Sprinkler Stop - Basement Flat, Hastings, September 2009
Recently East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service received a call from a resident in Warrior Square, Hastings, who was concerned about a smell of smoke. Two fire appliances were dispatched to the building and upon arrival discovered a fire in the basement flat.
The fire, which had started in the bedroom of the property, had been virtually extinguished by a sprinkler system which had been fitted as part of a recent refurbishment. The flat was unoccupied at the time of the fire and without the intervention of the sprinkler system, the fire could have spread causing untold damage to the property and threatening the rest of the occupants and flats within the building.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat to finish extinguishing the blaze and ventilate the property. The building was also fitted with a fire alarm system which had successfully raised the alarm throughout the building, allowing the other occupants to escape quickly and safely. The sprinkler system was quickly reinstated ensuring the whole building was once again fully protected from fire.
Adrian Brown, Director of Prevention & Protection said, "Once again we see the benefits of having a properly installed and working sprinkler system. There are many myths about sprinklers, the reality is they save lives and property as we have seen in this instance. This incident demonstrates why the Fire & Rescue Service are keen promoters of sprinklers."
Bed and Breakfast, West Midlands, 8 December 2008
A large Bed and Breakfast establishment in Erdington suffered a fire on 8 December in a first floor bedroom. The premises were protected by a BS 9251 system which operated and extinguished the fire. Two heads are reported to have opened.
Domestic Premises, 27 December 2008
A domestic system successfully operated on 27 December 2008. A single sprinkler head in a bathroom operated to extinguish a fire in a towel which was caused by the ignition of paper by a recessed ceiling light.
Residential Block, Bin Store, Corby 11 March 2009
LA housing. Two heads operated to control fire (believed to be deliberate). Bins severely damaged but smoke damage only to building. Residents self-evacuated. System reinstated in 75 minutes.
Automotive Components, Uttoxter 27 July 2009
Sprinklers have brought a potentially major blaze under control in a factory fire in the early hours of this morning.
The fire took place in the rural village of Mayfield, near Uttoxeter at approximately 1am this morning. The factory, called Mayfield Yarns, located on Conygree Lane, produces materials for airbag systems.
When crews arrived they were met with two fires, one in an outbuilding storing pallets and corrugated cardboard and the second in a large production and storage building. At the height of the incident there were a total of ten pumps and two aerial ladder platforms, however, because of the effective use of the sprinkler systems the incident was soon scaled down to five pumps by 2.30am.
Factory, Hampshire, 8 November 2008
A fire that broke out in a factory has highlighted the importance of sprinkler systems in commercial properties, the fire brigade have said. Firefighters attended a factory fire in Aston Road, Waterlooville on Saturday, 8 November.
Crews from Waterlooville and Cosham were called at 1335hrs to WPL, an 18,000sq ft factory.
The factory, which makes products for rainwater harvesting, sewage management and wastewater processes, contained flammable products, including acetone and fibreglass resin.
However sprinklers helped keep the fire in check and prevent further damage to the property.
Former Mill, Stacksteads, Lancashire 13 March 2009
A sprinkler system could have saved a company around £2 million after a blaze was prevented from tearing through Atherton Holme Mill, Stacksteads, fire chiefs have claimed. Chief Fire Officer for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Peter Holland, said the situation could have been much worse if the building had not been fitted with a sprinkler system.
Bacup shoes which occupies the building said that there was no real damage to the 4th floor of the building and that the fire would not affect the business or the jobs of the 80 employees.
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