Sprinkler Saved Woman in Michigan Home Fire
from Wood TV – June 5, 2009
A severe fire broke out in a Walker, Mich., mobile home of Darlene Burke, and her escape came without a moment to spare. Firefighters said the temperature in that hallway leading to her bedroom reached between 500 and 700 degrees. But it cooled just before it hit the bedroom door. Walker firefighters arrived a few minutes later. As they knocked down the hot spots., they noticed something unusual in the furnace room. It was a sprinkler head, installed in the home when it was built about 30 years ago. The stream from the sprinkler was just enough to cool the superheated gasses headed for the bedroom. More

Texas Firefighters Urge Governor Veto Over Safety, "Local Control"
from Houston Chronicle – June 8, 2009
Texas firefighters and others who value "local control' want Gov. Rick Perry to veto legislation prohibiting cities from passing ordinances requiring fire sprinklers in new residential homes. More

United States Fire Administrator Message about Residential Fire Sprinklers
from Fire Engineering – June 4, 2009
The U.S. Fire Administration has promoted research, development, testing, and demonstrations of residential fire sprinkler systems for more than 30 years. This article demonstrates the research regarding residential fire sprinkler systems. More

Sprinklers Help Contain Kentucky Hotel Fire
from WAVE – June 8, 2009
Fire officials say an electrical problem ignited the fire in the downtown Louisville, Ky., hotel's telephone room in the basement. Fortunately, the hotel's sprinkler system helped keep the fire contained. More

Hillsborough, N.C., Considers New Fire Districts
from MyNC.com –June 5, 2009
The Town of Hillsborough, N.C., is considering creating two fire districts within the town. Hillsborough’s primary fire district would cover the town’s core business center in downtown while the secondary district would cover all other areas within the town’s limits. Under the primary fire district, a sprinkler system would be required in all new construction — commercial and residential. Existing commercial buildings would be required to install a sprinkler system when a building’s square footage or occupancy increases. Existing single-family dwellings would be required to install a sprinkler system if a dwelling increases more than 500 square feet in heated space or if the square footage of the addition and existing residence exceeds 3,600 square feet. More

Alabaster, Ala., Officials Discuss Fire Sprinkler Codes for New Homes
from The Birmingham News - June 5, 2009
Alabaster officials and area home builders say they hope they can reach an accord over changes to building codes that would require sprinkler systems installed in newly constructed homes. More

Portola Valley, Calif., Adopts New Fire-safety Rules
from The Almanac - June 2, 2009
The Portola Valley, Calif., Town Council voted unanimously to adopt tough state fire-safety regulations, known as Chapter 7A, on the use of ignition-resistant construction materials and methods for all new buildings in town. The vote echoes a unanimous May 14 vote by the full council to "introduce" the ordinance to change the building code. The law's adoption, with Mayor Ann Wengert and Councilman Steve Toben absent, starts the 30-day countdown to when the new rules take effect. More

Smoke Alarms, Sprinklers Proven to Save Lives
from Mirror.com - June 5, 2009
Ontario, Canada, is in the midst of one of the worst times for fire fatalities in years. The 2009 numbers are upsetting; it is early June and we are approaching 60 fire deaths already. Increasing fire safety requires a multi-faceted approach. The fire service must educate the public about the value of fire sprinklers. Builders must make them available and promote them like they do carpet and cabinet upgrades. Consumers need to ask for and insist on them. Government needs to look at incentive programs and revised building codes. More