by BECKY GOFF
Little Apple Post
During the first week of October, two structure fires in Manhattan were extinguished by fire sprinkler systems before firefighters arrived on scene.
On Monday, October 3rd, Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 615 N. 12th Street, Kite's Bar and Grill, on the report of a structure fire.
A Riley County Police Department officer discovered the fire alarm sounding, and smoke in the building. Prior to the arrival of firefighters, occupants of the apartments above the restaurant evacuated the building.
When fire crews arrived they found the fire had been extinguished by the fire sprinkler system.
The cause of the fire was determined to be rags used to wipe up cooking oil that spontaneously ignited. The loss was estimated at $3,000. The restaurant was cleaned and able to reopen for business the next day.
Kite's Bar and Grill provided a copy of the security video(below) showing the transition of the rags from soldering, to flames, to the sprinkler system suppressing the fire; to the fire fighters arriving on scene.
The second fire extinguished by a fire sprinkler system happened on Saturday, October 8th at 1850 Claflin Road.
Fire crews arrived on the scene of the reported structure fire and found the third floor apartment fire was extinguished by the fire sprinkler system.
The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking. Damage was estimated at $6,000.
The building's occupants were able to return to the building later that day following cleanup of the damage.