Two Living Rooms Went Up in Flames
Demonstration shows sprinkler safety
Two fires set to compare rooms with and without
Updated: Thursday, 16 Sep 2010, 7:50 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 15 Sep 2010, 11:27 PM EDT
- Elizabeth Fields
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Two living rooms went up in flames at the Allen County Fairgrounds Wednesday night. it was part of a demonstration for sprinkler systems. Some think they should be mandatory in all new homes built.
First, fire fighters sparked a small fire in the unprotected room. In less than 2 minutes, it was completely engulfed and smoke was billowing out. It took crews more than 4 minutes to get it under control. Ron Brown, a retired Fire Chief, told NewsChannel 15 the average response time is 10 to15 minutes.
"Many think the smoke alarm is sufficient. That's not the case, smoke alarm will give you a warning but you have to hear the warning and you have to do the right things," he said.
The living room with a sprinkler was spared a lot of fire damage because that fire was out in less than a minute. Even though the evidence was pretty clear, Brown said he understands why people are skeptical. He said all of the sprinklers will not go off in a house, just the one impacted by the flames and there's no chance a smoky stove could se them off either.
"These sprinklers are activated by heat only," he said. "The sprinkler head won’t go off until the temperature of the ceiling is 135 to 165 degrees, then the head will go off and extinguish the fire."
Rob Vincient, Vice President of Shambaugh and Sons, is also working to get sprinklers up in every new house. He said they're more affordable than you might think.
"We estimate anywhere from $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot. That's about the same as carpeting your house," he compared.In 2008 the International Code Council voted to mandate fire sprinklers in all one-and-two family dwellings, but each state has to pass it's own legislation. Sprinklers are not mandatory in Indiana at this time.
A good story to dispel some of the myths about fire sprinklers. Unless you're Bruce Willis or in a Hollywood-type TV show or movie, you're not going to see every sprinkler head activate just because there's a fire. And you won't see them drown a room in water because someone pulled an alarm.
If more people (and businesses) realized that sprinklers activate where needed -- at the point of flames -- we might see less resistance to getting them installed during construction of new buildings and homes.
