Sprinkler ordinance debated
[7/31/2007] - HUNTLEY – An electrical malfunction in a lizard cage sparked a fire in a Streamwood family’s second-floor bedroom in April. Smoke detectors alerted the family to evacuate as they prepared for dinner. Upstairs, the flames produced heat that activated a fire sprinkler and contained the blaze for firefighters who arrived seven minutes later. more

Sprinklers Could Have Saved Nine Firefighters
[7/27/2007] - CHARLESTON, S.C. — A fire sprinkler system would have saved lives in a furniture store and warehouse inferno that occurred June 18 here, fire sprinkler advocates said. The Sofa Super Store did not have fire sprinklers. Nine firefighters died battling the blaze. According to both the American Fire Sprinkler Association and the National Fire Sprinkler Association, sprinklers would have controlled the fire. more

Atherton close to adopting new fire sprinkler ordinance
[7/26/2007] - The town of Atherton is set to tighten up its sprinkler ordinance next month following months of discussion with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. The town council and fire district have met about eight times since early 2007, when the San Mateo County civil grand jury released a scathing report on the state of Atherton's sprinkler ordinance and the lack of oversight from the fire district. more

No cause determined yet in Colonial Apartments fire
[7/26/2007] - The cause of the fire that gutted the 28-unit Colonial Court Apartments, 125 S. Platten St., has not yet been determined. more

Atherton set to require fire sprinklers in nearly all new homes
[7/26/2007] - The town of Atherton is set to tighten up its sprinkler ordinance next month following months of discussion with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. The town council and fire district have met about eight times since early 2007, when the San Mateo County civil grand jury released a scathing report on the state of Atherton's sprinkler ordinance and the lack of oversight from the fire district. link

Sprinkler keeps fire from spreading at MU
[7/23/2007] - A sprinkler system is credited for keeping a lab fire in check over the weekend at the University of Missouri engineering building. more

Officials see need for more sprinklers in buildings
[7/22/2007] - Some area fire departments say fewer than half the public buildings they inspect are equipped with sprinkler systems, suggesting a need for stricter requirements. link

Fatal Charleston fire renews calls for sprinkler systems
[7/21/2007] - COLUMBIA, S.C. | Nearly 100 people died in Las Vegas hotel fires in the early 1980s before laws there changed and all such buildings had to install sprinkler systems. link

Sprinkler system saved day for Swap Shop, fire official says
[7/20/2007] - LAUDERHILL - The sprinkler system at the Swap Shop kept an early morning fire Friday on the second floor from spreading through the building, a Lauderhill Fire Rescue spokesman said. This fire call is a perfect example that fire sprinkler systems help to contain fires and save lives," Levy said in a statement. link

Historic Oregon Courthouse Now a Safer Place for Business
[7/18/2007] - (OREGON CITY) - The Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City is now fully protected by a newly installed automatic sprinkler system and a complete monitored fire alarm system. link

Fire sprinkler idea catching on
[7/16/2007] - Property owners in downtown Grapevine know there's no insurance policy for history. Many of the owners favor the city's proposal to get about 30 of Grapevine's oldest properties protected by fire sprinklers, even if it costs them thousands. link

The safest home on the block?
[7/15/2007] - The decision to install a sprinkler system was a no-brainer for one Tinley Park family whose home is being remodeled. "It gives us peace of mind, just knowing our kids are safe," echoed Amy and Jason Pequette. link

Lack of sprinklers, low water pressure slowed effort to douse apartment fire
[7/13/2007] - Lack of a sprinkler system and low water pressure hampered efforts to fight an apartment fire late Tuesday night in Green Bay. The fire ripped through the 28-unit Colonial Court Apartments, 125 S. Platten St., leaving 70 residents homeless. link

Sprinklers help stop spread of Vegas cosmetology school fire
[7/11/2007] - LAS VEGAS (AP) - Firefighters are crediting an automatic sprinkler with preventing the spread of flames in a two-alarm fire in a West Las Vegas business this morning. more

Cigarette in bed causes small fire at nursing home
[7/9/2007] - ST. PETERSBURG - A small fire on Sunday temporarily displaced 47 elderly people at a nursing home. Second-floor residents at the Coquina Key Health and Rehabilitation Center, 435 42nd Ave. S, had to be evacuated to the first floor after a fire broke out around noon in room 217. more

Fire at BMC caused by cigarette
[7/9/2007] - Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department members responded to a call at the Bolivar Medical Center Saturday morning when a fire was reported in one of the patient rooms. At 10:25 a.m., members of the department arrived at the medical facility where a fire was reported on the third floor in Room 323. link

Protecting a tinderbox
[7/8/2007] - A fire smoldering within the walls of Plums' kitchen in historic downtown Beaufort was caught by an employee opening up for business in January, and the damage forced the restaurant to close for a few months. link

Fireworks Suspected In Blaze At Port Orange Mansion
[7/5/2007] - PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Fireworks are suspected of sparking a huge fire at a high-priced home in Volusia County, Thursday morning, but one thing kept it from being a lot worse.  When crews arrived, they discovered they had some help in saving some of the house. The home has a sprinkler system, something fire officials said is rare to see in residential buildings. more

Firefighters respond to small fire at QVC plant
[7/5/2007] - Windy Hill firefighters responded to a small fire at the new QVC plant in Florence County early Thursday morning. more

SAN JOSE Apartment, house fires
[7/5/2007] - SAN JOSE Apartment, house fires leave 4 hurt; 3 victims sent to hospital for treatment Four people were injured in two separate San Jose fires Wednesday, and three of them were sent to the hospital for treatment. In the first incident, two people were injured during a one-alarm fire at a house on Sierra Road. The fire broke out about 2:14 p.m. and was brought under control at 4:05 p.m., according to the San Jose Fire Department. One of the victims was taken to Valley Medical Center for treatment. No other details were available late Wednesday. The second fire broke out at 3:46 p.m. in an apartment on Branham Lane and was extinguished within 10 minutes by the unit's sprinkler system. The fire was confined to one apartment, said Teresa Zagalo, senior public safety dispatcher. "Two burn patients were taken to VMC," she said. The condition of both victims was unknown late Wednesday. more

Group home sprinkler bill to go before council
[7/4/2007] - Members of the Montgomery County Council Public Safety Committee expect to ask for $250,000 to improve fire safety in 42 of the county’s group homes. link

Warehouse saved by sprinkler system
[7/1/2007] - A sprinkler system activated and kept a warehouse fire in check early Sunday morning at the Harrington Corp. plant on Cohen Place in Lynchburg. link