Cambridgeshire flat fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Steve Flemming, Fire Protection Manager

“Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue continue to support the National requirement for Sprinkler provision, supporting their proven ability to save lives, reduce fire damage, and protect communities.”

“Recent fire incidents have highlighted the devastating impact of fires that spread rapidly before emergency services arrive. The presence of sprinklers can drastically reduce fire-related injuries and fatalities.”

Summary

Cambridgeshire Fire Rescue Service (CFRS) have reported a fire within a new purpose-built block of flats containing a mixture of 1- and 2-bedroom flats. The sprinkler system activated extinguishing the fire the cause of the fire was due to combustible material placed on the kitchen hob which had been accidentally turned on, no injuries were reported.

A sprinkler activation is categorised as an event where one or more sprinkler heads have activated and contained, controlled, or, in some cases, extinguished a building fire. This incident provides further evidence of the effectiveness, benefits of sprinklers as part of a comprehensive fire safety strategy.

Providing further weight to the reliability and effectiveness of sprinkler systems following the report conducted by ¹Optimal Economics, and commissioned by the National Fire Chiefs Council, National Fire Sprinkler Network into the performance, reliability, and effectiveness of sprinkler systems in controlling and extinguishing fires.

If it was not for the change in regulatory guidance for England reducing the threshold height for the installation of sprinklers within purpose group 1a (residential block of flats) from 30m to 11m in November 2020. The outcome of this incident could have been so different.

The incident

•  2 pumping appliances were mobilised to reports of a fire, on arrival the incident commander (IC) established that the premises sprinkler system had activated on the second floor of the 3-storey building.
• Upon entry to the flat, fire crews established that the heat generated from the fire activated two concealed sprinkler heads within the room of origin.
• Extinguishing the fire with minimal fire/smoke damage reported, no further firefighting was required.
• The sprinkler system was immediately isolated by CFRS following confirmation to the IC that the fire was out, fortunately a contractor was onsite who directed the crews to the sprinkler pump room allowing the system to be isolated at the conclusion of the incident.
• Crews remained onsite at the conclusion of the incident to complete salvage operations assisting with the removal of water released following the activation of the sprinkler system.

Business Recovery plan

 Firefighters are increasingly likely to respond to incidents in buildings equipped with sprinkler systems, it is therefore critical for building managers and duty holders to integrate an effective business recovery plan into the premises’ emergency protocols. The benefit of which will allow the fire service to efficiently manage water following sprinkler system activation during a fire or in the rare event of accidental discharge, thereby mitigating potential disruptions to business operations or occupancy. This should include comprehensive, clear and accessible onsite information to facilitate fire service engagement allowing the sprinkler system to be isolated following confirmation to the incident commander the fire is all out.

Conclusion

This incident provides further evidence that the main functional objectives of a life safety sprinkler system were achieved.

• Firefighters can operate without due risk to assist evacuation, effect rescue when necessary
• Prevent conflagration
• Preventing a potential major protracted incident, which can lead to a significant strain on the operational resilience of Fire Rescue Service (FRS) resources, leading to challenges maintaining a business-as-usual service.

Sources/further reading

• Sprinkler Saves Review 2024/2025
• Sprinkler Saves Summer Update No 8
• BAFSA Information file, A guide for responsible persons and duty holder
• ¹Optimal economics report Efficiency and Effectiveness of sprinkler systems in the Uk: An analysis from fire service data
• Cambridgeshire FRS Sprinklers

If you want to make a difference working in the fire sector, we need your assistance……

To make sprinklers the norm and not the exception – we need the evidence. Encouraging FRS and those in the sprinkler community to promote, collate, report sprinkler activations to Sprinkler Saves UK which will help to create a central and comprehensive record of fire incidents where sprinklers played their role in containing/controlling or extinguishing the fire.

If you hear of a save report it using this link.