- This event has passed.
Poole Chip Pan Fire Tall Building Sprinkler Activation
16 November 2023
- Date of incident; 16 November 2023
- Location; Poole
- Use of building; Residential block of flats
- Number of floors; Ten
- Location of fire; Kitchen
- Automatic Fire Suppression System; Sprinklers
- Fire Rescue Service; Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS)
DWFRS have reported the above-mentioned incident highlighting the benefits of retrofitting sprinklers within residential blocks of flats following the decision made by The Borough of Poole in July 2018 to retrofit residential sprinklers within all the 6 residential blocks. Who should be applauded for providing a further layer of safety from fire for their residents as part of a package of fire safety measures.
It should be remembered the installation of a life safety AFSS is to reduce the rate of heat and smoke, allowing more time for the occupants to escape to safety or be rescued, The provision of a sprinkler system does not neglect the need for other fire practical precautions or provisions where the person is at higher-than-average risk from fire, unable to self-evacuate in the event of a fire.
Sprinkler system
- Installed to BS9251:2014
- Category 3 System
- Coverage; dwellings, (flats) communal areas
The Incident
- Operational crews were mobilised from Poole, surrounding fire stations.
- On arrival crews identified a kitchen fire on the 9th floor of a 10 storey building involving a chip pan which activated the residential sprinkler system.
- Containing, controlling the fire before the arrival of operational crews.
- No injuries were reported
- Business continuity, the incident was closed within 60 minutes with the engineer on route to reset the system.
Conclusion
This incident clearly identifies the benefits of sprinklers involving chip pan fires, this is the Sixth incident reported to Sprinklersaves.co.uk putting the myth to bed that residential sprinklers as an extinguishing media should not be used on fires involving chip pans.
On each occasion the fire was extinguished, contained/contained.
Previous recorded incidents
- Lincoln, 7 August 2021
- Tonypandy, Rhondda, 29 December 2021
- Flint 3 June 2021
- South Yorkshire 26 August 2022
- London 21 August 2023
BAFSA have released a comprehensive video that demonstrates the clear benefits of sprinklers involving chip pan fires, click here to open. Fire statistical data collated from incidents attended by fire and rescue service involving dwellings for the financial year 2019/20 confirmed that 1494 incidents took place involving chip pan fires
Links