Fire department kitchen fire shows sprinklers value (Columbia, SC)

Fire sprinklers activated and doused a fire that began in the kitchen of a fire department on June 17. The fire crew had left a chili pot on the hot stove while fighting a fire elsewhere. No injuries were reported.

Fire sprinklers eradicate meat packing plant fire (Sioux Falls, SD)

When fire crews responded to the fire that broke out on the sixth floor of a meat packing plant on the evening of June 14, they found that the plant's fire sprinkler had completely eliminated the flames. The fire caused no injuries.

Fire sprinklers contain hotel fire (Houston, TX)

A fire that was started on a mattress in a hotel room activated the hotel's fire sprinkler system. The sprinkler system contained the fire to that room, and no one was hurt by the fire. Arson crews are investigating the cause of the fire.

Sprinklers aid firefighters in school fire (Worcester, MA)

A fire that began in a gas-powered clothes dryer of a technical school the evening of June 13 was almost completely eliminated by the school's fire sprinkler system by the time fire crews arrived. No one was injured in the fire.

Sprinklers limit damage at church fire (Manhattan Beach, CA)

Fire sprinklers put out a fire that began in the storage room of a church the first week of June. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find some charred maintenance supplies in the closet, and investigators believe the fire was started by the large commercial vacuum cleaner that was stored close to some combustible items.

Manhattan Beach Fire Marshal Lou Petroni reported, “This would have been far more damaging if not for the sprinkler system extinguishing the fire. Fire sprinklers in homes and businesses are very effective in extinguishing fires in the early stages of burning."

Damage minimized at retail store thanks to fire sprinklers (Regina, SK)

Investigators are saying that the two fires that began at a dollar store Wednesday, June 12 were intentionally set. The store's fire sprinklers quickly put out the fires, and no one was injured.

Arson fire extinguished thanks to fire sprinklers (Pasadena, TX)

Several fires were intentionally set in the third floor of an apartment on May 29 in the afternoon. The building's fire sprinkler system eliminated the flames prior to the arrival of fire crews, and a suspect is in custody. No one was injured by the fire.

According to Pasadena Fire Marshal David Brannon, "If that building wouldn’t have had a sprinkler system and it being on the third floor with the wind conditions the way they were that day, the fire would have been much greater and there would have been a much greater chance for loss of life and high dollar property loss. The sprinkler system definitely saved a lot of monetary damage as well as lives that day.”

Hotel fire doused by fire sprinklers (Tampa, FL)

Firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire at a downtown Tampa hotel. The fire sprinkler system at the hotel activated and suppressed the majority of the flames. No injuries were reported.

Fire at recycling center contained by fire sprinklers (Grand Prairie, TX)

A warehouse that recycles paper, plastic, and cardboard caught on fire in the middle of the night on June 11. According to fire crews, the fire could have quickly spread out of control, but the building's fire sprinklers activated and controlled the fire.

Sprinklers stop self storage facility fire (Toms River, NJ)

When fire crews arrived to a fire at a self storage facility, they found that the flames had already been extinguished by the building's fire sprinklers. The cause of the fire was inappropriate disposal of smoking materials.

Bureau of Fire Prevention Director James Mercready said, "A properly designed and maintained fire sprinkler system is an essential component in fire protection in both residential and commercial structures."

Fire sprinkler puts out apartment fire (Boulder, CO)

A cooking fire that began the evening of June 7 was quickly extinguished by a single fire sprinkler. Fire Chief Marshal David Lowrey said, "Due to the quick activation of the sprinkler system [...]damage to the apartment [was] reduced.”

Senior living facility fire suppressed by fire sprinkler system (Madison, WI)

Fire crews responded to a fire alarm on the third floor a senior living facility during the late evening hour of June 7. Fire sprinklers activated and eliminated the blaze, and no injuries were reported.

Fire sprinklers prove worth in senior living facility (Casa de Vallejo, CA)

An unattended pot on a stove was to blame for the fire which caused the evacuation of a senior living facility in the early morning hours of June 5. The fire sprinklers activated and quickly suppressed the fire. No injuries were reported. ***Blog Editor's Note - Please let us know what you think of the coverage by the Times-Herald and journalist Rachel Raskin-Zrihen, who focused on water damage rather than the lives and property saved by the automatic fire sprinkler system. ***

Apartment fire extinguished thanks to fire sprinklers (Kent, WA)

A fire that began in the kitchen of an apartment in the middle of the night of June 6 was quickly put out by the unit's fire sprinkler system. No injuries were reported from the incident.

Hospital fire suppressed thanks to fire sprinklers (Cambridge, MD)

Fire sprinklers quickly helped to put out a fire that began in the patient's room of a hospital the morning of May 25. Investigators are still looking for the cause of the blaze, and no one was reported injured from the fire.