Community Risk

Sprinklers Douse Va. Kitchen Fire, 58 People Displaced

July 9, 2014

A kitchen fire in a Chesapeake apartment complex was doused by a sprinkler system that damaged other units on the first and second floor, forcing power to be cut to the building.

Source The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.)

July 09--CHESAPEAKE -- Nearly 60 people were displaced Tuesday night because their apartments were flooded by a sprinkler system that doused a kitchen fire.

The fire was reported about 10:15 p.m. at the Heron's Landing Apartments in the 2100 block of South Military Hwy., according to a Fire Department news release.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire in the second floor apartment had been extinguished by the sprinklers. Apartments on the first and second floor were damaged by the water and power had to be cut to the building.

Firefighters were working with apartment managers to find other places for 58 residents to stay. One resident suffered smoke inhalation, but declined to be taken to a hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire was believed to be related to cooking.