Category Archives: Grocery Store / Super Center

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Memphis, TN – Sprinkler system contains arson fire at Walmart

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An intentional fire set inside a Memphis Walmart caused nearly $2 million in content loss, the Memphis Fire Department said.

On Sunday, the MFD responded to a fire at the Walmart on Austin Peay Highway at 3:11 p.m.

Qwanesha Ward of the MFD said that the fire was intentionally set on Aisle 18 near the electronics department and was contained by the store’s sprinkler system.

However, the fire still led to $1.8 million in content loss and $10,000 in building loss. The store has smoke and water damage.

MFD said that the store will likely be closed until the end of the week.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Canton, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at grocery store; No injuries reported

The Hy-Vee store in Canton remains closed after a fire in a storage area Sunday morning.

At 11:22 a.m. Sunday, the Canton Fire Department responded to Hy-Vee Grocery store at 825 N. Main St. in Canton, for report of a fire in the back of the store. Upon arrival, firefighters found an upstairs storage area on fire with smoke and flames showing.

Hy-Vee personnel had evacuated the building prior to fire Department arrival.

Water supply was established and a handline was used to apply water to the fire. The building’s sprinkler system had activated and was successful in limiting fire spread until fire department personnel were able to extinguish the fire.

The fire was contained to the original storage area. No injuries were reported as a result of this fire.

The fire was brought under control within 12 minutes of the first fire engines arriving on scene, with fire crews remaining on scene till 12:56 p.m. conducting overhaul and fire investigation.

The store has been released by the fire department back into Hy-Vee personnel custody. The store remains closed at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Canton Fire Department’s investigation team.

The amount of damage to the building and contents is still being evaluated.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Newark, DE – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at shopping center; No injuries reported

Fire damaged a recently renovated grocery store in Newark, filling the building with smoke and activating the sprinkler system late Sunday.

The fire was reported at approximately 10:45 p.m. at the Acme in The Grove at Newark, formerly known as College Square Shopping Center.

Firefighters arrived to find debris on fire in one of the aisles. The sprinkler system contained the fire, which was extinguished by firefighters.

The store was open at the time of the fire, but no one was injured.

Deputy Chief A.J. Schall said there was damage to one aisle and likely smoke and water damage throughout the store.

The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, though reports from scene indicated that two juveniles ignited paper towels and then ran out of the store.

The fire came just weeks after Acme completed substantial renovations to the store, including new refrigerator cases, new flooring and a new floral department.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Baton Rouge, LA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

The Walmart on Burbank Drive will be closed “indefinitely” after someone intentionally set a fire inside, the St. George Fire Department said Monday.

Just before 8 p.m. Sunday, the department was called to the store and found it had been evacuated. They were told the fire broke out in the middle of the building and “many sprinkler heads had been activated.”

Crews were able to find the fire and put it out within minutes, the department said. No one was injured.

The fire, smoke and sprinklers caused enough damage to close the store indefinitely, the department said.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Dayton, OH – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Walmart; No injuries reported

The Beavercreek Walmart will reopen Wednesday following a Monday evening fire set inside the store.

The Beavercreek Twp. Fire Department responded around 5:45 p.m. to the store at 3360 Pentagon Blvd. after staff and customers reported flames in the craft section and smoke throughout the store.

The store was immediately evacuated and there were no reports of injuries. Although the store remained closed Tuesday, Walmart said it was serving pharmacy customers Tuesday through curbside pickup.

The fire was contained by the automatic sprinkler system and extinguished quickly by firefighters.

Beavercreek police on Tuesday identified two juveniles as suspects, but no further information is available, police said.

“We are thankful for the swift action of first responders Monday night and for our associate’s work to get the store ready to reopen for the community Wednesday morning,”

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Forsyth, MO – Sprinkler system activated for fire outside grocery store

A straw bale fire damaged a grocery store in Forsyth. The Country Mart store temporarily closed.

Firefighters responded to the grocery store on Tuesday at 3:15 a.m. Investigators say the fire started in the straw bales outside the store. The fire spread into the store. The sprinkler system knocked down the fire. An employee inside the store called 911. Forsyth Fire Chief Nathan Bower says whether it’s your home or your store, you need to be careful about how you’re storing hay and straw.

“Watch where you put them things close to outlets, candles, extension cords,” said Bower. “And obviously bulk items like this they shoot really shouldn’t be stored next to whether it’s a store or whether your house, they should be stored away from it, because if they do accidentally catch on fire, at least they’re burning outside of that versus next to a structure.”

Frequent shoppers like Jovita Dublin worry they must travel farther for groceries.

“When we noticed that there had been a fire here, I couldn’t believe it,” said Dublin. “It’s hard. Like for us, you know, like my husband, he’s got problems, and he can’t drive that far. “

It took 22 firefighters from three departments to work the four-and-a-half-hour fire. The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

Store management is working with the health department to reopen the store. The drive-thru pharmacy remains open.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Pulaski, WI – Sprinkler system activated for fire at food center

Emergency teams responded to a fire Monday morning at Super Ron’s Food Center in Pulaski. Police were notified first and upon arrival, officers learned that the fire was contained to the front office and was extinguished due to efforts by the owner. Police say the fire caused the sprinkler system to activate.

Police evacuated the building due to heavy smoke. Pulaski Tri-County Fire Department firefighters were able to turn off the water flow and checked for additional hot spots.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but police say it is not suspicious in nature.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Fresno, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire inside grocery store; No injuries reported

Shoppers and staff were evacuated after a fire started inside the Foods Co. at First and Shields Ave.

Fresno Fire responded at about 8 a.m. Sunday.

Battalion Chief Kirk Wanless said the initial call for service was someone setting something on fire inside the store.

By the time firefighters arrived, smoke had filled much of the store and fire was found in an aisle.

The store’s sprinkler system activated as firefighters were about to go in.

Firefighters were able to search the entire store and get everyone out. No one was injured.

Officials say they suspect the fire was arson and are following up on all leads.

The Fresno County Department of Public Health was called to inspect the food damaged from the fire and smoke to see what, if anything, is salvageable.

A staff member at Foods Co. said they cannot comment on when the store will reopen.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Minneapolis, MN – Sprinkler system activated for overnight arson fire at Target

Minneapolis police say a burglary suspect confessed to starting a fire inside the Target Express on Lake Street after breaking in to the store early Tuesday morning. 

Police spokesman Officer Garrett Parten says squads were dispatched to the store at 1300 West Lake Street around 3:40 a.m. after reports of a business burglary. Responding officers noticed a damaged door, went into the Target and found a suspect inside. While that man was being booked he reportedly told police he had started a fire inside a garbage can. 

Parten says the fire activated a sprinkler inside the store. 

Fire crews arrived about 5 minutes later, laid down water lines and extinguished what little remained of the fire and subsequent hot spots. The building sprinklers were then shut down. 

At this point there are no reports on the extent of water damage caused by the incident. 

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Peachtree City, GA – Sprinkler system activated for arson fire at Walmart

A 14-year-old girl in Georgia was charged with arson after being accused of setting a fire inside Walmart.

The Peachtree City Police Department believes the teen intentionally started a fire in the paper goods aisle of the store, WGCL reports.

According to police, officers executed a search warrant at the 14-year-old’s home, where they said she admitted to starting the fire.

Investigators said the girl stated no motive behind setting the fire. It was said to be her impulsive decision.

Authorities said the fire was set around 7:20 p.m. Aug. 24. It took firefighters throughout the night to get the fire under control. It was finally extinguished around 4 a.m. the following day.

Although the store’s sprinkler system functioned as designed, the store suffered extensive damage to the interior and the roof.

Three Peachtree City police officers who evacuated the store had to be treated for smoke inhalation, but no one was seriously injured.

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