Automatic Fire Sprinkler Stops Fire In Eastside Church

Incident number:  0175164         Date:  July 25, 2010            Time of call: 2:30 p.m.

Time of First Unit on Scene:  2:34 p.m. (E8)        Time of Knockdown:  2:55 p.m.

Type of call:  Church Fire

Correct address: 501 N. Mojave Road (Mojave/Bonanza)              CLV Ward:  3

Name: Iglesia International del Las Vegas                          Parcel: 139-36-501-006
                                
Zip:   89101                        District/Phantom: 2427-63                Number of alarms:  One

Building type: Public Assembly/Church                Number of stories: Two         Units:

Size:  Approx. 13,000 sq. ft.                                                    When built:  1970
                           
Construction type: Wood frame/stucco     Smoke alarms: Yes  Sprinklers: Yes        

Number of occupants:  Adults: None      Teens (18-13): None       Children: None

Any injuries: None              How many : None          Type: 

Damage estimate: $15,000         Description of damage:  Some damage to roof around A/C unit on roof, A/C unit on roof, wiring in attic area, minor fire damage to attic, insulation, ceiling tile.

Cause of incident:  Accidental.  Appears to have been electrical wiring in nature, starting in a two-foot-high attic area around heavy wiring to an air conditioning unit on the roof, some damage to air conditioning unit wiring on the roof.

American Red Cross: No             Pets:  No          Status of pets:
 
General information about the incident:  Church was closed and secured from services earlier this morning.  Automatic alarm system notified pastor and fire alarm office of automatic fire sprinkler activation, and then smoke alarm activation.  Fire personnel arrived within a few minutes and found light smoke on the second floor of the church.  Fire was found above the drop ceiling of one of the second floor offices in a two-foot-high attic area.  An automatic fire sprinkler in the attic area had the fire under control, firefighters used a fire hose to put the charring wood of the roof completely out.  Damage was confined to the area around the A/C unit on the roof, small area in the attic and ceiling in the office below the fire.  There was water from the sprinkler system on both the first and second floors, firefighters worked to clean up the water.  Had there not been a sprinkler system in the attic area, damage could have been extensive and the church might have been out of service for 4-6 months.
 
Number of Units on Scene: 16
E8,4,1,201, T1,3, R4, EMS1, CB8, AR1, B1,5, PIO1, 6i4, 6i11, 6i12 
Number of Personnel on Scene: 39