Fire Sprinkler Stops Kitchen Fire in Lakeside

Lakeside, Calif. - 

A stovetop grease fire extending into the kitchen cabinets was extinguished by a residential fire sprinkler in a Lakeside apartment home on Friday, April 3, 2015. The call to the fire department originated as a waterflow alarm from the sprinkler activation. Lakeside Engine 1 was on scene in under five minutes reporting an extinguished kitchen fire. Firefighters secured the water supply to the sprinkler and ensured no additional fire spread to the wall or cabinets.

The immediate action of the fire sprinkler stopped what would have been a destructive and dangerous fire in this occupied home. Contrary to popular portrayal, not all of the fire sprinklers in the home activate when there is a fire. Most commonly, as was the case with this fire, only one sprinkler head activates in response to the heat generated by the fire.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is, by far, the most common cause of residential building fires in the U.S. with more than 165,000 fires occurring annually. Oil, fat and grease (51 percent) were the leading types of material ignited in non-confined cooking fires.

For more information on preventing kitchen fire and cooking safety, CLICK HERE.

Fire was extending to cabinets.

The fire was stopped with one sprinkler head.

Post and Photos by: Captain Eric Stamm, Lakeside Fire District

Fire Sprinklers Stop Residential Fire in Lakeside

Lakeside, CA - 

An accidental fire in an occupied residence was controlled by a residential fire sprinkler in Lakeside on Monday, October 20, 2014. The fire, which started in pump equipment below a large aquarium, was held in check when one nearby sprinkler head, sensing the heat from the flames, began discharging water. Lakeside Engine 3 (Lake Jennings fire station) arrived and reported light smoke from the residence. Firefighters stretched a hoseline and extinguished the remaining hotspots.

This incident is an excellent example of the value of residential fire sprinklers. This fire was quickly stopped in its incipient phase and was not allowed to grow uncontrollably and threaten the lives of the residents of this home. As the banner on our district web site states: "Residential Fire Sprinklers Save Lives."

Facts About Home Fire Sprinklers

• Home fire sprinklers can control and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene.
• Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire. In 84% of home fires where the sprinklers operate, just one sprinkler operates.
• If you have a fire in your home, the risk of dying is cut by about one-third when smoke alarms are present (or about half if the smoke alarms are working), while automatic fire sprinkler systems cut the risk of dying by about 80%.
• In a home with sprinklers, the average property loss per fire is cut by about 70%
  (compared to fires where sprinklers are not present.) 

 

The fire was spreading rapidly up the wall.

This (one) fire sprinkler head kept this fire from spreading.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Captain Wes Barnes, Lakeside Fire District