Crews called to warehouse over broken sprinkler system days before fire

Posted on: 6:42 pm, March 19, 2014, by Carter Coyle, updated on: 07:55am, March 20, 2014

HIGH POINT, N.C. High Point Fire Chief Thomas Reid tellsFOX8crews were called to the old Myrtle Desk Furniture Company building two days before the fire broke out there Monday night.

Chief Reid said firefighters responded to problems with a broken sprinkler system and told the owners to get the problem corrected.

He said its hard to tell if the incident was connected to the fire because investigators have not determined a cause yet.

A firefighter was injured working the active structure fire. Chief Reid saidthe manwas doing fine and would only be out of work for a couple of days.

DH Griffin crews were working to stabilize and tear down parts of the building as needed Wednesday afternoon so fire inspectors could continue their investigation into what caused the fire.

Crews were still putting out hot spots at the building on Taylor Avenue Wednesday.

Captain Damon Tobin with the High Point Fire Department said occupied buildings are inspected every three years. If a building is vacant, it is inspected annually.

Somebodys always in there at least once a year to check to see if theres anybody in there or make sure theres no illegal activity going on. So theyre kept up on a regular basis, Captain Tobin explained.

The challenge of keeping up with unoccupied buildings is not isolated to High Point.

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Crews called to warehouse over broken sprinkler system days before fire