At about 7:45 p.m. Thursday the Kent Fire Department was dispatched to a sprinkler water flow alarm in the 20400 block of 87 Ave S in Kent’s northern industrial area. The initial crew on scene found a great deal of smoke, but no fire and sprinkler water flow alarms sounding. They immediately upgraded the response to a commercial fire and requested additional resources. Ultimately more than 15 fire apparatus responded to the incident that turned out to be fire in a firm that manufactured packing peanuts for use in shipping.

The fire started in an area where multiple hoppers used in the manufacture of the product were located. These hoppers were approximately 12 feet by 12 feet and nearly 25 feet tall. The flames or heat from the fire set off the sprinkler system, which worked to contain the fire to the hoppers and to the roof structure directly above those hoppers. There was little or no other structural damage to the business where the fire started or to neighboring businesses. At this time the cause of the fire is still under investigation and no damage estimates are available.

At the time of the fire the business was not occupied and so there were no injuries to civilians. Additionally no firefighters sustained any injuries either.

Fire sprinklers have been saving lives and limiting property damage in this country for over 100 years.