Real-World Fire Sprinkler Saves: Lessons from Recent Incidents From November 2025
- Tim Spears
- Dec 14
- 5 min read
Fire sprinkler systems rarely make headlines, but they make a difference every day when fires start where people live and work.
I’ve pulled together a new slide show highlighting recent fire sprinkler saves from November 2025. These incidents come from around the world and show how automatic sprinklers consistently limit fire spread, reduce injuries, and prevent small fires from becoming major events.
A few notable incidents included in the slide show:
✅ Rockland, MA – A three-alarm fire in a nursing home was held in check by sprinklers, allowing firefighters to safely evacuate more than 100 residents with no reported injuries.
✅ Mountain View, CA – An appliance fire in a multifamily condominium activated two sprinkler heads, limiting damage and preventing fire spread to other units.
✅ Bend, OR – A lithium battery failure in a school workshop was confined to a single room by sprinklers, keeping damage repairable and disruption minimal.
✅ Nashua, NH – A high-rise hallway fire was controlled by two sprinkler heads before firefighters completed extinguishment, with no injuries reported.
🔗 https://nashua.inklink.news/30-occupants-displaced-in-early-morning-fire-at-tyler-street-high-rise/
✅ Hillsdale, NJ – An overnight supermarket bakery fire was held to contents by sprinklers, allowing the store to reopen later the same day.
Sprinklers repeatedly controlled fires at or near the point of origin, often before firefighters arrived. In occupancies with vulnerable populations or complex evacuations, they bought critical time and reduced risk. Water damage occurred in some cases, but it was far less severe than the consequences of unchecked fire spread.
Swipe through the slide show for more examples, lessons learned, and prevention insights you can share with your teams and communities.
I’ve created the spreadsheet with all reviewed incidents, including the title, link, publication date, and description.
You can download it here:
🔍 Lessons Learned from This Week’s Fire Sprinkler Saves
Reviewing real-world fire incidents is one of the most effective ways to understand how buildings actually perform during emergencies.
Early Containment Matters
Across nearly every incident, automatic fire sprinklers controlled the fire at or near the point of origin. Whether the fire started in a kitchen, laundry room, dormitory, workshop, or storage area, sprinkler activation consistently limited fire growth before it could spread into corridors, adjacent units, or the structure.
Takeaway: Ensure sprinkler systems are properly installed and maintained, as early activation is critical to limiting fire spread.
Sprinklers Buy Time for Evacuation
In occupancies with vulnerable populations such as senior housing, nursing homes, hotels, and high-rise residential buildings, sprinklers played a key role in slowing fire development while occupants were evacuated or sheltered in place. This additional time reduced panic, supported assisted evacuations, and helped avoid more serious outcomes.
Takeaway: Ensure fire sprinkler systems are installed properly.
Common Fires, Predictable Sources
Many of the incidents involved familiar ignition sources including cooking, laundry equipment, candles, electrical faults, discarded smoking materials, and lithium battery failures. These are routine, everyday hazards, not unusual or extreme events, yet they continue to cause fires across all occupancy types.
Takeaway: Focus prevention efforts on everyday fire risks through education, enforcement, and safe-use messaging, especially in residential and mixed-use buildings.
Limited Damage, Faster Recovery
While sprinkler activation often resulted in water damage and temporary displacement, the overall impact was far less severe than what would be expected from an uncontrolled fire. Several buildings were partially reoccupied the same day or shortly thereafter, and structural damage was frequently avoided.
Takeaway: It is important to understand that water damage is typically manageable and preferable to the consequences of unchecked fire spread.
References
ABQ RAW Newsdesk. (2025, November 25). Smoke on second floor sparks rapid AFR response at Crowne Plaza. ABQ RAW. https://abqraw.com/post/smoke-on-second-floor-sparks-rapid-afr-response-at-crowne-plaza/
Agers, E. (2025, November 20). Shreveport Fire Department battles building blaze. KTAL News. https://www.ktalnews.com/news/local-news/shreveport-fire-crews-sprinkler/
Baker, B. (2025, December 1). Fire at Miller Elementary caused by lithium battery. MyCentralOregon.com. https://www.mycentraloregon.com/2025/12/01/fire-at-miller-elementary-caused-by-lithium-battery/
Bohl, D. (2025, November 25). Fire leads to Altoona condominium building evacuation Monday afternoon. NEWSRADIO 1040 WHO. https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2025-11-25-fire-leads-to-altoona-condominium-building-evacuation-monday-afternoon/
Bradley, J. (2025, November 4). Resident arrested after apartment fire in downtown Peoria. 1470 & 100.3 WMBD. https://wmbdradio.com/2025/11/04/resident-arrested-after-apartment-fire-in-downtown-peoria/
Brown, J. (2025, November 16). Appliance fire at Mountain View condo displaces 5 residents. Mountain View Voice. https://www.mv-voice.com/fire-wildfire/2025/11/16/appliance-fire-at-mountain-view-condo-complex-temporarily-displaces-5-residents/
Coffman, D. (2025, November 16). Windsor warehouse fire on Marentette causes $1M product loss. AM800 CKLW. https://www.am800cklw.com/news/windsor-warehouse-fire-on-marentette-causes-1m-product-loss.html
Coverager Staff. (2025, November 4). Zurich opens TechXchange fire suppression center. Coverager. https://coverager.com/zurich-opens-techxchange-fire-suppression-center/
Cusanelli, M. (2025, November 3). Residents in 5 apartment units displaced by Lyndonville fire. NBC5. https://www.mynbc5.com/article/lyndonville-fire-response-vermont/69239843
Dailyfly Staff. (2025, November 26). Lithium battery malfunction sparks apartment fire on Main Street in Moscow. Dailyfly News. https://www.dailyfly.com/2025/11/25/lithium-battery-malfunction-sparks-apartment-fire-on-main-street-in-moscow/
Earls, A. (2025, November 15). Fire knocked down at Dean College campus center. Franklin Observer. https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/349382/fire-knocked-down-dean-college-campus-center
Fortier, M. (2025, November 12). Framingham State University fire extinguished, no injuries reported. NBC Boston. https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/framingham-state-university-fire-extinguished/3844071/
Gandy, G., & Battaglia, G. (2025, November 12). Sprinkler system stops kitchen fire at Litchfield Street apartment building. RochesterFirst. https://www.rochesterfirst.com/fire-department/crews-investigate-fire-at-litchfield-st-apartment-complex/amp/
Herrington, C. (2025, November 16). Shirley’s in Collins closed temporarily for repairs after early morning fire. WDAM. https://www.wdam.com/2025/11/16/shirleys-collins-closed-temporarily-repairs-after-early-morning-fire/
Howard, A. (2025, November 2). Candle safety reminder leads to swift response. Local 3 News. https://www.local3news.com/local-news/candle-causes-small-apartment-fire-in-chattanoogas-southside/article_76974b27-087c-463d-ba36-a7e07998eaca.html
Hyman, R., & Kelleher, C. (2025, November 29). Fire in Rockland nursing home, Webster Park residents evacuated. The Enterprise. https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/fire/2025/11/29/rockland-ma-nursing-home-fire-webster-park-rehabilitation-and-healthcare-center/87530235007/
Kane, M. (2025, November 16). Hackensack firefighters beat early morning blaze. TAPinto Hackensack. https://www.tapinto.net/towns/hackensack/sections/police-and-fire/articles/hackensack-firefighters-beat-early-morning-blaze
KCRG Staff. (2025, November 6). University of Iowa dorm fire displaces students. KCRG. https://www.kcrg.com/2025/11/06/university-iowa-dorm-fire-displaces-students/
Kravetz, A. (2025, November 6). Prosperity Point kitchen fire contained with sprinkler help. WMBD. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/prosperity-point-kitchen-fire-contained-134705355.html
Levine, C. (2025, November 15). Sprinkler system stops overnight bakery fire at Hillsdale ShopRite. Pascack Valley Daily Voice. https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/pascackvalley/sprinkler-system-stops-overnight-bakery-fire-at-hillsdale-shoprite/
Logan, M. (2025, November 4). Holiday Inn basement laundry room catches fire, extinguished by LFD. Star City TV. https://www.starcitytv.com/homepage/holiday-inn-basement-laundry-room-catches-fire-extinguished-by-lfd/article_9abe346b-b68a-4ff8-a468-ce4637be4759.html
Lupiani, J. (2025, November 24). Small kitchen fire temporarily closes Superica Battery. FOX 5 Atlanta. https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/small-kitchen-fire-temporarily-closes-superica-battery
McCready, D. (2025, November 14). Sprinkler system helps extinguish Hanson fire. WATD 95.9 FM. https://959watd.com/blog/2025/11/spinkler-system-helps-extinguish-hanson-fire/
Newsradio WGAN Staff. (2025, November 3). Sprinkler system contained fire at Portland senior citizen complex. Newsradio WGAN. https://wgan.com/news/074470-sprinkler-system-contained-fire-at-portland-senior-citizen-complex/
Observer Staff. (2025, November 20). Dumpster fire causes evacuation of senior apartments. Williston Observer. https://www.willistonobserver.com/news/williston/dumpster-fire-causes-evacuation-of-senior-apartments/article_2257332b-557b-4f5f-a79c-b471b0366f31.html
Robidoux, C. (2025, November 23). 30 occupants displaced in early-morning fire at Tyler Street high-rise. Nashua Ink Link. https://nashua.inklink.news/30-occupants-displaced-in-early-morning-fire-at-tyler-street-high-rise/
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service. (2025, November 4). Sprinkler system prevents spread of fire inside flats. https://www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/news/posts/sprinkler-system-prevents-spread-of-fire-inside-flats/
The Observer Staff. (2025, November 16). Fire forces evacuation of downtown La Grande building. La Grande Observer. https://lagrandeobserver.com/2025/11/16/breaking-fire-forces-evacuation-of-downtown-la-grande-building/
The Standard Staff. (2025, November 3). Snooker hall fire in Lai Sun Commercial Centre basement sparked by short circuit in electric stove. The Standard. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/315863/Snooker-hall-fire-in-Lai-Sun-Commercial-Centre-basement-sparked-by-short-circuit-in-electric-stove
Watkins, W. (2025, November 16). Sprinkler system stops Waterville apartment building fire. Bangor Daily News. https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/16/central-maine/central-maine-police-courts/sprinkler-system-stops-waterville-apartment-building-blaze/
WBRC Digital Staff, & Haymond, A. (2025, November 16). 1 taken to hospital after fire at Homewood retirement home, multiple displaced. WBRC. https://www.wbrc.com/2025/11/16/1-taken-hospital-after-fire-homewood-retirement-home-multiple-displaced/