Successful Activations (December 2018 Edition)

DECEMBER 2018

Fire at a Dress Shop Stopped by Sprinklers

ROCKFORD, IL (December 24, 2018)—The Rockford Fire Department responded to an alarm at a local business, which sold dresses. Once inside, firefighters found smoke inside and an extinguished fire thanks to a sprinkler system. Fire damage was limited to a small area of merchandise, but the business and a neighboring business suffered water damage estimated at $15,000. There were no injuries. Source: Nexstar Broadcasting

Sprinklers Keep High School Fire in Check

WHEELING, IL (December 17, 2018)—A small fire at Wheeling High School was extinguished quickly thanks to the school’s sprinkler system. A fire was contained to a storage closet housing paint and lacquer near the school’s woodshop. There were no injuries and only minimal damage, with the closet cleaned and ready for use the same day. Student stayed outside for 20 minutes while fire crews cleaned up the scene. Source: Journal & Topics Online Media Group

Sprinklers Help Control Mattress Factory Fire

CHICAGO, IL (December 9, 2018) — No one was injured in a fire that broke out at a mattress factory in the West Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago. The fire quickly spread through the warehouse, but the fire was contained by water from both the activated sprinkler system from inside the building and from the firefighters trying to combat the flames. The cause of the fire is unknown. There were no injuries. Source: Chicago Tribune  

Sprinklers Prevent Structural Damage at Manufacturing Plant

ALTAMONT, IL (December 3, 2018) — A sprinkler system inside a machine at Irwin Telescopic activated to prevent the entire building from being destroyed. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the machine was still smoldering. According to Altamont Fire Department, a filter inside a dust collector in the south end of the building was the source of the fire. Employees were evacuated, and there were no injuries. There was an estimated $20,000 in damage to the dust collector. Source: Effingham Daily News

NOVEMBER 2018

Sprinklers Save Billions of Dollars in Product from Going Up in Flames

CHICAGO, IL (November 23, 2018) — A fire broke out in a large furniture warehouse in the Ford City neighborhood of Chicago during the early hours of Black Friday. Fire crews responded to United Furniture and discovered several couches on fire. The sprinkler system, where 20 heads fused, extinguished the flames, according to officials. More than 50 employees were evacuated but no one was injured and no one was transported from the scene for medical treatment. The cause of the fire is unknown. The sprinklers were credited in saving billions of dollars of product from being destroyed. Source: Chicago Tribune

Sprinklers Credited for Saving Popular Restaurant

ORLAND PARK, IL (November 22, 2018) A sprinkler system at the Patio restaurant is credited with limiting the damage caused by an early morning fire on Thanksgiving. The Orland Fire Protection District was dispatched to the scene for an activated fire alarm. Crews found smoke inside the restaurant. Upon investigation, a single sprinkler head extinguished the fire that started in the cooking oil fryers. Firefighters put out the remainder of the fire that was present in the air ducts above the fryers. A press release from the Orland Fire Protection District noted the important role sprinklers played in preventing the fire from spreading and destroying the restaurant. There were no injuries. Source: Orland Fire Protection District

Sprinkler System Saves South Elgin Apartment Building

SOUTH ELGIN, IL (November 20, 2018) — No one was injured when a fire damaged an apartment building in South Elgin. Upon arrival, firefighters did not see a fire. After a resident alerted the firefighters to water coming from under a garage door of an unoccupied building, they entered and saw smoke inside. The fire was found between the ceiling and floor of a two-story unit. A sprinkler pipe between the two levels was compromised by the fire, and melted. As a result, it released water to help keep the fire in check. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Source: Chicago Tribune

OCTOBER 2018

Sprinklers Prevent Fire from Spreading in Apartment Building

DEKALB, IL (October 22, 2018) — The DeKalb Fire Department responded to the fire, which started on the stove of a ground-floor apartment, in an apartment complex. Upon arrival, which was six minutes after the call came in, firefighters discovered the fire was extinguished on by the unit’s sprinkler system. The fire was an accident, and it was confined to one apartment. Water damage displaced an additional family. No injuries were reported. The estimated damage between the two apartments was $20,000. Source: The Daily Chronicle  

Sprinklers Control Fire at Paper Warehouse; Damage Estimated at $200,000

AURORA, IL (October 17, 2018) — The Aurora Fire Department responded to the WestRock Paper Warehouse after one of the machines on the second floor ignited. The facility’s in-house fire brigade attempted to extinguish the fire without success before they called 9-1-1. The building’s sprinkler system activated. The fire spread above the area where the sprinklers were located and caught parts of the roof on fire. One employee was treated on scene for smoke inhalation, but he declined to be taken to the hospital. The total estimated loss is $200,000. Source: Aurora Beacon News  

Sprinkler Extinguishes Fire at Suburban Chicago School

LAGRANGE, IL (October 16, 2018) — The LaGrange Fire Department responded to Cossitt Avenue School after a fire alarm was pulled in the morning. School officials reported custodial staff extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived. Upon investigation it was discovered that sprinklers put out the small fire. The cause remains unknown. All the students and staff were evacuated safely. There were no injuries. Source: Suburban Life

Sprinklers Prevent Warehouse Fire from Spreading

AURORA, IL (October 2, 2018) — Aurora firefighters responded to equipment that was on fire in a warehouse near Interstate 88 and the Aurora outlet mall. Upon arrival, firefighters found the one-story warehouse filled with smoke. After investigation, firefighters found a large hopper filled with foam padding that was on fire. A single sprinkler head activated which kept the fire under control until firefighters were able to completely extinguish it. The cause of the fire was that the machine overheated. There were no injuries. Source: Aurora Beacon News

SEPTEMBER 2018

Single Fire Sprinkler Saves Whiteside County East Courthouse

STERLING, IL (Sept. 13, 2018) — A single fire sprinkler activated and put out a fire in the bathroom of the 4th floor apartment of a 20-unit building above the Whiteside County East Courthouse. According to the Sterling Fire Chief Gary Cook, if it was not for the sprinkler, life and property would have been lost. The courtrooms were open for business the next day. Source: Sterling Fire Department Press Release

Sprinklers Prevent Major Damage at Peoria Sam’s Club

PEORIA, IL (Sept. 10, 2018) — One sprinkler head activated and kept a fire under control before crews arrived at a Peoria Sam’s Club. Fire crews were called the store and found light smoke coming from the side doors of the building. The fire originated in the kitchen area, but it remains under investigation. There were no injuries, and all employees and customers were safely evacuated. The store was temporarily closed, and there was an estimated $1 million in product damage. Source: Peoria Journal Star

2019-08-13T12:03:12-05:00December 6th, 2018|0 Comments

Successful Activations (Spring 2017 Edition)

Download a sprinkler save report to record your fire department’s latest successful fire sprinkler activations.

April 2017

Burbank Police StationBurbank Police Department Activation April 2017

 

Burbank Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the police station controlled a small fire in a lower-level locker room and confined it to a couple of lockers. The fire appears to have originated near an electrical outlet inside a locker. No injuries were reported and police functions continued without any issues.

Chicago Sun-Times

March 2017

The Foundry
Aurora Fire Department

A single fire sprinkler in the restaurant/bar fully extinguished a fire on the cooking surface in the kitchen. There was only an estimated $10,000 in damage and no injuries were reported.

Jim Rhodes, Captain,
Aurora Fire Department

E-Jay Plastics
Addison Fire Protection District

The fire sprinkler system activated to control a fire at the building for the thermoset materials manufacturer.

Brian Johnstone
K & S Automatic Sprinkler

February 2017

Residences of Uptown
Park Ridge Fire Department

Four sprinklers in a trash chute extinguished a dumpster fire located in the trash room of a parking garage for the condominium building. The exact cause of the fire was not determined, but improperly discarded smoking materials may have been the cause.

“This was a successful sprinkler activation, limiting damage to maybe $1,000 or less,” said Park Ridge Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen. “It’s definitely proof positive that those systems work — and worked well in this case.”

According to the fire department’s news release, the sprinkler system saved what could have been a large fire loss.  There was only minimal damage and no injuries were reported. The fire sprinkler system was placed back in service within a few hours.

City of Park Ridge website

Chicago Police Academy
Chicago Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the building held a fire in check in one room in the basement.
Northern Illinois Fireground Photos

Villas at Vinegar Hill
Springfield Fire Department

A fire sprinkler system put out a suspected arson fire in the Springfield Housing Authority’s 92-unit senior living apartment building, which is still being constructed.
WICS-TV

An estimated $3M in production loss prevented at printing/packaging facility

HUNTLEY, IL (February 4, 2017) — What started as a call to respond to a fire alarm, turned into multiple calls en route for reports of fire inside the H.S. Crocker Co., Inc. Upon arrival, firefighters with the Huntley Fire Protection District found smoke coming from the building. Once inside, crews discovered that six sprinkler heads activated to put out a fire, which started from a printing press. A machine operator noticed the fire while cleaning and attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher, then exited the building when the attempt was unsuccessful. According to Fire Marshal Ken Madziarek, the sprinkler system did what it was designed to do. “It controlled the fire, kept it from spreading from the machine of origin, and extinguished the fire, keeping the grounds safer,” said Madziarek. The company opened the next day, and an estimated $10 million dollars was saved in potential production losses. There were no injuries.

Source:  Ken Madziarek, Fire Chief, Huntley Fire Protection District

January 2017

Waste Management
DeKalb Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the recycling facility controlled a fire in the recycling materials sorting area until fire crews arrived for full extinguishment. No one was injured.
Daily Chronicle

IKEA
Schaumburg Fire Department

A single fire sprinkler contained a fire that was believed to be caused by a shorted electrical cord for a syrup machine in the first-floor food court. The building engineer was able to extinguish the small remaining flames with a fire extinguisher and there was only $4,000 in damage estimated.
Michael Rons, Fire Marshal,
Schaumburg Fire Department

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Bartlett Fire Protection District

A single fire sprinkler held a fire in place that was caused by a large commercial dryer in the laundry room of the Hindu place of worship. Damage was limited to the dryer and smoke damage was limited to the immediate area. No one was injured and occupants were able to return to the building with little disruption to normal activities.

“The fire sprinkler and alarm system worked the way the systems are designed. The alarm notified the occupants and the fire sprinkler system controlled the fire to keep it from spreading to the structure,” said Bartlett Fire Chief Michael Falese. “The building where the fire occurred is very large and unique. Without a fire sprinkler system, this could have been a very significant fire with millions of dollars of damage and a loss of a landmark facility. The BAPS staff is to be commended for their proper reaction to the activation of the fire alarm and the good maintenance of the fire protection systems.”

Mike Figolah, Assistant Fire Chief,
Bartlett Fire Protection District

State Beauty Supply
Rockford Fire Department

The sprinkler system in the store extinguished a fire caused by incense accidentally left burning. No one was in the store at the time of the fire and damage was limited to only $10,000.

“The damage was very well controlled by the sprinklers,” said arson investigator Mike Schnaper.

Rockford Register Star

Near North Village
Springfield Fire Department

The apartment building’s fire sprinkler system controlled a fire that began when someone set a blanket on fire in a fifth-floor hallway. No one was injured.

State Journal-Register

Crazy Buffet
Galesburg Fire Department

A single fire sprinkler helped extinguish a kitchen fire at the restaurant.
According to Fire Chief Tom Simkins in a news release, “Fire had started in a​ ​wok in the grill area. The manager attempted to extinguish the fire with three hand fire extinguishers. The hood system functioned properly and knocked the fire down on the grill. However, fire had extended outside the grill and was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.”

Register-Mail

Apartment Building
Peoria Fire Department

On New Year’s Day, the sprinkler system in the building fully extinguished a fire from overheated cooking oil, preventing any injuries from occurring.

Journal Star

October 2016

Dawn Foods
Manteno Community Fire Protection District

Before fire crews arrived on scene, a single fire sprinkler activated and contained a conveyor belt fire at the baking ingredients and products company.

Scott O’Brien, Fire Chief,
Manteno Community Fire Protection District

2023-10-05T11:33:04-05:00January 18th, 2017|0 Comments

Successful Activations (Fall/Winter 2016 Edition)

Download a sprinkler save report to record your fire department’s latest successful fire sprinkler activations.

December 2016

The Mather (High-Rise)
Evanston Fire Department

A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire after a stovetop burner was left on and ignited nearby boxes of food in a residence the 10-story senior living facility. According to fire officials, no one was injured and over $150,000 in damage was prevented thanks to the quick action of the fire sprinkler.

“A single fire sprinkler averted a potentially serious incident,” said Evanston Fire Captain John Roche.

Read the full story.
John Roche, Captain/Inspector,
Evanston Fire Department

Asbury Court Retirement Community
Des Plaines Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the five-story retirement community building kept a fire under control until fire crews arrived.
ChicagoFireMap.net

November 2016

McDonald’s
Bolingbrook Fire Department

The fast-food restaurant’s fire sprinkler system extinguished a fire caused by a fryer.
Bolingbrook Patch

Prestwick Senior Community
Galena Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the three-story senior living apartment complex put out a fire caused by a stove that was accidentally left on by a resident. No one was injured.
Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Ogilvie Transportation Center (High-Rise)
Chicago Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the 43-story commercial building and Metra train terminal extinguished a fire at a newstand on the second floor. There were no Metra delays and no one was injured.
Chicago Patch

Lawson House YMCA (High-Rise)
Chicago Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the hotel extinguished a trash can fire in a third-floor room. A small dog was found safe and no person was present in the room at the time of the fire.
Ed Prendergast, P.E.

Public Works Facility
Wheaton Fire Department

The fire sprinkler system in the city’s public works facility held a fire in check that began in the bed of a dump truck in one of the maintenance garage bays. No injuries were reported and the building was open again that morning.
Read the full story.
ChicagoFireMap.net

Park Hill Cleaners
Orland Fire Protection District

The fire sprinkler system in the dry cleaners extinguished a fire that was intentionally set to toilet paper rolls by a young man. No injuries were reported.
Michael Schofield, Fire Chief,
Orland Fire Protection District

October 2016

Presby Hall Parking Garage (University of Illinois)
Champaign Fire Department

Fire sprinklers controlled a fire caused by a brisket being grilled on a cooking unit in the parking garage.
The Daily Illini

South Chicago YMCA of Metro Chicago
Chicago Fire Department

A fire sprinkler in a hallway of the building activated to contain a fire to the apartment of origin.
Dan Kennedy

2023-10-05T11:27:58-05:00December 8th, 2016|0 Comments

Fire Sprinklers Prevent Major Fire at Lawson House YMCA Residential High-Rise

On November 18, fire sprinklers controlled and extinguished a fire in a trash compactor room at the Lawson House YMCA at 30 West Chicago Avenue in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The 24-story residential high-rise, which was built in 1934, is the largest single-room occupancy supportive housing facility in the Midwest with nearly 600 apartment units.

“Some of the residents in the low-income building are formerly homeless, so a fire that could potentially displace them again would be devastating. Fire sprinklers saved the day for the hundreds of people that live there,” says Tom Lia, executive director of the nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board.

Lia also notes that the fire sprinkler save is a good reminder to Chicago high-rise building owners that the city’s deadline to retrofit high-rises with fire sprinklers by January 1, 2017, is fast approaching.

2023-10-05T11:34:24-05:00November 18th, 2016|0 Comments
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