Sprinkler System Limits Damage at Madison Newspapers

Four sprinkler heads were all that was needed to extinguish an early morning fire at Madison Newspapers today. The automatic fire sprinkler system activated when a compressor caught fire in a mechanical room at this facility. Employees were evacuating the building when firefighters arrived on scene at 1901 Fish Hatchery Road. The first fire crew entered the building with a hoseline and found a mechanical room filled with smoke. They heard the sounds of equipment operating and water running in the room. Firefighters observed the smoke, noting that it was cool and not increasing in volume. This indicated that the fire was under control or extinguished. The crew entered the room to confirm that the fire was out and turn off the flow of water. Electricity was also turned off as a precaution. Fire crews were dispatched to this fire at 2:45 AM and all units had cleared the scene by 5:30 AM. Nobody was injured at this fire scene. The fire caused approximately $52,000 damage to the building and equipment. Investigators have not pinpointed a cause, but they believe the fire was unintentional. Fire sprinklers are designed to automatically activate in the area of a fire and immediately apply water directly on the flames. This significantly reduces the amount of damage caused by the flames, heat, and smoke that a fire produces. Water damage in a sprinkler-protected building is also much less than in an unprotected building. A typical fire sprinkler head flows about 20 gallons of water per minute. In comparison, a fire hose flows between 150 and 500 gallons of water per minute. Automatic fire sprinklers are available for businesses, offices, apartments, condominiums, and homes. If you are building a new home or remodeling, consider home fire sprinklers. They protect your home, your life, and firefighters' lives.