Rash of School Fires Show Need for Fire Protection Systems

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A cursory web search for school fires turns up a surprisingly large number of results. It's impossible to label this string of fires around the country as a trend, but one thing is startlingly clear: fire sprinkler systems can save lives, property, and money. George Saadian and the crew of the company he founded, Fire Protection Group, Inc., make it their goal to promote the use of fire protection systems in every kind of building. Whether it is for a new installation or an old structure, Mr. Saadian believes that fire protection services are vital, life-saving measures and should be promoted heavily.

A look at these school fires shows that sprinkler systems can have a major effect. Firstly, let's think about the two worst school fires of the past month. An elementary school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had no fire sprinkler system. A fire and two explosions were caused by a nearby construction project. Eight firefighters were harmed and the whole building was completely gutted, leaving 40,000 square feet of debris. Similarly, a modular building in the Bay Area was completely destroyed, causing $400,000 in structural damages and items lost within the building. The unit had neither an alarm system nor sprinklers. Plus, the firefighters were delayed due to unique circumstances; they were given the wrong address and the campus was gated—they had to be let in before they could start quelling the blaze. The school was closed for a week in response.

Mr. Saadian believes that a fire suppression or alarm system could have helped in both of these situations, "Fire protection systems can contain the flames locally and sometimes even eliminate them completely. This gives the fire department more time to get to the scene and also aids them when they are there." An alarm system, too, would have given firefighters an accurate location and faster notification time.

Other school fires, where fire suppression systems were present, elucidate the difference the systems can make. At a high school in Jacksonville, FL, a faulty electrical panel caused a small blaze. The school's sprinkler system activated and the fire was put out within five minutes. In Farr West, UT, an alarm system alerted the local fire department to the scene while a sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading. One classroom had water damage and an adjacent room sustained minor damage. Likewise, a chair in the teacher's lounge of a middle school in Chatanooga, TN, was set on fire. An automatic sprinkler system turned on and made sure the fire didn't leave that room, leading to an easy victory for the firefighters. The worst case where fire sprinklers were in place was at an elementary school in Walla Walla, WA. A fire started from a stovetop, setting off the fire alarm and suppression system. The firefighters had no problems defeating the fire. While the school closed for about a week, the damages were not widespread and were only estimated to be $70,000. This is much less than the examples above without sprinkler systems.

Fire Protection Group, Inc., provides these life-saving measures for many locations, including schools, hotels, malls, restaurants, homes, and many more. The company wants everyone to know that, besides often being legally required, fire protection systems save money, protect property, and safeguard people from personal harm. Fire Protection Group, Inc. can be reached at (888) 251-3488 or by going to www.firesprinkler.com.

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SOURCE Fire Protection Group, Inc.