Home Fire Sprinklers

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Did Sprinklers Save a House From a Massive Wildfire?

from

A photograph showing a home with a green lawn surrounded by charred land is real, but the back story accompanying it is incomplete.

CLAIM

An image shows a house that was saved from a fire by sprinklers.

RATING

MIXTURE

ORIGIN

In October 2017, amid story after story about historic wildfires burning across the United States and Europe, a photograph appeared showing a house with a seemingly untouched green lawn surrounded by acres of charred land, along with the claim that the house had been spared from a wildfire thanks to the homeowner’s decisions to leave the sprinkler system running as they evacuated the area:

This image is real, but the accompanying caption does not tell the entire story. This picture was first posted to the Kansas National Guard Facebook page on 7 March 2017, along with several other images showing the view from four Blackhawk helicopters as they worked to suppress one of the biggest fires in Kansas history:

Four Kansas Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters continue helping with fire suppression in Reno County, Kansas, on March 7. On March 6 more than 33,000 gallons of water were dropped on the fire.

When Danielle Tajchman, the owner of the house, came across the Kansas National Guard’s photograph, she took to social media to add some context to the image. Tajchman said that she had been generously watering her grass for weeks to please her pet cows and that she left her sprinklers running when she evacuated her home as the fire approached:

I just came across this online, it’s my house!!! I honestly feel like we have our silly cows to thank! We have had our sprinklers running overtime for several weeks because the cows love eating our lawn and since we haven’t fixed the fence yet we figured with the nice weather we may as well try to grow them grass while they’re in there!

Although Tajchman may have left her sprinklers running during the wildfire, that was not the only source of water protecting her home. Dough Schmitt, the assistant fire chief of the Rile County Fire District, also commented on the Kansas National Guard photograph, explaining that a few of his firefighters had soaked down the property:

I am the assistant fire chief for Riley County Fire District #1 in Manhattan Kansas. I am very proud of my firefighters who stood strong as the fire raced up to them while they were protecting this house. They first checked the house to make sure nobody was still home then they soaked the house and the detached garage behind the house that isn’t surrounded by green grass. They left as the fire raced by heading to the next house they could find.

Tajchman confirmed this version of events in an 11 March 2017 article published on Kansas.com:

“We did not leave our house until 7:15 p.m. (Monday) and the video sent to us by a neighbor of our property burning was taken at 7:30 p.m.,” Tajchman wrote in an e-mail on Saturday.

“During that 15 minutes, God blessed us in the form of two Riley County firemen who showed up, made sure no one was in the home and then proceeded to soak everything they could in more water.

“Just as they ran out of water, the fire reached our back shed and they had to leave,” she wrote. “Upon reaching the end of our driveway, they set a back-burn in an attempt to stop the fire, which was successful for five minutes before jumping the road north of us.”

Tajchman acknowledged that her well-watered lawn and cows may have provided some resistance to the fire, but said that the firefighters were the true heroes of the story:

So sure, our silly cows and our wet lawn helped, but these two are the real heroes to whom we will be forever grateful.

We have been able to personally thank the men that saved our home (and cows and baby chicks).

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Residential sprinkler saves Habitat Humanity home from dangerous grease fire

from wect.com

Tuesday, January 3rd 2017, 2:24 pm PSTTuesday, January 3rd 2017, 2:25 pm PST

By: Connor DelPrete, Reporter

CONNECT

A residential sprinkler put out a dangerous grease fire at a house built by Habitat for Humanity. (Source: WECT)

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) -

The call came into the Wilmington Fire Department at 7 p.m. about a grease fire at a home built by Habitat for Humanity.

By the time crews responded to the incident, the fire had been put out. A residential sprinkler installed at Carol Tyson's home took care of the dangerous flames.

"I just knew that this whole kitchen was just going to blow up, that's how bad the fire was it was just up in the air all the way to the ceiling," said Tyson. "Before we can do anything the sprinklers came on."

Tyson said she was cooking fish and took a quick trip to the bathroom. Minutes later she said her husband started yelling her name. That's when she saw the flames. But as quick as the fire started, the sprinklers put them out.

The water drenched the kitchen, putting out the flames and saving a home that means the world to Tyson. Her family moved into the home in 2011 as part of the Habitat for Humanity program.

"I was here when this house was built, I helped build this house," said Tyson. "It's just a warm feeling because I know it's mine." If not for the sprinkler, Tyson said she would have lost that feeling.

The damage from the flames resulted in an estimated $350 worth of repairs, mostly from water damage. Assistant Fire Chief Frank Blackley said it's a small price to pay compared to the money you could lose without a residential sprinkler.

"Where you see may see some damage would be because of the water but if you have the fire you are going to have problems through the entire home," added Blackley.

Blackley said his department typically sees much more severe damage/injuries in these situations if residential sprinklers aren't installed. Blackley added the most cost-effective time to put sprinklers in are during initial construction of the house. It can get more expensive if you have to make repairs after the house is built.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Jonathan Offord wins national fire sprinkler competition

from contractormag.com

The competition began June 11 with 140 apprentices sitting for a written examination
The top seven apprentices won expense-paid trips to compete in the national competition
AFSA's Annual National Apprentice Competition was created to promote apprentice training and give recognition to the apprentices

Front Row (LtoR): Apprentice Competition Chairman Don Kaufman, Kaufman Fire Protection, Albuquerque, New Mexico; John Cowger, Rapid Fire Protection, Inc., Rapid City, South Dakota; Logan Moser, Mutual Sprinklers, Tyler, Texas; Donald Stone, Western Fire Protection, Inc., Poway, California. Back Row (LtoR): Thomas Adams, J.G. Tate Fire Protection Systems, Poway, California; Joseph Mientkiewicz, SimplexGrinnell, Rochester, New York; Gregory Schneider, Superior Fire Protection, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jonathan Offord, Commonwealth Fire Protection, Leola, Pennsylvania.

DALLAS, TX - Jonathan Offord, a fire sprinkler fitter apprentice with Commonwealth Fire Protection inLeola, Pennsylvania, took first place and a $5,000 cash prize at the American Fire Sprinkler Association's (AFSA) 23rd Annual National Apprentice Competition. The contest was a featured event during AFSA's 30th Annual Convention & Exhibition, A Grand Ole Opportunity: AFSA in Nashville, held September 14-17 in Nashville, Tennessee. More than 1,200 attendees watched as seven apprentices constructed and pressure-tested a miniature sprinkler system in the jam-packed exhibition hall.

The competition began June 11 with 140 apprentices sitting for a written examination proctored at testing sites throughout the United States. The top seven apprentices won expense-paid trips to compete in the national competition, held during AFSA's Annual Convention & Exhibition. During the competition, participants took another, more thorough written examination and then installed a steel and CPVC sprinkler system. The systems are pressure-tested and participants were graded on accuracy, craftsmanship and safety.

Logan Moser with Mutual Sprinklers in Tyler, Texas won second place and a $3,000 cash prize and Joseph Mientkiewicz with SimplexGrinnell in Rochester, New York took third place and a $2,000 prize. Honorable mentions and $1,000 prizes were awarded to: Thomas Adams, J.G. Tate Fire Protection Systems, Poway, California; John Cowger, Rapid Fire Protection, Inc., Rapid City, South Dakota; Gregory Schneider, Superior Fire Protection, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Donald Stone, Western Fire Protection, Inc., Poway, California. Competition winners also received a commemorative plaque, cash prizes and tools.

Started in 1994 by the late Robert L. (Bob) McCullough, then chairman of the Education & Apprenticeship Committee, AFSA's Annual National Apprentice Competition was created to promote apprentice training and give recognition to the apprentices who are actively enrolled in the AFSA Apprenticeship Program. Over 20 years later, the competition continues to bring fire sprinkler apprentices from AFSA local chapter and member training programs from all corners of United States together in the association's foremost showcase of excellence in training among future industry leaders. For more information, visit firesprinkler.org.