Sprinkler System Extinguishes Frat House Fire
from The Daily Pennsylvanian – Nov. 26, 2008
A fire at the University of Pennsylvania's Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house was caused by an electrical overload, according to the Division of Public Safety. The blaze was caused by a circuit overload, due to a large number of electrical devices plugged into power strips. Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said that the students affected by the fire were "very fortunate" the house had a "state-of-the-art protection system in place." Both the fire alarm and sprinkler system were activated. More

Sprinkler System at Sharon Manufacturer Handles After-hours Blaze
from The Patriot Ledger – Nov. 28, 2008
The sprinkler system at a manufacturing company in Sharon, Mass., extinguished a fire that broke out after the building had shut down for Thanksgiving, fire officials said. “One of their electronic components caught on fire, which activated the sprinkler system,” Sharon Fire Capt. Bert Cummings said. More

Riverview, Mich., Fire Raises Code Concern
from The Detroit News – Nov. 29, 2008
A stray cigarette ignited a late-night blaze at a senior citizens complex that injured several tenants and killed a man, but fire officials say the death could have been prevented if the facility was licensed and required to have sprinklers. Using what one disability rights advocate calls a loophole in the law, the Bellaire Independent Senior Apartments is licensed as an apartment, not a senior living home, and isn't required to have sprinklers. "If that would have been a sprinkled building, there wouldn't have been a loss of life," Fire Chief Timothy Bosman said. More

Christmas Tree Fire Demonstration Proves Sprinkler System’s Value
from The Ithaca Journal – Nov. 25, 2008
The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control put on the demonstration at the state Fire Academy in Montour Falls, N.Y. The purpose was to alert the public to a serious threat that emerges every year at this time — improperly hydrated Christmas trees. In less than two minutes, the entire room was ablaze, belching thick black smoke skyward. The heat could be felt across the parking lot. At that time, a sprinkler system was activated and doused the flames. More

Sprinklers Douse Seattle Business Complex Fire
from Seattlepi.com – Nov. 28, 2008
An indoor sprinkler system proved key in preventing a fire from spreading early Friday at a Kent, Wash., business complex. The sprinkler system was credited with preventing the fire from growing. More

Greer, S.C., Council to Discuss Tax Break for New Sprinkler Systems
from The Greenville News – Dec. 2, 2008
A proposed ordinance that would grant tax breaks to Greer, S.C., residents and business owners who install sprinkler systems is expected to be discussed during the Dec. 9 City Council meeting. Fire Chief Chris Harvey said the tax savings would be available for the next three years should the council adopt the ordinance. Under the proposal, those who install sprinkler systems would be eligible to receive a 25 percent local property tax credit along with a state matched 25 percent income tax credit on the cost of a sprinkler system. More

Sprinklers to be Required in New Hot Springs, S.D., Residences
from The Hot Springs Star – Dec. 2, 2008
Hot Springs, S.D., currently utilizes the 2003 editions of the residential and commercial building codes (IRC & IBC) and is expected to update to the current edition early in 2009. On Sept. 21, 73 percent of the voting members of the ICC voted to support two code proposals requiring fire sprinklers in one and two-family dwellings and townhouses covered by the IRC. The first proposal added the requirement for fire sprinklers in townhouses that fall within the scope of the IRC beginning in 2009, the second added the requirement for one- and two-family dwellings effective Jan. 1, 2011. More

Popular Un-sprinklered Loveland, Colo., Restaurant Catches Fire
from The Denver Post – Dec. 1, 2008
Adelita's Fine Mexican Food in Loveland, Colo., has been shut down by an early morning fire. According to Scott Pringle, Deputy Fire Marshal of the Loveland Fire Department, fire spread from the hallway to the kitchen as "flames rolled across the ceiling." The building did not have an automatic sprinkler system, Pringle said. No one was injured. More