Sprinkler System Stops Spread of Fire at The Plaza

A small fire on the awning of a dry cleaning business in The Plaza shopping center activated a sprinkler system that kept the flames from spreading early Wednesday, officials say.

Brookfield city fire crews put out the fire, which they believe started from an electrical problem with a sign on the roof awning of , 17145 W. Bluemound Rd., Fire Chief Charlie Myers said.

The sprinkler system activated a 911 alarm at 2:23 a.m. Wednesday. According to fire reports:

Crews originally were dispatched to the Hooters restaurant and then the Half Price Books in the same center but found the fire was actually above the cleaners. The letter C on the business sign had fallen off the building from the heat and flames in the wood and alumninum siding awning.

Crews extinguished the fire and turned off the sprinkler system. Water and smoke damage got into the dry cleaners and the UPS store. The shopping center managers were urged to salt the parking lot to cover the freezing water.

Damage to the building was estimated at $7,000. The businesses were still determing the amount of loss to contents from water and smoke damage.

"This is a great example of how sprinklers work and prevented the fire from progressing," Myers said.