On Monday, June 18th, all of the news channels were covering the warehouse furniture store fire down in Charleston, South Carolina, that took the lives of nine brave firefighters.

This was, yet again, another instance where a fire sprinkler system could have protected the people fighting the fire. The sprinklers would have activated as soon as the fire started and cut down or even eliminated the work that needed to be done.

Instead, we're faced with a tragedy.

From EarthTimes.org: "An installed automatic fire sprinkler system would have saved lives in a furniture store and warehouse inferno that occurred in Charleston, SC on June 18. Fueled by combustible stored materials, the uncontrolled fire spread quickly through the unsprinklered building, apparently undermining the structure and leading to a roof collapse. Nine firefighters died battling the blaze. According to the non-profit American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), sprinklers would have controlled the fire, had they been installed in the building."

You can also read an article on CNN about this tragic event. There is also one up on Bloomberg, detailing the account.

If your business is in need of fire sprinklers, you can find a local company to inspect the site and let you know what is required. Post your request for free and we'll match you with a professional who can help prevent another tragedy.

(Photo courtesy of CNN.com)

Labels: Fire Dangers, Fire Safety News

Here's a real world example of how a business can have a fire break out and, because of sprinklers, be back in business the same week.

From the Forest Grove News-Times: "By all accounts, employees of Woodfold, Inc. are lucky to be making doors this week - and not shoveling piles of smoldering ash.

A fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. Monday in a partially covered area that the Forest Grove manufacturer used to store a dump truck, which is believed to have been the source of the first spark. Had the blaze spread it could have reached a couple hundred thousand board-feet of wood. But fire walls and a sprinkler system contained the flames before they could destroy some of the company's more crucial operations, and fire agencies extinguished the flames within two hours. No one was injured. Damages are estimated at $150,000-plus.

If that building had not had a sprinkling system, it's likely we would all still be there," David Nemeyer, fire inspector for the Forest Grove Fire Department, said nearly four hours after the fire was put out at 5:30 a.m. 'The fire sprinklers did their job today. It really showed how important they are.'

The stakes were huge for Forest Grove and the surrounding area. Woodfold is one of the city’s largest employers, with 125 employees, who are also shareholders in the employee-owned company.

Woodfold builds accordion doors, among other things, and does upward of $17 million in sales annually."

Had the fire been worse, the timing couldn't have made a blacker mark on Woodfold's calendar: 2007 is the year of its 50th anniversary. Instead, 2007 will also be remembered as a year when Woodfold dodged a bullet.

Just hours after the fire, 75 percent of Woodfold's operations were running, said Vice President John Doran. He predicted that it could be operating fully by the end of the week, when electricians will have had time to reroute some major electrical work that was damaged in the blaze.

'I would guess that within a week, you’ll hardly be able to tell anything happened,' he said, commending the local fire agencies.

The company executive echoed firefighters' observation that the sprinklers and the firewalls did their job.

'The system worked,' he said."

Labels: Fire Dangers, Fire Safety News

Fire sprinklers can protect the interior of the house, but a fire can start outside and work it's way in. Having sprinklers cannot protect your home and family as easily so it's important to maintain the outdoor areas as well. Here are some tips from Fire Safe House.com on making sure the outside of your home is as protected as the inside:

Stored Firewood

"Storing wood in your backyard requires that you follow the basic fire prevention rules to minimize the chance that wood will catch fire that may lead to a larger scale disaster. If you make sure to maintain your wood safely, you can reduce the occurrence, size, and intensity of a fire. As a first line of defense, create a 30 feet safety clearance around stored wood. A green lawn is a good safety parameter, as long as clean of fire catching debris."

Roofing Materials

"In the past, roofs were built of hazardous, flammable materials and many home losses were a direct result of the roof catching fire. Nowadays, there are new trends that promote fire safety. Consider using non-combustible roofing materials. When building or replacing the roof. Non-combustible materials include class A shingles, metal, or terra cotta. If you don’t have plans to rebuild your roof any time soon, you can still treat it with fire retardant processes and reduce roof flammability."

Barbecue Grills

"Barbecue frills require maintenance. Clean your grill and keep it free of dirt and debris build ups. You will find it easier to clean the grill after every use and remove dust and cobwebs before they build up. Check your hose and confirm it is in good condition and cracks free. Never use damaged propane tanks."

Outdoor Plants

"As there are some plants that ate more fire resistant than others, it is smart to plant these plants in the safety zone. Even with this kind of plants you must remove dry leaves, dead limbs, twigs and debris to prevent them from fueling a small fire into a more intense fire. Thin out trees and keep a fifteen feet space between crowns. This will help reducing the chance of fire spreading. If you own high trees or cannot perform this job yourself, hire a professional to do that for you. In addition, remove limbs and dead branches from 6 to 10 feet of the ground to prevent fire from spreading from the ground to the trees."

If you need to have your home inspected by a fire safety professional, or you would like to have fire sprinklers installed in your home for added protection, you can find help for free. On ConstructionDeal.com. Simply post your inspection request and a network of fire safety companies will come out to your home to assess your needs. It's fast, simple, and free to use our service.

Labels: Fire Dangers, Fire Safety, Outdoor Fire Safety

• In 2003, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 53,200 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 260 civilian deaths, 1,260 civilian injuries, and $494 million in direct property damage.


• In 2003 heating equipment fires accounted for 14% of all reported home fires (second behind cooking) and 8% of home fire deaths.


• Space heaters, excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, were involved in 26% of the home heating fires but 73% of the deaths.


• Excluding small confined fires, heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding, is by far the leading factor contributing to home heating fires (28%) and home heating fire deaths (50%).


• Chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share (40%) of home heating fire incidents. Failure to clean accounted for over half (59%) of the confined chimney and chimney connector fires.

Labels: Fire Dangers, Fire Sprinkler Installation, Fire Statistics

Labels: Fire Dangers, Fire Statistics