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Risk Reduction Review
Expert Perspectives in Fire Safety & Community Risk Reduction
Welcome
to the Risk Reduction Review
Our website is dedicated to the ever-evolving world of community risk reduction and fire and building safety. My name is Tim Spears, and I bring to you two decades of experience as a Fire Marshal, a journey marked by constant learning and a commitment to safety.


Real-World Fire Sprinkler Saves: Lessons from Recent Incidents From February 2026
Fire sprinkler systems change outcomes! In many cases, they stop incidents before they become tragedies. This February's slide show highlights real-world fire sprinkler saves from across the U.S. and internationally, showing how these systems perform in everyday situations. A few notable examples: ✅ Golden Grove, Australia – Sprinklers suppressed an equipment fire and helped save an estimated $10 million in property. 🔗 https://www.facebook.com/FirstOnSceneMedia/posts/commerc
Tim Spears
57 minutes ago5 min read


Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents: February 2026
Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life now, from e-bikes and tools to power banks and appliances. The number of fire incidents tied to these devices continues to grow. I pulled together a quick slide show highlighting recent incidents from February to show where and how these fires are occurring. ✅ Marcoola, Australia – An e-bike battery fire destroyed multiple residential units and displaced several occupants. 🔗 https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2026/02/05/aussi
Tim Spears
4 days ago4 min read


Real-World Fire Sprinkler Saves: Lessons from Recent Incidents From January 2026
In January, we saw multiple incidents across the U.S. and internationally where sprinklers limited fire spread, reduced injuries, and prevented what could have been much larger losses. I’ve put together a new slide show highlighting recent fire sprinkler saves from January 2026. These incidents span multifamily housing, schools, senior living facilities, and large industrial buildings. Each one reinforces the same message that early sprinkler activation changes outcomes. A fe
Tim Spears
Feb 225 min read


Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents: January 2026
Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere now. We carry them in our pockets, store them in our homes, rely on them at work, and increasingly see them embedded in buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure. Most of the time they do their job quietly. When something goes wrong, though, the consequences can escalate fast. I put together the photo carousel in this post to highlight recent lithium-ion battery fire incidents from January 2026. The goal isn’t to alarm, but to reinforce prac
Tim Spears
Feb 75 min read


Real-World Fire Sprinkler Saves: Lessons from Recent Incidents From December 2025
Fire sprinkler systems rarely get attention when they work exactly as intended, yet that quiet reliability is what saves lives and protects communities. I’m sharing a new slide show that brings together a series of recent fire incidents from December 2025 where automatic fire sprinklers played a critical role. These cases span multifamily housing, schools, assisted living facilities, restaurants, and commercial occupancies, and they offer clear, real-world lessons for both pr
Tim Spears
Jan 256 min read


Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents: December 2025
Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. Phones, e-bikes, power banks, mobility devices, even home energy systems. They’re a big part of daily life, but when something goes wrong, the fire behavior can escalate fast and the impacts can be serious. I pulled together a photo carousel with recent lithium-ion battery fire incidents from December 2025. The goal is to share real-world examples, highlight what happened, and reinforce practical prevention steps we can apply in homes, wo
Tim Spears
Jan 106 min read
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