Fire sprinkler extinguishes fire in apartment building.
At 5:12 AM the Bismarck Fire Department responded to a report of a fire alarm in a 24 unit apartment building at 3945 North 19th St. Upon arrival the firefighters found smoke spreading throughout the building coming from heat registers. Firefighters found the source of the smoke was from a mechanical room. After gaining entry into the room they found moderate smoke and an activated sprinkler head. Occupants of the building were evacuated.
Upon investigation, it was discovered an electrical junction box behind a cabinet had apparently shorted out and ignited insulation and the cabinet. When the sprinkler head activated the fire was knocked down. Firefighters confirmed the fire was extinguished, then shut off the sprinkler head and ventilated the building.
There were no injuries to any civilians or firefighters during the fire and no occupants will be displaced. Metro ambulance was called to assist with sheltering the occupants during the time the building was evacuated.
There was light damage to the mechanical room from the fire and the sprinkler system. There was no damage outside the mechanical room. The estimated fire loss was limited to approximately $5,000.