Fire sparks at local business

The Yuma Fire Department said sprinklers helped put out a fire that could have gotten out of control.

Monday just after 1:00 a.m., an alarm was reported indicating a fire sprinkler activation at the Alsco facility, 3231 South Florence Lane. Yuma Fire Department and Marine Corps Air Station Fire Department personnel arrived to find heavy smoke in the building. YFD said entry was made to the facility and it was found that a fire had occurred involving several large bags (approx. 250 lbs. each) of restaurant linen products. The fire had been contained and extinguished by the fire sprinkler system.

Firefighters confirmed the fire was fully extinguished and had not spread. Investigators determined that heat had built up in one of the tightly compacted bags causing temperatures to reach a point where the linen products ignited. The bag and contents where the ignition occurred, and some other surrounding bags were badly damaged, as well as some equipment below where the bags were hanging. Had the fire not been extinguished by the fire sprinkler system, extensive damage to other parts of the facility would have occurred. This is the second commercial fire sprinkler save in less than a week.

Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex.

Sprinkler systems save lives and protect property.