Fire Sprinkler Saves (Spring 2021 Edition)

June 22, 2021
PARK FOREST, IL – One fire sprinkler extinguished a cooking fire at Victory Centre of Park Forest, a senior housing apartment community. According to Captain Phillip Myers, Park Forest Fire Department, the resident was cooking, left the kitchen and fell asleep. The fire started on the stove and traveled up the cabinets. The sprinkler closest to the fire activated.

While the fire department responded, building maintenance accessed the apartment, found the occupant asleep in the bedroom and assisted the occupant out of the apartment. Fire crews arrived to find light smoke and the fire extinguished.

“The sprinkler stopped the fire and saved a life. If this building was not protected, the outcome could have been much different,” Myers said.

The occupant was checked by EMS and did not need further care. The fire sprinkler system was back in service the same day. There was no damage to the other 94 apartments and no injuries were reported.

Source:  Fire Sprinkler Save Report submitted by Phillip Myers, Captain, Park Forest Fire Department

June 19, 2021
ADDISON, IL  – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a multi-tenant commercial occupancy. The Addison Fire Protection District responded to a fire alarm and found static smoke. One fire sprinkler suppressed a fire that started when a pallet of cardboard was too close to lighting. The estimated damage was $500. No injuries were reported.

Source: Sprinkler Save Report submitted by Mike Toika, Fire Marshal, Addison Fire Protection District #1.

June 14, 2021
AURORA, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire in a storage room near a loading dock at a Walgreens. According to Battalion Chief Jim Rhodes, Aurora Fire Department, Walgreens employees reported that the sprinkler system activated. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the storage room near the loading dock and extinguished the remaining fire. The fire may have been related to an earlier electrical fire in the ally behind the Walgreens. A truck hit a power line causing a few small spot fires. No injuries were reported.

Source: Aurora Patch

June 5, 2021
URBANA, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a refrigerator unit fire at a Dollar General store. According to Chief Chuck Lauss, Urbana Fire Department, the fire did not spread, but the refrigeration unit was damaged. No injuries were reported.

Source:  The News-Gazette

June 1, 2021
PLAINFIELD, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in a restroom at Ira Jones Middle School in Plainfield. Responding to a fire alarm, firefighters from Plainfield Fire Protection District and Plainfield Police confirmed that fire sprinklers extinguished the fire in the restroom located on the first floor.

Investigators identified a student as the individual who started the fire. He admitted to using a lighter to ignite paper towel. All students and staff were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Source: Village of Plainfield Police Department press release

May 3, 2021
LITCHFIELD, IL  – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire in the back of a Walmart store. According to Litchfield Fire Department Chief Joe Holomy, crews responded to a report of flames and smoke in the store. Evacuations were underway when the firefighters arrived. Two employees were attempting to extinguish the fire using fire extinguishers when fire sprinklers activated. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire. Authorities are investigating the origin of the fire. The two employees were evaluated for smoke inhalation, but refused transport to the hospital.

Source: The Journal-News

April 26, 2021
PARK RIDGE, IL  – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire at a Chipotle restaurant in Park Ridge. The origin of the fire was a portable blower fan. Upon arrival, the Park Ridge Fire Department confirmed the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Source: Lt. Kevin Plach, Fire Marshal, Park Ridge Fire Department via Fire Sprinkler Save web form

April 17, 2021
CHICAGO, IL  – Fire sprinklers extinguished an electrical fire in a pedestrian tunnel at O’Hare International Airport. The long walkway between Concourse B and C is notable for its bright, colored lights running overhead and on the walls. According to Chicago fire and aviation authorities, an apparent electrical issue sparked the fire. Sprinklers activated and the electricity was turned off. No injuries were reported.

Source: Chicago Tribune

April 12, 2021
BENSENVILLE, IL  – A fire sprinklers stopped a kitchen fire from spreading at Castle Towers, a senior citizen living facility. Bensenville Fire Protection District responded to a structure fire on the 4^th floor of the 5- story building. The fire was caused by cooking and spread to the cabinets above the stove, activating the sprinkler. Fire fighters were able to extinguish the remaining fire that was inside the cabinet with a pump can. The building has 148 units. No injuries were reported.

Source: Bensenville Fire Protection District Facebook

April 6, 2021
BARRINGTON, IL  – Two fire sprinklers controlled a fire at Swiss Automation, a 165,000 square foot manufacturing plant. According to Robert Martel, Director of Fire Prevention, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, after making entry into the building, crews found dark smoke, but no visible flame. Two fire sprinklers activated and were controlling the fire.

The fire sprinkler system was put back into service within two hours. The following day, the business was able to start bringing back some of the machines. After one week, repairs were made and the business was at full capacity. According to Martel, the plant manager said that every day that the business is not working at full capacity, more than $200,000 per day is lost. The fire sprinklers prevented a significant loss of business. No injuries were reported.

Source: Robert Martel, Director of Fire Prevention, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.

April 4, 2021
ANTIOCH, IL  – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a spontaneous combustion fire caused by oily shop rags at High Performance Racing in Antioch. When crews from the Antioch Fire Department entered the building, they were hit with black smoke and water on the ground. The fire started near the washer and dryer, activating the sprinkler.

It is estimated that the sprinkler saved more than $800,000 worth of equipment and the business opened up two days later. Without fire sprinklers, the entire building including the apartment next door would have been a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Source: Fire Inspector Joe Schimanski, Antioch Fire Department.

April 1, 2021

PLAINFIELD, IL  – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a kitchen fire in an apartment complex in Plainfield. The fire was caused by a pan of oil on the stove. It spread to the cabinets and microwave above the stove before the sprinkler activated and put out the fire.

According to a Plainfield Fire Protection District news release the fire was extinguished when they arrived. Firefighters credit the quick thinking of a teenage occupant who made sure everyone heard the smoke alarm and safely evacuated, including a sleeping sibling. Firefighters assisted with smoke removal and clean up. No injuries were reported.

Source: Plainfield Fire Protection District news release