January 2005 | 2003 | 2004 | 2006

News Reports Point out "Lack of Sprinklers" in Apartment Fires
JAN 20/2005 — The news media is finally beginning to notice when fire sprinklers are absent. According to The Oregonian, fire officials in West Linn, Oregon say careless smoking caused an apartment fire that killed one resident and displaced three families January 13. The complex was built before sprinklers were required. [Read more]

A candle left burning in a Hopkins, Minn. apartment turned into a blaze causing nearly $1 million in damages, according to WCCO.com. The complex was not protected by an sprinkler system. [More details]

Seton Hall Tragedy: Five Years Later
JAN 20/2005 — According to WNBC.com, families will gather January 19 to mark the fifth anniversary of a tragic fire that left three students dead and many others injured. The Seton Hall dorm fire in South Orange, N.J. was the driving force behind the state enacting laws to sprinkler dormitories. Seton Hall did not have sprinklers, as it was built before codes required them. [Read more]

Week-long Seminar in Charlotte, NC
JAN 12/2005 — The AFSA Carolinas Chapter and the Charlotte Fire Department team up with AFSA to present a week-long seminar series in Charlotte, NC. The series is scheduled for February 7-11, 2005, at the Charlotte Fire Department. Topics covered include NFPA 25, NFPA 13, and Seismic Bracing.

Mesa, Ariz. Reduces Sprinkler Requirements
JAN 12/2005 — According to EVLiving.com, the Mesa, Ariz. City Council has approved a measure for Group B occupancies that are less than 5,000 square feet in size to be constructed without fire sprinklers. The change does not apply to outpatient medical clinics. [Read More]

Goodyear, Ariz. Approves Residential Sprinklers
JAN 12/2005 — According to AZCentral.com, the Goodyear, Ariz. city council has passed a law requiring fire sprinklers in all new homes. The law takes effect July 1. [Read More]

ABC Programs Feature Sprinklers
JAN 12/2005 — ABC's primetime show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" included residential sprinklers on its January 9, 2005 episode. The family featured had lost their home in a fire and found out afterwards that their insurance had lapsed. The Dore family had been living in a utility shed in their backyard before the makeover team came to rebuild their home. When revealing their new home, show host Ty Pennington pointed out the sprinklers to the family. Residential sprinklers will also be included in the home featured on the January 16, 2005 episode. The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) is working with show officials to include sprinklers in future segments as well. [Read More About Show]

HFSC is also working with WABC-7, an ABC New York affiliate, on the program "Operation Save a Life" that will air January 29, 2005. The annual program features fire safety and prevention information. [More Details]

Sprinklers Save Nursing Home
JAN 12/2005 — According to ABC 7, Arlington, Va., sprinklers extinguished a fire in a Gaithersburg, Md. assisted living facility January 11, 2005. A resident fell asleep while smoking. She was taken to the hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported. [Read More]

Fire Damages Tennessee Dorm
JAN 7/2005 — According to the Tennesean.com, a fire in a Nashville, Tenn. dormitory has caused extensive fire and smoke damage. The dorm was built before sprinklers were required. The January 6, 2005 blaze was started by burning incense left unattended. Two injuries were reported. [Read More]

NFPA Technical Committee on Residential Occupancies
JAN 5/2005 — The NFPA Technical Committee on Residential Occupancies has completed its work in preparing the next editions of NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000.  In both documents, the committee decided to require fire sprinkler systems in all new one- and two-family dwellings.  The results of the committee ballot were officially released January 4, 2005 by NFPA. A vote on this will be held at the NFPA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas in May. Only people who have been members of the NFPA since December of 2004 will be allowed to vote at this meeting.

February

AFSA Virtual Seminar Scheduled for March 23, 2005
FEB 24/2005 - The American Fire Sprinkler Association proudly presents a 90-minute virtual seminars: Employment Practices: Hiring, Motivating and Retaining Employees, Wednesday, March 23; 12:00 p.m. EST. Company growth is occurring as the economy evolves into better times. The growth of employment opportunities for individuals in the construction industry then becomes better too. Will you have what it takes to find, hire, motivate and retain the employees you need to make your business a success? The National Center for Construction Education and Research will discuss a program on Careers in Construction used in all construction trades. Learn how to encourage interested individuals to choose a career in the fire sprinkler profession. Learn from a panel of your peers who are expert contractor employers with proven success in hiring, motivating and retaining their employees. Learn what other contractors do to motivate and then ultimately retain good employees. Your company's success depends on your company's employment practices.

Sprinklers Extinguish Dorm Fire
FEB 23/2005 - According to WNBC.com, a fire at Drew University in Madison, N.J. was quickly extinguished by sprinklers February 14. Fire officials told reporters that the sprinklers "made the difference." New Jersey required sprinklers in all dorms after the deadly Seton Hall fire in 2000. [read more]

College Dorms Rated On Alarms, Sprinklers
FEB 23/2005 - According to TheKCRAChannel.com, The Princeton Review, known for scoring colleges and universities on everything from campus life to academics, is now rating schools based on fire safety. A grade of 60-100 is based on a number of factors, including: Is housing equipped with fire sprinklers? Is there a fire alarm? Are students put through fire drills? In the past five years, 66 students have died nationwide from fires in both on- and off-campus housing. [read more]

Justice, Illinois requires sprinklers for all new construction
FEB 16/2005 - According to DailySouthTown.com, the Justice, Ill., Village Board unanimously voted to amend its fire sprinkler ordinance to include single-family construction. Mayor Melvin VanAllen said the village decided to require sprinkler systems in new single-family homes to make the village a safer place to live. [read more]

Sprinklers shown effective in slowing dorm fires
FEB 16/2005 - An automatic sprinkler system significantly increases a person's chances of surviving a dormitory fire, according to a report issued recently by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Three NIST experiments, supported by a U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) initiative for fire safety in college housing, compared the hazards of fires in smoke detector-equipped dormitories with and without fire sprinklers in the room of fire origin. [read more]

Three injured, but sprinklers avoid worse result, in textile building
FEB 16/2005 - PotomacNews.com reports that a brief but intense fire at Healthcare Textile Services in Manassas, VA, which cleans linens and uniforms for healthcare facilities, was contained by the building's sprinkler system. Prince William County Fire and Rescue spokesman Capt. Tim Taylor said the hero of the day was the building's sprinkler system. "We had three people burned, and that's a sad thing," Taylor said. "But had they not had the sprinkler system, we would have been looking at more than $1 million worth of damage and possibly more injuries. A gas-fed fire would have spread quickly through a plant full of linens, blankets and uniforms." [read more]

Sprinklers douse high school fire
FEB 16/2005 - According to cbs2chicago.com, students at the Hinsdale (Ill.) South High School were forced to evacuate about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, when a fire started in a first-floor hallway in the science area. Officials said the sprinkler system put the "small fire" out by the time firefighters arrived, and there were no injuries. [read more]

Hawaii Sprinkler bill sets tax credit at 5 percent
FEB 16/2005 - An article on The Honolulu Advertiser.com, reports that a tax credit designed to entice owners of older high-rise apartments to install automatic fire-sprinkler systems is moving through the Legislature, but some say the proposed incentive — 5 percent of the cost — may be too low. The bill had proposed a 35 percent tax credit when it was first written, but one of the bill's authors said the state could not afford to lose that much in taxes, so the credit was reduced. [read more]

University Passes Life Safety Fee
FEB 16/2005 - According to the Western Courrier.com, the Student Government Association at Western Illinois University approved a new $7 per credit hour fee, the Facilities Enhancement and Life Safety Fee, which will pay for Western Illinois University to install sprinkler systems in all residence halls. The fee will be levied only on incoming students. Illinois House Bill 4361, also referred to as the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act, requires that post-secondary educational institutions to install fire sprinklers in all dormitories by 2013. The Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act also included a loan program to help pay for the sprinkler upgrades, but the loan program was not funded. [read more]

Sprinkler Saves Building in Colorado Springs
FEB 16/2005 - According to a report from the Colorado Springs Fire Department, a single fire sprinkler extinguished a small fire that occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday, February 12, in an old heavy-timber warehouse that has been converted to numerous commercial spaces and an indoor self-storage facility. Although the single sprinkler extinguished the fire, it's estimated that it flowed for approximately 6 hours due to difficulty in locating any fire sprinkler control valves. It was finally discovered that the sprinkler control valves were located in manholes in the parking lot along the main street which had been inadvertently paved over.

AFSA promotes the 12th Annual National Apprentice Competition
FEB 08/2005 - AFSA announced its 12th Annual National Apprentice Competition today. Contestants have an opportunity to win $3000 in cash and an all expense trip to Orlando, Florida to participate in the annual national apprentice competition. Apprentices who participate in the Wheels of Learning course are encouraged to participate. The competition begins at the state level on April 29 with a written exam. The state winners will compete in the regional competition June 17. The seven regional winners compete in Orlando, Fla. in the national competition September 7-11. Qualifying apprentices should submit a registration form by March 25 (See registration form for qualification guidelines.)

Hawaii Legislators Promote Sprinklers in High-Rises
FEB 02/2005 - According to the Honolulu Advertiser, three legislators from Hawaii are proposing a tax incentive to apartment owners who retrofit apartments and condo high-rises with sprinklers. Two recent fires in high-rise apartment buildings have killed one man, caused over $1 million in damages, and forced 12 others out of their homes. Retired fire captain Richard Soo told reporters the fire should "serve as a wake-up call" to offer tax incentives to high-rise homeowners to install sprinklers. To read details of the proposal and the fires visit
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County Fire Fighters Want Sprinklers
FEB 02/2005 - According to the baltimoresun.com, the Carroll County, Md. Volunteer Emergency Services Association wants to see sprinklers required for all new one- and two-family homes. The proposal was presented at the county commissioners' quarterly meeting with the mayors of the eight incorporated towns. The volunteer group is comprised of fire fighters and EMS personnel. Several members were already supportive of such an ordinance. [read more]

Sprinklers Contain Hotel Fires
FEB 02/2005 - According to the phillyburbs.com, police are investing two fires set on separate floors of the Sheraton Bucks County, Pa. hotel on January 30. Officials believe the fires were intentionally set and an investigation is ongoing. The fires started at about the same time. Sprinklers activated and the fires were controlled within an hour. No injuries were reported. [read more]

According to the San Mateo County Times, a Best Western motel was evacuated after a fire January 31. When fire fighters arrived they found the sprinkler system containing the flames. No injuries were reported. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Division Chief Rich Auger told reporters "The sprinkler did their job." [read more]

March

New Seminars Scheduled in Georgia May 2-6, 2005
MAR 30/2005 - The Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association and the American Fire Sprinkler Association have teamed up to offer a week-long seminar series in Norcross, Georgia, May 2-6, 2005. Plan Review, NFPA 25, Hydraulic Calculations, and NFPA 13 will be the topics covered in this series offering NICET-required CPDs and Florida Continuing Education Units.

CBS Airs Fire Safety Segment

MAR 30/2005 - On March 25 CBS' Early Show aired a segment on campus fire safety. Included in the segment was a test at FM Global's burn lab where two dorm rooms were constructed and set on fire. One room had sprinklers and one did not. The sprinklered room's fire was contained in one minute, 34 seconds. The unsprinklered room reached flashover in four-and-a-half minutes and was completely destroyed. [read more]

Firebomb Squelched by Sprinklers

MAR 30/2005 - According to The Daily News, a blaze caused by a firebomb at the Walpole, Mass. town hall was controlled by the sprinkler system. The March 25 incident is being investigated by police and is considered to be related to several other firebombings that day. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Residents from Arsonist

MAR 30/2005 - According to The Aspen Times, sprinklers extinguished an arsonist's attempts to destroy a senior housing complex in Aspen, Colo. March 28. One resident apparently set several fires and then hung himself. No one else was injured, thanks to the sprinkler system. Most of the units were not affected by the blaze and residents were able to return to their apartments that afternoon. [read more]

Fire Marshal Wants More Sprinkler Protection

MAR 30/2005 - According to The Missourian, Columbia, Mo., Fire Marshal Steve Sapp wants to add more sprinkler systems to nightclubs and Greek housing. His proposal failed to gain approval. The city is considering creating a board of appeal to review fire codes. [read more]

Deadly Fire at Unsprinklered Motel

MAR 30/2005 - According to KSDK NewsChannel 5, St. Louis, Mo., a fire at a Metro East Econo Inn has taken two lives. The March 27 blaze destroyed the motel. Sprinklers were not required when the motel was built. [read more]

Second High-Rise Fire in Honolulu
MAR 17/2005 - According to The Honolulu Advertiser, another high-rise apartment building caught fire in Honolulu, Hawaii March 10. The building did not have sprinklers, as it was built before a 1975 law mandating them in buildings higher than 75 feet. No one was injured in the blaze but a fourth floor recreation room was destroyed. [read more]

Sprinklers Contain Plant Fire
MAR 17/2005 - According to TribStar.com, sprinklers quickly contained a fire that broke out in a Brazil, Indiana production plant March 14. The fire started around 3 a.m. in a refrigerated trailer on the production line at Great Dane Trailers. Employees working that shift were sent home an hour early and production started again a few hours later. [more info]

Mid-Atlantic Chapter of AFSA Presents Week-Long Seminar Series in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
MAR 17/2005 - The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of AFSA will host a week of training at the Montgomery County Fire Training Academy in Conshohocken, PA, May 2-6, 2005. The AFSA will present the following topics: NFPA 13, Chapter 8, Plan Review, Seismic Issues & Design, Storage Occupancies, and NFPA 14.

NFPA 13 Training in Pleasanton, California
MAR 09/2005 - AFSA and the Greater Bay Area Chapter will present a 2-day seminar series on the 2002 edition of NFPA 13 in Pleasanton, California, April 21-22, 2005.

Seminars Scheduled During North Carolina/South Carolina Joint Convention

MAR 09/2005 - The 3rd Annual NC/SC Joint Convention, Seminar, & Exhibition is scheduled for May 11-15, 2005, in Asheville, NC. AFSA will present two days of seminars at the convention, May 11-12. Topics covered will include emphasis on 2002 IBC, NFPA 13, occupancy classification, communicating with AHJs, IBC sprinkler provisions, NFPA 20, and SC-IBC and NC Amendments to IBC. For more information, contact Bernie Parsons at (704) 201-7352.

Wyoming Overhauls Dorm Fire Sprinklers
MAR 07/2005 - According to a story by the Associated Press, fire sprinkler systems will be installed in all Wyoming college residence halls as a result of this year's legislative session. Wyoming has joined a handful of states that are overhauling campus fire-safety systems. A dormitory fire at Powell's Northwest College last March was the impetus for the retrofit. Governor Freudenthal authorized spending five million dollars for automatic sprinklers under the supplemental budget bill. State Fire Marshal Jim Narva says that last year's fire at Northwest College was a wake-up call, and he says he's pleased that the budget request was approved. Wyoming joins New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois and Wisconsin in requiring sprinkler retrofitting at college residence halls.

Ron Hazelton's Residential Fire Sprinkler System Retrofit Featured on "House Calls"

MAR 07/2005 - More than a year ago, a residential fire sprinkler system was retrofit in Ron Hazelton's 35-year old home located in Fairfield, CT. Camera crews captured the highlights of the retrofit including pipe installation in existing walls, closets and attics. Since Ron's water pressure did not meet the requirements for the NFPA 13D system, a 300 gallon tank and pump were installed in the basement. To help explain how the system is designed and operates, Ron had a special animation produced.

As spokesperson for the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, Ron understands and believes in the life-saving benefits of an automatic fire sprinkler system. With two children under the age of four, he feels more comfortable now that the system is complete.

The retrofit was originally videotaped to produce a "How To Retrofit" video for HFSC. Ron decided to feature the retrofit on his syndicated program "House Calls."

The program aired mon March 6, 2005. For more information, visit Ron's Web site at: www.RonHazelton.com.

April

Student Dies in Tennessee Dorm Fire
APR 15/2005 - According to The Daily Times, one student has died after a fire on April 26. The fire occurred in the third-floor laundry room and lobby area of Thatcher Hall at Southern Adventist University. The cause has not yet been determined and there were no sprinklers in the building. [read more]

Off-Campus Fire Claims One Student
APR 15/2005 - According to The Digital Collegian, a Penn State student was found dead after an off-campus residential fire April 24. The home did not have sprinklers. Four occupants were able to escape. [read more]

Nursing Home Fire Kills Resident
APR 15/2005 - A fire April 24 at Lakeland's Good Shepherd Hospice House at Palm Terrace in Florida has killed one resident. Smoking in bed was the cause of the fire. The fire was controlled by sprinklers. The Florida legislature is looking at a bill that should set up a loan program to help older nursing homes defray the cost of retrofitting. [read more]

Albuquerque's New Code Requires Retrofits
APR 15/2005 - According to ABQJournal.com, Albuquerque, N.M. officials announced April 26 that they are adopting a new fire code which will require certain businesses to have sprinklers within four years. Any restaurant, tavern or banquet hall with 5,000 sq. ft. or more and can hold at least 300 people will have to install sprinklers within four years. City Fire Marshal Dan Graham told reporters: "Just because a building was built 50 years ago doesn't mean it is safe today. We don't grandfather life safety." [read more]

Paris Hotel Fire Toll Tops 20
APR 15/2005 - According to a report by CNN, a fire that swept through a central Paris hotel early Friday killed 20 people, including 10 children, and wounded more than 50 others.
The blaze at the one-star Paris-Opera hotel in the city's ninth district on Friday morning was so bad that guests jumped from upper floor windows to escape the flames and choking smoke, officials said. Eleven people were gravely injured and 42 others have lesser injuries, according to a police spokesman. Officials fear more casualties may be found inside the building. Seventy-six people were thought to have been in the hotel when the fire, whose cause was still unclear, broke out in the middle of the night, Reuters reported. [read more]

Ohio House Fire Kills Three
APR 13/2005 - According to ABC News, a home fire near Miami University in Oxford, Ohio has killed three students and injured several others. The April 10 fire was ruled accidental and believed to have started in a downstair rec room. Eleven people were in the house at the time of the blaze. [read more]

Sprinklers Mandated for New Jersey Health Care Centers
APR 13/2005 - According to The Star-Ledger, New Jersey's Acting Governor Richard Codey has ordered that all 144 residential health care centers in the state have operating sprinkler systems. The action comes after a deadly fire at the Dover Woods Health Care Center in Dover Township killed one man on April 9. A resident started the fire in his room. [read more]

Emmitsburg, Md. Requires Residential Sprinklers
APR 13/2005 - According to the GettsysburgTimes.com and The Frederick News-Post, Emmitsburg, Md. unanimously passed a residential sprinkler ordinance April 11. The new law mandates residential sprinklers in all new single-family construction. Townhomes and apartments are already required to be sprinklered across the state. [read more]

Tennessee Group Receives Residential Sprinkler Grant
APR 13/2005 - According to the Knox News Sentinal, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has awarded approximately $500,000 to a Tennessee coalition to promote residential sprinklers. The grant will be used for conferences in Knoxville and other cities to work with fire and city officials about the benefits of residential sprinklers. USFA credited the group with the novel idea of planning conferences to educate and unite experts and decision-makers. Tennessee has some of the highest fire deaths in the nation. [read more]

Mississippi Alters Green Housing Sprinkler Bill
APR 06/2005 - According to the Center for Campus Fire Safety, Mississippi has filed House Bill 1132 following the fatal fire at the University of Mississippi that killed three students at the ATO fire.  The original legislation called for the mandatory retrofit installation of sprinklers in all Greek housing within five years. The legislation that was passed after conference between the House and the Senate eliminated this requirement.  It now calls for the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in housing built after July 1, 2005 and that all existing Greek housing shall have an automatic fire alarm system.

May

AFSA Presents Virtual Seminar "Residential Sprinklers: Past, Present & Future"
May 23/2005 - The Virtual Seminar is scheduled Noon - 1:30 PM Eastern. The seminar will benefit contractors, designers, AHJ’s, and building owners or representatives. It includes a brief review of how residential sprinklers got their start, current state of the art information such as sloped and beamed ceilings and "S x L" for high rise residential occupancies using a .1 density.  It will also offer some insight as to where the residential codes are headed in the near future.

University Helps Sprinkler Greek Houses
MAY 18/2005 - According to Gainesville.com, the University of Florida at Gainsville is providing a $1.2 million load to help fraternities and sorority houses install sprinkler systems. The university's goal is to have the systems installed by summer 2006. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Health Care Facility
MAY 18/2005 - According to Reflector.com, a sprinkler system saved lives and prevented major damage at the Beverly Health Care facility in Greenville, S.C. on May 12. An electrical short circuit started the fire and two sprinkler heads controlled the flames until firefighters arrived. [read more]

Factory Fire Contained by Sprinklers
MAY 16/2005 - According to RockyMountainNews.com, a concrete factory fire in Denver, Colo. May 10 was contained by a sprinkelr system until firefighters arrived. A chemical explosion blew out an interior wall and started the fire. No injuries were reported. [read more]

Montpelier, Vt. to Refine Sprinkler Law
MAY 16/2005 - According to The Barre Montpelier Times Argus, city officials in Montpelier, Vt. are looking into tweaking its comprehensive sprinkler ordinance. In 2003 the city became the first in the state to require sprinklers in all new construction, including single-family housing. A committee is being formed to look at several items: financing programs for sprinkler system installations, how to treat home additions, and encouraging owners of existing buildings to retrofit. [read more]

Las Vegas Tightens Sprinkler Requirements for Group Homes
MAY 16/2005 - According to KESQ NewsChannel 3, Las Vegas, Nev. officials have passed more stringent requirements for fire sprinklers in group homes. In March 2004 two group home residents died as a result of careless smoking. The home's owner was recently arrested and charged in the case. [read more]

University to Install Sprinklers After Fatal Fire
MAY 04/2005 - According to WATE 6 Knoxville, Tenn., Southern Adventist University officials have voted to install sprinkler systems in all dorms. The motion comes after an April 26 fire claimed the life of one student. [read more]

Off-Campus Housing15 Fire Claims One Life
May 04/2005 - According to Diamondback Online, a fire on April 30 in a student rental home near the University of Maryland at College Park has claimed one life and left another in the intensive care unit. Several students were displaced. [read more]

June

Nightclub Fire Report Issued

JUN 30/2005 - According to CNN, the final version of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) report on The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island was issued on June 30, 2005 and calls for sprinklers in all new nightclubs and in existing clubs holding more than 100 people. Earlier versions of the report recommended sprinklers in all nightclubs. [read more]

Consumer Fireworks Cause Injury and Damage

JUN 15/2005 - According to NFPA, 21 health and fire safety advocacy organizations have joined to urge consumers not to use fireworks, including sparklers, this Fourth of July because of the injuries and damage they cause. Most injuries occur in teens and children. In 2002, 3,000 fires were started by fireworks and caused $28 million in damages. Fireworks-related injuries jumped from 8,800 in 2002 to 9,300 in 2003. Six states currently ban all consumer fireworks. [read more]

NFPA Life Safety Code Updated to Include Residential Sprinklers

JUN 15/2005 - According to Campus Firewatch, NFPA members have voted to require that new one- and two-family dwellings be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems in an update to the Life Safety Code. NFPA reports that the code is currently used in every U.S. state and adopted statewide in 38 states.

Significant is the fact that local jurisdictions adopting the Life Safety Code or NFPA Building Code must go on record to remove the requirement.

According to Campus Firewatch statistics, over 75 percent of fatal student housing deaths have occurred in off-campus buildings such as houses since January 2005. The only opposition to the change was raised by the National Association of Home Builders. [more details]

Restaurant Blaze Teaches Valuable Lesson

JUN 08/2005 - According to KXAN-TV 36, a lightning strike to a deck at The Oasis Restaurant in Austin, Texas led to an explosion and a devastating fire, but also taught a valuable lesson about sprinklers to the restaurant's owner. The June 1 fire spread throughout several decks overlooking a lake in the area. One of the decks only sustained minor damage, thanks in part to the sprinklers. The owner told reporters the new structure will be of similar construction and protected by sprinklers.

Capitol Hill Summit Focuses on Campus Fire Safety
JUN 01/2005 - According to Campus Firewatch, a cross section of fire officials, fire scientists, legislators and university officials convened on Capital Hill May 25 to discuss solutions to what appears to be a growing number of fires in college dormitories and off-campus student housing.
Eleven students have died in fires during this academic year, and 75 students have died in fires since the beginning of 2000. After the summit, recently introduced legislation was announced: the Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act, Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act and the declaration of September as Campus Fire Safety Month. [read more]

July

Ocean City, Md. Considers Retrofit

JUL 28/2005 - According to delmarvanow.com, Ocean City, Md. council members are proposing a retrofit requirement for high-rises in the area. If made into law, most buildings taller than 75 ft would need to be retrofitted within 12 years. There are some exemption allowances. Many high-rise residents and managers are opposing the proposal, claiming the town was "exaggerating the danger of serious fires in high-rise buildings." [read more]

High-Rise Fire in Honolulu

JUL 28/2005 - According to starbulletin.com, another high-rise fire has occurred in Hawaii. A July 21 fire has injured two people and damaged four apartments when a man left cooking unattended. The building does not have sprinklers and Fire Captain Emmit Kane said it is a "perfect example of an old structure that should be updated." Two other high-rise fires occurred in Honolulu earlier this year and killed one man, caused over $1 million damages and displaced dozens of residents. [read more]

Montana Subdivision Requires Sprinklers

JUL 28/2005 - According to Missoulian.com, sprinklers will be required in homes built in Riverwalk Estates, a subdivision planned on 45 acres. The fire department recommended the residential systems. A second subdivision on nearly two acres and built in a cul-de-sac was not required to have sprinklers, although two councilmen thought "fire protection would be inadequate." [read more]

Congress Addresses College Fire Safety

JUL 28/2005 - According to The Enquirer, a provision has been added to the higher education bill pending in Congress to require universities to share fire safety information with students. Schools would have to share information such as which buildings have sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke detectors and/or fire escape plans. Fraternities and sororities would be included in the requirements. The bill has been approved by two committees but still needs full House and Senate approval. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Public Housing High-Rise

JUL 28/2005 - According to TwinCities.com, a sprinkler system has saved a public housing high-rise in St. Paul, Minn. The sprinklers contained the fire to a box fan where the fire started. The St. Paul Public Housing Agency retrofitted the building and has almost completed installing sprinklers in all of its 16 high-rises. [read more] Registration may be required to view this story.

Fake Sprinkler Survey in Goodyear, Ariz.
JUL 22/2005 - According to azcentral.com, fake surveys are being conducted in Goodyear, Ariz. related to an upcoming vote on a residential sprinkler ordinance. A company is claiming to call on behalf of the city; however, it is illegal for the city to attempt to sway voters. The Goodyear and Avondale city councils approved sprinklers for new homes but builders' opposition has resulted in a September vote. [detail]

Libertyville, Ill. May Revise Code to Include More Sprinklers
JUL 22/2005 - According to the Daily Herald, the Libertyville, Ill. village board will soon decide on a recommended revision to its building code, requiring the installation of sprinklers for any remodeling job involving half the structure. Currently, renovations that cost over 25 percent of the structure's assessed value require sprinklers. In March the board approved a requirement for sprinklers in single-family homes. Also included in the revised code are sprinklers for homes that are completely remodeled and buildings changing use. [read more]

Oxford, Conn. Considers Commercial Ordinance
JUL 22/2005 - According to VoicesNews.com, the board of selectmen in Oxford, Conn. are considering an ordinance that would require sprinklers in all commercial and industrial buildings. [read more]

Utah County Rejects Sprinkler Proposal

JUL 15/2005 - According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah County commissions unanimously rejected a proposal that would have required all homeowners in unincorporated areas of Utah County to install alternate water supplies such as fire sprinklers. Homes over 6,000 sq. ft. have been and will continue to be required to have sprinklers or some other alternate water supply. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Buildings

JUL 15/2005 - Sprinklers are credited with saving a Chevy Chase, Md. nursing home on July 8, 2005. According to The Washington Post, sprinklers controlled the flames until fire fighters arrived. Four people were injured. [read more]

According to The News Sun Online, sprinklers also contained a large industrial plant fire in Wauconda, Ill. on July 9, 2005. There were no injuries. [read more]

Fire Damages Las Vegas School

JUL 15/2005 - According to klastv.com, Las Vegas, Nev., a three-alarm fire severely damaged Martin Middle School July 5, 2005. The school, built in the 1950s, was not required to have sprinklers. A 1994 code update requires sprinklers only if major remodeling is done on the building. School officials reported sprinklers will be installed when the destroyed gymnasium is rebuilt. [read more]

Careers in Construction Week Announced

JUL 15/2005 - The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) announces the first annual National Careers in Construction Week October 17-21. The success of this week will greatly depend upon local industry involvement. To help create community awareness, NCCER will provide an array of promotional materials and suggestions, including a comprehensive DVD of career image videos and career resources such as promotional posters, media tips, sample press releases, ad slicks, and a Careers in Construction planning guide. Materials will be distributed free of charge to contractors, schools and association chapters. Select materials will also be available for download from the NCCER Web site http://www.nccer.org in August.

Non-Sprinklered Museum Damages Top $10 Million

JUL 05/2005 - According to The Dallas Morning News, a six-alarm fire destroyed the Dallas Biblical Arts Center June 28. No injuries were reported but building damages are totaling $2 million. Ninety percent of the art collection was destroyed, an estimated $10 million value. An investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire. [read more]

Virtual Seminar July 28: NFPA 13, 13R and 13D Changes

JUL 05/2005 - Get up-to-date on the proposed changes to NFPA's sprinkler standards, without ever leaving the comfort of your office. July 28, 2005, 111:00 am - 12:30 pm Central Daylight Time, AFSA will offer a virtual (telephone) seminar to help you better understand and even participate in the changes to the 2007 edition of NFPA 13, NFPA 13D and NFPA 13R. This seminar, presented by NFPA's Christian Dubay, will provide you with an opportunity to get a head start on the proposed direction of the actions taken by the NFPA technical committees responsible for these standards. A detailed review will be provided for the major proposed changes affecting all three documents. Additionally, you will be provided with the required materials to submit public comments to voice your support or concern with the proposed changes.

August

Northlake, Ill. Considers Sprinklers

AUG 31/2005 - According to the Northlake Herald Journal, the Northlake, Ill. Public Safety Committee will meet September 7 to discuss requiring residential buildings with more than four units be retrofitted with sprinklers. A nearby community, southwest suburban Hodgkins, approved a similar ordinance in late 2004. <read more>

Sprinklers Save Old Mill

AUG 31/2005 - According to the McKinney, Texas Courier Gazette, a sprinkler system retrofitted less than five years ago at a 100-year-old cotton mill in McKinney has saved the historic landmark. The fire started above the sprinklers in the Old Cotton Mill's roof area but they were still able to contain the blaze. <read more>

AFSA Offers NICET Element Review Handbook

AUG 31/2005 - AFSA has added a study aid for those seeking NICET certification. The Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook - NICET Element Review Level 1 and 2 is a step-by-step guide to demystify the NICET Certification process. This handbook also clarifies the requirements necessary for certification in addition to passing the exam; namely work experience, personal recommendation and supervisor evaluation.

Purchase a copy at AFSA's online store or call (214) 349-5965. The book costs $80 for AFSA members who order online and $85 for AFSA members who order via fax. The cost for non-members is $110.

New Multi-Media Apprentice Training Supplements Available on CD and DVD

AUG 31/2005 - AFSA introduces the latest development to its apprentice training series: DVD supplements to the AFSA Apprentice Correspondence Course. The DVD training supplements make learning more lively and relevant by providing audio and using graphics, pictures and video to teach concepts and show installation practices. The DVD's 21 programs enhance the four levels of detailed instruction included in the Apprentice Correspondence Course's written materials.

DVD programs are now included with all AFSA Apprentice Correspondence Course books. Additional copies can be ordered from AFSA. PowerPoint presentations that can be edited for classroom instruction are also available in CD-ROM. For more information about the supplements, visit the AFSA Online Store or call Education Coordinator Leslie Joplin at (214) 349-5965 ext. 130.

Oklahoma State University and AFSA Offer 3-Day Course

AUG 17/2005 - Oklahoma State University and AFSA present a 3-day "Fire Sprinkler Inspection, Training, and Certification" course scheduled for September 22-24, 2005.

NFPA key safety codes to require fire sprinklers in all nursing homes,

new 1- and 2-family dwellings, and many nightclubs

AUG 11/2005 - The codes and standards development oversight body of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), known as the Standards Council, yesterday issued two of the Association’s key safety codes that will require fire sprinklers in all nursing homes, in new construction of one- and two-family dwellings, and in all new construction of nightclubs and like facilities, as well as for existing nightclubs and like facilities with capacities over 100. [read more]

AFSA Carolinas Chapter Sponsors Seminar Series

AUG 10/2005 - The AFSA Carolinas Chapter will sponsor an AFSA Seminar Series in Greensboro, NC, November 1-4, 2005. Topics covered include Plan Review, NFPA 13, NFPA 14, and NFPA 25.

Ocean City, Md. Approves Retrofit

AUG 04/2005 - According to The Dispatch, the Ocean City, Md. city council has unanimously approved a proposal to retrofit buildings higher than 75 feet with sprinklers within 12 years. The fire marshal, fire chief and mayor all support the proposal. The proposal will be enacted into law after two public readings and a vote. [read more]

Fire Officials Push for Sprinklers

AUG 04/2005 - According to www.VenturaCountyStar.com, fire officials in Ventura County, Calif. would like to see all residents install fire sprinkler systems in their homes. All new and existing structures larger than 5,000 square feet in unincorporated areas of the county must have sprinklers. Ventura city also requires new homes built after 1991 and homes 100 percent renovated or with a second story added to have a sprinkler system. [read more]

Sikeston, Mo. Considers Sprinklers

AUG 04/2005 - The Sikeston, Mo. city council is considering requiring sprinklers in all residential care facilities. The proposal comes after a fire at the Green Meadows Retirement Home in July. A state law currently exists for sprinklers in new construction but not for existing facilities. Of the seven residential care facilities in the city, three do not have sprinklers. [read more]

Two-day Seminar on 2002 Edition of NFPA 13 Announced

AUG 04/2005 - The Virginia Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association will sponsor a 2-day seminar covering the 2002 edition of NFPA 13. The seminar will be held at the Henrico Training Center in Richmond, Virginia, September 28-29, 2005.

September

Two Die in Unsprinklered Canadian Hotel Fire
SEP 28/2005 - According to Canada.com and The Globe & Mail, a September 22 hotel fire has claimed the life of two women and injured many others. The fire occurred at the Best Western Richmond Hotel in Vancouver, built before sprinklers were required. The local fire chief was quoted as saying "Our building codes need to be beefed up [to require sprinklers for older buildings]" and urged the mayor to require sprinklers for all hotels. [read more]

Sprinkler Credited for Saving Marine Shop

SEP 28/2005 - According to villagesoup.com, one sprinkler head is being credited with saving Rockport Marine in Rockport, Maine. Spontaneous combustion of materials in plastic and metal trash containers started the blaze September 21. No one was injured and damages were minimal. Photos showing the limited damage ran alongside the story. [read more]

Fraternity Fire Injures One

SEP 28/2005 - According to pjstar.com, a September 26 blaze sent one student to the hospital in critical condition. The fire started in the kitchen area of Sigma Pi fraternity at Illinois Wesleyan University. Sprinklers were located in the fire's room of origin and did control the flames. The injured student was found unconscious in the kitchen. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. [read more]

Kyle Hawes Wins AFSA Apprentice Competition

SEP 28/2005 - Kyle Hawes with HTH Automatic Sprinkler LLC in Goshen, Conn. has won AFSA's 12th National Apprentice Competition, held during the association's 24th Annual Convention & Exhibition. Chad Huber with Rapid Fire Protection, Inc. in Rapid City, S.D. won second place and Brad Somer with Freedom Fire Protection in Longmont, Colo. took third place. Honorable mentions were awarded to Edward W. Kennedy III with Strickland Fire Protection, Inc. in College Park, Md.; David W. Smith with AllSouth Sprinkler Company in Lilburn, Ga.; Brent Thompson with Arkansas Automatic Sprinklers, Inc. in Cabot, Ark.; and Steven Whiteside, Jr. with Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Inc. in Lodi, Calif.
One hundred thirty-seven apprentices entered this yearÕs contest. Competition winners receive a commemorative plaque, cash prizes and tools.

Arizona Reader Comments on Sprinklers

SEP 21/2005 - According to AZCentral.com, one reader gave his opinion on the residential sprinkler ordinances in Goodyear and Avondale, Ariz. Ken Roth of Phoenix notes that on the same day The Arizona Republic ran these two headlines: "Voters Nix Sprinkler Mandates" and "Father and 10-Year-Old Die in House Fire, Boy, 8, Spared." He also stated that the vote was led by misstatements made by the Home Builders. [read more]

Sprinklers Contain Dorm Fires

SEP 21/2005 - According to The Daily Times, a fire at Carnegie Hall at Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn. was extinguished by a sprinkler head. The fire broke out on September 17 in Carnegie Hall. A dish drainer left on top of a stove ignited the blaze. Read more at http://www.thedailytimes.com/sited/story/html/218028

According to The Cornell Daily Sun, a September 19 dorm fire at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. was contained by the building's sprinkler system. Pans left hanging on a lamp started the blaze. No one was injured. [read more]

AFSA Elects 2005-2006 Board of Directors & Officers

SEP 21/2005 - The AFSA Board of Directors elected its 2005-2006 Executive Committee at the 24th Annual Convention & Exhibition held September 7-10 in Orlando, Fla. Manning J. Strickland, Sr., president of Strickland Fire Protection, Inc. in College Park, Md., was elected to serve as Chairman of the Board. As Chairman of the Board, he serves as an ex-officio member of all AFSA committees.

The other members of the 2005-2006 AFSA Board of Directors are: First Vice Chairman Lawrence J. Thibodeau, Hampshire Fire Protection Co., Inc., Londonderry, N.H.; Second Vice Chairman R. Donald Kaufman, Kaufman Fire Protection, Albuquerque, N.M.; Treasurer Don Eckert, Eckert Fire Protection Systems, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio; Secretary Joseph A. Heinrich, Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Salina, Kan.; Immediate Past Chairman Martin L. Giles, VSC Corporation, Ashland, Va.; Thomas J. McKinnon, Aegis Fire Systems Technology, Inc., Pleasanton, Calif.; Dwight E. Bateman, Southeast Fire Protection, Inc., Houston, Texas; Paul E. Hensley, Advanced Fire Protection, Inc., Travelers Rest, S.C.; Donald G. Albares, American Sprinkler Co., Inc., Metairie, La.; Martin E. Creasman, Central Fire Protection, Inc., Conyers, Ga.; Thomas L. Jacquel, Allstate Fire Sprinkler, Inc., Hartford. Conn.; and Wayne Weisz, Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Inc., Lodi, Calif.

NFPA report finds higher estimated reliability of fire sprinklers and reaffirms their life-saving impact, especially in homes

SEP 12/2005 - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released an updated report with new evidence on the tremendous value of automatic fire sprinkler systems. The report finds sprinklers to be even more reliable than previously estimated in reducing U.S. fire deaths.
But the “U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment” report also confirms that the century-old technology remains underused, especially in the place where the risk of fire death is greatest, the American home.
The report states that when sprinklers are installed, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three-fourths, compared to fires where sprinklers are not present. Sprinklers are now estimated to operate in 93 percent of fires large enough to activate them. And for the first time, it is possible to document that nearly all sprinkler failures involve errors of human judgment, including 65 percent that occurred because the systems had been shut off prior to the fire. [go to NFPA for more info]

AFSA Members Helping Members

SEP 01/2005 - In response to the many inquiries from members wanting to know what they can do to help our members in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, AFSA has established the Members Helping Members program. AFSA will maintain a list of those members who volunteer to provide assistance and/or temporary jobs to the employees of our members in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. AFSA will provide this list of company and contact names to our members in the affected area, who in turn will work out details on how their employees can obtain temporary work and assistance.

October

Sprinklers Control Fire at College

OCT 26/2005 - According to NewsChannel 5, a suspicious fire was extinguished at Meharry Medical College on October 24. A sprinkler system helped control the flames until firefighters arrived. Damage was minimal and there were no injuries. [read more]

Non-Sprinklered Dorm Fire Displaces Students

OCT 26/2005 - According to The Greenwood Commonwealth, an early morning fire October 19, 2005 at Mississippi Valley State University has displaced 88 students and caused fire and smoke damage. The College Hall I dormitory does not have sprinklers because it is one of the oldest buildings on campus. [read more]

Sprinklers Squelch Fire at Kmart

OCT 26/2005 - According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, a small fire at the Iowa City, Iowa Kmart October 22, 2005 was extinguished by a sprinkler system. No injuries were reported. [read more]

HR 1131/S 512 Touted by Fire Chief

OCT 26/2005 - According to the Gallatin New Examiner, Franklin, Tenn. Fire Chief Rocky Garzarek is touting the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act to city officials. Garzarek believes the proposed federal legislation would help preserve historic sites in the city. [read more]

Virtual Seminar Nov. 14: NFPA 14, 2003 Edition

OCT 26/2005 - On Friday November 11, 2005 AFSA will present the virtual seminar "NFPA 14, 2003 Edition" at 12:00 PM Eastern time. This 90-minute seminar will provide an overview of the standard as well as a discussion about specific design issues and applications that are major features of standpipe systems. Included topics such as standpipe definitions, where standpipes are required, horizontal standpipes, exiting and egress systems and how they affect standpipe design, prv sizing and supply calculations will be discussed. Estimators, engineers, designers, field superintendents and AHJs will all benefit from this information-packed seminar.

Steven Scandaliato, a principal partner with Scandaliato Design Group, Inc. and a NICET IV Certified Senior Engineering Technician, will present the seminar. He has over 19 years' experience in fire protection design. CEUs and CPDs are available for participants.

Fatal Fraternity Fire in North Carolina

OCT 12/2005 - According to The Charlotte Observer and News 14 Carolina, a fraternity fire near the campus of North Carolina State in Raleigh has claimed two students' lives. The fire occurred October 7 at the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, a two-story duplex. The building had smoke alarms but no sprinklers. The cause of the fire has not been determined. [read more]

Three Die in Unsprinklered Apartment Blaze

OCT 12/2005 - According to The Kansas City Star, a suspected arsonist made his first court appearance for an October 7 apartment fire which killed three people. Estimated damages are topping $2.1 million and displaced 87 residents. Twenty people were injured in the blaze. The apartment complex was built before sprinklers or alarm systems were required. [read more] -subscription required.

Sprinklers Save Condos

OCT 12/2005 - According to AirdrieEcho.com, a sprinkler system saved a condominium complex October 3 in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. The fire started in the kitchen and the sprinkler system quickly contained the blaze. No one was injured and damages were minimal. [read more]

Sprinkler Head Protects Assisted Living Facility
OCT 05 /2005 - According to TBO.com, one sprinkler head contained a small fire at the Sunshine Manor Assisted Living Facility in St. Petersburg, Fla. September 27. The fire originated in a closet. [read more]

Sprinklers Save New YMCA
OCT 05 /2005 - According to the Idaho Press-Tribune, a sprinkler system saved the newly-constructed YMCA in Caldwell, Idaho September 29. Careless smoking by a construction worker is being blamed for the blaze, which caused $8,000 in damages but spared the facility. [read more]

Franklin, Mass. to Vote on Sprinklers for High School
OCT 05 /2005 - According to the Milford Daily News, the Franklin, Mass. town council will decide today whether or not to pay to install fire sprinklers at Franklin High School. The $300,000 cost is for one wing of the school, which is the scene of a traditional "All Night" graduation party. Recent fire code changes require sprinklers if more than 10 percent of the walls are decorated. Typically, the event's decorations are wall-to-wall. [read more]

Unsprinklered Condo Fire Injures Four
OCT 05 /2005 - According to The Sun-Sentinel, a September 30 fire at the Village at Harbor Beach condos in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. has injured four and displaced 25 residents. An unattended candle started the blaze. The building was constructed before sprinklers were required. [read more]

Vegas Fire Doused by Sprinklers
OCT 05 /2005 - According to KESQ.com, a fire last week at the San Remo hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. was extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. No injuries were reported. [read more]

November

New Law Requires Sprinklers in Bridgeview, Ill.
NOV 23 /2005 - According to the Chicago Tribune, officials in Bridgeview, Ill. have passed an ordinance requiring sprinklers in all new residential and commercial buildings. All businesses must retrofit by 2010. Existing homes are exempt, unless new additions are made. [read more]

Hotel Fires Squelched by Sprinklers
NOV 23 /2005 - According to the Orange County Register, five small fires at the Anaheim, Calif. Marriott were quickly contained by a sprinkler system November 20. The suspected arsonist is in custody. No one was injured. [read more]

Officials Propose Sprinklers for Manhattan, Ill.
NOV 23 /2005 - According to the Herald News, fire officials are hoping for a zero-tolerance policy on sprinkler systems in Manhattan, Ill. The town is considering fire department needs as the village begins to build out. If a zero-tolerance policy doesn't pass, officials would like to see sprinklers required in commercial buildings larger than 1,500 or 3,000 sq. ft. [read more]

City Officials Put Faith in Sprinklers
NOV 23 /2005 - According to The State.com, the Columbia, S.C. city manager and fire chief were participants in a residential sprinkler demonstration at the local fire department November 15. A recent apartment fire was quickly extinguished by sprinklers and the pair were helping to demonstrate the value of the systems. [read more]

Fires Destroy Non-Sprinklered Buildings
NOV 23 /2005 - According to the San Mateo Times, a five-alarm fire destroyed three business on November 10 in Burlingame, Calif. The fire started in the kitchen of a restaurant and spread to adjacent businesses. Sprinklers were not required at the time the building was constructed. No one was injured but damages are estimated at $2.5 million. Read details at http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_3238799
According to PJStar.com, an apartment fire November 19 in East Peoria, Ill. has injured two people, left 30 residents homeless, and caused $2.2 million in damages. The 27-unit building was destroyed. The complex was built before sprinklers were required. [read more]

Chemical Fire Stalled by Sprinklers
NOV 11 /2005 - According to The Vindicator, sprinklers kept a chemical fire from spreading at a storage building in Youngstown, Ohio. The November 6 blaze started in a shed holding chemicals to make sparklers. No injuries were reported. [read more]

Plastics Company Fire Squelched
NOV 11 /2005 - According to The Providence Journal, a fire that started at Bruin Plastics Company in Burrillville, R.I. November 4 was contained by sprinklers. Flames rose up ventilation ducts and spread to the roof but fire officials stated the sprinklers were able to hold the flames "in check." [read more]

Sprinklers Contain Downtown Fire
NOV 11 /2005 - According to The Republican, sprinklers controlled a fire at a downtown apartment building in Greenville, Mass. November 2. The fire started in the bedding of one of the apartments. No injuries were reported. State law does not require sprinklers in the building but the owner installed them several years ago. [read more]

Townhomes Saved by Sprinklers
NOV 11 /2005 - According to The Durango Herald, sprinklers helped contain a garage fire on November 2 in Durango, Colo. The fire started in a van parked in a garage below a townhouse development. Damage was limited to the garage and no injuries were reported. [read more]

House Burn Demonstrates Sprinkler Value
NOV 04 /2005 - According to the Skagit Valley Herald, Burlington, Wash. fire fighters set a house on fire October 29 to train firefighters and show the value of residential fire sprinklers. Two similar rooms were ignited with a match. The sprinklered room controlled the flames after three minutes. The non-sprinklered room was quickly engulfed. Burlington does not have a residential sprinkler ordinance for single-family homes. [read more]

Pittsburgh Cancels Sprinkler Inspections

NOV 04 /2005 - According to CentreDaily.com, Pittsburgh, Pa. will be dissolving the Fire Bureau unit that inspects fire alarms and sprinkler systems in all "commercial buildings, residential high-rises and other buildings." The action comes as part of a five-year financial recovery plan. The city expects the Bureau of Building Inspection to handle inspections in January 2006, if funds are available. Fire officials stress public education is important. [read more]

Devastating Fires in Non-Sprinklered Buildings

NOV 04 /2005 - Recent fires have had tragic results this past week in non-sprinklered buildings. According to MySA.com, a two-alarm fire at a San Antonio, Texas condominium has killed one person and damaged 12 units. The October 29 fire is being investigated. [read more]

According to TBO.com, an October 31 candle fire in North-Redington Beach, Fla. destroyed several townhomes. No one was injured in the incident but damages are in the millions. The complex was built before sprinklers were required. [read more]

Eyewitness News 4 reports that items left on a stove November 2 in a Mesa, Ariz. apartment caused a half-million dollars in damages. Nearly two dozen people are homeless but no one was injured. The apartments were constructed before sprinklers were required, but officials noted they would have made a difference. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Buildings

NOV 04 /2005 - Sprinkler systems have been hard at work this past week, saving lives and property. According to WNCT, the 99 Cent Store in Greenville, NC was spared when sprinklers extinguished a fire before firefighters arrived. Officials stressed the importance of residential sprinklers as well. [read more]

According to WCPO.com, a fire was contained by sprinklers in a downtown apartment building in Cincinnati, Ohio. The October 27 fire started in a trash compactor and only caused smoke damage. Residents were able to return home later that day. [read more]

Sprinklers also controlled a fire at an Apple Valley, Calif. church, according to the Daily Press. No one was injured in the blaze and the sprinklers were touted as the "hero of the story." The blaze is being investigated as arson. [read more]

According to The Grand Rapids Press, sprinklers controlled a fire at Meijer store in Walker, Mich. October 27. The early morning fire caused smoke and water damage, but no injuries were reported. Managers hoped to reopen the store later the same day. [read more]

December

Sprinklers Save Rats
DEC 29/2005 - According to the Portsmouth Herald News, a sprinkler system has saved more than 100 lab rats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. The fire broke out December 27 but was quickly doused by sprinklers. No animals or humans were injured. The sprinklers were installed when the building was renovated 20 years ago. [read more]

City Helps Pay for Sprinklers
DEC 29/2005 - According to the Argus Courier, the Petaluma, Calif. city council is requiring businesses to install sprinklers but will reimburse property owners up to $10,000 towards the cost. Basements must be sprinklered by 2010 and the entire building must be protected by 2016. [read more]

Apartment Fire Doused by Sprinklers
DEC 29/2005 - According to the Winona Daily News, an apartment fire on Christmas Eve was contained by a sprinkler system. The fire started in a mattress. No injuries were reported. Three families were housed in a motel for a few days and then able to return home. [read more]

Blaze Destroys Non-Sprinklered Building
DEC 29/2005 - According to 10News.com, a San Diego, Calif. business was destroyed December 26. The fire started in a lighting system and caused $2.5 million in damages. Sprinklers were not required when the building was constructed. [read more]

New Beginning Fire Sprinkler Systems School added to 2006 schedule!
DEC 23/2005 - Due to popular demand, a new class has been added: February 20 - March 3, 2006
Download Registration Form. Enroll early, seating is limited!

Carolinas Chapter and AFSA present week-long seminar series February 6-10, 2006
DEC 23/2005 - Obtain NICET-required CPDs in this training series being held in Charlotte, NC. Topics will include hydraulic calculations, NFPA 13, NFPA 14, NFPA 25, and more. Download registration form & seminar descriptions.

Oklahoma State University and AFSA offer Fire Sprinkler Inspection, Training, and Certification Course
DEC 23/2005 - This program is designed for fire sprinkler contractors & covers the NFPA 13 and NFPA 25 requirements of proper inspection, testing, and maintenance of automatic fire sprinkler systems. Classes are scheduled for January 26-28, 2006; April 6-8, 2006; July 27-29, 2006. AFSA members can receive $100 discount off registration price using this REGISTRATION FORM.

County Looks Into Sprinkler Requirement
DEC 23/2005 - According to Tri-State Online, Mohave County, Ariz. supervisors approved staff research into requiring residential and commercial sprinklers in new subdivisions outside the current fire districts. [more info]

Sprinklers Save Elderly Complex
DEC 23/2005 - According to boston.com, a sprinkler system contained a fire at an elderly complex in Manchester, N.H. on December 19. The fire was started by a discarded cigarette in a resident's unit. [more info]

Sprinkler Contains Fire
DEC 23/2005 - According to bend.com, a single sprinkler head extinguished a fire at Bon Bien Restaurant in Bend, Ore. recently. The fire started in a utility closet where a cardboard box was placed up against a natural gas water heater. No injuries were reported. [more info]

Deadly Nursing Home Fire Fuels Push for Legislation
DEC 14/2005 - According to the Kansas City Star, lawmakers say a fatal nursing home fire in Michigan stresses the importance of passing federal legislation to fund sprinklers systems for older nursing homes. The fire occurred just days after the bill was introduced, providing loans and grants for retrofits. The Michigan nursing home was partially sprinklered, but not in residents' rooms, where the fire started. Approximately one in five nursing homes in the U.S. is not protected by sprinklers. [more info]

Sprinklers Save Buildings and Lives
DEC 14/2005 - According to the Union Colony Fire Rescue Authority in Greeley, Colo., a single sprinkler head contained a laundry room fire on December 7 at Centennial Health Care. No injuries were reported. [more info]

According to The Wichita Eagle, sprinklers saved a Wichita, Kan. building owner "millions of dollars" December 11. A fire started on a warehouse roof and reached its underside. Sprinklers were able to contain the flames. [more info]

According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, a December 12 dorm room fire was contained by a sprinkler system. The fire started in Riepe College House at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Heat coming from a mattress activated the sprinkler. No one was seriously injured and damages were contained to the one room. [more info]

Fire Destroys Apartments, Displaces Residents
DEC 14/2005 - According to the Howard County Times, an apartment fire on December 5 in Columbia, Md. caused $2.5 million in damages and displaced 22 residents. The apartments were built before sprinklers were required. This is the third fire in the complex since it opened. When the apartments are rebuilt, they will have to include sprinklers. [more info]

NFPA Hosts Fire Suppression & Detection Symposium
DEC 14/2005 - NFPA's Fire Protection Research Foundation will host the Fire Suppression & Detection Research Application Symposium February 1-3, 2006 in Orlando, Fla. The event features seminars on fire sprinklers and fire alarms. [more info]

Houston High-Rises Must Be Retrofitted
DEC 07/2005 - According to City of Houston Ordinance No. 2005-1267, all high-rises within corporate limits of the city will be required have sprinkler systems by December 31, 2017. A timeline sets benchmark deadlines for submission of letters of intent, installation of a water supply, installation of sprinklers in 50 percent of the building, and a fully-sprinklered building in 2017. There are some exemptions, including individually-owned condos. For more information, contact the City of Houston, Texas Fire Department.

Luncheon Educates Owners About Sprinklers
DEC 07/2005 - The Brattleboro, Vt. fire chief and the Building a Better Brattleboro non-profit group will hold a luncheon January 18 to educate local property owners about the automatic sprinkler systems. The event organizers hope to encourage owners to retrofit their buildings. One year ago, a fire devastated historic downtown Brattleboro. One aid for property owners could be the bill expected to be approved by the Vermont Legislature that would provide up to $50,000 in refundable tax credits for sprinkler installations. [read more]

Fire Inspector Wants Stricter Residential Ordinance
DEC 07/2005 - According to the Eagle Tribune, a fire inspector on the planning board in Atkinson, Mass. would like to see the town toughen up their residential ordinance to include one- and two-family dwellings and new manufactured homes. Currently, two-family homes and multi-unit residences are required to install sprinklers. [read more]

Dallas High-Rise Fire Kills One
DEC 07/2005 - According to the Dallas Morning News, a fire on December 3 at the Wedgwood Tower apartments in Dallas, Texas has killed one, injured seven, and displaced numerous other residents. The fire is one of the largest in Dallas this year, with 180 firefighters responding. The 300-unit complex was not required to be sprinklered when it was built. Lt. Lavender with Dallas Fire-Rescue stated that sprinklers would have made a tremendous difference. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. [read more]

Aberdeen, Md. Passes Residential Ordinance
DEC 02/2005 - According to Greg Prentice, chairman of AFSA's Chesapeake Bay Chapter,
the Aberdeen, Md. City Council and mayor unanimously passed a residential sprinkler ordinance requiring all new single-family homes to be sprinklered with an NFPA 13D system. The ordinance passed November 28 and takes effect in 20 days.

Sprinklers Debated After Annapolis Blaze

DEC 02/2005 - According to The Capital, a fire destroyed three buildings November 11 in Annapolis, Md. There were no sprinklers in the buildings. A similar fire in 1997 also destroyed three buildings. Sprinklers were discussed then but nothing mandatory was passed. If rebuilt, the buildings will now have to comply with code and install sprinklers. In lieu of a sprinkler requirement, current Mayor Ellen O. Moyer supports a city program providing loans to businesses interested in sprinklers. [read more]

Lawrence, Kan. Considers Sprinklers

DEC 02/2005 - According to the Lawrence Journal-World, officials in Lawrence, Kan. will soon begin reviewing the International Fire Code for adoption, which requires sprinklers for newly constructed apartments, regardless of size or location. The county fire marshal supports the requirement and would like to also see apartments retrofitted, but feels there'd be strong opposition. It took 10 years to require all fraternities and sororities in town to retrofit. It will take approximately one year to review the new code. [read more]

Sprinklers Contain Fires

DEC 02/2005 - According to the Norwich Bulletin, a fire at the River Mill complex in North Grosvenordale, Conn. was contained by a sprinkler system November 26. No injuries were reported. The sprinklers kept the fire contained until firefighters arrived. [read more]

According to The Charlotte Observer, arson is being considered as the cause of a fire in a Charlotte, N.C. business November 28. Sprinklers helped extinguish the flames. [read more]

According to ABC 6 News, sprinklers at the Mars Plastics company in Providence, R.I. helped contain a fire November 26. No injuries were reported. [read more]