Fire in Kennewick’s Toyota Center contained by sprinklers

KENNEWICK – A fire at the Toyota Center was contained by an automatic sprinkler, limiting damage, preventing injuries, and permitting the facility to reopen shortly after the incident occurred Friday afternoon, according to the Kennewick Fire Department Chief Chad Michael.

Crews were dispatched at 3:53 p.m. to a reported commercial building fire at the Toyota Center, a multi-purpose arena, located at 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd. Information provided by the dispatch center while crews were responding indicated the fire was in one of the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units located in the basement of this facility. Dispatch also informed responding crews that all of the occupants had evacuated the building.

A sprinkler located inside the basement where the fire occurred activated and promptly
extinguished the fire. The rapid activation of the sprinkler confined the fire to the HVAC unit
where the fire started. This prevented the fire from spreading into other locations within the
building.

After KFD personal arrived on scene and determined the fire had been extinguished, crews
were directed to shut down the sprinkler system in order to minimize water damage inside of
the building. While this was occurring, maintenance employees for the facility called to
request service for the sprinkler head that activated so the fire suppression system in the
building could be turned back on. KFD personnel also assisted with isolating the electrical
service to the impacted HVAC unit.

File photo

---

Elkhorn Media Group

---

---