The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire in a large multi-family apartment building in the 700 block of South Third Street late on March 28. Crews arrived at the scene at 11:41 p.m. and were able to quickly put out the fire.
The incident involved a mattress that caught fire on the third floor of the building. According to officials, when firefighters arrived, they found that a single sprinkler head had already activated and largely extinguished the small mattress fire. Firefighters then used an extinguisher to put out any remaining flames and assisted with removing smoke from the building.
Authorities determined that the cause of the fire was accidental, tracing it back to a candle. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.
Sprinkler systems are designed to respond automatically when heat from a fire activates them, often controlling or extinguishing fires before emergency crews arrive. This incident highlights how such systems can help prevent larger damage and protect occupants.
No further information about property damage or displacement was provided by officials.
