Apartment Building, Residential

Mankato, MN – Sprinkler extinguishes fire at off-campus apartment; No injuries

A sprinkler system is being credited for extinguishing an apartment fire near MSU’s campus.  Mankato Public Safety was called to 1801 Monks Avenue Thursday night just after 11 o’clock.  Firefighters found a stove top fire that had been put out by an active sprinkler. No one was injured.

They say there is no such thing as a perfect fire, but this is probably as close as you could come.  Mankato Fire Deputy Director Jeff Bengtson says, “Because of the sprinkler head location and function, it was able to extinguish the fire prior to our arrival. So instead of dealing the disasters of a fire…firefighters were able to focus on clean up and helping to handle water damage.”  Damage from the water extended to the apartment unit and the two floors below.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Other-Government/Military

South Bend, IN – Sprinkler system activates to help control arson fire at work release detention center

Two men who were inmates at the DuComb Center have been charged with arson for allegedly setting a fire at the center in August.  South Bend Fire responded to a fire at the DuComb Center on W. Lathrop Street on August 17.  Firefighters located the fire in the ceiling of a bathroom at the facility.

The building’s sprinkler system was activated and firefighters reported heavy smoke in the building.  The fire was extinguished by firefighters.  An investigation into the cause of the fire determined someone lit a piece of cloth and placed it above the ceiling tiles.

The damage was estimated at over $100,000.  Surveillance video showed between 11:09 p.m. and 11:35 p.m., inmates Austin Lamberson and Theodore Carney went into the bathroom, stayed for a short time, then walked out, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Investigators said Lamberson was carrying a white cloth when he walked into the bathroom, but was not carrying it when he walked out.  The video also allegedly showed Lamberson carry a blanket into the bathroom, returns saying, “It’s still going, I don’t need to put that up there,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

A short time later, Lamberson returned to the bathroom with the blanket and left without the blanket, according to the probable cause affidavit.  A short time later, an employee discovers the fire in the ceiling.  Lamberson and Carney are each charged with one count of arson.

Other - Retail, Retail

Willingboro, NJ – Arson fire at butcher shop contained by sprinkler system

A surveillance video of a pair who sprayed what appeared to be an accelerant and lit a match to start a fire in a store was posted on social media Tuesday by police.  This video shows an alleged arson at The Meat Stop in Country Club Plaza in the 300 block of Beverly Rancocas Road on Aug. 26. The incident occurred after the front door window of the store was smashed and the two entered at 5 a.m., lit the fire and quickly left, Lt. Christopher Vetter said.

A store sprinkler system contained the fire and which was largely out by the time firefighters arrived, police said. The store, and some adjacent businesses sustained “significant” damage, Vetter said. The Meat Shop has not yet reopened.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Willingboro police at 609-877-3001 or the Citizen Tip Hotline at 609-877-6958.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kelowna, BC, Canada – Apartment balcony fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster says it is suspected the fire started when a cigarette butt was disposed of in a planter on the balcony by a resident at about 2:30 a.m. The peat in the planter ignited shortly before 5 a.m.  “But the good part of it is — and we are very big advocates of, not all buildings have them — is sprinklers on balconies,” he said. “The sprinkler activated and extinguished the fire as the guys got on scene. We didn’t actually spray any of our water on it.”  The fire caused significant damage to the balcony and vinyl siding, but was contained to that area.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Shelton, CT – Sprinkler system activates to contain restaurant fire

On 10/05/17 at 10:26 am the Huntington Co. #3, Echo Hose Co. #1 and the Pine Rock Co. #4 responded to a fire alarm sounding at the Red Lotus Restaurant #880 Bridgeport Avenue. Upon arrival firefighters found the occupancy filled with smoke and the fire sprinkler system activated. Further investigation by firefighters found a fire had occurred in a pot of food in the rear of the restaurant. The fire sprinkler head that activated kept the fire contained until firefighters arrived. The restaurant sustained smoke and water damage while adjacent stores sustained water damage. Two engines and one ladder truck responded.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Henrico, VA – Fire at cosmetics plant controlled with help from sprinkler system

The Henrico Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire at a cosmetic plant in the 2300 block of Darbytown Road early Monday.  Dozens of firefighters were called to the scene at the Fareva plant at 4:21 a.m. Fire officials said the blaze appeared to have started from a piece of machinery in the rear of the warehouse.  Fire officials said the sprinkler system helped contain the fire, but did not put it out. Crews cut holes in the roof to allow for ventilation.

At 6 a.m., fire officials said the fire was out and that crews will remain on the scene for at least a couple of more hours.  Fareva specializes in make-up products. The blaze was not expected to cause any major disruptions to production at the facility.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Cedar Rapids, IA – No injuries after sprinkler system puts out nursing home laundry fire

A fire in the laundry room of a Cedar Rapids nursing home was quickly extinguished Saturday night.The fire was reported at 10:37 p.m. at Living Center East, 1220 Fifth Ave. SE. When fire crews arrived, they found the building’s sprinkler system already had extinguished a fire in a basket in the laundry room. Firefighters determined the fire had not spread beyond the laundry basket and turned off the sprinkler system.  No one was hurt and no residents were displaced, fire officials said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Grapevine, TX – (No media coverage) Apartment fire caused by unattended cooking doused by sprinkler system

***No media coverage – Fire Department reported*** On October 1st, 2017 at 03:32 the Grapevine Fire Department was dispatched to the Montelena Apartments at 501 Turner street #622 for an alarm activation. The first on-scene fire crews arrived to find audible fire alarms activating with nothing showing. Apartment #622 on the second level was investigated and fire crews found a single side wall sprinkler head had activated and extinguished a fire on the stove. The cause of the fire was from unattended cooking. There was fire damage to kitchen cabinets around the stove and smoke damage to the ceiling above the stove. The single sprinkler head contained, extinguished the fire; saving lives and property on the same floor and below. Even though the fire alarms had sounded, residences in the affected fire apartment were still in their bedroom. Fire damages were estimated around at $4000 saving and protecting a property valued $33,450,000.

The numbers are accurate for repairs and value of building. The contents of the apartment was estimated on renters insurance of $10,000

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Kalamazoo, MI – (No Media Coverage) Fire damage minimized at paper plant thanks to sprinkler system

***No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported*** On Friday October 6, 2017 a sprinkler activated and successfully kept a paper manufacturing plant operational.

Paper from recycling collection points had been compacted into bales. The bales were awaiting to be made into pulp and were in transitional storage. A fire started within the bales. The sprinkler system activated and kept the fire minimized while employees of the Fire Brigade and Kalamazoo Public Safety arrived and overhauled the bales.

Due to the sprinkler system the plant remained in operation and the employees are still working making paper.

Dry Cleaner, Retail

Newark, NJ – Sprinkler system helps extinguish overnight fire at laundry business

A fire that started earlier in the day caused thousands of dollars in damage and temporarily closed Buckeye Linen Services.

The fire was reported around 11:10 p.m. Thursday. Crews remained on scene until about 1:45 a.m. Friday. 

Newark Fire Chief Pat Connor said the fire started in a dryer duct, spread to the attic and ultimately to the roof of the building on Jefferson Street. 

The building had a sprinkler system that activated and helped to extinguish much of the blaze.

Connor said there appears to have been a fire earlier in the day at the facility that crews at the building believed they had put out with fire extinguishers. However, that fire was not extinguished fully and likely caused the fire in the evening, he said.

There was significant damage to a portion of the building to the point where a structural engineer was called in to make sure the building was safe to occupy.

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