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Sprinkler system minimizes damage in fire at RISE Community Services

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WARRENSBURG — The Warrensburg Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire Wednesday, June 29, at RISE Community Services. 

Crews responded to the report of a confirmed structure fire at 12:12 p.m. in the warehouse of the building. 

The building was evacuated before crews arrived on scene and the sprinkler system automatically activated. 

“Two sprinkler heads had activated in the area of the fire and kept the fire contained to the general area of the warehouse, the workspace,” Fire Prevention Officer Jeremy VanWey said. “The first-in engine crew was able to go in and finish getting it put out and then we had quite a bit of ventilation to do.” 

The fire was out at 12:28 p.m. Crews worked to ventilate the building and cleared the scene by 3:44 p.m. 

Director Misty Miller said RISE will continue operations as usual and the building is not expected to be closed. 

“Overall, I’m very pleased with our sprinkler system and how quickly it responded, how amazing the employees and staff were able to exit the building and respond,” Miller said. “I don’t see that this is going to affect us in any negative impact at all.” 

No injuries were reported. 

A joint investigation with the State Fire Marshal's Office, Johnson County Fire Investigation Unit and the Warrensburg Police Department is ongoing. 

“It was pretty much contained,” VanWey said. “The fire was in a couple of shelving units that had a bunch of boxes of stock and supplies and stuff.” 

VanWey said the sprinkler system worked to contain the fire before crews arrived on scene.

“(The sprinklers) gave everybody the time to get out, kept the fire small-ish,” VanWey said. “Usually when a sprinkler activates on a fire like this, typically it’s one to two, maybe three, heads activate and keep it contained in that area. … It didn’t completely put it out but it kept it under control until crews could make entry and finish putting it out.” 

The WFD was assisted by the Johnson County Fire Protection District. 

The two agencies have previously entered mutual aid agreements, but this was the first fire scene under a new automatic aid agreement. 

“We just started a new agreement with the Fire District, effective June 1 of this year,” VanWey said. “We have an automatic aid agreement with the Johnson County Fire Protection District. So, any confirmed fires that we have in Warrensburg, they will be dispatched. … In turn, if the Fire District has a fire in certain commercial occupancies that have been identified, Warrensburg will provide a ladder truck, mutual aid.




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