Sprinkler system puts out fire at apartment (Windsor, NS, Canada)

At 9:30 a.m. on August 28 a fire was reported in the unit of an apartment complex. Fire crews arrived to find that the fire had been extinguished by the unit's fire sprinklers.

Windsor Fire Department Deputy Chief Jamie Juteau said about the fire, "Sprinklers knocked it down, which is perfect. They worked very well."

The location of the fire was in the kitchen, and fire crews believe the source was a plugged in toaster. All occupants were able to evacuate safely 

Fire extinguished by sprinkler system at grocery store (Northborough, MA)

A wok in the Asian food department of a grocery store started a fire the morning of August 27, and firefighters were called to the scene. When they arrived, the fire had already been eliminated by the store's fire sprinkler system and a cooking fire suppression system. Occupants were able to evacuate the building unharmed, and no structural damage to the building occurred. 

Sprinkler system suppresses fire at apartment (Brown Deer, WI)

Fire crews responded to a fire in an apartment complex and discovered that the fire had been extinguished by the building's fire sprinkler. The resident stated that the fire had started when she had fallen asleep while cooking something on her stove. Her daughter and she evacuated without injury. 

Sprinklers control fire at apartment building (Alabaster, AL)

A second floor apartment building caught fire the afternoon of August 22, and two fire crews arrived to the scene. The fire sprinkler activated and contained the fire, which is now believed to have started due to unattended cooking materials on the stove. No one was injured in the fire, and no structural damage occurred thanks to the fire sprinkler activation. 

***Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by AL.com and journalist Martin Reed, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system.***

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at suspicious fire at restaurant (West Shore, BC, Canada)

An early morning fire erupted at a restaurant that authorities are slating as suspicious. Fire sprinklers activated, which along with fire crews, contained and suppressed the fire. There were no injuries reported.

Sprinklers contained an intentionally set fire at apartment (Racine, WI)

A fire which began the afternoon of August 20 on the seventh floor of an apartment tower is being investigated as intentionally set. The apartment building's fire sprinkler system activated and contained the flames until fire crews arrived. There were no injuries reported from the fire.

Fire put out by fire sprinkler at manufacturing plant (Fond Du Lac, WI)

A manufacturing plant had a fire erupt in an oven in the painting line on the evening of August 20, and the plant's fire sprinkler system extinguished the flames before fire crews arrived. No injuries were reported.

Sprinkler system suppresses fire at apartment (Middletown, CT)

Occupants of an apartment were evacuated during the early morning hours on August 19 due to a fire reported on the third floor. The fire was contained by the building's fire sprinkler system; fire crews arrived to put out the remaining blaze. No injuries were sustained in this incident, and the fire is still under investigation.

***Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by the NBC Connecticut and journalist Stephanie Jimenez, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system.***

Damage minimized at fabrication plant thanks to fire sprinkler system (Mundelein, IL)

*** FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED - NO MEDIA COVERAGE *** A fire which broke out in a metal fabrication plant on Friday, August 16 was limited, and the credit is being given to the building's fire sprinkler system. A spark which occurred while grinding metal ignited the exhaust system filters, and the fire sprinklers extinguished the fire. The damage was limited to some product, and employees were able to resume work the same day.

Sprinklers control fire at commercial building (Falmouth, ME)

An afternoon fire began August 18 in the basement of a 30,000 square foot commercial building, and the responding fire crew is giving the building's fire sprinklers credit for limiting the damage. According to Falmouth Fire Chief Howard Rice, Jr., one sprinkler head activated and controlled much of the fire that began in near the hot water heater in the basement; firefighters were able to extinguish the remaining fire in 15 minutes. There were no injuries reported.

Fire sprinkler system aids firefighters in suspected arson fire (Amherst, NY)

A fire that broke out in a department store on the afternoon of August 15 is now being ruled as "suspicious" by the Amherst Police Department. A stack of men's shorts spontaneously caught on fire, and the store was evacuated while the store's fire sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading. There were no reported injuries from the incident, and the store was slated to open the following day.

*** Blog Editor's Note: Tell us what you think of the coverage by WKBW News and Megan Erbacher. Only the substantial heat from potentially deadly and damaging fire will operate a fire sprinkler, not smoke. Also, the sprinkler saved the store from experiencing a much larger fire, where the damage would have been much worse, and could have possibly caused injury or loss of life. ***

Sprinklers prove effectiveness in apartment fire (Concord, CA)

A fire that started in an apartment the morning of August 14 was quickly limited by the unit's fire sprinklers and responding fire crews. According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the fire sprinklers saved the apartment from the fire which most likely began from embers from a barbecue on the balcony. There were no injuries reported.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters in grocery store fire set by arsonist (Vallejo, CA)

Fire crews responded to a call of a supermarket fire on August 14. When they arrived, the fire had already been extinguished by the store's fire sprinkler system. Investigators report that an arsonist had attempted to start a paper towel holder on fire. There were no injuries reported.

Sprinkler system suppresses fire at textile rental business (Tucson, AZ)

A pile of rags spontaneously combusted at a textile rental business during the early morning hours of August 15. An employee witnessed the smoke and fire and notified the local fire department. Responding fire crews reported that it was fortunate that the businesses fire sprinklers activated and minimized the damage.

Fire sprinklers show effectiveness in winery fire (Kenwood, CA)

On the morning of August 14, a fire broke out in a freezer located in a winery. The fire sprinkler contained the flames, leaving little fire damage, according to Fire Captain Daren Bellach. Bellach said, "The sprinklers went off and held the fire in check like they're supposed to."There were no injuries reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sprinklers make the difference in manufacturing plant fire (Prescott, AZ)

When a fire broke out in a manufacturing plant the afternoon of August 13, several fire crews came out to suppress the flames. The origin of the fire was in the ventilation system behind a sanding machine, and the flames climbed up the wall to the ceiling. Two sprinkler heads activated and contained the blaze.

Fire Marshall Rick Chase said, "Without those sprinkler heads going off, it could have easily been really bad." 

There were no injuries. 

Sprinklers control fire at automobile dealership (Hardeeville, GA)

The fire that began in a van in an automobile dealership's showroom is under investigation according to representatives at the dealership. The fire began the morning of August 14, and it was quickly contained by the fire sprinkler system in the building. The damage was limited to the one vehicle, which representatives suspect had an electrical shortage. There were no injuries reported.

Fire sprinklers contain hotel fire (Santa Maria, CA)

There were no injuries in a fire that began in the laundry room of a hotel the evening of August 12. Firefighters discovered smoke coming from the laundry room; the hotel's fire sprinkler had contained the flames in the room. Investigators are searching for the cause of the fire.

Damage minimized at waste facility thanks to fire sprinklers (Vandalia, OH)

An early morning fire at a solid waste facility set off the building's alarm, drawing four fire departments to the building. They found that the facility's fire sprinkler system had activated on a trash fire, leaving the fire smoldering in a big pile of waste. According to the Vandalia Fire Chief Chad Follick the sprinklers kept the fire from damaging the waste facility. No one was injured.

Sprinklers control fire at apartment building (Salt Lake City, UT)

An afternoon fire occurred in an apartment building on August 9, and the unit's fire sprinkler kept the fire from spreading beyond the bedroom of that unit. The fire's cause is being investigated.

Fire sprinklers prove worth in restaurant fire (Des Moines, IA)

Fire crews arrived to a fire reported at a restaurant the evening of Sunday, August 11. Officials now believe the fire began as a grease fire in the kitchen and then quickly came up the stove hood into the attic. An employee who witnessed the incident reported that the fire sprinklers activated almost immediately, suppressing the flames.

"The attic sprinklers, quite frankly, saved the entire building," Whitsell said. "There are at least 16 businesses in the strip mall. If it wasn't for attic sprinklers, several wouldn't have opened today or for a very long time. They held the fire in check, they did their jobs."

There were no injuries from the incident.

Sprinkler system puts out fire at daycare (Clearfield, PA)

A fire occurred at approximately 3:00 on the morning of August 9 at a child care center. The building's fire sprinkler system extinguished the fire. According to reports, the fire began when a laundry basket full of rags combusted; the police are ruling the fire as accidental. No one was injured as a result of the fire.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at liquor store fire (Highland Park, IL)

An elderly driver crashed through a liquor store window setting fire to display boxes of vodka and gin, reported the Chicago Tribune. Anderson said she believes her car’s accelerator stuck and caused her to jump the curb into the storefront, according to the Tribune. Police are still investigating the cause. The store's sprinkler system helped firefighters get control of the morning fire.

Sprinkler system suppresses fire at retirement home (Amarillo, TX)

On the morning of August 8, a fire broke out on the second floor of a retirement home. According to the responding fire department, the fire sprinkler system worked perfectly to contain the fire that was caused by cooking. There were no injuries reported.

Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at amusement park (St. Louis, MO)

A fire began at a food card in a Six Flags amusement park the morning of August 9. The park's fire sprinkler system suppressed the fire, and the responding fire crews report that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were no injuries reported, and the park did not have to shut down as a result of the fire.

Fire contained by fire sprinklers on hospital campus (Houston, TX)

Fire sprinklers kept a fire that began in the mechanical room of a building on hospital grounds was controlled by the building's fire sprinkler system. Fire crews were able to put out the remaining flames, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sprinklers control fire in at airport (Orlando, FL)

A fire broke out in the baggage area of Orlando International Airport on August 4. The cause of the origin of the fire is still under investigation, but the fire, which began by curbside check-in and reached further down the baggage belt, was suppressed by fire sprinklers and firefighters. No one was injured during the incident.

Fire sprinklers prove worth in manufacturing fire (Caldwell, ID)

Fire crews responded to a fire at a manufacturing facility on the morning of August 8. The cause of the fire was the spontaneous combustion of flammable liquid soaked cloths in a garbage can within the facility. According to Andrew Carter of the Caldwell Fire Department, "the sprinkler system was the hero," having kept the fire from spreading. About 200 employees went back to work shortly after the fire was extinguished by fire crews.

Sprinkler system extinguishes on college campus (Durham, NH)

A fire that began in the Physics Department on the University of New Hampshire campus was quickly suppressed by the building's fire sprinkler system. A member of the faculty had been using isopropyl alcohol to clean an item in the room when a chemical reaction occurred, creating the fire. No other chemicals that were contained in the building caught on fire, and no injuries occurred.

Sprinkler system aids firefighters at apartment fire set by arsonist (Boston, MA)

A Brighton woman is facing arson and attempted murder charges following a fire at a three-story building Sunday morning.  Sprinklers in the brick apartment building were activated and aided fire crews in their effort to get the blaze under control.  In the process of battling the blaze, firefighters had to rescue a man and woman, both 21 years old, and bring them down a ladder to safety from the third floor, according to Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

Sprinklers make the difference in apartment fire (Woodbury, MN)

A fire broke out in the kitchen of an apartment, and the building's fire sprinkler activated, containing the flames to the one apartment unit. Fire crews are giving the credit to the unit's fire sprinklers for keeping the fire from destroying other units.

"It could have been ugly," Woodbury fire department Cmdr. John Wallgren said.

No injuries were reported.

Damage minimized at apartment building thanks to fire sprinkler system (Madison, WI)

The Madison Fire Department reported that a single fire sprinkler prevented major damage to a nine-unit apartment building the morning of August 1. Firefighters arrived to the apartment to find a small fire that had been limited by the building's fire sprinkler. There were no injuries from the incident.

High rise fire suppressed by sprinkler system, keeps fire from spreading (Bellevue, WA)

At 10:44 a.m. a fire was reported on the ninth floor of the Elements Too high-rise on the 900 block of 112th Avenue Northeast.  Firefighters arrived in three minutes, and made their way to the ninth floor. The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading to other units. The cause of the fire has been determined to be discarded smoking material into a wastebasket spreading to the mattress. No residents or firefighters were injured in the fire.

Sprinkler system helps control fire at apartment building (Miami Beach, FL)

A fire at a Miami Beach apartment building displaced at least 55 people Wednesday night, Miami Beach fire rescue said.  Fire rescue contained the blaze in a single unit at the Mantell Plaza, 255 W. 24th St. Fire rescue was called about 6:30 p.m. to respond to a “suspicious fire” in a third-floor apartment at the Art Deco-style building off Collins Avenue. The sprinkler system activated.

** Blog Editor's Note - Only the substantial heat from a potentially deadly fire will activate a fire sprinkler, not smoke.  Tell us what you think of the perspective of journalist Lance Dixon with the Miami Herald and fire rescue spokesman Adonis Garcia.  The sprinkler system helped limit the damage in this fire and potentially saved lives. ***

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/31/3535149/fire-in-miami-beach-hotel-displaces.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/31/3535149/fire-in-miami-beach-hotel-displaces.html#storylink=cpy

Fire sprinkler system helps contain blaze at dry cleaner (Pleasanton, CA)

A dry-cleaning business at a strip mall caught fire Wednesday, but a sprinkler system inside the building kept the blaze from spreading and causing even more damage to the surrounding stores, a battalion chief said. The blaze began around 5:47 p.m.  Fire crews saw heavy smoke coming from the business when they arrived, but the fire sprinklers inside the store were activated after clothes on the conveyor system caught fire, Neiman-Kimel said. Those sprinklers kept the fire at bay until crews were able to get inside and extinguish it, Neiman-Kimel said.

Fire at senior living center contained with help of sprinkler system (Winston-Salem, NC)

The Winston-Salem Fire Department responded to a call of smoke in a hall and flames in the ceiling shortly after 7:30 p.m. Firefighters found a recliner in the room on the room on fire. The facility’s sprinkler system largely contained the fire and firefighters had the blaze extinguished in about five minutes, said Battalion Chief Frank Stowe.

Sprinklers keep fire from spreading at police station (Portsmouth, NH)

Police say the heavy black smoke started coming from the station's indoor firing range just before 8 p.m. Tuesday. Sprinklers kept the fire from spreading, and firefighters quickly determined that the fire was located in the rubber backstop of the firing range. No one was hurt.