Real-World Fire Sprinkler Saves: Lessons from Recent Incidents From December 2025
- Tim Spears
- 5 minutes ago
- 6 min read
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 professionals and the public.
A few notable examples included in the slide show:
✅ Berkeley, CA – In-unit sprinklers knocked down flames in a senior housing apartment before firefighters arrived, limiting the fire to a single unit.
✅ Woodstock, IL – A big-box retail fire was already extinguished by the sprinkler system when crews arrived, avoiding injuries and major loss.
✅ Clinton, IA – Sprinklers controlled a fire at ceiling level in a manufacturing facility until firefighters could complete extinguishment.
✅ Racine, WI – Two separate residential fires on the same day showed a sharp contrast: sprinklers stopped an apartment fire early, while a nearby unsprinklered duplex suffered greater damage and injuries.
✅ Brattleboro, VT – A sixth-floor apartment fire was contained to the unit of origin by sprinklers, preventing fire spread even as water damage displaced residents below.
✅ Milwaukee, WI – A fire in an assisted living facility was quickly contained by sprinklers, allowing firefighters to safely manage the incident and protect vulnerable occupants.
Across these incidents, two trends stand out. First, sprinklers consistently kept fires from growing beyond the point of origin, often before firefighters arrived. Second, while water damage can be disruptive, it is a far more manageable outcome than a rapidly spreading fire.
Swipe through the slide show to see the full set of incidents, lessons learned, and practical prevention insights you can apply in your work or share with your community.
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 what works in practice. The recent sprinkler save incidents summarized here reinforce how automatic fire sprinklers continue to play a important role in limiting fire spread, reducing injuries, and supporting safer outcomes across many building types.
Early Containment Matters
Across nearly every incident, automatic fire sprinklers activated quickly and contained fires to the room or area of origin. In apartments, schools, restaurants, and commercial spaces, sprinklers limited heat and flame spread before firefighters arrived, preventing escalation into large, multi-alarm events.
Takeaway: Ensure sprinkler systems are properly installed, maintained, and protected so they can activate immediately when a fire starts.
Sprinklers Reduce Injury Risk
Many of the incidents resulted in no injuries or only minor smoke exposure, even in occupancies with sleeping residents, seniors, or large numbers of occupants. When sprinklers controlled the fire early, conditions remained survivable and evacuations were more manageable.
Takeaway: Sprinkler protection in occupancies with vulnerable populations, including multifamily housing, assisted living, and educational facilities help improve safety.
Fire Spread vs. Water Damage
Several incidents involved significant water damage and temporary displacement, particularly in high-rise or multifamily buildings. However, the fire damage itself was often limited to a single unit or space, preventing far greater loss and longer-term displacement.
Takeaway: Water damage is a manageable consequence of successful fire control, and plan ahead for water mitigation following sprinkler activations.
Sprinklers Perform Across Occupancies
These incidents show sprinkler effectiveness in a wide range of settings, including apartments, assisted living facilities, schools, restaurants, retail spaces, and industrial properties. The systems performed reliably regardless of occupancy type or time of day.
Takeaway: Sprinklers are a foundational life-safety system.
Taken together, these incidents reinforce a simple truth supported by decades of data: fire sprinklers consistently turn potentially catastrophic fires into manageable incidents. Sharing and learning from these real-world outcomes strengthens community risk reduction efforts and supports informed decisions about fire protection investments.
References
ABC News 4 Staff. (2025, December 6). Unattended cooking fire in West Ashley contained by fire sprinkler overnight. ABC News 4. https://abcnews4.com/news/local/unattended-cooking-fire-in-west-ashley-contained-by-fire-sprinkler-overnight
Baechle, S. (2025, December 2). Residents displaced by Jefferson City fire. KRCG-TV. https://krcgtv.com/news/local/residents-displaced-by-jefferson-city-fire
Bay City News. (2026, January 1). Santa Rosa: Residents displaced after high-rise apartment fire. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/santa-rosa-residents-displaced-after-high-rise-21271712.php
Bassma, K. (2025, December 22). One person hospitalized after second-alarm blaze at Framingham residence. Boston 25 News. https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/one-person-hospitalized-after-second-alarm-blaze-framingham-residence/
Dacre, C. (2025, December 31). Sprinklers douse fire at Kelowna supportive housing building. Castanet. https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/591761/Sprinklers-douse-fire-at-Kelowna-supportive-housing-building
FOX 32 Chicago. (2026, January 1). Woodstock Walmart closed after New Year’s Eve fire inside store. FOX 32 Chicago. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/woodstock-walmart-closed-after-new-years-eve-fire-inside-store
Johnson, E. (2025, December 29). Redwood Gardens blaze leaves Berkeley senior fighting for life. Hoodline. https://hoodline.com/2025/12/redwood-gardens-blaze-leaves-berkeley-senior-fighting-for-life/
KGUN 9 News Staff. (2025, December 24). Trash can fire triggers sprinkler system at PCC’s downtown campus. KGUN 9. https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/trash-can-fire-triggers-sprinkler-system-at-pccs-downtown-campus
Kim, S. (2025, December 9). Swift LAFD response extinguishes apartment fire in Westlake, LA. Hoodline. https://hoodline.com/2025/12/swift-lafd-response-extinguishes-apartment-fire-in-westlake-la-suspected-lithium-ion-battery-to-blame/
KWQC Staff. (2025, December 9). Sprinkler keeps fire in check at Clinton manufacturer until firefighters arrive. KWQC. https://www.kwqc.com/2025/12/09/crews-battle-fire-manufacturing-company/
Leader Staff. (2025, December 19). Sugar Creek apartment fire on Dec. 18 displaces two. My Leader Paper. https://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/police_fire/sugar-creek-apartment-fire-on-dec-18-displaces-two/article_623920de-e451-499d-8f00-bc443322b7e3.html
Mashburn, S. (2025, December 22). Sprinkler system contains fire at local hotel. Main Street Media of Tennessee. https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/lawrencecountyadvocate/sprinkler-system-contains-fire-at-local-hotel/
Ormsbee, M. (2025, December 25). Retail shop damaged in Christmas Eve fire at Stowe resort. NBC5. https://www.mynbc5.com/article/fire-breaks-out-at-spruce-speak-shop/69863548
Radio Media Staff. (2025, December 15). Fire contained by sprinkler system at Best Western Plus. Radio Media. https://www.radiomediaonline.com/fire-contained-by-sprinkler-system-at-best-western-plus/
Riley, E. (2025, December 29). Omaha apartment fire leaves one injured. WOWT. https://www.wowt.com/2025/12/29/one-injured-fire-south-central-omaha-apartment/
San Marino Tribune Staff. (2025, December 22). SMFD assists with apartment fire. San Marino Tribune. https://outlooknewspapers.com/sanmarinotribune/smfd-assists-with-apartment-fire/
The Jamestown Sun. (2025, December 23). Jamestown Fire Department responds to sprinkler activation at Hidden River Acres. Yahoo News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jamestown-fire-department-responds-sprinkler-045000928.html
Times Staff. (2025, December 19). One arrested following fire at Fort Frances Canadian Tire. Fort Frances Times. https://fftimes.com/news/fort-frances-fire-rescue-responds-to-fire-at-canadian-tire/
WCAX News Team. (2025, December 28). Apartment fire displaces multiple residents in Brattleboro. WCAX. https://www.wcax.com/2025/12/28/apartments-evacuated-after-brattleboro-fire/
FOX6 News Digital Team. (2025, December 18). 2 Racine apartment fires displace residents; infant, adult treated. FOX6 Milwaukee. https://www.fox6now.com/news/2-racine-apartment-fires-displace-residents-infant-adult-treated
Christopher, E. (2025, November 12). 14 residents displaced after apartment fire in Hartford. Daily Dispatch. https://dailydispatch.com/fire-news/connecticut/14-residents-displaced-after-apartment-fire-in-hartford/
Lee, S. (2025, December 27). Apartment fire in Donam-dong, Tongyeong… man in his 70s dies. Asia Business Daily. https://cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2025122711432228198
Scottsdale Independent Staff. (2025, December 9). Apartment sprinklers save Thanksgiving for Scottsdale residents. Scottsdale Independent. https://www.yourvalley.net/scottsdale-independent/stories/apartment-sprinklers-save-thanksgiving-for-scottsdale-residents,642453
Griffin, K. (2025, December 29). Brattleboro fire displaces several, injures two. Franklin County Now. https://franklincountynow.com/news/216612-brattleboro-fire-displaces-several-injures-two/
Pair, J. (2025, December 15). Burning mattress is 2nd suspicious fire in several days at downtown Ann Arbor apartment. MLive. https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/12/burning-mattress-is-2nd-suspicious-fire-in-several-days-at-downtown-ann-arbor-apartment.html
Del Carpio, E. (2025, December 9). Chico Fire Department responds to and extinguishes fire at apartment complex on Tonea Way. Action News Now. https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/chico-fire-department-responds-to-and-extinguishes-fire-at-apartment-complex-on-tonea-way/article_70d74681-83b7-4fea-9450-71dc75032e56.html
WCAX News Team. (2025, December 18). Crews respond to apartment fire in Essex. WCAX. https://www.wcax.com/2025/12/18/crews-respond-apartment-fire-essex/
WGMD Staff. (2025, December 9). Early morning fire at Showell commercial property accidental. WGMD. https://www.wgmd.com/early-morning-fire-at-showell-commercial-property-accidental/
Shalhoup, D. (2025, December 11). Fire breaks out in Alvirne High School classroom in Hudson. Union Leader. https://www.unionleader.com/news/safety/fire-breaks-out-in-alvirne-high-school-classroom-in-hudson/article_3008ffdb-1b12-4ead-bc47-0abd86932c3f.html
Moore, S. (2025, December 30). Fire reported at Biltmore Estate. WYFF 4. https://www.wyff4.com/article/biltmore-estate-fire/69887829
Farver, L. M. (2025, December 31). Fire spreads to grease chute, roof damaging restaurant in Westmont. Patch. https://patch.com/illinois/downersgrove/fire-spreads-grease-chute-roof-damaging-restaurant-westmont
Clarey, D. (2025, December 13). Fire at Milwaukee assisted living center contained quickly. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/12/12/fire-at-milwaukee-assisted-living-center-contained-quickly/87744682007/
Solsaa, G. (2025, December 9). Fire triggers sprinkler flooding, displacing dozens of Rutland residents in frigid weather. VTDigger. https://vtdigger.org/2025/12/09/fire-triggers-sprinkler-flooding-displacing-dozens-of-rutland-residents-in-frigid-weather/
Bruem, R. (2025, December 2). Kerr Street house destroyed in suspected lithium battery fire. Ballina News Daily. https://ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2025/12/house-destroyed-in-kerr-street-fire-suspected-lithium-battery-blaze/
Camoens, A. (2025, December 22). Kitchen fire breaks out at Mid Valley restaurant, no injuries reported. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/12/1342369/kitchen-fire-breaks-out-mid-valley-restaurant-no-injuries-reported
Duffy, A. A. (2025, December 24). Langford resident displaced by Christmas Eve blaze. Victoria Times Colonist. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/langford-resident-displaced-by-christmas-eve-blaze-11669456
Madison Courier Staff. (2025, December 1). Lithium battery cause of small blaze Monday evening. Madison Courier. https://www.madisoncourier.com/north_vernon/lithium-battery-cause-of-small-blaze-monday-evening/article_3d2e7f26-a019-5596-a4bb-5bee09197ff2.html
Maloney, R. (2025, December 28). LMHA: St. Catherine Court electrical fire leaves some tenants without power ahead of freezing temps. WLKY. https://www.wlky.com/article/lmha-st-catherine-court-electrical-fire-no-power-freezing-temps/69874415
Weil, A. (2025, December 26). Madison fire crews extinguish Christmas Eve dryer fire. WMTV 15 News. https://www.wmtv15news.com/2025/12/26/madison-fire-crews-extinguish-christmas-eve-dryer-fire/
Rutherford Source Staff. (2025, December 8). MFRD responds to fire at Woodgate Farms Apartments. Rutherford Source. https://rutherfordsource.com/mfrd-responds-to-fire-at-woodgate-farms-apartments/
Lisitza, S. (2025, December 3). New Hope Apartments fire causes $60,000 in damages. Central Illinois Proud. https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/peoria-fire-department-trash-fire/