Fall 2023 Sprinkler Saves. You can submit stories here and view other saves here.
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Assisted Living Facility Fire
December 31, 2023
HUNTLEY, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in a single-story residential complex. A medical pendant alarm alerted the Huntley Fire Protection District of the fire. Crews arrived and found light smoke and the fire extinguished by a sprinkler. One person was transported to the hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Source: Shawlocal.com/northwest-herald
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Closet Fire in High-Rise Apartment
December 29, 2023
Skokie, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a closet fire in a 9th floor apartment unit of a 20-story high-rise building. The Skokie Fire Department was notified that there was smoke and fire on the 9th floor of the Optima Old Orchard Woods apartments. When they arrived on the scene, they confirmed that a single fire sprinkler extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported.
Source: Skokie Fire Department
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Hotel Bathroom Fire
December 12, 2023
BURR RIDGE, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a bathroom fire in one of the guest rooms at the Extended Stay Suites hotel. The fire was caused by a malfunctioning light fixture that spread to items on the sink counter.
Howard Hoffman, Inspector/Investigator, Tri-State Fire Protection District said it was fortunate that the bathroom in this hotel was protected with fire sprinklers.
No injuries were reported.
Source: Howard Hoffman, Inspector/Investigator, Tri-State Fire Protection District
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Restaurant Kitchen Fire
December 9, 2023
ST. CHARLES, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire that started in the kitchen of the Syrup Restaurant. No injuries were report.
Source: Tri-State Fire Alerts Facebook Post
Fire Sprinkler Controls Fire at Multifamily Residence
November 29, 2023
NAPERVILLE, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire on the second floor of a multifamily residence where most of the occupants have disabilities. When fire crews arrived at the scene, they encountered heavy smoke from a second-floor unit. Crews found an activated sprinkler in the unit that stopped the fire from spreading. Twenty-nine residents were in the building at the time of the fire.
The fire is still under investigation and no injuries to residents or firefighters were reported.
Source: Naperville.il.us
Fire Sprinklers Extinguish Fire at Flooring Plant
November 27, 2023
KANKAKEE, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in the production area of the AHF Armstrong flooring plant. The building was being evacuated when firefighters arrived at the scene.
No injuries were reported and no damage to equipment. The plant resumed production that afternoon.
Source: Daily-Journal.com
Fire Sprinklers Control Machine Fire at Surface Coating Plant
November 24, 2023
GENEVA, IL – Fire sprinklers kept a fire in check inside the Oerlikon Blazers Coatings & Surface Technologies building. No injuries were report.
Source: Daniel Hynd, Geneva Fire Department Facebook Page
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Dryer Fire at Senior & Family Center
November 13, 2023
QUINCY, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in an industrial dryer in the basement of the Quincy Senior & Family Resource Center. Mop heads with cleaning solution were in the dryer and may have caused the fire.
No injuries were reported.
Source: MuddyRiverNews.com
Fire Sprinkler Controls Solar Battery Charger Fire at Minuteman Security & Life Safety
November 12, 2023
TINLEY PARK, IL – A fire sprinkler stopped a fire from spreading inside the Minuteman Security & Life Safety office building.
According to Tinley Park Fire Department Fire Marshal, Steve Lorendo, the fire started when a solar battery charger under a metal work bench ignited. The fire spread to combustible materials around the work bench. One sprinkler activated and kept the fire from spreading until fire crews arrived.
Source: Steve Lorendo, Fire Marshal, Tinley Park Fire Department
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Hotel Room Fire at American Inn
November 12, 2023
BEACH PARK, IL – A fire sprinkler extinguished a mattress fire inside a hotel room at the American Inn. According to Fire Prevention Officer Trudy Maata, Beach Park Fire Department, there was a lithium-ion battery pack found in the area of the burned mattress. It was not plugged in. No injuries were reported. Maata said this is a reminder that fire sprinklers save lives and property.
Source: Trudy Maata, Fire Prevention Officer, Beach Park Fire Department
Fire Sprinklers Control Vehicle Fire Inside Maintenance Garage
November 1, 2023
DEKALB, IL – Fire Sprinklers controlled a car fire inside a maintenance garage at the DeKalb Airport.
According to Fire Chief Mike Thomas fire sprinklers helped the crews responding to the fire.
“It saved the day, for sure,” Thomas said. “It kept the fire to a minimum.”
The fire started inside the vehicle. No people were inside the garage at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.
Source: ShawLocal.com
Sprinkler Extinguished Fire at Metal Distribution Facility
October 28, 2023
ALSIP, IL – A single sprinkler extinguished a fire at Equal Standard Precision Metal, a metal products distribution facility. The save was reported by Central States Automatic Sprinklers, Inc., the servicing contractor for this building.
Source: Sean Clancy, Vice President, Central States Automatic Sprinklers
Single Sprinkler Extinguishes Bedroom Fire at Two-Story Apartment Complex
October 28, 2023
CHAMPAIGN, IL – A single sprinkler extinguished a fire in a bedroom at a two-story apartment complex. Firefighters were able to put out hot spots with an extinguisher.
According to Jeremy Mitchell, Deputy Fire Marshal, Champaign Fire Department “a single fire sprinkler extinguished a bedroom fire and saved a run of wood-framed rowhouses. Five attached residences were not damaged due to the quick action of residential fire sprinklers.”
No injuries were reported.
Source: Jeremy Mitchell, Deputy Fire Marshal, Champaign Fire Department
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Memory Care Facility Fire
October 27, 2023
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a fire in the basement of a memory care facility. The area is used for arts and crafts and other resident activities. The fire may have been caused by a hot glue gun igniting combustible materials on a plastic cart.
Source: Eric Norlin, Fire Marshal CFO CFPE, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District
Single Sprinkler Controls Fire at Illinois Beach Resort
October 26, 2023
ZION, IL – A single sprinkler controlled a small fire in a second-floor linen storage room at the Illinois Beach Resort. The sprinkler kept the fire from spreading until fire crews arrived to extinguish the remaining fire. The fire was contained to the linen storage room.
The cause of the fire was a light ballast igniting linens and paper products stored on a plastic rack and housekeeping carts. No injuries were report.
“The sprinkler system was vital in controlling the fire to the room of origin, not allowing the fire to grow in size and aided in the quick extinguishment of the fire”, said Trudy Maata, Fire Marshal for the Beach Park Fire Department.
Source: Trudy Maata, Fire Marshal for Beach Park Fire Department
Fire Sprinklers Control High-Rise Arson Fire
October 16, 2023
ROCKFORD, IL – Fire sprinklers controlled multiple intentionally set fires at the Olesen Plaza residential high-rise building. When fire crews arrived, they found five separate fires on the third, sixth and eighth floors.
Authorities said the building’s surveillance system showed a suspect lighting the fires using a hair spray can and a lighter. The building is owned by the Rockford Housing Authority. No injuries were reported and damages were estimated at $10,000. The suspect is in custody.
In July 2022, a careless smoking fire in the same building was extinguished by the fire sprinkler system.
Sources: wrex.com and mystateline.com
Fire Sprinkler Extinguished Fire at Home Depot
October 16, 2023
HOMEWOOD, IL – Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire in a storage rack at Home Depot. When fire crews arrived, employees and patrons had safely evacuated.
According to Homewood Fire Chief Bob Grabowski, the building’s sprinkler system operated well and the fire was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported.
Source: hfchronicle.com
Fire Sprinkler Extinguishes Restaurant Kitchen Fire
October 11, 2023
Deerfield, IL – A single fire sprinkler extinguished a garbage can fire in the kitchen of the Hot Pot & Sushi restaurant. The garbage can contained combustible products including paper, cardboard, food products and cooking oil.
No injuries were reported.
Source: Eric Norlin, Fire Marshal, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District
Fire Sprinkler Controls Fire at Printing Equipment Facility
October 10, 2023
BATAVIA, IL – One sprinkler controlled a fire at PARAMCO, a printing equipment supplier, until firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire. According to Fire Marshal Tom Cote, Batavia Fire Department, the sprinklers prevented an estimated $99,100 in damages. No injuries were reported.
Source: Tom Cote, Fire Marshal, Batavia Fire Department
Fire Sprinklers Extinguish Fire at Waste Management Facility
October 6, 2023
GRAYSLAKE, IL – Fire sprinklers contained a fire in a pile of recycled material inside a Waste Management facility. Once the fire was contained, employees were able to remove the smoldering material to the exterior of the building. There was no damage to the building. No injuries were reported.
Source: Grayslake Fire District Information Release / Facebook Post
Fire Sprinkler Controls Fire at Orland Park Preschool
October 6, 2023
ORLAND PARK, IL – A fire sprinkler controlled a fire at the Sandbox Preschool. Firefighters located the fire in the rear stairwell that extended to the second floor. Sprinklers kept the fire from spreading, crews deployed handlines and extinguished the remaining fire.
The preschool was undergoing renovations. The building was unoccupied. No injuries were reported,
Source: SuburbanChicagoland.com and Patch.com