RFD: Fire Sprinklers Save Two Redmond Structures

from thepatch

The Redmond Fire Department says two fires in Redmond Friday morning could have been much worse if sprinklers had not activated.

• By Redmond Patch Staff
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• May 4, 2013

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Fire sprinklers were activated in two separate Redmond buildings Friday morning, and city fire officials say they helped prevent serious damage and possibly saved lives. 

In both cases, the activation of single sprinkler heads limited damage until firefighters could arrive, according a Redmond Fire Department press release.

In the first case, the sprinklers gave two employees time to evacuate the building. In the second case, they helped protect a dog that was alone in a home.

The first call came at 1:31 a.m. after an alarm activated in a building at the Redmond Ridge Business Park in the 22900 block of NE Alder Crest Drive. The second came at 7:58 a.m. at the Avignon Townhomes, in the 10000 block of 156 PL NE.

Here is the full Redmond Fire Department press release:

Fire Sprinklers Save Two Redmond Area Buildings Today

Redmond, WA – Prior to 8:00 a.m. today, fire sprinklers had activated in two separate Redmond area buildings to protect lives and property.  Both incidents were promptly reported to the NORCOM fire dispatch center by alarm monitoring companies.

In both instances the activation of a single, fire sprinkler head controlled the fire until the arrival of fire fighters.  In the first case the activation of the fire sprinkler provided time for two employees onsite to evacuate.  In the second, the presence of the sprinklers protected a dog home alone until it could be evacuated by fire fighters.

An early morning fire in an occupied commercial building, located in King County Fire District 34 just east of Redmond, was contained by the activation of a single, fire sprinkler head.  Redmond Fire fighters were dispatched at 01:31a.m. for a fire alarm activation in a building at the Redmond Ridge Business Park in the 22900 block of NE Alder Crest Drive.

Arriving fire fighters found the fire confined to equipment in a single room of the building.  Damage was limited to several, small, blower fans in that area.  Fire fighters completed extinguishment and assisted with water removal and smoke ventilation.  There were no injuries to employees or fire fighters. Damage is estimated at less than $500.00.  The business was able to resume operations within a few hours.

The second fire occurred later in the morning at a downtown Redmond townhome complex.  The activation of the fire sprinkler system limited the spread of a stovetop fire and protected the dog home alone in the unit.

Units from the Redmond Fire Department were dispatched at 07:58 a.m. to an automatic fire alarm at Avignon Townhomes, located in the 10000 block of 156 PL NE.  The first engine arrived at 08:03a.m. to find smoke issuing from the second floor of a townhome in the middle of the six unit building.  The majority of the fire was extinguished by the sprinkler.

Fire fighters evacuated the dog from the home, ventilated the smoke, and took steps to limitwater damage.  Despite the open floor plan of the townhome, fire damage was limited to the stove, microwave oven, and the upper cabinets and wall surface directly above the stove. Smoke damage was confined to the kitchen ceiling.  Fire fighters completed extinguishment and assisted with water removal and smoke ventilation.  There were no injuries to residents, fire fighters, or the dog.  No adjacent townhomes were affected.  Damage is estimated at less than $4,000.00.  Facilities staff was initiating repairs this morning.

Your Redmond Fire Department would like to remind you that Fire Sprinklers SAVE LIVES and minimize damage, install them whenever possible.

Related Topics: Fire sprinklers save Redmond structures