Preventable Fire Stories

LINK http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_12883439

A fire destroyed an Indian restaurant and a nail salon in a Diamond Bar shopping center this morning but there were no injuries.

A patrolling deputy spotted the blaze in the single-story multi-unit strip mall at 2020 Brea Canyon Road around 1:30 a.m. and called the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Capt. Dean Miller said.

“It look like it was probably started because of an electrical malfunction of the neon signs,” Miller said.

About 30 firefighters knocked down the fire in about 45 minutes.

Fire officials estimate that the fire caused $250,000 in damages - $150,000 to the structure, and another $100,000 worth of damaged content inside the businesses.

An insurance business was also damaged during the blaze.

The SmokeShutoff power strip could have been mounted above those lights, and shut them off at the first sign of smoldering.

Neon signs should have my power strip mounted above them, especially if they’re left powered on overnight.  My SmokeShutoff power strip would shut off the sign at the first sign of smoke, preventing this kind of damage, plus the insurance claims for business continuity.

By JOHN QUINN
jquinn@fosters.com

Article Date: Friday, October 17, 2008  LINK

John Huff/Staff photographer Rochester firefighters respond to a fire at DC Nails in the Lilac Plaza Thursday morning, which caused light fire and smoke damage to the interior.

ROCHESTER — DC Nails in Lilac Plaza Thursday morning.
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Matt Jewell, an associate manager at Enterprise Car Rental, said he didn’t smell or see anything unusual until Nash arrived…..

Fire Chief Norm Sanborn credited the actions of Nash, Fry and Jewell, which slowed the spread of the fire. He said there was plenty of smoke when firefighters arrived, but they were able to fully extinguish the fire within 10 minutes.
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The fire caused significant soot and smoke damage to the nail salon, which was not open at the time, but the fire itself was limited to a sign, a few chairs, a section of curtain and surface burns to the wall, which were all around the window, according to firefighters.

Fire Marshal Mark Dupuis said it appears the fire was caused by a malfunction of a neon sign in the window.

SPRING LAKE — Police used a fire extinguisher to douse a fast-spreading fire at a Savidge Street business early this morning.

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After putting out the flames, an investigation by the Spring Lake Township Fire Department determined the fire was caused by a neon sign that read “Tan Like Crazy.”

Investigators estimated damages at $4,700.

more at LINK

Not the first one of these I’ve seen. I’m going to start blogging fires caused by neon signs.