Vermont Department of Public Safety On the evening of April 25th, 2021, the St Johnsbury Fire Department responded to a report of fire at the Canterbury Inn Residential Care Facility in St Johnsbury. The facility is a wood framed three story structure, which contained accommodations for approximately 42 residents.
Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke conditions on the first floor and patients were being evacuated from the building. At that time a second alarm was struck and local ambulance crews were dispatched to begin assisting with relocating patients to local hotels.
St Johnsbury fire crews quickly made entry to the first floor where they located the fire, which was contained to a laundry room.
It was found that the fire had been contained to the room of origin by a functioning fire sprinkler system and was able to be extinguished with a water can fire extinguisher. Only a single head had activated and was keeping the fire from further spread to the buildings wood structure above.
Additional Incoming crews, along with crews responding from surrounding towns, were then able to begin ventilation efforts to remove residual smoke from the building.
Following the incident, interviews with the building owner indicated that he had recently started a gas fired clothes dryer on the lowest level of the building to dry a load of laundry.
Approximately 15 minutes following the initiation of the dryer, the buildings fire alarm system began to sound, and he immediately notified 911 and began evacuation of residents.
Thankfully, no one was injured during the event and fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze without further damage to the building. However, had it not been for the buildings properly functioning and maintained fire sprinkler and fire alarms systems, this could have been a different outcome. In addition, the buildings fire exit stairs were properly protected by self-closing and self-latching doors, which are designed to release upon activation of the buildings fire alarm system.
These doors, when closed, protect the exit stairs from smoke and fire to allow safe evacuation of individuals from the upper levels.
The Divisions of Fire Safety reminds all building owners and caretakers of the importance of having life safety systems (sprinkler & fire alarm) evaluated and inspected by technically Regional Offices – Barre/Rutland/Springfield/Williston Vermont Fire Academy - Pittsford qualified persons on an annual basis. In addition, all clothes drying appliances should be cleaned and inspected on an annual basis with all gas fired clothes dryers being evaluated by a properly licensed gas technician in accordance with NFPA 54.
The Link LonkApril 29, 2021 at 11:49PM
https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/april/29/fire-st-johnsbury-nursing-home-contained-laundry
Fire at St Johnsbury nursing home contained to laundry - Vermont Biz
https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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