Primary / Secondary School, School / University

St. Paul, AB, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at school

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The cause of a small fire that has affected some areas of Racette Jr. High School is under investigation, while the school remains open and classes continue.

On Feb. 25, St. Paul Education confirmed a fire had taken place at the Grade 6-9 school in St. Paul the night prior, mostly affecting the music room and cafeteria area.

“Cleanup is underway, and the school remains open. A few areas have been temporarily closed while restoration work is completed, and some classes were relocated,” says Bridget Severin, counselling and communications coordinator with St. Paul Education.

“We are grateful that our safety systems functioned exactly as intended, and we sincerely thank the École Racette School staff and division maintenance team for their quick response in addressing the aftermath. Their quick, coordinated efforts helped mitigate the damage and will support timely remediation,” explains Severin.

She noted that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

A letter was sent out by the school division to parents on Wednesday, notifying them of the fire.

The letter states, “The building’s sprinkler system was immediately activated, and the fire was quickly extinguished. The building was unoccupied at the time.”

The letter adds, “While the fire was contained, the activation of the sprinklers resulted in a buildup of water, primarily localized in the music room and cafeteria areas.” The school division’s maintenance team was on-site Wednesday, removing the excess water and beginning the clean-up process.

Music and physical education classes were being relocated until work has been complete.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

South Sioux City, NE – Sprinkler system activated for structure fire; No injuries reported

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Crews reported that a structure fire took place at the Ingredion Facility at 395 164th Street on Saturday afternoon.

Responders received updated information that black smoke was visible from the roof of the industrial complex, per a press release from South Sioux City Fire Chief, Doug Koopman.

The press release states, upon arrival, the first engine—on scene within approximately 7 minutes and 30 seconds of dispatch—observed smoke and flames visible from floors 3 through 6 of the dryer towers. South Sioux City Fire Department immediately requested mutual aid assistance from Sioux City Fire Rescue, Sergeant Bluff Fire Department and Dakota City Fire Department.

Emergency responders quickly reached the impacted floors and discovered that the fire was moving upward through a dryer vent toward the roof. The activation of the building’s fire sprinkler system, along with prompt firefighting measures, effectively contained and controlled the fire, stopping it from spreading further.

All employees were evacuated from the building promptly and safely, with no injuries reported among the plant staff or the firefighters on the scene.

Crews remained on scene for more than three hours to fully extinguish remaining hot spots and ensure the area was secure. The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental. An estimate of property damage and business impact has not yet been finalized.

Residential, Single Family Home

Germantown, MD – Fire at residential home quickly contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

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A kitchen fire Saturday afternoon at a home on Bubbling Spring Drive in Germantown was quickly contained after the residence’s sprinkler system activated, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) PIO Pete Piringer.

MCFRS units were dispatched around 4:15pm to the 14700 block of Bubbling Spring Drive for a reported kitchen fire. Crews encountered light smoke conditions, but the fire had already been controlled by the home’s sprinkler system. Four occupants safely evacuated the home, and no injuries were reported. Responding units included multiple engines, trucks, rescue squads, and battalion chiefs.

In a later update provided at 7:52pm, Piringer confirmed the fire was accidental in nature. Damage to the home is estimated at approximately $25,000. No additional hazards were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Essex, VT – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at apartment complex

Firefighters responded to a reported fire at the Susan’s Place Apartments Tuesday, February 17.

Essex Fire Department says they were dispatched to Susie Wilson Road at about 3:41 p.m. That call was upgraded to a dual response also from Essex Junction Fire Department.

Upon arrival, crews discovered the fire at an apartment on the second floor. More specifically, the fire was on the stove.

Fire crews say that the sprinkler system had kept the fire from spreading quickly. The fire was contained to the single apartment. Authorities later confirmed that the fire was cause by “unattended non-food items left rendering on the stovetop.”

College/University (on campus), School / University

Riverside, CA – Dormitory fire at university campus held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Authorities Saturday continued investigating a dormitory fire at the UC Riverside campus that displaced approximately 20 students.

The fire was reported around 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Glen Mor dormitory located at 400 W. Big Springs Road, where firefighters found smoke coming form a first-floor window of the five-story, apartment-style dormitory.

Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish a kitchen fire that was being held in control by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Crews then attempted salvage operations to limit water damage from the fire sprinkler system.

A total of 147 students were evacuated and 20 were being placed in alternative apartments, officials said.

The UCR fire marshal and the city of Riverside’s Fire Investigation Unit assumed the investigation.

Damage was estimated to be approximately $100,000 with much of the damage caused by the fire suppression system.

No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Peoria, IL – Fire at McDonald’s held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Fans of the Golden Arches in far North Peoria will have to go elsewhere after a fire closed a McDonald’s on Knoxville Avenue.

Peoria firefighters were called around 10:20 p.m. Sunday to the fast food restaurant at 10701 N. Knoxville, finding a deep fryer fire being kept in check by the sprinkler system.

Firefighters turned off gas, electrical and the sprinklers before extinguishing the remaining fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department said employees unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire with towels before firefighters arrived.

The fire was contained to the fryer and surrounding vent system.

There was smoke damage throughout the kitchen and water damage throughout the restaurant.

The restaurant was open at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes of firefighters arriving. They stayed on scene for around an hour to make sure the fire was out and to ventilate the building.

The McDonald’s will be closed until repairs are complete and the health department inspects the building.

Damage is estimated at $10,000. The cause of the fire was overheated grease in a deep fryer.

Apartment Building, Residential

Princeton, WV – Sprinkler system contains fire at apartment building

Update: According to Mercer County Emergency Manager Keith Gunnoe, the fire took place at Princeton Towers. The building’s sprinkler system contained the fire, however it flooded the building in the process. Residents of the apartment building have been temporarily relocated to the Karen Preservati Center.

At this time, no fatalities have been reported.

Original:

A structure fire has been reported at an apartment complex in Princeton.

According to Mercer County 911, multiple agencies were dispatched at 5:55 p.m.

Those responding agencies include: Princeton City Fire Department, Mercer County Emergency Management, Athens Volunteer Fire Department, Princeton Police Department, East River Volunteer Fire Department, and Princeton Rescue Squad.

Apartment Building, Residential

Portland, ME – Sprinkler system activated for dryer fire in apartment building; No injuries reported

Several tenants of an apartment building in Portland relocated Saturday afternoon due to a fire.

The Portland Fire Department responded to an apartment building at 100 State Street at 2:39 Saturday afternoon.

A dryer fire in a second-floor laundry room activated the sprinkler system, according to chief Dale Dyer. The sprinklers contained the fire and allowed crews to extinguish what was left with a water can, the department said in a social media post.

Several tenants were moved to different apartments in the building due to water damage, Dyer said.

There were no reported injuries, according to Dyer. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The department had advised people to be cautious in the area as crews worked at the scene. Police were diverting traffic at the intersection of State and Spring streets.

Apartment Building, Residential

Merrimack, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

On Friday, Merrimack Fire crews were dispatched to the Halstead Apartments in Merrimack for a fire alarm activation.

Upon entering the building, crews were met with representatives from building maintenance stating that they observed smoke coming from a unit on the fourth floor.

Crews observed smoke beginning to fill the stairwell as they were trying to reach the fourth floor. When crews finally arrived at the scene, they observed smoke banked down to the floor and the fire sprinkler system operating inside the apartment.

Fire officials began a search of the apartment to find any occupants who may still be there. Officials located one handicapped occupant in a fourth-floor apartment and evacuated them from the building.

The incident resulted in fire damage to the apartment, and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Merrimack Fire Marshal’s Office.

Merrimack Fire Crews are fortunate that this building had a properly installed automatic fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems which, once activated, provided an immediate alarm to the occupants of the building and to the emergency communications center. The building’s fire sprinkler system operated and extinguished the fire as designed. If these systems were not present and properly maintained, this incident could have resulted in far greater damage and possible injury to occupants.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Coeur D’Alene, ID – Fire at high school extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

An electrical fire led to an evacuation at Lake City High School on Saturday.

The fire started in a ceiling light fixture, according to a press release.

The school’s sprinkler system activated immediately and extinguished the fire within the light fixture, the release said.

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department responded and evacuated individuals who were in the building for a wrestling tournament.

Fire personnel turned off the sprinkler system and assessed the area to ensure the building was safe, the release said.

Once given clearance, students, families, and staff returned to the school and the wrestling tournament resumed.

There were no reported injuries.

LCHS is expected to be open Tuesday.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers