A fire that erupted in a large Mountain View office building was quickly snuffed out Monday morning, thanks to prompt sprinkler action and a swift response from the City of Mountain View Fire Department. The fire, initially reported by an alarm company, sent around 25 employees fleeing from the premises of 2011 Stierlin Court, according to official reports.
Firefighters, dispatched at the same minute the 9-1-1 call was made at 11:37 a.m., reached the scene in six minutes, battling a situation that could've rapidly escalated. Engulfed in smoke and facing an errant sprinkler head, the crew managed to contain damage to the electronics-filled room, saving the space from what could have been a tech tragedy. Despite the charred office chair pulled from the building, a testament to the fire's potential for destruction, no staffers or firefighters suffered injuries.
The thermal imaging cameras wielded by the fire brigade proved crucial, confirming that their efforts had indeed halted the fire's reach. Sensitive electronic gear was gingerly preserved as salvage operations were conducted to clean up the aftermath, removing water and smoke while minimizing collateral damage. The financial toll of the fire concentrated on a rogue lithium-ion battery in a cardboard box carelessly placed on an office chair, summed up to an estimated $50,000 in losses.
By the time the smoke had cleared, and the remnants of chaos carted away, the building was ready to be handed back to the management. They were left to coordinate the repair and restoration of the now-vital sprinkler and fire alarm systems.
