[Press Release] : City of Columbia Missouri Information Request

[Press Releases]

Sprinkler System Extinguishes Fire at Paquin Towers

Columbia Fire Fighters were called at 8:49 P.M. on Monday, March 7, 2011 to 1201 Paquin Street, Paquin Towers Apartments, for a report of an automatic fire alarm system activation.  While fire fighters were en route to the building, residents called 9-1-1 to report that there was water and smoke coming from apartment 408, which was unoccupied. Residents were being evacuated.

Fire crews arrived and discovered that a fire sprinkler head in apartment 408 had activated, as designed, due to a fire on the stove.  The fire was immediately extinguished by the sprinkler system.  The apartment suffered minor fire and smoke damage to the kitchen.  Damage was minimal compared to likely fire damage had fire sprinklers not been present.  There were no injuries and damage is currently estimated at $10,000.  Fire crews were assisting Columbia Housing Authority staff to mop up water in the hallway and three floors below where the fire occurred. 

The occupant of the apartment was not home at the time of the fire.

Investigators from the Columbia Fire Department were on-scene and have determined the fire cause to be unattended cooking.

This is the second incident to highlight the effectiveness of fire sprinklers within the past five days in Columbia.  On March 2, 2011, a fire occurred in an unoccupied room inside the Holiday Inn Executive Center on I-70 Drive Southwest.  In that incident, a fire occurred in or near the wall-mounted heater/air conditioner unit.  That fire was extinguished by the proper activation of two fire sprinkler heads, prior to the arrival of fire crews.

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