November 19, 2000 A laundry room fire a the Blaine Super 8 was extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. The alarm connected to the sprinkler water flow sounded, but only on the second floor, resulting in that floors occupants evacuating the building. The first floor alarm did not sound due to a malfunctioned, and firefighters found occupants still in their rooms on that level. Since the fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system, first floor occupants were sheltered in their rooms until the smoke could be cleared. Reported in the December 15, 2000 edition of ABC Newspapers Brooklyn Park, MN May 25, 2001 The fire department responded to a water flow alarm at Northview Junior High School. The call was upgraded to a working fire based on information from school staff. First arriving units found a heavy smoke condition in the industrial arts area. The fire was contained by the activation of one sprinkler head and extinguished by firefighters. Linseed rags were established as the cause of the fire. Damage was estimated at $4,500 with no injuries. Submitted by Jon Nisja, Deputy State Fire Marshal - Supervisor May 21, 2001 The fire department responded to a water flow alarm at the Champlin Park High School. The alarm was upgraded when the first arriving officer found a fire in a small room in the industrial arts area that contained the acetylene gas storage and distribution equipment. Students and staff had evacuated the building. The fire was contained by one sprinkler head and extinguished by firefighters. Damage is estimated at $8,000 with no injuries. Submitted by Jon Nisja, Deputy State Fire Marshal - Supervisor May 17, 2001 Brooklyn Park Fire responded to a water flow alarm at a Subway Restaurant.. The first arriving officer found a heavy smoke condition and upgraded the call to a working fire. On investigation a small fire was found in the office area at the rear of the building. One sprinkler head had activated and contained the fire which was quickly extinguished by firefighters. The cause of the fire was determined to be smoking materials that had been discarded into a trash container. Damaged was estimated at $20,000 with no injuries. Submitted by Jon Nisja, Deputy State Fire Marshal - Supervisor Burnsville, MN December 30, 2000 A sprinkler head protecting the apartment kitchen of an elderly woman quickly stopped a stove top fire. This fast suppression was especially timely because it occurred in one of five apartments in the assisted care living facility that housed memory loss patients. This apartment wing section was separated from the rest of the building a a corridor door, but unknown to building or fire resources; all apartment doors had been removed to better observe the residents. The fire occurred when a portable radio ignited that was placed on a stove burner that was unintentionally turned on. Thick black smoke made its was to the corridor and adjacent apartment units, then the sprinkler activation stopped the fire. A facility staff member suffered smoke inhalation in the attempt of removing residents, but when firefighters entered the area it was reasonable clear. The water flow was shut down limiting the water damage to the apartment carpet and a small section of the corridor floor. The stove and sink area received minor fire damage. Doors have been re-installed and alarm and evacuation procedures evaluated and changed. The effective coverage of the sidewall sprinkler was especially noted. Submitted by Tom Hennum, Burnsville Fire Inspector Chanhassen, MN December, 2000 Chanhassen firefighters responded to a water flow alarm in an office/warehouse/light manufacturing facility. The first engine company on scene reported the fire out. Upon investigation it was discovered that two ESFR sprinkler heads were activated, limiting the are of fire to an area approximately 10' x 10'. The fire was determined to be caused by a small tank of liquid was igniting and spreading to cardboard boxes. (This is the same facility reported in the November 25 incident below.) November 25, 2000 Chanhassen firefighters responded to a waterflow alarm in 110,000 square foot office/warehouse/ light manufacturing facility protected by an ESFR sprinkler system. The system extinguished the fire in a small amount of cardboard, limited the fire area to an area approximately 6' x 6'. The business makes candles. Both incidents were reported by the Chanhassen Fire Department to the MN Chapter of National Fire Sprinkler Association Duluth, MN June 4, 1999 A couch fire on the fifth floor of a 14 story residential high-rise was controlled by a single sprinkler head. Responding fire companies removed the remains of the couch, ventilated smoke from the apartment and cleaned up water. Submitted by: John Strongitharm, Fire Marshal, Duluth Fire Department - Fire Prevention Bureau La Crescent, MN August 20, 2001 Fire damaged a portion of a company that makes wooden building trusses, but was controlled before it could do major damage. Flames and smoke could be seen in a shed on the business' west side when firefighters arrived, but a sprinkler system and the fire department's new foam truck quickly extinguished the fire. According to the La Crescent Fire Marshal, "It wasn't very much damage considering what it could have been. It's basically a lumber yard and it's not uncommon to lose a lot in a situation like that. Any business that doesn't know whether to put in a sprinkler system should look at this." From Fire Protection Contractor, November 2001, reprinted from the La Crosse Tribune. Little Canada, MN July 8, 1999 AT 0500 hours, the Little Canada Fire Department responded to Water-N-Woods Sporting Goods. Upon arrival the department observed that the automatic fire sprinkler system had extinguished a fire in the store. Further investigation revealed that the store had been burglarized and several firearms had been stolen. It a appeared that the fire had been set to to cover up the burglary and theft. The resulting fire was extinguished by six sprinkler heads, which also prevented the fire from spreading beyond the immediate area of origin. The store was closed for a couple days to conduct further investigation, inventory and complete clean up. Submitted by Jim Morelan (Asst. Fire Chief) and Duane Williams (Fire Marshal), Little Canada Fire Department Maplewood, MN Date Unknown An fire was set inside a clothing rack in the women's department of the Maplewood Mall Sears Store. There was heavy smoke in the entire area. The overhead fire protection sprinkler stopped the fire from spreading to other clothing racks. The fire department crew used less than 50 gallons of water to extinguish spot fires on some of the clothing. Damage was contained to the rack of clothing and some burn to the carpet below where ignited clothing had dropped. Submitted by: Butch Garvais Fire Marshal, City of Maplewood Minnetonka, MN July 6, 1999 An automatic fire sprinkler system had recently been installed in a multi-tenant office/warehouse building on Opportunity Court in Minnetonka. Prior to leaving for the weekend, the sprinkler contractor filled the system with water and added 200 lbs. of air pressure (this is common industry practice to check for leaks over an extended period of time). The main sprinkler control valve was then shut off as the system was not yet connected to a central station monitoring alarm. On Tuesday, July 6 Minnetonka Fire Inspector Phil Minnell arrived at the building to witness the final acceptance test for this newly installed system. Once there, he and the sprinkler contractor found two sprinkler heads leaking. Upon closed examination, and in speaking with the tenant, it was discovered that a fire had occurred over the weekend in a piece of machinery that had ignited an adjacent workbench and plastic garbage can. The fire had been extinguished by the two sprinklers discharging the water that was in the pipes for the acceptance test. Damage was minimal and even the water damage was insignificant. Inspector Minnell advised that the damage was so minimal that it was difficult to discover that there had been a fire. Submitted by: Phil Minnell, Minnetonka Fire Inspector Mt. Iron, MN December 5, 2000 Mountain Iron and Virginia firefighters were called to L & M Supply in Mountain Iron to handle what turned out to be a small fire. The fire was reported about 7:50 AM in some ceiling panels above a lighting display. The fire set off the store's sprinkler system, keeping the damage to a small area. Printed in the January, 2001 issue of the Northland Firewire Moundsview, MN Date Unknown A Moundsview food supplier to schools and restaurants suffered a fire when welding sparks from new construction ignited hi-rack storage pallets containing foam cups and paper napkins. Sprinkler heads activated and, with the held of an employee who also serves as a volunteer firefighter, the fire was contained and damage was limited to wet products on the pallets. Information from Fire Sprinkler News, National Fire Sprinkler Association - Minnesota Chapter, Spring, Northfield, MN January 23, 2002 The Northfield Fire Department responded to a fire in the China Buffet, an establishment located in the River Park Mall. The fire, incendiary in cause, was contained to the dining room by the building's fire sprinkler system. The system extinguished the main body of the initial fire, which he fire department was able to fully extinguish using minimal water from hose lines. A January 26 article in the Northfield News quotes Northfield Fire Chief Gerry Franek as stating "Because of the quick response of the sprinkler system the damage was kept to a minimum. Bob Barton, Property Manager for the Mall, states in response to the article, "I can only heartily agree. Due to the fire sprinkler system there was no structural damage to the building and only minor water damage the neighboring tenants. Information form Bob Barton, Property Manager - River Park Mall as reported to the State Fire Marshal Division Rochester, MN December 15, 2001 An early morning fire in a 150 bed nursing facility was extinguished by a single sprinkler head. The fire was restricted to on small corner of a kitchen. Rochester Fire responded to the incident. It appears someone set a plastic cup rack on top of a large commercial toaster. Incoming staff turned on the toaster and left for other duties. The heated toaster melted the cup rack generating enough smoke and heat to blacken the corner and ceiling overhead, which activated the sprinkler. There were no witnesses to the event. The building is operating normally. Information from Deputy State Fire Marshal Jerry White. St. Louis Park, MN June 11, 1999 At 0127 hrs, the St. Louis Park Fire Department responded to a fire a Byerly's (grocery store) at 3777 Park Center Boulevard. Upon arrival fire companies found light smoke near the store entry. The fire, located in a serving area for ice cream, had been completely extinguished by a single sprinkler. The cause was determined to be a decorative electric light which ignited nearby combustibles. Damage was contained to the immediate area of origin. June 17, 1999 At 0216 hrs., the St. Louis Park Fire Department responded to a fire at Japs-Olsen Printing located at 7500 Excelsior Boulevard. First arriving fire companies found fire in the warehouse storage racks which had been knocked down by the sprinkler system and employees using hand lines. The department completed extinguishment, performed overhaul operations, and ventilated the structure using roof vents. The fire had activated two in rack sprinkler heads which stopped the upward spread of the fire. Fire damage was confined to the paper products stored in the rack. Paper products stored directly on the floor sustained water damage. The exact cause of the fire was not determined however, careless smoking is suspected. Submitted by: St. Louis Park Fire Department Dates Unknown
Information from Fire Sprinkler News, National Fire Sprinkler Association - Minnesota Chapter, Spring and Summer, 1999 September, 2000
Submitted by Steve Zaccard, St. Paul Fire Marshal October, 1999
Reported to the National Fire Sprinkler Association by Steve Zaccard, St. Paul Fire Department Spring Lake Park, MN Date Unknown
Submitted by: Harlan Lundstrom, Fire Protection Bureau Chief
Submitted by Kathi Osmonson, Fire and Life Safety Educator, Spring Lake Park - Blaine - Moundsview Fire Department Stillwater, MN After discovering a fire out of control in their kitchen, residents of a Stillwater townhouse evacuated and called 911 at 2:20 am, March 28, 2002. Stillwater Fire responded and requested mutual aid from Bayport Fire. Upon arrival of the first engine at 2:28 am, water from just one residential sprinkler head extinguished the fire. If not for the fire sprinkler system, the fire would have grown and spread rapidly before firefighter's arrival. Firefighters and residents in all of the attached townhouses would have been endangered more, and damage from fire, smoke and water would have been substantially worse. Feasibly, all of the attached townhouses could have been damaged or destroyed by fire and smoke. Because of the sprinkler system, total damage from fire, smoke and water is estimated at $4,000, and residents were not displaced from any dwelling unit in the building, including the one that burned. The quick response of the sprinkler proved again the value of such systems. Submitted by Kim Kallestad, Chief - Stillwater Fire Department Waconia, MN December 18, 2000 The Waconia Fire Department was dispatched to an apartment fire in a 30 unit complex of wood frame construction. While in route the department was advised that the sprinkler system had been activated and the fire appeared to be out. The fire occurred in a second floor two bedroom unit, while the occupant was heating cooking oil to deep fry food. The occupant stepped away from the kitchen for approximately five minutes, returning when he heard a noise to find the oil on fire and cupboard doors burning. The smoke detector and sprinkler system activated simultaneously , the later existinguishing the fire. Fire and heat damaged the stove, cupboards and refrigerator. Smoke damage was kept to a minimum and did not extend beyond the apartment of origin.
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