The Waukee Fire Department celebrated Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4-10, along with fire departments nationwide. In the weeks and days leading up to Fire Prevention Week, two real-life examples of smart fire prevention were seen by Waukee firefighters.
On Sept. 23, a fire was started in an aisle of a local retail store. The fire was quickly extinguished by two automatic fire sprinklers in the building. The store is in the midst of a brief, three-week closure as crews repair minimal damage. However, the business will reopen and there were no injuries caused by the fire. According to popular statistics, when a business does not have a sprinkler system installed, it is more likely that they will never reopen due to excessive damage.
Another example occurred on Oct 4, when a fire ignited in a bedroom in a three-story apartment building. Bedding that was too close to a heater caused a fire. Again, it was quickly extinguished by the activation of an automatic fire sprinkler. The sprinkler system protected this property by reducing the spread of the fire which then only displaced one family in the building and prevented injuries as well.
Fire sprinkler systems can prevent the spread of fire, protect property, save businesses, and keep families and first responders safe. These systems also prevent economic loss due to business closure, all while providing insurance savings with the decrease of liability risks.
If you are building a new home or commercial property, ask for the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler. Installers can also retrofit or upgrade fire sprinkler systems in existing homes and businesses.
For questions about fire sprinkler systems, call Waukee Fire Marshal Justin Frederick at 515-978-7982 .