Press releases

Fire sprinkler system saves Edina office suite

Edina, Minn., Nov. 30, 2009 – A built-in fire sprinkler system helped the tenants of an Edina office building avoid major property loss after a fire broke out within one of the building’s suites. Just after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, the Edina Fire Department received a call reporting light smoke coming from an office building on the 6700 block of France Avenue.

Upon arrival, crews found a small fire burning in an office closet. The fire, which was being controlled by a single sprinkler head, was put out completely by firefighters using a fire extinguisher. The closet in which the fire started contained the office suite’s computer servers and phone system. The fire was confined to that equipment.

“We could have had a whole different outcome if this building hadn’t been sprinkled, especially on a weekend with no one in the building,” said Edina Fire Marshal Tom Jenson. “The sprinklers helped keep this fire contained to a small area, and we were able to get it out before it caused much damage.”

Edina fire investigators believe the fire resulted from a malfunction in a small portable fan that was being used to circulate air in the closet to cool the computer equipment. Melting plastic appears to have dropped to the floor, starting a cardboard box on fire and then spreading to two more computers. Insurance company investigators and electrical engineers will be conducting a more in-depth investigation to confirm the origin and cause.

Xcel Energy was called to the scene to assist in temporarily shutting off the power to the first and second floors. The building engineer assisted with smoke removal using the building’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Water damage was present on both the first and second floor of the building. Most businesses in the building were expected to be open as early as Monday, Nov. 30.

For more information, visit www.CityofEdina.com/Fire or call the Edina Fire Department at 952-826-0378.