At approximately 11:30 A.M. March 13 the Fallston VFAC and surrounding mutual aid fire companies were dispatched to the Horizon Cinemas Fallston in the 2300 block of Belair Rd for a report of a building fire. While en route, responding units were advised by Harford County Fire Dispatch that the caller was reporting a fire involving the theater’s popcorn machine. First arriving units reported that there was smoke throughout the lobby area as well as an automatic sprinkler system activation. Further investigation revealed that the fire, originating in the commercial popcorn machine, had been extinguished by the activation of a single sprinkler head. FVFAC and other responding units handled smoke removal, isolating electrical sources, shutting down the sprinkler system and related hazards. There were no injuries reported.
The activation of a single sprinkler head not only allowed the employees of the theater an opportunity to escape the building unharmed, but also extinguished the fire and considerably reduced the potential fire, heat, and smoke damage to the building.
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