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.)
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| The fire was spreading rapidly up the wall. |
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| 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
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