Fire Sprinkler Saves (Fall 2024 Edition)

December 30, 2024
CHICAGO, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading in a restaurant at O’Hare International Airport. According to the Chicago Fire Department, the fire was caused by a fryer. One employee was taken to the hospital in good condition. No other injuries were reported.

Source: CBSNews.com

December 30, 2024
EVANSTON, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading in a garden-level unit of a three-story apartment building. Fire crews arrived and found smoke and fire in the unit. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire within 30 mins. No injuries were reported.

Source: CBSNews.com

December 17, 2024
GREEN OAKS, IL – Two fire sprinklers extinguished a fire on a machine that adds flammable liquid adhesive to rolls of cloth in a manufacturing plant. The fire was contained to the machine, there was no damage to the structure. Management stated they expected water clean-up to be completed within a few hours and would continue operations in other areas of the plant. According to Lt. Michael Weaver with the Libertyville Fire Department, this was the third fire sprinkler save in Libertyville in 2024.

Source: Lt. Michael Weaver, Director of Fire Prevention, Libertyville Fire Department

December 16, 2024
SYCAMORE, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading at the Seymour Paint Company. The fire was caused by a paint can that exploded.

According to Sycamore Fire Chief Bart Gilmore, the building’s water and foam fire suppression system controlled the fire. Fire crews extinguished the remaining flames in under 30 minutes. Two employees were injured and transported to the hospital due to the explosion.

Chief Gilmore said the potential was very bad. “Luckily, they had an excellent suppression system. Luckily, we had a fast response time and the fire was suppressed before any real significant damage became a larger incident,” he said.

Source: wgntv.com

December 3, 2024
FOREST PARK, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire at the Living Word Christian Center located inside a mall. Firefighters arrived to find a sprinkler extinguished flames on top of a dryer. According to Chief Lindsey Hankus, the sprinkler system effectively controlled the fire, resulting in minimal damage in the large structure, preventing thousands of dollars of damage.

Source: Fire Chief Lindsey Hankus, Forest Park Fire Department

December 2, 2024
GLENVIEW, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in the woodshop at Glenbrook South High School. The fire was contained to the one room and was extinguished before fire crews arrived. Students and staff were safely evacuated and one adult was transported and released from the hospital. The building was closed for a day for clean-up and classes resumed the next day.

Source: Journal-topics.com

November 26, 2024
BEDFORD PARK, IL – Fire sprinklers kept a fire from spreading at the Courtyard Marriott. Fire crews arrived to find a working fire in one of the hotel rooms. The damage was held to the one hotel room. No injuries were report.

Source: Bedford Park Firefighters Local 3571 Facebook Post

November 21, 2024
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading at an off-campus student apartment near the University of Illinois campus. Fire crews arrived on the scene of the two-story, wood frame building to find a scooter with a lithium-ion battery being charged on fire. One occupant was displaced.

Source: Jeremy Mitchell, Deputy Fire Marshal, Champaign Fire Department

November 19, 2024
ROMEOVILLE, IL – A single fire sprinkler contained a fire on the exterior balcony of a second-floor apartment unit. fire crews extinguish the remaining fire. Occupants were home at the time of the fire. There were no reported injuries. No residents were displaced as a result of the incident.

Source: William Sterling, Deputy Fire Marshal/Battalion Chief, Romeoville Fire Department

November 11, 2024
SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Fire sprinklers stopped a fire from spreading at an electronics recycling facility. The fire started in pallets of lithium-ion batteries.

Source: Kim Prusa, Vice President – Residential Division, Nova Fire Protection

November 5, 2024
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a guest bathroom at the Holiday Inn. The hotel manager said a guest reported a fire in her room on the third floor. Firefighters arrived and found light smokey conditions on the third floor. Crews confirmed that the sprinkler extinguished the fire. The fire may have been caused by a light fixture in the bathroom. No injuries were reported. The Arlington Heights Fire Department is crediting the “quick action” of the sprinkler for limiting damage at the hotel.

Source: Patch.com

October 31, 2024
URBANA, IL – A fire sprinkler kept a kitchen fire from spreading at the Capstone Apartments on Halloween. Fire crews arrived to find smoke coming from an apartment unit. The fire sprinkler contained the fire to the area of the stove, microwave and some kitchen cabinets while crews were able to extinguish the remaining fire. The apartment was not occupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Source: wandtv.com

October 30, 2024
ROCK FALLS, IL – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading on the first floor of the Country Inn and Suites. Firefighters arrived to find smoke on the first floor and a sprinkler controlling a fire while the building was being evacuated. Fire crews were able to extinguish the remaining fire with a pressurized water extinguisher. It was determined the fire was accidental and electrical in nature. No injuries were reported.

Source: Rock Falls Fire Department Facebook Post

October 28, 2024

SCHAUMBURG, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a commercial dryer fire at X-Sport Fitness center. Fire crews arrived to find smoke in the hallway and laundry room and confirmed the fire was held in check by a single sprinkler. Crews extinguished the remaining fire and ventilated the building. No injuries were reported and damage was minimal.

Source: Michael Rons, Fire Marshal, Schaumburg Fire Department

October 27, 2024
BROADVIEW, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire on the 2nd floor of The Broadview Senior Apartments. Fire crews arrived to find a sprinkler had extinguished the fire before arrival. No injuries were reported.

Source: Broadview Fire Department Facebook Post

October 17, 2024
ROSEMONT, IL – Two fire sprinklers activated and stopped a fire from spreading in a diaper aisle at a Target store. Fire crews arrived and were told someone in the store tried to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The store was evacuated. Four people were checked by paramedics, but refused further medical treatment.

Source: DailyHerald.com

October 15, 2024
LIBERTYVILLE, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguishes a fire in an attached garage of a single-family home. Residents called the fire department after they discovered smoke in a back room of their garage. Libertyville has required all new construction homes to be protected with fire sprinklers since 2005. No injuries were reported and the homeowners were able to return to the home.

Source: DailyHerald.com

October 3, 2024
ROCKFORD, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled an arson fire at the Wired Café. Tenants living above the café called 911 after hearing the fire alarm and seeing smoke. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire. Damage was limited to the café. No injuries were reported. The suspect was charged with arson.

Source: wrex.com

September 15, 2024
OAK LAWN, IL – Two fire sprinklers controlled an electrical fire at the Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center. An electrical fire spread to a pile of combustibles near the loading dock. Firefighters arrived and extinguished the remaining fire. No injuries were reported. According to David Wheeler, Oak Lawn Fire Department Bureau Chief, this was proof positive that fire sprinklers work. “Without them there would have been numerous businesses affected with loss of either product or their business.” The store was open for business as soon as the system was returned to service.

Source: David Wheeler, Bureau Chief, Oak Lawn Fire Department