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa)

Authorities say a meth lab explosion caused a fire at a Loras Collage apartment building early Wednesday. The sprinkler system went off and damage was limited to the bathroom.