Fire sprinkler systems have long been recognized as one of the most effective tools in fire prevention and community risk reduction. Between August 1st and August 10th, several incidents across the United States and beyond showcased the life-saving potential of these systems. Each of these real-world examples underscores how fire sprinklers help protect lives and reduce property damage, making them an essential part of modern fire safety.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), sprinklers significantly reduce fire fatalities, injuries, and property loss. From 2017 to 2021, civilian death rates in homes with sprinklers were 89% lower than in homes without automatic extinguishing systems (AES) (NFPA, 2024). The following are some incidents from early August that illustrate how effective fire sprinkler systems are in various building types and scenarios.
August 1st - August 10th: Sprinklers in Action
Fire at Apartment Complex in Southeast MoCo
Location: Montgomery County, Texas, USA
Firefighters responded to a fire in a three-story, 20-unit apartment building at the Marquis at Kingwood apartments in Montgomery County. The fire originated from a clothes dryer in the utility room. The building's fire alarm and sprinkler systems were instrumental in containing the fire to the dryer. A single sprinkler head activated, preventing the fire from spreading beyond the utility room. Firefighters extinguished the remaining flames with a water-based extinguisher. Thanks to these fire safety systems, no injuries were reported, and only minor smoke and water damage occurred.
Sprinklers Save Lives in Stockton High-Rise
Location: Stockton, England, UK
In a high-rise building in Stockton, two occupants narrowly avoided injury when a fire broke out due to an unattended chip pan. The building’s sprinkler system activated, extinguishing the fire and preventing it from spreading. This incident highlights the importance of sprinkler systems in residential buildings. The fire was quickly contained, and although some water damage occurred, the overall damage was minimal. The sprinkler system also isolated the flat’s electrics, further reducing risk.
Link: Cleveland Fire Brigade
Lee Manor Apartment Fire in Owensboro
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky, USA
A small grease fire in a third-floor apartment at Lee Manor Apartments in Owensboro caused significant water damage when the sprinkler system activated. The occupant attempted to extinguish the grease fire by placing it in the sink, inadvertently worsening the fire, which then triggered the sprinkler system. The sprinkler contained the fire, minimizing direct fire damage, but water from the sprinkler system affected three floors of the west wing, displacing some residents temporarily.
Link: Owensboro Times
Senior Living Facility Kitchen Fire in Madison
Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
In Madison, a fire sprinkler system contained a kitchen fire at a senior living facility. The fire started in a second-floor apartment, activating the sprinkler system, which contained the fire before firefighters arrived. Firefighters used a water can extinguisher to fully extinguish the fire and ventilated the building. The rapid response and the sprinkler system's activation prevented the fire from spreading, protecting residents in this large, 170-unit building.
Link: NBC 15 News Madison
Fire by Changing Rooms Prompts Evacuation of Walmart
Location: Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada
A fire broke out near the changing rooms of a Walmart in Salmon Arm, prompting the activation of the store’s sprinkler system. The fire caused the evacuation of the building, and while one individual was injured during the evacuation, there were no serious injuries. The sprinkler system helped prevent further damage as firefighters responded to the scene.
Link: Similkameen Spotlight
Brownwood Fire Department Responds to Apartment Fire
Location: Brownwood, Texas, USA
The Brownwood Fire Department responded to a structure fire at an apartment complex, where the fire had been contained by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived. The fire caused smoke, water, and fire damage to the building, and one occupant was displaced. Firefighters ventilated the building and checked for fire extension. The sprinkler system played a key role in minimizing the damage.
Link: Brownwood News
Sprinkler Activation at Local Church in Citrus County
Location: Citrus County, Florida, USA
Citrus County Fire Rescue responded to an alarm activation at the Gulf to Lake Baptist Church. The church’s sprinkler system was set off by workers applying wood burning inside the gymnasium. Although there was no fire or visible smoke, firefighters used thermal imaging to ensure no high heat sources were present. The sprinkler system was shut down, and the workers were instructed to remain on fire watch until it was operational again.
Link: Chronicle Online
Sprinkler System Contains Fire at Senior Housing Facility
Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
A fire sprinkler system activated during a kitchen fire in a senior housing facility in Madison. The fire was contained to a second-floor apartment, and firefighters extinguished the remaining flames with a water can extinguisher. The sprinkler system helped prevent the fire from spreading, ensuring that no injuries occurred and limiting property damage.
Link: WKOW News
Small Fire Contained at St. Vincent’s Medical Center
Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
A small fire broke out at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, originating in an area with electrical equipment. The fire department responded quickly, and the fire was contained by the building's sprinkler system before it could spread further. This incident highlights the importance of sprinkler systems in healthcare facilities where vulnerable populations are at risk.
Link: Fox61 News
Sprinkler System Stops Fire at Frisco Condo
Location: Frisco, Colorado, USA
A fire in a condominium off Main Street in Frisco was held at bay by a single sprinkler head, which activated upon detecting the fire. The condominium was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Summit Fire & EMS praised the effectiveness of the sprinkler system in preventing the fire from becoming a larger issue. Some water damage was reported in two units below the fire.
Link: Summit Daily News
Resident Treated for Smoke Inhalation After Valley West Apartment Fire
Location: Arcata, California, USA
A fire broke out in a two-story apartment building at Valley West Apartments. The automatic sprinkler system activated and helped contain the fire within a single apartment. Fire crews extinguished the fire and ventilated the building. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation, and the estimated damage was $10,000.
Link: Lost Coast Outpost
Scout Restaurant Closed Temporarily After Fire
Location: Decatur, Georgia, USA
A small explosion caused a fire at the Scout restaurant in Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood, resulting in injuries to staff members. The sprinkler system extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived on the scene. Two staff members were treated for burn injuries and transported to the hospital. The restaurant closed temporarily due to the incident.
Link: Decaturish
Overnight Fire Displaces Residents at Olympia Homeless Shelter
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA
An overnight fire broke out in a second-floor apartment at Unity Commons, a homeless shelter and supportive housing facility. The building’s fire alarm and sprinkler systems activated, preventing the fire from spreading beyond the apartment. Approximately 40 people were displaced due to water damage from the sprinklers, but no injuries were reported.
Link: The Olympian
These stories serve as reminders of how critical fire sprinkler systems are in keeping communities safe.
How Fire Sprinkler Systems Work
Fire sprinkler systems operate on a straightforward principle: when a fire's heat reaches a certain threshold, the sprinkler head is triggered, releasing water directly onto the flames. Unlike common misconceptions, sprinkler heads are activated individually, ensuring that only the areas where the fire is present are doused with water. This precise control reduces water damage while ensuring the fire is suppressed effectively.
The Benefits of Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire sprinkler systems provide numerous benefits:
Life Safety: The NFPA reports that from 2017 to 2021, the presence of sprinklers reduced civilian fire death rates by 90% compared to properties without automatic extinguishing systems (AES) (NFPA, 2024).
Property Protection: Fires in properties with sprinklers tend to be much smaller and are confined to the room of origin in 94% of cases. This is a stark contrast to properties without sprinklers, where fires spread beyond the room of origin 30% of the time (NFPA, 2024).
Firefighter Safety: The injury rate for firefighters is 35% lower in properties with sprinkler systems, as sprinklers begin controlling the fire before firefighters arrive on the scene (NFPA, 2024).
Fire Sprinklers and the Five E's of Community Risk Reduction: The Role of Engineering
In community risk reduction (CRR), one of the pillars is "Engineering" — the application of technology and design to mitigate fire risks. Fire sprinkler systems are an example of engineering at work in fire prevention. By incorporating this technology into buildings, we create a passive but highly effective response to fire, reducing the need for human intervention and enhancing overall safety.
Communities that prioritize the installation of fire sprinklers in both residential and commercial buildings are investing in their safety and resilience. However, despite the overwhelming evidence of their effectiveness, sprinklers are still underutilized in many parts of the world.
The stories from early August show the life-saving power of fire sprinkler systems. By confining fires, reducing property damage, and protecting lives, these systems are an integral part of fire prevention and community risk reduction. As professionals, we must continue to push for their wider implementation to ensure the safety of our communities.
References
Cleveland Fire Brigade. (2024, August). Sprinklers save lives in Stockton high-rise. Retrieved from https://www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/2024/08/sprinklers-save-lives/
Whisenhunt, D. (2024, August 7). Decaturish. Scout restaurant closes temporarily after fire injures staff. Retrieved from https://decaturish.com/2024/08/scout-restaurant-closes-temporarily-after-fire-injures-staff/
Lost Coast Outpost. (2024, August 7). Resident treated for smoke inhalation following Valley West apartment fire. Retrieved from https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/aug/7/resident-treated-smoke-inhalation-following-valley/
Montgomery County Police Reporter. (2024, August). Fire at apartment complex in Southeast MoCo. Retrieved from https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/fire-at-apartment-complex-in-southeast-moco/
Castellano, K. (2024, August 1). NBC 15 News. Fire sprinkler system contains kitchen fire in Madison’s far west side. Retrieved from https://www.nbc15.com/2024/08/01/fire-sprinkler-system-contains-kitchen-fire-madisons-far-west-side/
National Fire Protection Association. (2024). U.S. Experience with Sprinklers. Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/en/forms/Research-Request
Richardson, R. (2024, August). Owensboro Times. OFD: Some residents temporarily displaced after small fire causes water damage at Lee Manor. Retrieved from https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2024/08/ofd-some-residents-temporarily-displaced-after-small-fire-causes-water-damage-at-lee-manor/
Labere, L. (2024, August). Similkameen Spotlight. Fire by changing rooms prompts evacuation of Salmon Arm Walmart. Retrieved from https://www.similkameenspotlight.com/news/fire-by-changing-room-prompts-evacuation-of-salmon-arm-walmart-7471158
Summit Daily News. (2024, August). Small fire in condo off Frisco Main Street was held at bay by sprinkler system. Retrieved from https://www.summitdaily.com/news/small-fire-frisco-main-street-summit-fire-ems/
Boone, R.(2024, August 7). The Olympian. Overnight fire damages apartment at homeless shelter in Olympia. Retrieved from https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article290798709.html
Zbierski, D. (2024, August). Fox61 News. Small fire put out at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. Retrieved from https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/fairfield-county/small-fire-extinguished-in-operating-room-at-st-vincents-medical-center-bridgeport/520-234a0cec-ff51-45e0-99bf-64cbbf104d86
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