Fire Sprinkler Saves (Winter 2023 Edition)

December 16, 2023
SCHAUMBURG, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a kitchen fire in a unit on the tenth floor of a high-rise apartment building.  When fire crews arrived, a fire sprinkler had already extinguished the fire caused by heated cooking oil that ignited.

According to Fire Marshal Michael Ron, Schaumburg Fire Department, “This is another instance where the sprinkler system that was retroactively installed in a multifamily high-rise building saved lives and property.”

No injuries were reported.

Source:  Michael Rons, Fire Marshal, Schaumburg Fire Department

March 30, 2023
PEORIA, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in an elevator shaft on the fourth floor of New Hope Apartments. Twenty-two residents were displaced due to water in the elevator shaft preventing the elevator from operating. The cause of the fire was arson. No injuries were reported.

Sources:  1027Superhits.com

March 20, 2023
ADDISON, IL – A single fire sprinkler controlled a mechanical fire inside of an industrial building until fire crews arrived to finish the job. The employees in the building were evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Source:  Addison Fire Protection District, Facebook Post

March 20, 2023
ROCKFORD, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a bedroom fire in a tenth floor unit at the Faust Landmark apartment building. This is the third time fire sprinklers prevented major fires in this building in the past 4 months. No injuries were reported.

Sources:  WIFR.com

February 25, 2023
ROCKFORD, IL – 
Fire sprinklers extinguished a garbage fire on the fourth floor of the 15-story Faust Landmark apartment building. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and the fire extinguished by the sprinklers. Two residents were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Sources:  MyStateline.com , RockfordScanner.com , www.WREX.com

February 20, 2023
DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Two fire sprinklers fully extinguished a fire inside the Flavorchem manufacturing facility. The fire was caused by a drum warming blanket that malfunctioned. No injuries were reported.

According to the facilities manager, the sprinklers prevented what could’ve been catastrophic. The fire sprinkler system has its yearly service as well as a five-year obstruction service performed by the sprinkler contractor.

Sources:  Kyle Gansel, Shambaugh & Sons

February 20, 2023
GRAYSLAKE, IL – A fire sprinkler prevented a fire inside a townhouse garage from spreading into the living space. Firefighters arrived to find a car on fire inside the garage. Heat from the fire activated a sprinkler inside the townhouse, preventing the fire from entering the living space, allowing the occupants to safely escape. No injuries were reported.

Source:   Grayslake Fire Protection District

February 8, 2023
NAPERVILLE, IL – A single fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading in a hotel’s restaurant kitchen. Fire crews arrived to find a fire inside a trashcan in the kitchen. One sprinkler kept the fire in check, firefighters extinguished the remaining fire inside the trash can.  No injuries were reported.

Source: Naperville.il.us

February 7, 2023
OAK BROOK, IL – Two fire sprinklers extinguished a kitchen fire in a six-story retirement apartment building. The fire was caused by items stacked on a stovetop. Two sidewall sprinklers activated. No injuries were reported.

Source:   Alan Jacobs & Kyle Gansel, Shambaugh & Son

January 31, 2023
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading inside the Nudo Products production facility. Fire crews arrived to find fire along a wall near the back of the building and smoldering in the dust collection system. They extinguished the remaining fire. No injuries were reported.

Source:   WandTV.com

January 29, 2023
WAUKEGAN, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire in the merchandise area of a Walmart store. According to Waukegan Fire Marshal Todd Zupec, the fire was intentionally set. When crews arrived, they found smoke showing in the front of the store. Sprinklers extinguished most of the fire. Firefighters made sure the fire was fully extinguished before turning off the sprinkler system. Everyone was safely evacuated with the help of firefighters and police officers No injuries were reported.

Source:  LakeMcHenryScanner.com

January 19, 2023
CHICAGO, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled a fire at the Ardagh Metal Beverage manufacturing facility. It was reported that insulation was burning inside the large industrial facility activating the sprinklers. No injuries were reported.

Source: Northern Illinois FireGround Photos, Facebook Post

January 18, 2023
CHICAGO, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire on the 9th floor of a residential high-rise apartment building located in Chicago’s south loop. No injuries were reported.

Source: Chicago Fire Media, Twitter Post

January 18, 2023
MACOMB, IL – Fire sprinklers helped contain a fire inside a trash chute at Western Illinois University’s Thompson Hall. When crews arrived, they made their way to the basement to extinguish the fire inside the chute. No injuries were reported.

Source:  Fire Chief Dan Meyer, Macomb Fire Department

January 18, 2023
HODGKINS, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire at the Waste Management warehouse. The building was evacuated and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Source:  Facebook post, Northern Illinois FireGround Photos

January 12, 2023
CHICAGO, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire on the 16th floor of the Daley Center in downtown Chicago before fire crews arrived. Building officials said the fire started after a water cooler apparently imploded. This success story is thanks to the March 2012 completion of a fire sprinkler system retrofit of the landmark public building, which has been featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Blues Brothers.  No injuries were reported.

Source:   ABC7Chicago.com

January 12, 2023
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire inside the Solomon Colors Headquarters and Manufacturing Plant. Firefighters requested a hazmat response due to the large amount of flammable materials stored in the building. Crews did ventilate the building while hazmat crews tested the air and water quality and found all levels to be normal.

Source: Foxillinois.com and Wandtv.com